Scout Picks - Bus Team
30 September 2025 208 comments
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We have put together our early Scout Picks for Gameweek 7 of Fantasy Premier League (FPL).

Plenty can change between now and Friday’s deadline, of course.

The upcoming Scout Squad nominations, as well as the pre-match press conferences, will help shape our final Scout Picks.

But this early selection, at the very least, offers an insight into the players and teams who will be under consideration.


ABOUT THE SCOUT PICKS ‘BUS TEAM’

FPL notes: Pep on Marmoush's "impact" + Haaland's fitness

There are, as ever, certain restrictions for our squad:

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

GAMEWEEK 7 FIXTURES

Above: The Gameweek 7 fixtures sorted by difficulty on our Season Ticker.


THE LIKELY LADS

FPL notes: Gabriel hauls, why Saliba was a sub + Livramento injury 3

There will inevitably be a triple-up on Arsenal in Gameweek 7, with midweek minutes, injuries and press conference quotes set to be deciding factors when we finalise our Scout Picks.

For now, we have chosen David Raya (£5.6m), Gabriel Magalhaes (£6.2m) and Viktor Gyokeres (£9.0m).

No team has conceded more goals from set plays than West Ham United since the start of the season, so powerful aerial threat Gabriel is surely the standout option at the back, even factoring in the appointment of Nuno Espirito Santo. Indeed, Michael Keane’s (£4.5m) headed goal for Everton on Monday came after a cleared corner was crossed back into the box.

As for Gyokeres, he has scored three goals in his three home matches, with four of his seven attempts at the Emirates ‘big chances’. Bukayo Saka (£9.8m) and Eberechi Eze (£7.5m) are also worthy of consideration.

Representation from Bournemouth seems likely. Should Fulham strikers Raul Jimenez (£6.3m) and Rodrigo Muniz (£5.5m) continue to be unavailable, Marcos Senesi (£4.9m) is almost certain to be included in the Scout Picks – he is the only player to have collected defensive contribution (DefCon) points in each of his six appearances this season. Antoine Semenyo (£7.8m) will be near the top of our shopping list, too.

An away trip to Brentford should also see Erling Haaland (£14.4m) included for obvious reasons.


IN CONTENTION

FPL pre-season: Another Watkins goal, Malen uncertainty + Reijnders brace

The face-off between Chelsea and Liverpool could take many of the usual Scout Picks contenders out of the mix.

Nevertheless, Enzo Maresca will be without Trevoh Chalobah (£5.2m), Tosin Adarabioyo (£4.4m) and Wesley Fofana (£4.4m) in Gameweek 7. It leaves Jorrel Hato (£4.8m), Benoit Badiashile (£4.4m) and Josh Acheampong (£4.0m) as the only fit centre-halves, thereby lifting the appeal of Mohamed Salah (£14.5m), Alexander Isak (£10.6m) and co. Midweek minutes for Liverpool against Galatasaray will need to be monitored first, however.

Elsewhere, it’d be foolish to dismiss the credentials of Bruno Fernandes (£9.0m) despite his penalty miss on Saturday. Bryan Mbeumo (£8.1m), unbeaten for shots, penalty box touches and non-penalty expected goal involvement (NPxGI) among his teammates is another consideration. He could certainly do well against a Sunderland side that has allowed the second-most chances to be created from their left flank this season. This fixture could also revive interest in Matheus Cunha (£8.0m), although plenty of teams have found it difficult to break down the Black Cats this term. Upon reviewing the table below, Granit Xhaka (£5.0m) and Wilson Isidor (£5.6m) might actually be better shouts at Sunderland.

At St James’ Park, Anthony Gordon (£7.4m) and Nick Woltemade (£7.1m) will fancy their chances of bolstering their goal counts against a Nottingham Forest side who haven’t banked a single shut-out this season. Gordon, meanwhile, has somehow racked up the highest expected goals (xG) figure of any Newcastle United player over the first six Gameweeks, despite missing three matches due to suspension.

