Scout Picks
23 October 2026 280 comments
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Here are our Scout Picks for Gameweek 8 of Fantasy Premier League (FPL).

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

As ever, 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 8 SCOUT PICKS

GOALKEEPER

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

David Raya (£6.1m) is our chosen goalkeeper after he was selected by three of our Scout Squad pundits.

No side has better clean sheet odds than Arsenal in Gameweek 8…

Mikel Arteta’s men are the joint-best team in 2026/27 for actual goals conceded, with five. They’ve also kept four clean sheets, with Raya scooping the maximum bonus twice.  

Opponents Everton have failed to score in two of their last four matches, having netted only three goals in that period.

DEFENDERS

 

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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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280 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Tommyg
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    8 hours ago

    Who loses minutes to kroupi in the Bournemouth squad? Tav right?

    1. Skonto Rigga
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      7 hours, 57 mins ago

      Probably more Kluivert, if Rose sees Kroupi as a '10' as Iraola did.

      1. Tommyg
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        7 hours, 56 mins ago

        I'm looking for an excuse to buy Gibbs white rather than get Tav for saka. Lol.

    2. DRIZ ✅
      7 hours, 54 mins ago

      Possibly Tav

    3. Tonyawesome69
      7 hours, 49 mins ago

      Tavernier's mins have been reduced for a number of games now.

  2. OverTinker
    7 hours, 57 mins ago

    BREAKING: Punishment for Manchester City has been announced.

    Michael Carrick will be appointed as their new manager.

    1. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      7 hours, 55 mins ago

      Very funny.

    2. DRIZ ✅
      7 hours, 54 mins ago

      Howzat

    3. Jafooli
      7 hours, 40 mins ago

      Excellent

    4. Crunchie
      7 hours, 20 mins ago

      Very good.

      Hope it gets sorted soon as with PSG.

      Thinking Newcastle did it just in time. Not sure if the Saudi have pulled out in time or not *Chelsea, Newcastle. War etc

    5. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      6 hours, 54 mins ago

      Who's his assistant?

      Pep or Jose!

  3. Ciro Di Marzio
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    7 hours, 56 mins ago

    Start one:

    A. Maguire (BOU)
    B. De Cuyper (liv)
    C. Davies (NFO)

    Currently on A but more attacking threat from the others.

    1. Tommyg
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      7 hours, 55 mins ago

      Out of that lot just go de cuyper

    2. DRIZ ✅
      7 hours, 54 mins ago

      B but a close A

    3. JoeSoap
      7 hours, 49 mins ago

      B for attacking returns. None of them keep a clean sheet imo. Famous last words.

    4. FPL Scoop
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      7 hours, 44 mins ago

      B imo

    5. Ciro Di Marzio
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      7 hours, 41 mins ago

      Thanks all, maybe I’ll switch for B

    6. fathers
      7 hours, 19 mins ago

      B

  4. JoeSoap
    7 hours, 55 mins ago

    A. Mitchell>De Cupher
    B. Wissa>DCL
    C. MGW>Cherki (bench Wissa)
    D. Save

    Hornicek
    Konsa, Calafiori, Hall
    Palmer, Rogers, Gross, Tavenier
    Halland, Pedro, Wissa
    Verbruggen, WDe Cupher, Egan, MGW Mitchell

    1. JoeSoap
      7 hours, 55 mins ago

      Ignore, posted before I had finished

    2. Tommyg
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      7 hours, 54 mins ago

      Id be playing mgw and saving that transfer.

  5. Deulofail
    7 hours, 53 mins ago

    Good to go? Might WC in the next couple weeks

    Kinsky
    Gabriel(v) Calariori Konsa Munoz
    Bruno Palmer Rogers Schade
    Thiago Pedro(c)

    Palmer | Gross, O'Shea, Egeli

    2FTs. 2.4 ITB

    1. x.jim.x
      7 hours, 52 mins ago

      I'd honestly be tempted to start Groß over Bruno

      1. Deulofail
        7 hours, 51 mins ago

        Yeah I think this is probably the play

    2. Deulofail
      7 hours, 51 mins ago

      Hmm, wanna play Gross...

