Scout Picks
16 January 2026 103 comments
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Following the Scout Squad submissions of Marc, Sam, Tom F and Neale, we have finalised our Scout Picks for Gameweek 22 of Fantasy Premier League (FPL).

As usual, we are limited by certain restrictions.

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

GAMEWEEK 22 SCOUT PICKS

GOALKEEPER

Big Numbers: 22 stand-out stats for FPL Gameweek 12

The betting money wouldn’t be on a goalfest at the Stadium of Light, with Sunderland and Crystal Palace among the division’s lowest scoring teams in 2025/26. Robin Roefs (£4.9m), who has kept two clean sheets in his last three home matches, is currently averaging more points per match (4.5) than any other goalkeeper this season.

DEFENDERS

FPL pre-season: Wirtz assists, Frimpong OOP + £4.5m def brace

If you’re looking for attacking returns from your defenders, Gabriel Magalhaes (£6.7m) and Jeremie Frimpong (£5.7m) are among the first names that come to mind.

Gabriel has amassed 30 points over the last three Gameweeks since returning from injury, thanks to two goals, two clean sheets, three bonus and two defensive contribution (DefCon) points. The Brazilians’ penchant for goals from corners could be key this week, with opponents Nottingham Forest among the worst four teams for set-piece goals conceded (10) in 2025/26.

As for Arsenal, they boast the most shut-outs (10) and fewest expected goals conceded (xGC, 15.2), so Gabriel has the potential to earn points at both ends of the pitch.

Meanwhile, we’re backing Frimpong to torment Burnley at Anfield in Gameweek 22. Liverpool have kept three clean sheets in their last six matches, with the Dutchman contributing three assists during that spell. Also on target in the FA Cup win over Barnsley on Monday, Frimpong should be afforded plenty of license to bomb forward from full-back.

There’s admittedly a bit of hesitancy towards picking Tottenham Hotspur players right now, but opponents West Ham United have failed to score in three of their last five matches, which bodes well for Micky van de Ven (£4.6m). The Hammers are also joint-bottom for set-piece goals conceded, another route to points for the Dutch centre-back. Boosted by the arrival of Conor Gallagher (£5.5m), it’s worth noting Spurs have ground out two clean sheets since Boxing Day, ranking fourth for xGC over the last four Gameweeks.

MIDFIELDERS

FPL notes: Calafiori ban + Rice the top-scoring midfielder
 

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103 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Baros Boy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    19 mins ago

    A) Timber & Enzo
    B) Chalobah & Rice

    First to three..go! Thanks

    1. Punned It
        12 mins ago

        B

      • Cheeky Reijnders
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        7 mins ago

        B

      • Jebiga
        • 13 Years
        just now

        B

    2. Atimis
      • 9 Years
      19 mins ago

      I really don’t like Enzo as an option this or next week, maybe I’m just stubborn but don’t think it’s good buying into Chelsea without knowing how they will shape, also Brentford is not a good fixture to start with.

      1. One More Hit
        • 7 Years
        16 mins ago

        I've not had him all season. My lad had Pedro Neto for a fair few weeks but got rid last week. Chelsea just too inconsistent

      2. Atimis
        • 9 Years
        15 mins ago

        Could be then Rogers as kind of set and forget, or Wirtz for next 2 weeks and reassess. Either way, would have 3FTs in GW24 and switching Ekitike to BrunoF, third FT could be Foden to Enzo, Saka to Palmer, or that Wirtz/Rogers out. Thoughts?

      3. KunDogan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        13 mins ago

        Agreed

      4. Atimis
        • 9 Years
        11 mins ago

        I would love to buy Semenyo but probably too xMins concerning?

      5. Drip Doctor
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        just now

        Yeah I don't get the pick

    3. One More Hit
      • 7 Years
      17 mins ago

      Rolling to get 3FT next week feasible?

      Roefs

      Gabriel - Timber - M Nunes - Van Hecke

      Rice - Rogers - Foden

      Haaland - Ekitike - Thiago

      Foden is feeling like a week spot but quite keen on a mini WC in a future week

      1. If you're happy to hold Foden, just roll.

    4. EffPeeEll
      • 5 Years
      17 mins ago

      I have Erling, Cherki, Bill Foden, Guehi and Semenyo. wtf. will i be able to retain all 5?

      1. People in Preston
        • 15 Years
        9 mins ago

        Yes. But you can't make a transfer moving forward until you remove two of them.

        If you have FTs great. If you have 0 FTs it's a -4.

        1. The Tonberry
          • 1 Year
          3 mins ago

          Rumour has it that Pep is also keen on signing Dubravka

        2. * 1FT it's a -4.

    5. Stap
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      17 mins ago

      Who to bench:
      - Pick 2: Tarkowski, Chalobah, Mukiele, O'reilly
      - Pick 1: Wilson, Rice, Tavernier, Foden

      Now I have Mukiele, O'reilly Tavernier on the bench

      1. Punned It
          1 min ago

          Tark, O'Reilly, and tricky. Tavernier or Foden.

      2. Cheeky Reijnders
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        12 mins ago

        Current Midfield:

        Cherki, BrunoG, Saka, Foden, Rogers.

        Would you transfer Cherki > Rice or roll?

        Thanks.

      3. J to the T
        • 8 Years
        10 mins ago

        Bowen and Gravenberch to DCL and Gakpo for freee?

        1. Boxwoods
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          3 mins ago

          Yes, on Bowen to DCL. Gakpo could work short term, but looking past this weekend rather have Wilson, Enzo/Neto, or even Bruno G for his price. Assume you already have Rice (or would need to make more transfers to get)?

        2. JohnnyB10
            just now

            I own them both, will just roll this week, save a ft.

        3. DagheMunegu
          • 5 Years
          10 mins ago

          Bench one

          A O'Reilly
          B Rodon
          C Van Hecke (have Verbruggen)

          1. Boxwoods
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            just now

            A

        4. DRINKWINE
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          6 mins ago

          Semenyo on a wc, yes o no? need to take some gambles to turn around my season

          1. Boxwoods
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            1 min ago

            Yeah, go for it. But don't take a lot more gambles with the lineup in case it goes sideways.

            1. DRINKWINE
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 8 Years
              just now

              This is how it looks like:

              Roefs - Dub
              Senesi - Alderete - Timber - Gabriel - VdV
              Rogers - Bruno F - Wilson - Rice - Semenyo
              Haaland - Thiago - Kroupi

          2. DRINKWINE
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            1 min ago

            Also, what about Guehi?

        5. Jebiga
          • 13 Years
          4 mins ago

          Who to bench?

          1. Thiago
          2. Calwert Lewin
          3. Foden

          1. Boxwoods
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            1 min ago

            No other options?

            1. Jebiga
              • 13 Years
              just now

              Bruno gimaraes, Enzo, rice, haland, wirtz...

        6. Ray85
          • 8 Years
          3 mins ago

          Tarkowski v Villa or Reinaldo v Palace?

        7. Junks
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 4 Years
          just now

          2FT 0.9ITB
          Kelleher Dubravka
          Cash Gabriel LewisPotter Keane Alderete
          Rogers Wilson Wirtz Foden Garner
          Woltemade Haaland Ekitike

          Really struggling to decide on andbe happy with the best Keane replacement so Is it worth rolling this and starting Alderete and having 3fts for next GW to then downgrade Woltemade and upgrade Garner & Keane?