Newcastle defensive representation, be it through Nick Pope (£5.0m), Dan Burn (£5.0m) or Kieran Trippier (£5.0m), also looks on the cards for the Scout Picks, with only three teams scoring at a worse rate than Forest.

Midfielders like Phil Foden (£8.1m), Mohammed Kudus (£6.7m), Jeremy Doku (£6.5m), Ismaila Sarr (£6.4m), Yankuba Minteh (£5.9m), Tijjani Reijnders (£5.8m) and Jaidon Anthony (£5.6m) are potential inclusions, while there is no shortage of candidates at the back, with Josko Gvardiol (£5.8m), Pedro Porro (£5.6m), Maxence Lacroix (£5.1m), Micky van de Ven (£4.8m), Matty Cash (£4.6m) and Chris Richards (£4.5m) amongst those likely to be under consideration in our midweek Scout Squad selections.

Sarr and Minteh are included in the ‘bus team’. Sarr’s 7.3 points per start in 2025/26 ranks second among midfielders (see image below), while Minteh has either scored or assisted in each of his last three outings.

From the other forwards, Ollie Watkins (£8.7m), Jean-Philippe Mateta (£7.5m) and Richarlison (£6.8m) look to be the early frontrunners, with the former currently installed in the ‘bus team’ alongside Haaland and Gyokeres. A home clash looks pretty appealing for Watkins, given that Burnley have conceded 11 goals in their three away matches.  


THE LONGER SHOTS

FPL pre-season: New £4.5m West Ham left-back Diouf shines

You’d be hard-pressed to make a case for a Manchester United defender this week, even with a home fixture against newly-promoted opposition.

It’ll also be a tough ask for any Everton players to force their way past others, with Crystal Palace unbeaten in 18 matches.

Brighton and Hove Albion are yet to keep a clean sheet this season, but there probably won’t be too many takers in Jorgen Strand Larsen (£6.4m), given Wolverhampton Wanderers’ lack of goal threat in the opening six Gameweeks.


GAMEWEEK 7 EARLY SCOUT PICKS


VOTE FOR FANTASY FOOTBALL SCOUT AT THE 2025 FCAS!

208 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Dynamic Duos
    • 12 Years
    2 months, 6 days ago

    How's this?

    Petrovic
    Munoz Senesi Andersen
    Saka Eze Semenyo Reijnders
    Haaland Pedro Woltemade

    Dubravka Xavi Gudmundsson Tosin

    1. Aceaceace007
      • 2 Years
      2 months, 6 days ago

      Midfielder and forward line looks good.
      With Odegaard back, what will that mean for Eze? Playing well so perhaps LW starts in the next few game weeks.

      Not sure about the Bournemouth defense double up though

    2. Weeb Kakashi
      • 9 Years
      2 months, 6 days ago

      Arsenal defence?

    3. Dynamic Duos
      • 12 Years
      2 months, 6 days ago

      2.5m itb to get Arsenal def

  2. Weeb Kakashi
    • 9 Years
    2 months, 6 days ago

    Thoughts on this GW8 WC.

    Pope Dubravka
    Saliba Andersen Richards Tosin Alderete
    Salah Palmer Sarr Minteh Reijnders
    Haaland DCL 4.3

    0.2 ITB. Any improvements? Note the WC is for GW8.

    1. Aceaceace007
      • 2 Years
      2 months, 6 days ago

      Would get Gabriel with that 0.2, although will probably rise to be out of reach by then.

      Minteh on form but will have NEW and MAN those two game weeks after the wildcard.

      Why not downgrade Palmer and go Enzo and Pedro?

      1. Weeb Kakashi
        • 9 Years
        2 months, 6 days ago

        Expected folks to suggest dropping Palmer. But he is in there for the GW11 captaincy.

        Haaland and Salah play each other that week. Although Arsenal play Burnley

        1. Aceaceace007
          • 2 Years
          2 months, 6 days ago

          GW11 is a long way away. If playing WC in GW8, may as well roll and get him in that way if needs be

          1. Weeb Kakashi
            • 9 Years
            2 months, 6 days ago

            Makes sense. Will give it a rethink and potential alternatives.