    3. JoeSoap
      7 hours, 51 mins ago

      Bruno probably has to go. See how this week goes.

      1. Deulofail
        7 hours, 50 mins ago

        Looking to sell him for Kroupi soon

    4. FPL Scoop
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      7 hours, 45 mins ago

      Solid, though agree with others on the Bruno distrust. Are you staunchly non-Haaland for the season? If not, and if wildcarding soon anyway, would be tempted by Bruno downgrade to whatever price bracket funds Haaland in for Egeli (if possible).

      1. Deulofail
        7 hours, 41 mins ago

        Cheers Scoop. That ain't possible, since Haaland is so much more than Bruno. Leaves me with 3.0 for Bruno replacement. I can do Thiago > Haaland, but it doesn't seem like the week to do it. And I'll probably end up saying that envery week, even on a WC 😀

  6. JoeSoap
    7 hours, 53 mins ago

    A. Wissa>DCL (who would you bench)
    B. Save (have 3 FTs)

    Hornicek
    Konsa, Calafiori, Hall
    Palmer, Rogers, Gross, Tavenier, MGW
    Halland, Pedro
    Verbruggen, Wissa, De Cupher, Egan

    1. Tommyg
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      7 hours, 52 mins ago

      Id be saving. Great squad.

      1. JoeSoap
        7 hours, 50 mins ago

        Don't say that. It is the daughters team lol

        1. FPL Scoop
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          7 hours, 48 mins ago

          😆

    2. FPL Scoop
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      7 hours, 47 mins ago

      Tidy squad - would be tempted by A and benching Gross for DCL, personally.

  7. MIGHTY JOE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    7 hours, 52 mins ago

    Start De Cuyper or Gvardiol? Cheers.

    1. DRIZ ✅
      7 hours, 51 mins ago

      Gvardiol with NOR a doubt

    2. fathers
      7 hours, 20 mins ago

      De Cuyper for me Mighty Joe

  8. EL tridente
    7 hours, 51 mins ago

    Best Saka replacement?
    A) Rice
    B) Madueke
    C) Cherki
    D) Foden
    E) Mazambi

    1. DRIZ ✅
      7 hours, 50 mins ago

      C

    2. FPL Scoop
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      7 hours, 48 mins ago

      C if you can bear the benchings. I quite like E, though not this week. Assuming you've already got one or both of Palmer/Rogers?

    3. JoeSoap
      7 hours, 48 mins ago

      C though D could be nice differential if he starts

  9. FPL Scoop
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    7 hours, 49 mins ago

    Regretting the decision to bin off Konsa on WC6... Davis to him or Verbruggen to Raya (or anything else) worth a free transfer this week or just roll to have three FTs next week for a bigger reshuffle (eyeing the likes of Manzambi, ditching the likes of King and possibly Barnes and MGW but giving one last chance due to fixtures).

    2FT, £5.6m ITB as things stand. Ta all, best of luck!

    Verbruggen (4.0)
    Calafiori Hall Muharemovic (Thomas Davis)
    Rogers MGW Barnes Gross King
    Haaland Pedro(c) (Barry)

    1. Deulofail
      7 hours, 43 mins ago

      Nothing worth a transfer imo. You'll regret buying Konsa if you get him now. Verbruggen is possibly the best GK option, but if you want Raya long-term, then it's reasonable to do it this week.

  10. mad_beer ✅
    7 hours, 43 mins ago

    Doku, Cherki or Foden?

    1. JBG
      7 hours, 42 mins ago

      Cherki

    2. Tonyawesome69
      7 hours, 41 mins ago

      Maybe Doku but ideally neither

    3. fathers
      7 hours, 20 mins ago

      I'd go Doku, seems to get more reliable PL minutes. The others are featuring more heavily in UCL

    4. g40steve
      6 hours, 50 mins ago

      Foden considering it

  11. FDMS All Starz
    7 hours, 41 mins ago

    Start Gross or De Cuyper?

