Scout Picks
18 September 2026 201 comments
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With the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Gameweek 5 deadline looming, it’s time to nail down the Scout Picks.

This is, essentially, a Free Hit in all but name, with each selection made with a focus on the upcoming Gameweek in isolation. Selections made in the Scout Squad are a big factor when it comes to deciding who made the final cut.

As ever, certain restrictions limit us:

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

GAMEWEEK 5 SCOUT PICKS

GOALKEEPER

FPL notes: White injury, Saka + Le Fee pens, Raya haul

Arsenal travel to Brighton and Hove Albion, the division’s top scorers, this Saturday. However, the Gunners remain high up the clean sheet odds in Gameweek 5, which reflects their robust defensive displays over the years.

Already this season, they have conceded the fewest actual and expected goals (xG), with one and 2.73 respectively. They’ve also kept three clean sheets in four matches. David Raya (£6.0m) meanwhile is on top of the goalkeeper rankings, with 29 points.

DEFENDERS

FPL pre-season: Muharemovic goal + Hume not 'OOP' 1
 

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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

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FPL Scoop London-based freelance journalist and editor, frequently with The i Paper, The Standard, Fantasy Football Scout, and BBC Sport. Follow them on Twitter

201 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. joeynse99
    1 month, 16 days ago

    G2g?
    Kinsky,

    Thiaw, N. Williams, Mykolenko

    Rogers, Szob, MGW, Saka, Tavernier

    Haaland (c) Barry,

    Subs- Verbruggen, Calafiori, Giles, J. Pedro

  2. Killitzer
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Bottomed!

    After a great start my team has fallen off a bit over the last 2 weeks.

    Puzzling out what to do with my 2 FT:

    Kinksy (Vert)
    Konsa Myko Calafiori (Mitchell Egan)
    Rogers Palmer Barnes GroB (Szoboszlai)
    Haaland Isak JP

    I’d like MGW which means either:
    1. Palmer ➡️ MGW
    2. Szob + Isak ➡️ MGW + DCL

    I can of course do nothing and save the FT. Last minute tinkering has been my downfall recently!!

    1. Helia
      1 month, 16 days ago

      I think that's a definite save!

    2. Radulfo28773
      1 month, 16 days ago

      I assume you cannot do Szlobo to MGW? That’s what I did

      1. Killitzer
        1 month, 16 days ago

        £1m short!

  3. Ray85
    1 month, 16 days ago

    De Cuyper or Thomas for first bench for JP?

  4. Helia
    1 month, 16 days ago

    G2G

    Kinsky
    Califiori Munoz Hall
    Rogers MGW szoboslai odegaard
    Haaland(c) Isak JP

    Subs: Konsa slater egan

  5. BobbyDoesNotLook
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    1 month, 16 days ago

    OReilly played 90 yesterday. I guess he is a sell due to huge minutes risk this week and going forward?

    1. FPL Emu
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Yeah I would think so. So many good options

  6. Calafiornication
    1 month, 16 days ago

    1st sub Ajer or Thomas for the JP no show

  7. FPL Emu
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Season is going well, but I am kind of in the dumps with my team this week. Want to save the FT if possible, but not exactly exciting options to field.

    Kinsky (AVL)

    Gvardiol (SUN) - Calafiori (bha) - Maguire (ful)

    Bruno (ful) - Mbeumo (ful) - Ødegaard (SUN) - Rudoni (nfo)

    Pedro (bre) - Haaland (SUN) - Wissa (HUL)

    Subs: Rushworth, ELF (mci), Van Ewijk (nfo), Hume (mci)

    Thoughts?
    I have a weird faith in Rudoni this week, given decent underlying numbers, but obivously playing him, Maguire and possibly ELF is far from optimal.

  8. FantasyFooty01
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Kinsky

    Calafiori, Van Hecke, Muharemovic, Muñoz

    Gibbs-White, Palmer, Rogers

    Haaland (C), García, Calvert-Lewin

    Bench:
    Bentley, Tavernier, Konsa, King

    GW 5 WC team. Opinions? 1.3 ITB

  9. Rabb05
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Muha or Vuskovic on WC long term? Or both but would need to sacrifice double arsenal defence

  10. Ignasi M
    1 month, 16 days ago

    My gut tells me Pedro starts

    1. The Reptile
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Why would he pull of of the Brazil squad now and then play tonight if he isn't injured

      1. Dthinger
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        1 month, 16 days ago

        It happens all the time

    2. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 16 days ago

      In GW6?

  11. Shaw must go on
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Playing wildcard in gmw6...
    Would you get MGW instead semenyo for this week??
    Thanks

    1. NoOneCares
      1 month, 16 days ago

      I wouldn't even consider Semenyo, terrible pick.

      1. Shaw must go on
        1 month, 16 days ago

        I own semenyo..wondering if I should get MGW instead of him...

      2. FOREST FOREVER 2
        1 month, 16 days ago

        The thing with Semenyo this season that he is actually playing very well. but the new system sees him playing very wide creating gaps for the central players as well as the overalpping fullback.

  12. damiang2233
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Delap for Rutter. Good move on a FT?

    1. Tony Moon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Yes indeedy.

    2. Belsunz
      1 month, 16 days ago

      If yo have Delap, surely you'll play him this GW...

  13. Dthinger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Whoa! I only have ONE of the scout picks! Can't wait for my haul!

  14. Bleh
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Best pick this week only?

    A. Schade - CHE (H)
    B. Stach - CRY (H)
    C. Barnes - HUL (H)

    1. Tony Moon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 16 days ago

      C, B, A in that order, for me.

  15. dparran
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Currently have Munoz and Gvardiol, who is the best 3rd defense

    a) Willliams
    b) Hall
    c) Muharemovic

    1. Belsunz
      1 month, 16 days ago

      A

  16. Siva Mohan
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Szob >> MGW (-4)

    do it ?

  17. darlo1883
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Verbruggen
    Calafiori Hall Justin ( Konsa Egan)
    Odegaard Palmer Rogers Barnes (King)
    Haaland c Isak Pedro

    1 roll King 1st sub
    2 Delap for Pedro

  18. Belsunz
    1 month, 16 days ago

    on a free hit: Saka or Mbeumo?