            Another option was Isak instead of Palmer. Means double up with Salah. Pretty differential.

            MUN bre AVL. Great for attacking returns. Can then get Palmer later for either Salah/Isak

            1. Aceaceace007
              • 2 Years
              2 months, 6 days ago

              I like that thought. Once Isak starts scoring, I reckon it'll unlock Salah points also

    2. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 months, 6 days ago

      I am not in Salah + Haaland camp, and my brain could not reach GW8 as yet 😛

      The team look good btw, just the DCL pick does not give me good feeling. Maybe Palmer to Enzo and upgrade DCL.

      1. Weeb Kakashi
        • 9 Years
        2 months, 6 days ago

        Can give DCL 5 weeks. The fixtures are great. He is playing 90 and is probably on pens as well. Getting on the end of big chances too. 5.5 I think il give it a go

      2. Weeb Kakashi
        • 9 Years
        2 months, 6 days ago

        Palmer is in there for the GW11 captaincy

  3. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    2 months, 6 days ago

    Repost - Which combo would you prefer this week?
    A. Richarlison (lee) Rice/Eze (WHU)
    B. Gyokeres (WHU) Pedro (LIV)

    1. Weeb Kakashi
      • 9 Years
      2 months, 6 days ago

      A

    2. Aceaceace007
      • 2 Years
      2 months, 6 days ago

      B

      Fancy a Gyokeres brace at least against WHU

      1. Obi 1 Kenobi 0
          2 months, 6 days ago

          As above, I think Gyok is due a couple this week

    3. LS11
      • 1 Year
      2 months, 6 days ago

      Exact money to do Grealish to Eze. Thoughts?

      Raya (Dubs)
      VDV Sensei Andersen (Gud) (Reinildo)
      Salah Semenyo Grealish Reijnders (King)
      Haaland JP Mateta

      1. Aceaceace007
        • 2 Years
        2 months, 6 days ago

        Rondon instead of Reinildo for me

    4. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 months, 6 days ago

      Liverpool team news - Salah, Isak benched

      Team to play Galatasaray: Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Jones, Szoboszlai; Wirtz, Ekitke, Gakpo

      Subs: Mamardashvili, Woodman, Gomez, Endo, Isak, Mac Allister, Salah, Bradley, Robertson, Rio

      1. White Pony
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        2 months, 6 days ago

        Well, well.

      2. chocolove
        • 15 Years
        2 months, 6 days ago

        Wow

      3. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        2 months, 6 days ago

        Team to play Liverpool: Cakir, Singo, Sanchez, Badakci, Jakobs, Lemina, Toerreira, Gundogan, Akgun, Osmihen, Yilmaz

        Substitutes: Guvenc, Balatci, Sallai, Sara, Icardi, Sane, Elmali, Kutlu, Kutucu, Ayhan, Demir, Unyay

        1. Aceaceace007
          • 2 Years
          2 months, 6 days ago

          That Galatasray squad looks alright on paper you know.

          Same,Lemina,Gundogan,Torreira,Oshihmen and Yilmaz

    5. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 months, 6 days ago

      Ekitike leads the line

      With Wirtz and Gakpo

      Salah and Isak ready on the bench

      Possibly good news for Isak minutes at Chelsea, depending on how this evening goes.

      1. Obi 1 Kenobi 0
          2 months, 6 days ago

          Yeah that’s Isak starting at the weekend I would think

          1. Pompel
            • 11 Years
            2 months, 6 days ago

            And maybe not looking good for Gakpo. Need to get rid

      2. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        2 months, 6 days ago

        Tottenham team news - Danso starts with Simons and Kudus benched
        Spurs: Vicario; Porro, Danso, Van de Ven, Spence; Bentancur, Sarr, Bergvall; Johnson, Richarlison, Odobert.

        Subs: Kinsky, Austin, Palhinha, Simons, Udogie, Gray, Kudus, Davies, Scarlett, Olusesi, Hardy.

