Scout Squad
21 August 2025 295 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
Share:

The Scout Squad returns for Gameweek 2 ahead of the earlier-than-usual Friday deadline.

If you’re new to this piece, our in-house team discusses who they think the best FPL players are for the upcoming Gameweek in isolation.

One-week-only punts might be slightly more relevant than usual this time, with circa 10% of polled users playing their Free Hit.

There’s a Scout Squad debutant today, as Alex (aka regular contributor FPL Scoop) fills in for the absent Sam. He joins regulars Marc, Tom and Neale.

MORE ABOUT THE SCOUT SQUAD

Scout Squad Gameweek 1

The focus is only on the upcoming Gameweek with the Scout Squad, so there’s no medium-term planning involved.

The players who get the most votes are much more likely to make the Scout Picks, although the final XI can’t exceed £83.0m – so occasionally, cheaper alternatives have to be found.

Each of our writers must meet the following requirements for this feature:

  • At least one sub-£5.0m goalkeeper
  • At least one sub-£5.0m defender
  • At least one sub-£6.0m midfielder
  • At least one sub-£7.0m forward
  • No more than three players from the same club

SCOUT SQUAD: BEST FPL PLAYERS FOR GAMEWEEK 2

 

 1



The rest of this article below is completely free to read but requires a Fantasy Football Scout user account for access – you can get yours at no cost here

 1

defensive contributions
295 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    8 months, 2 hours ago

    Gabriel best frimpong replacement?

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 7 Years
      8 months, 1 hour ago

      Yes

    2. x.jim.x
      • 11 Years
      8 months, 48 mins ago

      Cucurella

  2. royals forever
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    8 months, 1 hour ago

    Are there any changes that you would make to this FH team

    Dubravka
    Chalobah Murillo Ballard
    Saka Palmer Rice Semenyo
    Watkins Gyokeres Evanlison

    Verbruggen Kudus Dorgu Porro

    Any ideas would be appreciated

    1. FPL_Devil
      • 6 Years
      8 months, 1 hour ago

      don't go Dubravka on a FH. Also wouldn't trust Ballard. Otherwise it's a one off so not much to say.

    2. chocolove
      • 15 Years
      8 months, 1 hour ago

      What an FH bench...

    3. champ20ns
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      8 months, 1 hour ago

      Really?

      Why would you have so much on the bench on a FH.

      Downgrade all 3 and it gives you 4m more and you can upgrade that shocking defence and keeper.

      1. chocolove
        • 15 Years
        8 months, 1 hour ago

        Exactly my thought.
        You're more helpful and put more effort to type it than me. Haha

    4. Not again Shirley
      • 9 Years
      8 months, 39 mins ago

      Ballard won’t score 17 points every week. Lose him. Murillo deffo would not be in my FH team against palace. No arsenal defemce take your fancy? No need for too much money on bench. Cunha or Boom could be good this weekend.

  3. FPL_Devil
    • 6 Years
    8 months, 1 hour ago

    Thoughts on double Chelsea defence? Already have Sanchez, thinking Frimpong to Cucurella. Also considering, Munoz, RAN and Tarkowski.

    1. Fiasco da Gama
        8 months, 1 hour ago

        Did the same. Cucurella feels like the best option. It was either him, Gabriel, or Lacroix for me.

    2. Bob B
      • 12 Years
      8 months, 1 hour ago

      Played BB last week, wondering what to do with Frimpong?

      A. Same pricepoint - Gabriel / Cucu / Munoz

      B. Down to 4.0 - 4.5, save money for future transfers

      Current team:

      Sanchez (Verbruggen)
      RAN Murillo Frimpong* (Porro Gudmundsson)
      Wirtz Gakpo Palmer Bruno Reijnders
      Watkins JP (Fullkrug)

      1. chocolove
        • 15 Years
        8 months, 1 hour ago

        Keep at least until gw 4.

      2. cfc_andrew4
        • 3 Years
        8 months, 1 hour ago

        I have the same front 2 as you and thinking if I downgrade Frimpong to a 4.0/4.5 it might help towards an upgrade to Haaland. However, I do have Cucurella as my other 6.0 defender and if I didn't I'd be tempted to get him.
        Who are you thinking in the 4.0/4.5 bracket? Dorgu, Cash, VdV, Ballard?

        1. Bob B
          • 12 Years
          8 months, 47 mins ago

          Dorgu/Yoro, or Guehi.
          Reinaldo/Steve

    3. Mother Farke
      • 2 Years
      8 months, 1 hour ago

      Am I set?

