Scout Picks
22 August 2025 236 comments
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With just hours to go before West Ham United and Chelsea get Gameweek 2 of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) underway, it’s time to finalise our Scout Picks.

We deliberated over the Scout Squad submissions made by Neale (Editor), Tom (Deputy Editor), Marc (Staff Writer) and Alex (Contributor) before coming up with our final team.

As ever, there are certain restrictions for our picks:

  • An £83.0m budget for our starting XI
  • An overall squad limit of £100.0m
  • No more than three players per team

GAMEWEEK 2 SCOUT PICKS

FPL Gameweek 2 Scout Picks: Arsenal triple-up 1

GOALKEEPER

FPL Gameweek 2 Scout Picks: Arsenal triple-up

Robin Roefs (£4.5m) had a superb debut for Sunderland in Gameweek 1. The goalkeeper recorded four saves in the 3-0 win over West Ham United and ended the match with eight points. We are now backing the Dutchman to replicate that performance against a Burnley side that failed to score in their opener. Crucially, these encounters are often cagey affairs: the last three Championship meetings all resulted in the Clarets failing to score, including two goalless draws at Turf Moor.

DEFENDERS

FPL Gameweek 29 round-up: Saturday’s goals, assists, bonus points + stats

 

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236 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. OneDennisBergkamp
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    9 months, 3 days ago

    whats your top 5 defenders on WC?

    1. Kiwivillan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 months, 3 days ago

      Too early to ascertain. Avoid early WC

    2. Qaiss
      • 10 Years
      9 months, 3 days ago

      3 defenders that play all the time for you and 2 cheapies like Esteve/Reinildo

      Gabriel, Munoz, Milenkovic. Something like that

    3. mookie
      • 12 Years
      9 months, 3 days ago

      Not enough info for me to make such a call.
      Need to see Pool with Gravenberg and Wirtz on the pitch. United vs. Arsenal was a game from which I can't draw any conclusion as most games for those 2 teams will look different or won't be against the best defense in United's case. City was RAN or no one for me and that hasn't changed. Cucurella is always a good pick, but will there be better value defs at other teams. Same for Munoz.
      No clear one pick from Forest. Most analytics guys went with Murillo and I went with Milenkovic and Neco. Haven't seen anything to suggest one is better than the others.

      Gun to my head, Munoz, Porro, Forest and that's about it. Two cheapies to step in when the 3 play top attacks.

  2. _Greg
    • 16 Years
    9 months, 3 days ago

    If Eze signs in time I might go absolutely crazy and sell Palmer to Eze (c) - 4 :mrgreen:

    1. OneDennisBergkamp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 months, 3 days ago

      cant see him starting so soon with no training

    2. MJF
        9 months, 3 days ago

        Please do!

      • Brosstan
        • 11 Years
        9 months, 3 days ago

        He won't start. They have a very settled team so it's just poor man management to slot him right in.

        1. _Greg
          • 16 Years
          9 months, 3 days ago

          I can see him starting immediately on the left.

    3. ididnt
      • 14 Years
      9 months, 3 days ago

      Play Sels or Dubravka?

      1. Orion
        • 15 Years
        9 months, 3 days ago

        I’m playing Sels cause I don’t want to double up Dub/Esteve

      2. the dom 1
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        9 months, 3 days ago

        Same I am playing Sels as I dont want to dounle up with De Cuyper

      3. Brosstan
        • 11 Years
        9 months, 3 days ago

        Play the best player in the best team. That's sels. Over the course of a season you will get less points if you constantly try to hedge and avoid double ups.

      4. V-2 Schneiderlin
        • 15 Years
        9 months, 3 days ago

        I'd like to know the answer too if Dubravka is your only Burnley defender - I'm currently 50/50 but close to playing Dubravka

        1. ididnt
          • 14 Years
          9 months, 3 days ago

          I only have Dub from Burnley so it’s 50/50

    4. Orion
      • 15 Years
      9 months, 3 days ago

      Should I do Watkins to Gyokeres for free and cap him? Or go without Arsenal players at all? Or play a FH?
      Please help lads

      1. STHH
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        9 months, 3 days ago

        Gyokeres has too much to prove at the moment. Are United excellent at keeping him quiet? Is he overrated? Or just settling in? Or will he explode with a hat-trick?

        I think it's a risk to go there personally, albeit with high upside.

