Scout Picks
18 September 2026 192 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

192 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Il Capitano
    • 5 Years
    4 hours, 17 mins ago

    1FT 0 ITB

    Trafford
    Calafiori Hall Konsa
    Palmer Rogers Szob Odegaard
    Haaland (C) Isak JP*

    Dub - Egan De Cuyper Slater

    Roll FT?

    1. aapoman
      • 12 Years
      3 hours, 25 mins ago

      With only 1ft you can roll.

    2. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 hours, 23 mins ago

      Yeah save ft

  2. aapoman
    • 12 Years
    4 hours, 15 mins ago

    Tempted to sell Joao Pedro for Gonzalo and then get Pedro back for Barry in GW7. I've got 3ft currently so feel like that is a fairly low risk move. Would then have 3ft after the international break also.

    1. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 hours, 23 mins ago

      Yeah, I think these scenarios are fine.

  3. The Philosopher
    • 6 Years
    4 hours, 12 mins ago

    Who scores more this GW?

    A: DCL
    B: Barry
    C: Gvardiol

    Start one

    1: De Cuyper
    2: Davis

    *C1 together not an option

    1. aapoman
      • 12 Years
      3 hours, 22 mins ago

      C2

    2. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 hours, 41 mins ago

      A2

    3. Mino Raiola
      • 10 Years
      2 hours, 35 mins ago

      C2

  4. fathers
    • 3 Years
    4 hours, 12 mins ago

    1FT 0.4 ITB

    Lammens
    Calafiori Aina Porro
    Ødegaard Rogers Szobaszlai Mbuemo
    Haaland (C) Isak JP

    Bench: Gomez O'Shea Hume

    A) Porro > Gvardiol
    B) Porro > Muñoz
    C) Roll

    1. PascalCygan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 hours, 18 mins ago

      B

      1. fathers
        • 3 Years
        3 hours, 10 mins ago

        Thanks for commenting

  5. WVA
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 hours, 10 mins ago

    Slightly stuck here? Wanted to save FT for international break/getting Tzolis to Saka.

    A. Play Davis
    B. Hume to Hall for free?

    Kinsky
    Calafiori Gvardiol Konsa
    Bruno Rogers Szoboszlai Tzolis
    Haaland Pedro* DCL
    Dub Davis Slater Hume

    1. PascalCygan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 hours, 19 mins ago

      A

      1. WVA
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 hours, 18 mins ago

        Thanks

  6. PascalCygan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 hours, 10 mins ago

    Starting to doubt myself on wildcard.

    A) Barnes + João Pedro (0.7ITB)
    B) Palmer + 4.5 dead spot
    C) Palmer + Delap and save 0.9 elsewhere (Tark to Myko?)

    At the moment it’s
    Kinsky Leno
    Calafiori Konsa Tarkowski Muharemovic Davis
    Saka Rogers MGW Barnes Gross
    Haaland JP* Barry

    0.7ITB

    1. WVA
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 hours, 17 mins ago

      B given Pedro injury.

      1. PascalCygan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 hours, 17 mins ago

        Ta

    2. Emiliano Sala
      • 10 Years
      3 hours, 5 mins ago

      I’m selling palmer and pedro on WC

      1. PascalCygan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 hours ago

        Interesting. Where are you spending that money? What would you do with my squad?

        1. Emiliano Sala
          • 10 Years
          2 hours, 49 mins ago

          Save most likely
          Or isak and mgw

          1. PascalCygan
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            2 hours, 43 mins ago

            Nice one. Yeah MGW is a lock on WC for me

  7. SpaceCadet
    • 12 Years
    4 hours, 9 mins ago

    Start wissa or king?

    1. PascalCygan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 hours, 18 mins ago

      Wissa

      1. SpaceCadet
        • 12 Years
        3 hours, 15 mins ago

        Thanks

  8. Kante Touch This
    • 8 Years
    4 hours, 8 mins ago

    Use 3 transfers or WC and set my team up for the foreseeable future and bank the transfers?