      Sels
      Cucurella De Cuyper Dorgu
      Palmer Rogers Wirtz Reijnders Semenyo
      Haaland (C) Ekitike

      Dubravka Porro Guiu Konsa

      So tempted by Semenyo (C).

    4. Dunkaboy
      • 3 Years
      8 months, 1 hour ago

      I have João, Watkins and Bowen as my front 3. Looking to get Bowen out before price drops tonight.

      Can't decide between Wood, Gykoreres or Richarlison? Or any other recommendations?! Wood seems safe bet with decent run.

      Richarlison has great fixture run after Man city.

      I have Kudus already.

      1. MJF
          8 months, 1 hour ago

          Once Solanke is fully up to speed do you think Rich carries on as first choice?

          I think I would go Mateta or Wood, or maybe down to JSL but I hear he's been linked with Newcastle so there's uncertainty there.

          Am giving Bowen another game I think, think he could score tomorrow.

          1. Dunkaboy
            • 3 Years
            8 months, 1 hour ago

            Gone for Wood. Off to bed I go! Thanks all.

        • Feanor
          • 16 Years
          8 months, 1 hour ago

          Richarlison won't start when Solanke is fit

          1. Dunkaboy
            • 3 Years
            8 months, 1 hour ago

            Won't Rich play on the wing? I did wonder whether he would sulk at the apparent player-ex offer for Eze so prob rule him out for me.

        • Weasel Boy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          8 months, 1 hour ago

          Gykoreres

      2. Atimis
        • 9 Years
        8 months, 1 hour ago

        Thoughts on doing Frimpong to Porro but benching him this week for Dorgu? Or you’d rather just get Gabriel or RAN?

        1. Punned It
          • 1 Year
          8 months, 1 hour ago

          If it's just to bench him, I'd wait.

          1. Atimis
            • 9 Years
            8 months, 1 hour ago

            Don’t want to lose funds at this stage

      3. g40steve
        • 8 Years
        8 months, 1 hour ago

        Is this site F’d?

        The articles had latest tab has that been moved.

      4. FPLMACKEM
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        8 months, 1 hour ago

        Start one?

        A Sanchez
        B Dubravka

        Defence is Andersen, Williams, Richards

        1. royals forever
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 16 Years
          8 months, 1 hour ago

          A

      5. Weasel Boy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        8 months, 1 hour ago

        Rudolph the red nose Reindeer(c)?

        1. g40steve
          • 8 Years
          8 months, 1 hour ago

          Considered it along with Semenyo & Cucu

      6. royals forever
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        8 months, 1 hour ago

        Are there any changes that you would make to this FH team

        Roefs
        Cucurella Murillo Lacroix
        Saka Palmer Bruno Semenyo
        Watkins Gyokeres Evanlison

        Dubravka Esteve KDH Rodon

        Any ideas would be appreciated

        1. MJF
            8 months, 1 hour ago

            Yeah another Arsenal player - a defender - and Haaland at least from City, if not two or three City players.

        2. Skout
          • 6 Years
          8 months, 1 hour ago

          G2g? Start Verb or Dubravka?

          Verb
          Porro Esteve Milenkovic
          Salah Palmer Bruno Wirtz Reijnders
          Watkins StrandLarsen

          Dubravka Guiu Diouf Rodon

        3. pundit of punts
          • 13 Years
          8 months, 1 hour ago

          Best Villa defender to get on WC?

          1. Kiwivillan
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            8 months, 1 hour ago

            Don't get any

            1. pundit of punts
              • 13 Years
              8 months, 1 hour ago

              Why?

          2. Wet Bandits
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            8 months, 1 hour ago

            I have Konsa. I'd avoid them all

            1. pundit of punts
              • 13 Years
              8 months, 59 mins ago

              Any particular reason?

              1. NoOneCares
                  8 months, 55 mins ago

                  Take a whopping guess?

                • TallestJohn
                  • 9 Years
                  8 months, 54 mins ago

                  Have you heard of a football manager called Unai Emery

          3. Daddymac
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            8 months, 1 hour ago

            Will Frimpong drop tonight ?

          4. Stimps
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            8 months, 1 hour ago

            On WC

            A) Porro, Richards
            B) Lacroix, Romero
            C) Munoz, VDV

            1. Wet Bandits
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              8 months, 1 hour ago

              Can you afford Munoz & Romero?

              1. Stimps
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 12 Years
                8 months, 57 mins ago

                I can't...