        Bodo/Glimt team news
        Bodo/Glimt: Haikin, Bjortuft, Aleesami, Berg, Auklend, Hogh, Hauge, Bjorkan, Brunstad Fet, Sjovold, Evjen.

        Subs: Faye Lund, Sjong, Nielsen, Gundersen, Blomberg, Helmersen, Klynge, Riisnaes, Maatta, Jorgensen, Hansen

        1. Feanor
          • 16 Years
          2 months, 6 days ago

          Nice rest for Kudus

      3. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        2 months, 6 days ago

        Chelsea team news - Caicedo passed fit, Garnacho starts

        Team to face Benfica: Sanchez, Gusto, Badiashile, Chalobah, Cucurella, Caicedo, Enzo, Neto, Garnacho, Buonanotte, George

        Team to face Chelsea: Trubin, Dedic, Silva, Otamendi, Dahl, Aursnes, Rios, Lukebakio, Sudakov, Barrenchea, Pavlidis.

      4. EDEN THE MAN
        • 9 Years
        2 months, 6 days ago

        Bench who?

        Romero (lee)
        Kudus (lee)
        Mbeumo (SUN)
        Semenyo (FUL)
        Reijnders (bre)
        Pedro (LIV)
        Isak (che)

        1. Obi 1 Kenobi 0
            2 months, 6 days ago

            Mbeumo and pedro for me

        2. -GK22-
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          2 months, 6 days ago

          WC now or wait till 8, below doesn’t fill me with confidence, not even for BB?

          Sels
          Senesi, De cuypers, Porro
          Semenyo, Bruno, Ndiaye, Reijnders, Rogers
          Haaland, Bowen

          Dub, wood, Cucurella, Hartman

        3. AC/DC AFC
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          2 months, 6 days ago

          Last time Salah was benched by Klopp, three years ago.

          He scored a 6 minute hat trick against Rangers.

          1. Salarrivederci
            • 9 Years
            2 months, 6 days ago

            So a 3 minute six trick against defenderless Chelsea?

        4. BobbyDoesNotLook
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          2 months, 6 days ago

          Interesting. A lot of rotation from PL teams. Most noticeable of course Salah benching at this point of UCL. Also Kudus, Xavi, Pedro etc.

          1. Salarrivederci
            • 9 Years
            2 months, 6 days ago

            League is simply harder.

            Tbf Liverpool would survive with 1 point in Türkiye, but would want the win against Chelsea.

            Same goes for Spurs.

        5. Tonyawesome69
          • 6 Years
          2 months, 6 days ago

          Strange to see Salah on the bench. He got his rest last week in EFL cup.

          Slot confirmed Frimpong is playing RW

          1. Tonyawesome69
            • 6 Years
            2 months, 6 days ago

            Salah hasn't been particularly great this season

            1. Feanor
              • 16 Years
              2 months, 6 days ago

              he's been poor going back to March

            2. Ball Ake
              • 1 Year
              2 months, 6 days ago

              Interesting choice, not sure what more Chiesa has to do to get a start on the right. Frimpomg did start out as a winger, better work rate tracking back too presumably

              1. Tonyawesome69
                • 6 Years
                2 months, 6 days ago

                Arne Slot on Federico Chiesa: "He has a little niggle. He tried it today; he was on the pitch at the start but couldn't end the training session.

                "We decided not to take him because in a few days we play Chelsea."

                1. Ball Ake
                  • 1 Year
                  2 months, 6 days ago

                  Ah, missed that, cheers. He doesn't have the best luck with injuries that fella

        6. Stevie B
          • 15 Years
          2 months, 6 days ago

          Would you wildcard this lot?

          Vicario, Dubravka
          Pedro Porro, Cucurella, Guehi, Ballard, Esteve
          Semenyo, B. Fernandes, Foden, Reijnders, Anderson
          Joao Pedro, Wood, Haaland

          Thank you!

        7. Freshy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 15 Years
          2 months, 6 days ago

          Slot needs to try every option available to get Salah on track

        8. Ajax Hamsterdam
          • 11 Years
          2 months, 6 days ago

          FFS trying to convince myself to ditch bruno on wc and here he pops up in the team of the week...