        Based on GW1 you could argue that Brentford is an easier fixture than Leeds, even though the FFS fixture ticker has it much different.

        Watkins has started against Brentford 7 times in his career, and registered 8 attacking returns in those matches. Brentford are also a lot shakier this season than even before in the Premier League. They're a team to target, not avoid!

      2. Guttelim
        • 4 Years
        9 months, 3 days ago

        Gyokeres is not overrated, but I’d go for Saka if you have Palmer to sell (and cap him)

    5. RedKev81
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      9 months, 3 days ago

      On a WC
      Should I go Watkins over Haaland this week? Spurs are City’s bogey team and Watkins loves playing Brentford, as shown above, but it also means booking in an immediate transfer back to Haaland and a potential -4 if any injuries etc to my team this gw?

      1. MJF
          9 months, 3 days ago

          I’d have both on WC I think. It’s just so tough to pick a whole new squad based on a single week.

          1. RedKev81
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 4 Years
            9 months, 3 days ago

            Cheers Swerve, got a front line of Haaland, Gyo and Ekitike atm. Wanna keep Gyo for Leeds and Got 0.1 on Ekitike so couldn’t get him back if I drop him and he’s my only Liverpool cover. I’d literally put Haaland back in tonight before his price goes up …just don’t like the idea of a planned transfer

      2. the dom 1
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        9 months, 3 days ago

        What needs to be done with this team?

        Sels
        Diof, RAN, De Cuyper
        Palmer, Salah, Bruno, Reindeers, PM Sarr
        Watkins, J Pedro

        Verbruggen, Fullkrug, Guddy, VdV

        1FT, 0.0ITB

        Help please 😉

        1. Qaiss
          • 10 Years
          9 months, 3 days ago

          Would be tempted by Fullkrug over Sarr and hope for a West Ham goal

          1. the dom 1
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            9 months, 3 days ago

            Thats my dilemma, PM Sarr or Fullkrug?

            1. Qaiss
              • 10 Years
              9 months, 3 days ago

              Sarr ceiling is maybe 4/5 points this week? Fullkrug just needs an assist for that, as long as he starts ofc

              1. the dom 1
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 11 Years
                9 months, 3 days ago

                start Fulkrug and Sarr 1st on bench

          2. Ray85
            • 8 Years
            9 months, 3 days ago

            Same dilemma! I've gone for Sarr personally. Spurs tend to do well against City. West Ham were awful first game.

        2. T.Henry14
          • 12 Years
          9 months, 3 days ago

          Save transfer, good team.

          1. the dom 1
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            9 months, 3 days ago

            Cheers

      3. SpaceCadet
        • 12 Years
        9 months, 3 days ago

        Thoughts on this wc draft?

        Sanchez
        Gabriel willaims dorgu
        Palmer gakpo semenyo reijnders
        Haaland Watkins Gyokeres

        Dubravka vdv esteve king

        1. MJF
            9 months, 3 days ago

            Don’t think I’d take Palmer on WC at this stage but who knows, need to see a few more weeks.

            1. SpaceCadet
              • 12 Years
              9 months, 3 days ago

              Planning palmer > Bruno next gw

        2. OneDennisBergkamp
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          9 months, 3 days ago

          1. Mbeumo
          or
          2. Wood

        3. MJF
            9 months, 3 days ago

            Surprising Scout Picks going for Salah and no Haaland.

            1. mookie
              • 12 Years
              9 months, 3 days ago

              Should be renamed to people pleaser picks.

            2. Kiwivillan
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 12 Years
              9 months, 3 days ago

              Content creators spruiking Salah GW1. 2-3 million rank this is fine. Trust the process

          • Bobby_Baggio
            • 15 Years
            9 months, 3 days ago

            Afternoon all. What to do here with 1FT? Save?

            Kelleher
            DeCuyper - VVD - Richards
            Salah - Palmer - Wirtz - Rogers
            Bowen - Wood - Evanilson

            (Valdimarsson) - Sarr - Van DVen - Rodon

            1. the dom 1
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              9 months, 3 days ago

              Save and have 2ft next GW

              1. Bobby_Baggio
                • 15 Years
                9 months, 3 days ago

                Cheers

            2. Ball Ake
              • 1 Year
              9 months, 3 days ago

              Looks good, maybe VVD to Gabriel/Saliba. Liverpool defence looked ropey while Arsenal (irrespective of oppo) looked proper 1980's Italy Capenaccio tight

              1. Cruyff's Eleven
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 7 Years
                9 months, 3 days ago

                Aside from corners

              2. the dom 1
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 11 Years
                9 months, 3 days ago

                LIV play ARS next GW (just an FYI)

                1. Ball Ake
                  • 1 Year
                  9 months, 3 days ago

                  Yep, would rate an Arse clean sheet more likely than Liv personally

          • OneDennisBergkamp
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            9 months, 3 days ago

            Palace or Forest defender?