                1. Wet Bandits
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 10 Years
                  8 months, 56 mins ago

                  I think Romero will be the most consistent with DefCon and the odd goal.

                  So maybe B

          5. Bonus magnet
            • 9 Years
            8 months, 1 hour ago

            The most obvious captain for me is Palmer but I hate captaining first match (Friday for that Matter)

            Who else between
            Salah ; Watkins, Mbeumo

            1. Wet Bandits
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              8 months, 1 hour ago

              It's a painful weekend when early capos blank..

            2. AC/DC AFC
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              8 months, 26 mins ago

              I know it's sort of stupid but a Friday night game is more likely to have goals than a Saturday lunchtime time kick off.

              Don't know if this is factual but instinctively I'd say 'don't captain the first match of the game week' doesn't apply on a Friday night.

          6. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
            • 9 Years
            8 months, 1 hour ago

            On WC

            A) Gakpo
            B) Gordon

            Have Ekitike

            1. Wet Bandits
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              8 months, 1 hour ago

              A for me.

          7. Wet Bandits
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            8 months, 1 hour ago

            72pts last week, Currently rolling my FT and not playing a chip... although with no Arsenal, and a questionable defence, I'm having doubts!

            A) Roll
            B) FH
            C) Use FT & possible hit (suggestions welcome)

            Sanchez
            Aina, Esteve, Diouf
            Palmer, Bruno, Reijnders, Wirtz, Gapko
            Haaland(c), Watkins

            Dub, VDV, Konsa*,Guiu

            1. MJF
                8 months, 1 hour ago

                I would save yeah think you are making the right choice.

                1. Wet Bandits
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 10 Years
                  8 months, 59 mins ago

                  Cheers - I'm just feeling a little trigger happy I think.

            2. Royal5
              • 14 Years
              8 months, 1 hour ago

              Who to start?

              A) PM Sarr (city)
              B) Porro (city)
              C) Dewsbury-Hall (BRI)

              1. More Tragic
                • 10 Years
                8 months, 59 mins ago

                c

              2. BrockLanders
                • 11 Years
                8 months, 59 mins ago

                Similar quandary with Porro & KDH. Think KDH is the play here. Decent home fixture. Porro won't see much joy at City

                1. Royal5
                  • 14 Years
                  8 months, 55 mins ago

                  Porro has also lost his corners to Kudus. KDH was the plan until he looked awful in GW1.. still leaning towards him if he keeps the 10

              3. Hazz
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 8 Years
                8 months, 57 mins ago

                A. Feel like floor for all three is similar.

                1. Royal5
                  • 14 Years
                  8 months, 54 mins ago

                  Sarr could always get an assist I guess, but not expecting a whole lot. Tbf he was very close to get Defcon points against Burnley - but that was home.

            3. Hazz
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 8 Years
              8 months, 59 mins ago

              Porro / Milenkovic / Murillo / Richards / Esteve
              Which three start?

              1. Froes
                • 12 Years
                8 months, 58 mins ago

                Richards Porro Milenkovic

                1. Hazz
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 8 Years
                  8 months, 55 mins ago

                  Thanks for the response buddy.

              2. royals forever
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 16 Years
                8 months, 58 mins ago

                MME

                1. Hazz
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 8 Years
                  8 months, 56 mins ago

                  This is what I'm closer to after Palace's European exploits. Richards vs. a Forest lad to hedge bets a tricky call.

              3. BrockLanders
                • 11 Years
                8 months, 58 mins ago

                Murillo, Richards, Esteve

                1. Hazz
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 8 Years
                  8 months, 55 mins ago

                  Cheers. See above comment. Possible!

            4. Froes
              • 12 Years
              8 months, 59 mins ago

              Who do i leave on the bench from this miedfield (4/5 available)

              Rjienders - O'riley - Bruno - Wirtz - Palmer

            5. FPL_trail_runner
              • 5 Years
              8 months, 59 mins ago

              I think this WC draft will cook no?

              Petrovic
              Gabriel Cucurella Esteve
              Salah Semenyo Gakpo Reindeer Anderson
              Haaland Gyokeres (c)

              Dub Gudmonson Reinildo Guiu

              Freehit for week 3 to avoid all the bad fixtures.

              Week 4 can generate funds by downgrading Gyokeres to get a better 3rd playing defender.

              1. C0YS
                • 10 Years
                8 months, 48 mins ago

                Gakpo and Anderson are a bit on the punty side, others look solid

                1. FPL_trail_runner
                  • 5 Years
                  8 months, 44 mins ago

                  Yep its possible, but could offer great value in the short term with the fixtures and how attacking Liverpool are.