    White > Konsa
    Dango > King
    Tzolis or Mbuemo > MGB

    1. Kante Touch This
      • 8 Years
      3 hours, 18 mins ago

      *bench is quite poor considering JP may not play - Dango, Thomas, Hume

    2. PascalCygan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 hours, 11 mins ago

      1. Others are fine to play

    3. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 hours, 10 mins ago

      Yeah, I don’t mind those moves.

  9. FPL Blow-In
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 hours, 8 mins ago

    This is my WC draft with 2.5m itb. Please provide feedback.

    DCL to Pedro pencilled in for gw6 if fit. Thoughts appreciated.

    Kinsky
    Gabriel, Gvardiol, Calafiori, Munoz
    MGW, Rogers, Barnes
    Haaland c, DCL, Delap

    Leno, Konsa, King, Gross

    1. PascalCygan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 hours, 17 mins ago

      Very nice. Like that plan

    2. Kante Touch This
      • 8 Years
      3 hours, 16 mins ago

      Maybe too early for Delap, could consider Gonzalo?

      1. FPL Blow-In
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        2 hours, 58 mins ago

        Both options are decent. Think I prefer Delap, Wissa and Barry before Gonzalo but that’s not to say Gonzalo won’t do well or better.

  10. SpaceCadet
    • 12 Years
    4 hours, 4 mins ago

    Thoughts on the wc team? 1.7m itb.

    Kinsky
    Calafiori gvardiol Williams
    Mgw mbeumo rogers kdh
    Haaland dcl wissa

    Tzolakis king Konsa de cuyper

    1. mrpink32
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 hours, 22 mins ago

      Very nice

      Think Munoz is worth considering

  11. GoonerSteve
    • 16 Years
    4 hours, 2 mins ago

    1ft 0.2itb

    Verbruggen
    Calafiori Konsa Egan
    Bruno Palmer Ødegaard Szoboszlai
    Haaland (c) JP Wissa

    (Steele, De Cuyper, Slater, Diop)

    A) Roll FT
    B) De Cuyper to Neco Williams
    C) De Cuyper to Muharemović

    1. fathers
      • 3 Years
      3 hours, 59 mins ago

      I'd roll

  12. Would you do Ndiaye to Barnes for free? WCing next week.

    1. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 hours, 57 mins ago

      I’d play Ndiaye this week for sure if just one week

    2. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 hours, 44 mins ago

      Some are predicting Ndiaye to start on the left and Semenyo on the right.

      Man City big favourites at home but Sunderland can put up some resistance too.

    3. Cruyff's Eleven
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 hours, 7 mins ago

      Next week is actually next month.

  13. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
    • 10 Years
    3 hours, 56 mins ago

    WC or hold for the IB?

    Kinsky
    Califiori Mykolenko Thomas
    Bruno Palmer Semenyo Sangare Gross
    Haaland Pedro

    Dubravka Egeli Diop Kadioglu

    1. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 hours, 56 mins ago

      Borderline WC for me

  14. Emiliano Sala
    • 10 Years
    3 hours, 54 mins ago

    Thoughts on Enzo on WC?

    1. NotsoSpursy
      • 9 Years
      3 hours, 53 mins ago

      Nah

      1. Emiliano Sala
        • 10 Years
        3 hours, 51 mins ago

        Reason?

        1. Jstap94
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 2 Years
          3 hours, 49 mins ago

          Reckon there is some doubt as to whether him, Boudaddi or Anderson starts each week. And also he is historically quite a bit underperformer numbers wise

    2. NotsoSpursy
      • 9 Years
      3 hours, 48 mins ago

      Anderson ‘could’ play instead

      1. Emiliano Sala
        • 10 Years
        3 hours, 48 mins ago

        Not gonna happen

    3. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 hours, 45 mins ago

      I like him. Could play further forward too when Cherki gets subbed

      1. Calafiornication
        • 7 Years
        3 hours, 28 mins ago

        Thinking the same . And he has shined under Maresca before

  15. NotsoSpursy
    • 9 Years
    3 hours, 53 mins ago

    Would you be happy with these mids on a FH ?
    Any improvements?

