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

    Start Thomas or Slater?

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

      Slater

  2. David De HEY YA
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Start Konsa or Robertson?
    Playing Kinsky and Cala

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

      Konsa

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

      Konsa

  3. RUUD!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    1 month, 16 days ago

    For this week only, would you rather have…

    Hall (HUL)
    Williams (COV)
    Mykolenko (IPS)

    1. Ronnies
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Williams

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

      Hall

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

      hall

    4. Calafiornication
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Neco

    5. AJW
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Hall against Hull if only for the rhythmic value (eg. 'All Hail - 'tis Hall 'gainst Hull' - has an almost Shakespearian feel to it!)

    6. Keane There Dunne That
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Williams

  4. Ronnies
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Best defender for 4.7m or less;

    A) Bogle
    B) Justin
    C) Mykolenko
    D) Aina

    Cheers.

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

      A

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

      A

    3. Calafiornication
      1 month, 16 days ago

      B

    4. Esraj
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Justin

  5. BR510
    1 month, 16 days ago

    1. De Cuyper to Eilliams
    2. De Cuyper to Muha
    3. Bench Pedro and play De Cuyper

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

      3

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

      3, play Pedro just in case

    3. Calafiornication
      1 month, 16 days ago

      1

  6. Make United Great Again
    1 month, 16 days ago

    1st sub in case JP doesn’t play tonight.

    A) Konsa
    B) Grob

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

      A

      1. Make United Great Again
        1 month, 16 days ago

        Thanks!

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

      A

      1. Make United Great Again
        1 month, 16 days ago

        Cheers!

  7. MMN
    1 month, 16 days ago

    1 FT 2.7m in the bank. Which is the better and why?

    A) Szobo > MGW
    B) Save FT for international break.

    Kinsky
    Cali - Hall - Muharamovic
    Palmer - Rogers - Odegard - Szobo
    Haaland - DCL - JP

    4m - Konsa - Thomas - Gomez

  8. FantasyTony
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Play Pedro or Groß?

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 16 days ago

      It doesn't matter if one of them is first sub, you'll get Groß.

      1. FantasyTony
        1 month, 16 days ago

        No chance he Cameos?

        1. Cruyff's Eleven
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          1 month, 16 days ago

          None. Knee oedema, sprained ligaments.

  9. SpaceCadet
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Best pick on wc?

    A. Wissa
    B. Delap
    C. Barry

    1. Calafiornication
      1 month, 16 days ago

      A
      C
      B

    2. NoOneCares
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Anyone but Wissa

  10. Kno
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Just roll with this lot or FH? No transfers left and it feels a bit iffy

    Klnsky
    Konsa califiori thomas ( van ejwik dedic)
    Bruno mbuemo rogers odegaard (slater)
    Haaland dcl j.pedro

  11. Calafiornication
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Start one:

    Gomez
    Ajer
    Thomas

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

      Gomez. He’s due a goal.

      1. Calafiornication
        1 month, 16 days ago

        1st sub Ajer or Thomas for the JP no show

  12. Count of Monte Hristo
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Start O’Shea @ Everton or (-4) for Pedro > DCL/Delap/Gonzalo?

  13. Dannyb
    1 month, 16 days ago

    1 week punt before potential wildcard
    Pedro to
    A Wissa
    B Isak
    C Barry

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

    Start JP (despite injury rumours) or Gross?

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

      Won't matter... JP is not going to play.

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

    Take a hit for Palmer > Gibbs White? I have Rogers and Pedro and releasing funds from Palmer would help future moves too.

    1. Bavarian
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Sure not

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

    Which option?

    A) Wirtz > KDH (free)
    B) Wirtz + Pedro > Gibbs White + Barry (-4)

    Not used WC but not 100% sure I'll use it over the international break either as they all have decent GW6 fixtures.

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

    Hi everyone...

    Quick question.. Do you guys think that cherki is starting this gmw after playing yesterday??
    Good luck to everyone!!
    Thanks

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

      Yes he should start. Came off pretty early last night.

  18. DagheMunegu
    1 month, 16 days ago

    A Gomez (have Gross)
    B Delap -4
    C Barry -4
    D KDH -4

    WC next GW

  19. MetallicaJack93
    1 month, 16 days ago

    First sub (in case no Pedro)

    A. Greaves
    B. Thomas

  20. FPL Blow-In
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Feel sorry for Gibbs White missing out on the England squad again. Point to prove v Coventry

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Tuchel said it's a case of wanting to keep the 10s manageable

      And Palmer has to perform for England to win the shirt

  21. Pep Roulette
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Would you BB with De Cuyper?

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

      Yes

    2. fricky_
      1 month, 16 days ago

      No

  22. RAFA THE GAFFA
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Gvardiol or Munoz?

    Thanks

    1. NoOneCares
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Both best defenders in game alongside Cali and Konsa.

      1. RAFA THE GAFFA
        1 month, 16 days ago

        Yes. But need to pick one

    2. fathers
      1 month, 16 days ago

      I'm faced with the same choice. Leaning towards Gvardiol personally

  23. FOREST FOREVER 2
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Not sure MGW needs to do to get into the Eng squad.

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Kidnapp Bellingham and Palmer.

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

      I know - poor bloke, he should bevin ahead of Eze

  24. RedJive79
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Is my bench in the correct order here? Thank you.

    Verbruggen
    Davis / Gabriel / Calafiori
    Tzolis / MGW / Semenyo / Mbeumo
    Wiss / Haaland(c) / JP

    Dub / Slater (new) / De Cuyper (ARS) / Thomas (nfo)

  25. Keane There Dunne That
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Should I wildcard? Or make it through one last week with 1FT?

    Kinsky
    Califiori Kerkez Shaw*
    Rogers Wirtz Fernandes Sangare
    Haaland (C) Wissa JPedro*

    Dubravka Slater Diop Rodon*

  26. MShalkz
    1 month, 16 days ago

    With JP out, would you guys start Gross or De Cuyper in his spot?

    Alternatively, could take JP out for Barry, Gonzalo Garcia. But I know I will just want him back in GW6/7

    Thoughts?

  27. Slurpy
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Kinsky (Verb)
    Califiori Shaw* Gvardiol (De Cuyper Diop)
    Rogers Bruno Szobo Ndiaye (Gomez)
    JP** Haaland (c) DCL

    1FT .2 ITB

    A) Shaw to Konsa and Play Gomez
    B) Free hit!

    Pickford
    Munoz Tarky Mvic Gvardiol
    MGW Saka KDH Cherki
    DCL Haaland

  28. Count of Monte Hristo
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Start O’Shea @ Everton or (-4) for Pedro > DCL/Delap/Gonzalo?.

    1. MShalkz
      1 month, 16 days ago

      I'd start O'Shea. Good chance for DEFCON and you'll likely just want JP back by GW6

      1. Count of Monte Hristo
        1 month, 16 days ago

        Cheers

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

    Play Wirtz (Bou A) or Jackson (Tot A)?

  30. fricky_
    1 month, 16 days ago

    On WC:
    1.
    a) Rogers and Saka
    b) Ødegaard and Palmer

    2.
    a) Gonzalo and Pedro
    b) Gonzalo and Wissa/Barry
    c) Gonzalo and dead forward?