Scout Picks
16 January 2026 277 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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277 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 hours, 12 mins ago

    Captain Ekitike? Yay or Nay?

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

      My many better weeks to go against Haaland

  2. Paul W.
    • 4 Years
    3 hours, 10 mins ago

    Pick one to start (and bench order for the other two):

    1) Andersen (LEE A)
    2) Gudmundsson (FUL H)
    3) Reinildo (CPU H)

    1. denial
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      3 hours, 3 mins ago

      3
      2,1

      1. Paul W.
        • 4 Years
        2 hours, 48 mins ago

        Thanks denial

  3. denial
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    3 hours, 7 mins ago

    Saka to Rice FT?

    1. Boxwoods
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 hours, 2 mins ago

      Any other way to get Rice?

  4. gemmalmr92
    • 10 Years
    3 hours, 2 mins ago

    Wildcard team. Any changes recommended? £2.2m left

    Roefs
    Gabriel - Timber - Chalobah - Thiaw
    Rice - Wirtz - Rogers - Enzo - Mitoma
    Haaland

    Dubravka - Thiago - Kroupi Jr - Guehi

    Torn between Wirtz and Bruno F but could make that change in a couple of weeks..Alternatively could swap for Palmer and replace Enzo?

    1. Boxwoods
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 hours, 56 mins ago

      Good looking team with the funds for midfield upgrades. I don’t mind the short term Wirtz punt, but could also go straight to Bruno. Not sure about Thiaw. What about someone like Tark or Mukiele instead?

  5. Phlajo
    • 6 Years
    3 hours, 1 min ago

    Play one of...
    A - Foden
    B - Wilson

    1. Snoop Udogie Dogg
      • 5 Years
      2 hours, 11 mins ago

      B

  6. Flynny
    • 10 Years
    3 hours, 1 min ago

    Hi.....1ft and 0.3m. Am I good to save ft here?

    Richards can start if leaked that cherki/ foden benched. Thanks

    Raya
    Gabriel hall alderete (richards anderson)
    Saka foden cunha cherki anderson
    Haaland ekiteke (guiu)

  7. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
    • 10 Years
    2 hours, 54 mins ago

    Worth selling foden? Thinking either Wirtz or Enzo as a replacement…

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • 9 Years
      2 hours, 52 mins ago

      Hold one more week, if he does well against United and is rested vs Bodo Glimt you'd imagine hed' be primed to start at home vs Wolves next GW

  8. Junks
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    2 hours, 53 mins ago

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

    Best Keane replacement? - There isn't one replacement that excites me... help!!!???? I'm 0.1 short for Frimpong!

  9. fredmnz
    • 3 Years
    2 hours, 50 mins ago

    Hi all,

    Have both Cherki and Semenyo. Really dont want to have both...
    Which one do you think will start in GW22? and which will be the best on the long run?

    cheers

    1. Boxwoods
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 hours, 47 mins ago

      Not the answer you probably want, but I just don’t think we know yet.

      1. fredmnz
        • 3 Years
        2 hours, 43 mins ago

        yeah I know...my feeling is Cherki starts on GW22 and Semenyo won't, but then Semenyo will be the first choice (over Cherki or over someone else)

        1. Boxwoods
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          2 hours, 39 mins ago

          I’m agree with you. But would just hold both this week.

  10. Mr Arsenal
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 hours, 48 mins ago

    When will Guehi be a ManCity player in FPL..?

    1. g40steve
      • 7 Years
      2 hours, 33 mins ago

      Six hours ago according to Rom

  11. Round Ball In Net
    • 3 Years
    2 hours, 48 mins ago

    Cunha out for:
    A) Enzo or
    B) Wilson

    (Using funds for Gabriel)

  12. Garfield1001
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 hours, 48 mins ago

    Play Andersen (lee) or NOR (mun)?

    Thanks

  13. OptimusBlack
    • 12 Years
    2 hours, 48 mins ago

    Who to get instead of Cunha if u have
    Foden Cherki Saka ***
    Haaland Thiago Watkins
    A- Rogers
    B- Wirtz
    C- Wilson
    D- Gakpo
    E- Another one.

    1. Round Ball In Net
      • 3 Years
      2 hours, 46 mins ago

      This is my dilemma. I'm thinking Wilson or Enzo

  14. Atwood
    • 15 Years
    2 hours, 47 mins ago

    What are Minteh owners doing? Been wanting to sell for a while but Bou(H) is a nice fixture if he's fit enough to start

  15. Miguel Sanchez
    • 9 Years
    2 hours, 47 mins ago

    Which combo do you prefer?

    A) Saka and Enzo
    B) Rice and Palmer

    1. Boxwoods
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 hours, 42 mins ago

      Got to have Rice. Palmer needs to show us something first in my view, but I’m not wild about Enzo. If you don’t want two ARS midfield, I guess you could take a flyer on Palmer. If he can get healthy, he should be able to get back to best form.

      Or Rice and Enzo with funds to upgrade if Palmer starts firing.

    2. Bunk Moreland
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 hours, 21 mins ago

      Rice and Enzo.

    3. Snoop Udogie Dogg
      • 5 Years
      2 hours, 10 mins ago

      B

  16. Jafooli
    • 13 Years
    2 hours, 44 mins ago

    Anyone else considering Cunha > Semenyo?

    1. Boxwoods
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 hours, 41 mins ago

      Not a bad shout.