        9. Make FPL Casual Again
          • 7 Years
          2 months, 6 days ago

          Hopefully the benching might spark Salah's motivation a bit for Chelsea, or Slot is clearly signally his intention to reconfigure the team away from Salah

          1. Ball Ake
            • 1 Year
            2 months, 6 days ago

            Maybe, Eze's arrival at Arsenal seems to have improved Martinelli and Trossard's form

            1. Make FPL Casual Again
              • 7 Years
              2 months, 6 days ago

              He plays for pool though....

              1. Ball Ake
                • 1 Year
                2 months, 6 days ago

                Lol

              2. Ball Ake
                • 1 Year
                2 months, 6 days ago

                This is the facetiousness I signed up to this place for!

        10. Sandy Ravage
          • 9 Years
          2 months, 6 days ago

          Lots of 1-pointers coming up this weekend...

          1. The Bandit
            • 15 Years
            2 months, 6 days ago

            I had my share last week. 9 players who scored 14 between them 😆

            1. Obi 1 Kenobi 0
                2 months, 6 days ago

                I feel your pain pal, I feel your pain

            2. Obi 1 Kenobi 0
                2 months, 6 days ago

                Elaborate

            3. The Bandit
              • 15 Years
              2 months, 6 days ago

              Sky have Frimpong at RB, Szlob RM and Wirtz in Salah role.

                1. The Bandit
                  • 15 Years
                  2 months, 6 days ago

                  I know, that’s why I posted it. Should’ve added a 🙄

            4. @FPL__Engineer
              • 5 Years
              2 months, 6 days ago

              Saka Eze or Gyokeres on wildcard

              1. Ajax Hamsterdam
                • 11 Years
                2 months, 6 days ago

                Gyo maybe more nailed and on pens

            5. Make FPL Casual Again
              • 7 Years
              2 months, 6 days ago

              Guehi not really being mentioned in best defender reviews despite him having 4th highest points and best combination of attributes - cleans, defcons, attacking returns, cheap, practically fixture proof.......thoughts?

              1. Ajax Hamsterdam
                • 11 Years
                2 months, 6 days ago

                Attacking returns might dry up ?

                1. Make FPL Casual Again
                  • 7 Years
                  2 months, 6 days ago

                  His heat map shows he's getting into the box a lot more than last year....so they might trail off, but he's still getting into good positions.....

                  1. Make FPL Casual Again
                    • 7 Years
                    2 months, 6 days ago

                    and shots per game has doubled....

              2. Obi 1 Kenobi 0
                  2 months, 6 days ago

                  Ssshhh 🙂

                • Obi 1 Kenobi 0
                    2 months, 6 days ago

                    But in all seriousness I’ve had him in since GW1, have made some errors benching him mind so he’s gonna be a set and forget for me now

                  • Ball Ake
                    • 1 Year
                    2 months, 6 days ago

                    Quality player and an example of how to deal with transfer disappointment. Probably because of God and that

                    1. Obi 1 Kenobi 0
                        2 months, 6 days ago

                        Lol

                  • PartyTime
                    • 4 Years
                    2 months, 6 days ago

                    Mbappe(C) & Güler 😎

                  • Assisting the assister
                    • 9 Years
                    2 months, 6 days ago

                    Who’s best as a punt on WC? Bowen or Woltemade?

                    1. WVA
                      • 9 Years
                      2 months, 6 days ago

                      Started the season with Bowen, he and West Ham were awful and I sold him for Mateta, Bowen has since smashed him

                    2. The Mandalorian
                      • 13 Years
                      2 months, 6 days ago

                      Neither. Go 5 in midfield. Forwards not good value this season.

                      1. Feanor
                        • 16 Years
                        2 months, 6 days ago

                        Still need two forwards

                    3. F4L
                      • 10 Years
                      2 months, 6 days ago

                      bowen

                  • WVA
                    • 9 Years
                    2 months, 6 days ago

                    Still no idea what team I would wildcard to so will definitely be waiting until at least the international break!

                    Tempted on something like this.