    I’m starting to think there’s more chance Brighton keep a CS rather than score 2+ goals this game given Liverpools defence and attack

    1. Tonyawesome69
      7 hours, 39 mins ago

      Gross - routes to points

  12. simonb94
    7 hours, 40 mins ago

    Saka to MGW? Rest of midfield are Tav, Rogers, Gross and Barnes

    1. H Dog
      7 hours, 35 mins ago

      He is probably the best replacement but if he blanks this week think you’d be itching to get him out again

  13. KingGinger
    7 hours, 39 mins ago

    Start 2 of:

    Tavernier
    Hall
    Groß
    De Cuyper

    Currently on top 2, but not sure

    1. H Dog
      7 hours, 34 mins ago

      Not sure there is a right answer, so stick with your gut (top 2)

      1. KingGinger
        7 hours, 7 mins ago

        Thanks, yeah its a difficult one this week

  14. H Dog
    7 hours, 37 mins ago

    A) Play de Cuyper
    B) Play Gvardiol
    C) Gvardiol to Thomas -4, money ITB for King to Kroupi next week (enough money for Manzambi but not Tavernier currently)

    1. fathers
      7 hours, 22 mins ago

      A for me H Dog

  15. Zizou
    7 hours, 36 mins ago

    Tzol
    Cala Konsa DeCuyper Gvardiol
    Rodgers GroB Palmer MGW
    Pedro Haaland
    (Verb, Barry, Manzambi, Egan )

    1FT £1.1M ITB - Any chances to bench

    Going to Roll transfer. GTG??

    1. H Dog
      7 hours, 33 mins ago

      I’d roll

  16. dansmith1985
    7 hours, 35 mins ago

    Bench one:
    A)Tavernier
    B)Garcia
    C)Barnes
    D)Cherki

    1. H Dog
      7 hours, 32 mins ago

      Tough, could be swayed but I’d go A

  17. jeffa79
    7 hours, 29 mins ago

    Current team:

    Verbruggen (Kinsky)
    Calafiori MDC Davis (Thomas Shaw)
    BrunoF Rogers Gross Cherki (Sangare I)
    Haaland Pedro DCL

    1FT, £0.3m ITB.

    Shall I do:

    A) Bruno to Mbeuno
    B) Cherki to MGW
    C) Roll

    Also, shall I start:

    1) Davis
    2) Thomas
    3) Do something else

    1. H Dog
      7 hours, 26 mins ago

      A2

      Feels sideways but Mbuemo objectively is the better choice, not to mention meaning money ITB so you don’t have to rely on two 4m defenders

      Thomas because I think better chance of CS and should get DEFcon, will be hard for Davis up against Forest 5 back five to score

  18. fathers
    7 hours, 28 mins ago

    Raya
    De Cuyper, Calafiori, O'Shea
    Rogers, Groß, Tavernier, Rudoni
    Haaland, Pedro, DCL

    Bench: Doku, Bogle, Van Hecke, Dubravka

    a) Am I mad for starting Rudoni/Groß over Doku?
    b) Should I be starting Bogle over O'Shea?

    1. H Dog
      7 hours, 25 mins ago

      No
      Probably

      1. fathers
        7 hours, 24 mins ago

        Thanks H Dog

  19. Roshen
    7 hours, 26 mins ago

    Bench 2:

    a. Davis (NFO)
    b. Gross (liv)
    c. Hall (cry)
    d. Gvardiol (avl)
    e. Barnes (cry)
    f. Affengruber (cov)

    1. H Dog
      7 hours, 25 mins ago

      No right answer - AF

    2. Letsgo!
      7 hours, 24 mins ago

      AD

  20. Letsgo!
    7 hours, 25 mins ago

    Will ipswich keep a clean sheet??