          • evilfish
            • 10 Years
            9 months, 3 days ago

            People with Sanchez and Dubravka, who are you starting?

            1. MJF
                9 months, 3 days ago

                Both!

                1. evilfish
                  • 10 Years
                  9 months, 3 days ago

                  I'm not in a position to BB, who would you choose?

            2. Djemba-Djemba
              • 11 Years
              9 months, 3 days ago

              How illogical is it to captain Watkins over Salah?

              1. Tomerick
                • 11 Years
                9 months, 3 days ago

                Would depend on what you are basing your decision on

              2. tuvok
                • 7 Years
                9 months, 3 days ago

                There’s certainly enough evidence to support doing that.

                IMO its like this: Salah has a higher floor (it’s Salah, he returns all the time) but away at Newcastle probably has a lower ceiling (how many goals do we expect from Liverpool at St James Park?)

                Watkins has a lower floor (you never know when Villa will drop a stinker) but a higher ceiling (Villa could def put 4+ past this Brentford side)

                So it’s safety v risk. Especially when you factor in the safety of Salah’s ownership

            3. Emiliano Sala
              • 9 Years
              9 months, 3 days ago

              On FH
              Which one?

              A) Petrovic vs Wol H
              B) Martinez vs Bre A

              1. the dom 1
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 11 Years
                9 months, 3 days ago

                A

            4. Jet5605
              • 11 Years
              9 months, 3 days ago

              This GW is a Wirtz v Palmer one game shoot out to stay in my team. Whoever blanks is gone thus allowing Fullkrug to be upgraded.

              1. Sir Michael Taker
                • 11 Years
                9 months, 3 days ago

                what if they both blank?

            5. OptimusBlack
              • 13 Years
              9 months, 3 days ago

              GTG and right bench ?
              Sanchez ( Sels)
              Porro Frimpong* Cucurella ( Diouf VDV)
              Salah© KDV Reijnders Rutter Wirtz
              Watkins Gyökeres ( Füllkrug)
              A- Frimpong > Gabriel
              B- Frimpong> RAN
              C- other transfer

              1. Guttelim
                • 4 Years
                9 months, 3 days ago

                A, then GTG

            6. FantasyClub
              • 5 Years
              9 months, 3 days ago

              Thoughts please?

              A) Play Diouf v CHE (save transfer)
              B) Frimpong ➡️ Cucu/Forest defence…

              1. OptimusBlack
                • 13 Years
                9 months, 3 days ago

                B for Cucurella

                1. FantasyClub
                  • 5 Years
                  9 months, 3 days ago

                  Thank you for responding matey

                2. FantasyClub
                  • 5 Years
                  9 months, 3 days ago

                  Mind you I don’t have Salah or Haaland…

                  Would that change your mind about saving a transfer and aiming to get Haaland?

                  Dub/Kelleher
                  RAN/Dorgu/Siouf/Frimpong/Reinildo
                  Rogers/Saka/Wirtz/Reijnders/Bruno
                  Eki/Watkins/Bowen

                  1m itb

                  1. OptimusBlack
                    • 13 Years
                    9 months, 3 days ago

                    Get one of them with ur way

                  2. Khalico
                    • 10 Years
                    9 months, 3 days ago

                    You could potentially hold until next week - see how Wirtz, Bowen, Saka, Bruno play but I’d still look to remove Frimpong before you lose the 0.1 value which could stop you from getting Cucu for example

              2. Khalico
                • 10 Years
                9 months, 3 days ago

                Straight swap to Cucu

                1. FantasyClub
                  • 5 Years
                  9 months, 3 days ago

                  See my response to Optimus just above this please

            7. Khalico
              • 10 Years
              9 months, 3 days ago

              If you had Eze before he moved to Arsenal, is it best to keep him in or move to a 7.5m mid like Gordon etc?