                    Pope Dub
                    Senesi Guehi Gabriel Chalobah Rodon
                    Semenyo Antony Enzo Graveberch Stach
                    Haaland Gyokeres Wolt

                    1. Count of Monte Hristo
                      • 12 Years
                      2 months, 6 days ago

                      Doubt things will be that much clearer by then tbh.

                      1. WVA
                        • 9 Years
                        2 months, 6 days ago

                        Anything helps

                  • The Mandalorian
                    • 13 Years
                    2 months, 6 days ago

                    Frimpong at RW

                    Slot probably missing Diazs defensive running so in comes Frimpong.

                    Slot either figures this out or he unravels.

                    Kerkez, Frimpong and Wirtz have all flopped so far.

                  • Tonyawesome69
                    • 6 Years
                    2 months, 6 days ago

                    Arne Slot on Mohamed Salah not starting:

                    “Indeed, Jeremie is not playing as a right full-back, he’s playing on the right wing.

                    “We also said that we have many games to play. In a few days there’s another big game coming up.”

                    “We have to utilise our squad and utilising doesn’t always mean from the start, players can come in as well. In many of our games, players have impacted the game coming off the bench.”

                    “They were talking about the last time Mo [Salah] scored three coming off the bench against Rangers, and I know who the manager of Rangers was back then.”

                    “That is my current assistant Gio van Bronckhorst, so they’ve spoken about this already.”

                    https://x.com/DaveOCKOP/status/1973095936202272924?t=TgZ087VrQsRjqKCNzeTKDA&s=19

                  • F4L
                    • 10 Years
                    2 months, 6 days ago

                    damn, cold from slot to drop salah this early in the season

                    1. WVA
                      • 9 Years
                      2 months, 6 days ago

                      Kudus and Pedro dropped too

                      1. F4L
                        • 10 Years
                        2 months, 6 days ago

                        😛

                        this is a tough match, slot hasnt shone any instinct since coming in to bench salah. cant see how it can just be a rest, its related to his form. what matters now is how he reacts to it

                        1. F4L
                          • 10 Years
                          2 months, 6 days ago

                          *shown not shone

                    2. Salarrivederci
                      • 9 Years
                      2 months, 6 days ago

                      Feels so much better playing Salah against Chelsea now.

                      Well rested!

                  • Corgz Dark side of the Loon
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 10 Years
                    2 months, 6 days ago

                    Evening everyone, regardless of tonight....bench Ekiteke ( A) Chelsea or Xavi (spurs A ) to Leeds ??

                    1. Tonyawesome69
                      • 6 Years
                      2 months, 6 days ago

                      Mins played tonight will impact the weekend...

                    2. F4L
                      • 10 Years
                      2 months, 6 days ago

                      would play ekitike if he does well today

                  • Garfield1001
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 11 Years
                    2 months, 6 days ago

                    Would you bench boost this:

                    Dubravka (avl)
                    Richards (eve)
                    Rodon (TOT)
                    Stach (TOT)

                    Thanks

                    1. Count of Monte Hristo
                      • 12 Years
                      2 months, 6 days ago

                      I wouldn’t personally

                    2. F4L
                      • 10 Years
                      2 months, 6 days ago

                      its not the worst bench boost, can see 11-15 points for it

                    3. Haa-lala-land
                      • 5 Years
                      2 months, 6 days ago

                      8 not ideal for BB with Leeds Burnley playing one another

                      9 would look good if you can handle Richards V Arsenal

                      1. Tonyawesome69
                        • 6 Years
                        2 months, 6 days ago

                        Another drawback of BB8 is that it comes right after the IB, when players may return late or get injured.

                    4. Tonyawesome69
                      • 6 Years
                      2 months, 6 days ago

                      Yes

                    5. WVA
                      • 9 Years
                      2 months, 6 days ago

                      No, why rush it

                  • F4L
                    • 10 Years
                    2 months, 6 days ago

                    ekitike missed big chance

                    1. F4L
                      • 10 Years
                      2 months, 6 days ago

                      *gala pen straight after, oof