    Mbeumo (FUL A)
    Rogers (BRE A)
    MGW (COV H)
    Dewsbury (IPS H)
    Saka (BHA A)

    1. Jstap94
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      3 hours, 47 mins ago

      Not 100% sure on Saka. Would personally do something like Mbeumo to Bruno and Saka to Stach (obvs need to free up funds from somwhere else doing that)

    2. NotsoSpursy
      • 9 Years
      3 hours, 27 mins ago

      Thank you

  16. Ronnies
    • 11 Years
    3 hours, 51 mins ago

    Woukd you play De Cuyper or Slater and save FT or use the 1 FT I have on Mendy to Justin or Mykolenko?

    Cheers.

    1. Ëð
      • 11 Years
      3 hours, 47 mins ago

      Play De Cuyper

  17. Jstap94
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 2 Years
    3 hours, 50 mins ago

    Play JP or bench for Sangare? I reckon he starts or is not involved at all

    1. Ëð
      • 11 Years
      3 hours, 48 mins ago

      I think that's a safe assumption. Can't see him getting minutes off the bench

  18. Ëð
    • 11 Years
    3 hours, 48 mins ago

    Would you put Egan or Slater as first on the bench to cover a JP no show?

    1. Cruyff's Eleven
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 hours, 6 mins ago

      Slater. Hull will bother Toon.

  19. DagheMunegu
    • 6 Years
    3 hours, 48 mins ago

    This GW only

    A Delap
    B Barry
    C KDH

    1. Ëð
      • 11 Years
      3 hours, 48 mins ago

      A

    2. NotsoSpursy
      • 9 Years
      3 hours, 48 mins ago

      C

    3. Christina.
      • 16 Years
      3 hours, 46 mins ago

      c

  20. _Ninja_
    • 16 Years
    3 hours, 48 mins ago

    Thoughts on this WC?

    Verb Kinsky
    Calafori Kona Munoz Gvardiol Davies
    Rogers Saka MGW Mbuemo Gross
    Haaland DLC Delap

    1. _Ninja_
      • 16 Years
      2 hours, 57 mins ago

      Konsa*

    2. Ëð
      • 11 Years
      2 hours, 57 mins ago

      Solid... Only pick I would be unsure about is Mbuemo. Man utd not exactly firing on all cylinders currently. What would be your plan for getting Pedro back in?

      1. _Ninja_
        • 16 Years
        2 hours, 51 mins ago

        I'd prob do Mbuemo/DLC -> Someone like Schade/Tav / Pedro

    3. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 hours, 53 mins ago

      Very nice. I kept money itb for Pedro back in but you’ve invested it and it looks good

    4. Mino Raiola
      • 10 Years
      2 hours, 38 mins ago

      I wouldn’t want mbuemo on we vaser on the form on man und as a whole. Also not the biggest fan of that rotating gks. The rest looks really tasty though

  21. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
    • 9 Years
    3 hours, 41 mins ago

    Preferred option here folks??

    A- Szobo and Justin
    Or
    B- DCL and Barnes -4

    Cheers everyone!!

    1. Mino Raiola
      • 10 Years
      2 hours, 40 mins ago

      A

      1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
        • 9 Years
        2 hours, 33 mins ago

        Cheers mate!!

  22. Viper
    • 16 Years
    3 hours, 40 mins ago

    On free hit

    A. Calafiori or Muharemovic

    B. Barry or Calvert Lewin

    1. Mino Raiola
      • 10 Years
      2 hours, 40 mins ago

      A cal
      B berry

  23. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    3 hours, 39 mins ago

    Why are people wildcarding in GW5 just ahead of a 16 day IB instead on GW6?