              1. FantasyClub
                • 5 Years
                9 months, 3 days ago

                If you’re to move him I’d go Semenyo

                1. Khalico
                  • 10 Years
                  9 months, 3 days ago

                  Already have him

                  1. FantasyClub
                    • 5 Years
                    9 months, 3 days ago

                    Rogers?

                    1. Khalico
                      • 10 Years
                      9 months, 3 days ago

                      Potentially - currently have Watkins and not sure if I want Rogers for the double up. Is it worth to?

                      1. FantasyClub
                        • 5 Years
                        9 months, 3 days ago

                        I have both im content with it atm. Hoping preseason form emerges this week

            8. Guttelim
              • 4 Years
              9 months, 3 days ago

              On FH

              A) Gabriel + Bruno
              B) Cucu + Odegaard

            9. Spurrsy
              • 6 Years
              9 months, 3 days ago

              1. Saka/Guiu or 2. Watkins & 5.5 Mid
              For next 6 GWs?

              1. Guttelim
                • 4 Years
                9 months, 3 days ago

                For the next 6 then Watkins and PMSarr/Anderson.

                Saka facing liv, NFO, MCI, new the next 5 fix

              1. tuvok
                • 7 Years
                9 months, 3 days ago

                Eze leaving and Palace looking a bit flat last night made me think it’s gonna be a good game for Forest

                Do I reverse that opinion now?!

            10. marpy016
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 14 Years
              9 months, 3 days ago

              Who to start given I already have Murillo?

              A) Dubravka
              B) Sels

              1. corbea
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 16 Years
                9 months, 3 days ago

                Sels

            11. Khalico
              • 10 Years
              9 months, 3 days ago

              Best 5m keeper?

            12. RossoneriHammer
              • 9 Years
              9 months, 3 days ago

              Alt-Nouri and Rice
              Or
              Gabriel and Reijnders?

            13. Tomerick
              • 11 Years
              9 months, 3 days ago

              More of you had Haaland as your top pick for the forward position than had Salah as the top pick for mids yet he didn’t get a sniff. Poor Erling…

            14. Obi 1 Kenobi 0
                9 months, 3 days ago

                Looking for thoughts please guys. Already looking ahead to GW3, I’ll have 2 FTs and the below team and toying with Saka > Cunha/Mbuemo and Verbruggen > Sanchez

                Dubravka/Verbruggen
                Cucurella/Guehi/Milenkovic/VDV/Rodon
                Palmer/Wirtz/Saka/Reijnders/KDH
                Haaland/Watkins/Guiu

              • Bale11
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 5 Years
                9 months, 3 days ago

                G2G?

                No idea what to do might just hold and see how fulkrug and wirtz goes

                Sels

                RAN Esteve De Cuyper

                Salah (C) Rogers Palmer Kudus Wirtz

                Watkins Fulkrug

                Bench:
                Dubruvka, Porro, Esteve, Giui

                1. Bale11
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 5 Years
                  9 months, 3 days ago

                  Konsa on bench

              • SpaceCadet
                • 12 Years
                9 months, 3 days ago

                On wc - Saka or gykores?

                1. F4L
                  • 11 Years
                  9 months, 3 days ago

                  gyokeres

                  1. SpaceCadet
                    • 12 Years
                    9 months, 3 days ago

                    Thanks. Cap him over Haaland?

                    1. F4L
                      • 11 Years
                      9 months, 3 days ago

                      probably wouldn't tbh

              • primal33
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 7 Years
                9 months, 3 days ago

                After a poor start, rolling the FT is the right choice here...right?

                Selz
                Murillo Porro Dorgu
                Saka(c) Fernandes Wirtz Palmer Gakpo
                Watkins Bowen

                (Dubravka Diouf Esteve Guiu)

                The plan is to roll the free transfer then shift Bowen + a midfielder on next GW. Perhaps to Isak/Ekitike + Reijnders depending on how things pan out.

                1. Ray85
                  • 8 Years
                  9 months, 3 days ago

                  Yep, save FT

                2. Udogie-style
                  • 2 Years
                  9 months, 3 days ago

                  Wirtz to Rogers. You missed the price rise on Semenyo and Reijnders but could also still do that instead I guess.

              • tuvok
                • 7 Years
                9 months, 3 days ago

                No Haaland and no Chelsea at all - interesting scout picks!

                If the Newcastle game is as feisty as we expect, does that not lend itself more to a low scoring scrap rather than a ‘chaotic end-to-end affair’? Genuine question, I’m not sure either way and would be interested in others thoughts