            6. NoOneCares
                8 months, 57 mins ago

                Was Ben Doak not in FPL at 5.0? I can't see him now.

                1. Tonyawesome69
                  • 7 Years
                  8 months, 41 mins ago

                  Changed to hyphenated surname, Gannon-Doak. Alternatively look at Bournemouth midfielders

              • Froes
                • 12 Years
                8 months, 54 mins ago

                Sanchez
                VVD Dorgu Porro ( Romero / Milenkovic )
                Reijnders Wirts O´riley Palmer Bruno
                Gyo Watkins S.Larsen

                Please tell me a midfielder to bench

              • RUUD!
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 13 Years
                8 months, 53 mins ago

                Lookin at Frimpong to Cucu, should I wait until tomorrow or is there a chance Frimpong drops tonight?

                1. Hazz
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 8 Years
                  8 months, 40 mins ago

                  LiveFPL estimates the drop is tomorrow. A little risky but may get away with it.

                  And thank you - I had no clue the deadline was tomorrow (no less a Chelsea match)!

                  1. Hazz
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 8 Years
                    8 months, 39 mins ago

                    (Tomorrow, as in not tonight)

              • Royal5
                • 14 Years
                8 months, 52 mins ago

                Florian Worst owners keeping then? Not expecting much against Newcastle :/

                1. x.jim.x
                  • 11 Years
                  8 months, 50 mins ago

                  Great slander name, will remember that for his next stinker

              • C0YS
                • 10 Years
                8 months, 49 mins ago

                Thoughts on this WC team?

                Sa (Dubravka)
                VdV Guehi Dorgu (Bijol Esteve)
                Salah Semenyo Kudus Reijnders (4.5)
                Haaland Watkins Ekitike

                Alternatively considering:
                B. Ekitike Dorgu -> Evanilson Virgil
                C. Ekitike Dorgu Sa -> Thiago Virgil Sanchez

                Cheers!

                1. Royal5
                  • 14 Years
                  8 months, 47 mins ago

                  Would not go near that Pool defense. Looks lost.

                  1. C0YS
                    • 10 Years
                    8 months, 43 mins ago

                    Fair point. Would you choose B or C with RAN instead of Virgil?

                2. Not again Shirley
                  • 9 Years
                  8 months, 42 mins ago

                  On WC would not be touching Sa. Better options than a wolves defence. Henderson or Pope better options but you’d have to find the extra 0.5 obvs. Shift Guehi to Richard’s would do that in easy swap.

                  1. C0YS
                    • 10 Years
                    8 months, 40 mins ago

                    Both at 4.5 unfortunately

                    1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
                      • 9 Years
                      8 months, 39 mins ago

                      Petrovic

                3. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
                  • 9 Years
                  8 months, 37 mins ago

                  Looking good with both Salah and Haaland
                  I think defence is a bit too cheap though

                  1. C0YS
                    • 10 Years
                    8 months, 32 mins ago

                    Agreed, anyone you would sacrifice to beef it up?

                    1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
                      • 9 Years
                      8 months, 30 mins ago

                      Salah

                      1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
                        • 9 Years
                        8 months, 29 mins ago

                        Or maybe Watkins to Mateta?

              • 1912 F.A Cup Winners
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 8 Years
                8 months, 48 mins ago

                Most profitable duo moving forward folks??

                A- Haaland and Cunha
                Or
                B- Salah and Mateta

                Cheers everyone!!

                1. Pep Roulette
                  • 8 Years
                  8 months, 46 mins ago

                  A

                  1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 8 Years
                    8 months, 45 mins ago

                    Thankyou mate!!

              • billnats
                • 14 Years
                8 months, 48 mins ago

                Wondering which is better:
                A) Van De Ven, Guehi, Kudus & Wood
                B) Gabriel, RAN, Kudus & Kroupi
                C) Gabriel, VDV, Anderson & Wood

                One of Kudus or Wood has to start (not both)

              • Pep Roulette
                • 8 Years
                8 months, 46 mins ago

                Best set & forget GK under 5m?

                1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 8 Years
                  8 months, 44 mins ago

                  Tricky one mate!! Petrovic maybe??

                  1. Pep Roulette
                    • 8 Years
                    8 months, 43 mins ago

                    Better than Sels you reckon?

                    1. Punned It
                      • 1 Year
                      8 months, 38 mins ago

                      Under 5.