    1. fathers
      7 hours, 17 mins ago

      I'm starting O'Shea so hopefully, yes!

  21. Timbomars
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    7 hours, 25 mins ago

    Captain Palmer or Pedro?

    1. Letsgo!
      7 hours, 24 mins ago

      Pedro

    2. fathers
      7 hours, 23 mins ago

      Pedro for me

    3. H Dog
      7 hours, 23 mins ago

      Weirdly think Pedro if leading, Palmer for risk/chasing

  22. KostaK
    7 hours, 24 mins ago

    Play 2 of:
    A) Ajer
    b) sangare
    c ) king
    d) grob

    1. H Dog
      7 hours, 21 mins ago

      BC

      Assume you’ve held king for at least two weeks so don’t say benching him lightly, just think gross has so many routes to points

  23. V-2 Schneiderlin
    7 hours, 24 mins ago

    Which is the better move?:
    A. Sell Wissa for DCL
    B. Sell Wissa for Evanilson
    C. Sell Semenyo for Tavernier

    1. H Dog
      7 hours, 22 mins ago

      C, Wissa at least will play and should get chances against palace (arguably could hold until after Fulham away)

  24. Ray85
    7 hours, 23 mins ago

    De Cuyper or Konsa? Also have Calafiori.

    Cheers lads

    1. Skogen89
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      7 hours, 20 mins ago

      I think kontakt is best

      1. Skogen89
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        7 hours, 20 mins ago

        Konsa

  25. Skogen89
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    7 hours, 22 mins ago

    Play gonzalo or gross?

    1. Waltomade
      7 hours, 21 mins ago

      gonzalo

      1. Skogen89
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        7 hours, 20 mins ago

        Ty, just been a horrorshow last to games

    2. fathers
      7 hours, 18 mins ago

      Groß for me Skogen

  26. Henning
    7 hours, 22 mins ago

    2 FT any suggestions

    Kindly
    Calafiori Konsa Muharemovic
    Ødegaard Rogers Palmer Mbuemo Groẞ
    Haaland J.Pedro

    Dubravka De Cuyper Haaland Barry

    1. fathers
      7 hours, 18 mins ago

      Good to go I'd say Henning

  27. Waltomade
    7 hours, 22 mins ago

    Current OR at around 20k

    Did early transfer to get in Muharemovic.

    Now Saka is injured, who was supposed to be my Cap.

    Best replacement for -4 hit would be?

    1. Palmer 2. MGW 3. Rogers?? or start De cuyper and avoid hit??

    1. Henryyy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      7 hours, 19 mins ago

      I would get Palmer

    2. H Dog
      7 hours, 18 mins ago

      If worried about rank think you have to get a Chelsea midfielder, effective ownership atm means you’ll not make up ground by doing it but you’ll definitely lose ground if you don’t

      Your choice between them, Rogers has been a troll every time I get him so went Palmer (still captaining Haaland)

    3. Kroenius
      7 hours, 10 mins ago

      Just start MDC and wait a week. I suspect Saka is back next week unless Arteta says otherwise in his current presser. (I'm doing the same but with a Manzambi start atm)

  28. tim
    7 hours, 20 mins ago

    Start Thomas or Barry?

    1. Henryyy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      7 hours, 20 mins ago

      Thomas easy

  29. Henryyy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    7 hours, 20 mins ago

    Which option would you do this week?

    A Thiaw -> Muharemovic
    B Szob -> Gross

    Thanks all!!

    1. H Dog
      7 hours, 17 mins ago

      Tough, B only because at least Thiaw will play

      1. Henryyy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        7 hours, 16 mins ago

        Cheers Dog

    2. Tonyawesome69
      7 hours, 15 mins ago

      Prioritise selling the injured player

      1. Henryyy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        7 hours, 3 mins ago

        Ty Tony!

  30. Ray85
    7 hours, 16 mins ago

    Best GK for this week and GW10.

    Planning to BB! Not Raya