      1. Jafooli
        • 13 Years
        2 hours, 38 mins ago

        Cheers…done 🙂

  17. Tmel
    • 15 Years
    2 hours, 41 mins ago

    FPL Draft question- which two would you rather have in the medium-term?

    a) Cunha
    b) Mitoma
    c) Schade

    1. Boxwoods
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 hours, 33 mins ago

      B

    2. Snoop Udogie Dogg
      • 5 Years
      2 hours, 9 mins ago

      AB

  18. Gazzpfc
    • 9 Years
    2 hours, 39 mins ago

    Wildcard
    Verbruggen (Kelleher)

    Timber Gabriel Chalobah (Alderete Munoz)

    Roger’s Enzo Wirtz Rice (Wilson)

    Haaland Thiago Ekitika

    1 Chalobah or Frimpong
    2 Wirtz or Bruno G

    ???

    1. Snoop Udogie Dogg
      • 5 Years
      2 hours, 8 mins ago

      Frim
      Wirtz

  19. Pomp and Circumstance
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    2 hours, 34 mins ago

    front 8--who gets benched? asking as it's a tough decision this week

    Saka, Foden, Semenyo, Wilson, Bruno G.
    Haaland, Watkins, Thiago

    thanks in advance for your input!

    1. Boxwoods
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 hours, 31 mins ago

      That is tough. Probably Wilson or BG.

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • 9 Years
      2 hours, 31 mins ago

      Bruno

    3. The Road to Turfdom
      • 9 Years
      2 hours, 6 mins ago

      Foden or BG for me but don't love any

  20. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    2 hours, 23 mins ago

    Sitting Foden - agree?
    Saka(VC)-Foden-Rogers-Rice-Cherki
    Haaland(C)-Watkins-Thaigo

    1. MIGHTY JOE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 hours, 17 mins ago

      Cherki for me

    2. Herger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      2 hours, 3 mins ago

      No chance. Foden usually sticks Man Utd on a leash

  21. MIGHTY JOE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 hours, 20 mins ago

    Tough start to 2026 and I’m pretty set on using my WC24. My rank has dropped from ~2k to 21k over the last three gameweeks…

    With only the next two gameweeks in mind, who would you replace Cunha with?

    A) Tavernier
    B) Enzo
    C) Wirtz
    D) Gakpo
    E) Other?

    Current midfield: Foden, Schade, Gordon, Saka.

    1. The Tonberry
      • 1 Year
      1 hour, 46 mins ago

      For a two week punt I'd go with one of the Liverpool lads

  22. The-Red-1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 hours, 10 mins ago

    Anyone brave enough to be captaining Gab over Haaland?

    1. Stevie B
      • 15 Years
      2 hours, 8 mins ago

      I will go safe,

    2. Snoop Udogie Dogg
      • 5 Years
      2 hours, 8 mins ago

      don't

      1. Snoop Udogie Dogg
        • 5 Years
        2 hours ago

        *not necessarily captaining Haal tho

  23. Stevie B
    • 15 Years
    2 hours, 9 mins ago

    Which defender you would choose if you can spend 5.6

    Thank you!

  24. ididnt
    • 14 Years
    2 hours, 8 mins ago

    Which transfer.

    A. Cunha > Wirtz
    B. Foden > Wirtz
    C. Cunha > Bruno G
    D. Watkins > Ekiteke

    1. The Road to Turfdom
      • 9 Years
      2 hours, 7 mins ago

      A or B if any

  25. Sandy Ravage
    • 9 Years
    2 hours, 7 mins ago

    could Saka be benched?

    1. The Road to Turfdom
      • 9 Years
      2 hours, 7 mins ago

      I don't think he will be, but it's definitely possible

    2. Herger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      2 hours, 4 mins ago

      Of course

    3. Royal5
      • 14 Years
      1 hour, 53 mins ago

      Yep worried about it. Not very good atm either

  26. The Road to Turfdom
    • 9 Years
    2 hours, 7 mins ago

    posted on wrong thread, grateful for any thoughts!

    GTG (save)? (0.2m, 1FT). Midfield bit crap - Wilson/Rogers?

    Kelleher (Dub)
    Gabriel Rodon Konate (Tarko, Dorgu)
    Saka Wirtz Cherki Gordon Cunha
    Haaland (C?) Thiago (Guiu)

    Thank you!

    1. tbos83
      • 5 Years
      2 hours, 1 min ago

      I'd do Cunha > Rice

      1. The Road to Turfdom
        • 9 Years
        1 hour, 53 mins ago

        thanks! chance I want arsenal double def?

  27. Leo14CFC
    • 1 Year
    2 hours, 2 mins ago

    Is Palmer going to play tomorrow ?

    1. Snoop Udogie Dogg
      • 5 Years
      1 hour, 59 mins ago

      have a hunch based on absolutely nothing that he will

    2. Herger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      1 hour, 58 mins ago

      Certainly possible

  28. Essan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    1 hour, 59 mins ago

    Anyone else think Man City could maul Utd tomorrow and Haaland get 2pts?

  29. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 11 Years
    1 hour, 57 mins ago

    Shall I hit transfer for timber to Gabriel? Feels so sideways but also a non brainer....

  30. Camzy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    1 hour, 55 mins ago

    I think I'm actually gonna do it. Wirtz (c). If he gets any return at all he gets bonus because of how creative he is. Why not take a bit of a risk? Seems a decent time to try.

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 11 Years
      1 hour, 54 mins ago

      You sure like to share your thoughts:) why not go for it.

    2. Stap
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      1 hour, 54 mins ago

      Also thinking about it, it's difficult to go against Haaland, especially because United is bad defensively

    3. People in Preston
      • 15 Years
      1 hour, 40 mins ago

      I'm with you.