    1. CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      3 hours, 38 mins ago

      Or using Free Hit?

    2. Lanley Staurel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      3 hours, 34 mins ago

      Or using a free transfer and FH in GW9....look at the fixtures there.

    3. Mino Raiola
      • 10 Years
      3 hours, 31 mins ago

      Plan was always to WC in gw6, but sometimes plans don’t work out. In my case a realized I had too much stock in man utd, and a couple of underperformes like foden and brobby, and saw a reasonable upside with WC.

    4. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 hours, 31 mins ago

      1/ Didn't like my team, defence is bad and JP injured

      2/ I only had 1FT to deal with anything

      3/ I didn’t like the price rises I was witnessing for players I want to own

    5. NotsoSpursy
      • 9 Years
      3 hours, 26 mins ago

      FH as it’s a very good week to do it. Arsenal have tricky game and loads of nice home fixtures for attacking teams

  24. Mino Raiola
    • 10 Years
    3 hours, 34 mins ago

    Rate my WC:)

    Kinsky
    Calfiori, Konsa, Gvardiol
    Saka, Palmer, MGW, Rogers
    Haaland(c), Delap, Berry

    Leno, Gross, Davis, Egan

    1. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 hours, 36 mins ago

      Very nice

      1. Mino Raiola
        • 10 Years
        2 hours, 19 mins ago

        Thanks

  25. mrpink32
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 hours, 34 mins ago

    Kinsky (tzolakis)
    Maguire calafiori Davis vuskovic (diop)
    Palmer wirtz gross Sangare(foden)
    Haaland Isaak (Pedro)

    1ft 0.4 itb

    A) do nothing and roll with only diop on bench
    B) foden to someone (tavenier, Kdh?)
    C) free hit
    D) wildcard

    1. Mino Raiola
      • 10 Years
      2 hours, 32 mins ago

      I think I would just wc. It’s a risk though. But having two from your intended 11 on the bench, and leaning on Wirtz and Isak and Gross against best defense in the league…

      1. mrpink32
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        2 hours, 13 mins ago

        Yeah I don’t want to but I might be forced into it… Pedro and foden plus other fires might just do it

    2. Killitzer
      • 16 Years
      2 hours, 22 mins ago

      I’d say goodbye to Foden!

  26. mr_jones
    • 7 Years
    3 hours, 32 mins ago

    who to put as first sub on? (if JP doesnt play)

    a) Davis (eve)
    b) Yalcouye (ars)
    c) De Cuyper (ars)

    1. Mino Raiola
      • 10 Years
      2 hours, 41 mins ago

      A

    2. Killitzer
      • 16 Years
      2 hours, 23 mins ago

      I think I am the only person that believes that Brighton can win so I would go C

  27. marpy016
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    3 hours, 20 mins ago

    Chances of JP playing?

  28. Kodap
    • 9 Years
    3 hours, 18 mins ago

    Is this good to go chaps? Made a transfer already so any moves would be for a -4..

    Kinsky
    Van Hecke - Calafiori - Muharemovic
    MGW (c) - Palmer - Rogers - Szob - Odegaard
    Barry - Haaland

    Verbruggen - Konsa - Joao Pedro - Mendy

    1. Killitzer
      • 16 Years
      3 hours, 14 mins ago

      Nice team!

      1. Kodap
        • 9 Years
        1 hour, 52 mins ago

        why thank you!

  29. Heiro
    • 16 Years
    3 hours, 15 mins ago

    Hi all,

    Barry Vs Delap

    Likely a one week punt. I have MGW.

    1. Mino Raiola
      • 10 Years
      3 hours, 12 mins ago

      Delap

  30. Killitzer
    • 16 Years
    3 hours, 15 mins ago

    Morning all

    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!!