Tips

The Complete Guide to Scout’s tips and advice for FPL Gameweek 16

We go again.

The Gameweeks continue to come thick and fast in Fantasy Premier League with managers given little time to collect their thoughts. Fantasy Football Scout has been a hive of activity in the last 24 hours with writers and contributors working furiously to bring you the latest team news, stats, and opinion.

On Wednesday evening Tammy Abraham overcame a hip injury to deliver a fifth double-figure haul of the season against Aston Villa. The Chelsea forward is once again a small doubt heading into Gameweek 16 although it’s unlikely anyone is selling this time around. Neale’s team news report included the following quote from Frank Lampard:

Tammy Abraham is good, he hasn’t done much in between games. We’ll make sure of that in the morning but at the moment he’s good.

– Frank Lampard

Jurgen Klopp surprised fantasy managers by dropping two of his talismanic front three as both Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah sat out the Merseyside derby. Post match quotes from the Liverpool manager did little to assuage fears of further rotation:

I have to show the respect for the boys and I’ve said a lot of times how much I like the squad and now we have to use it. We think the game will be really intense and for this you need kind of fresh legs and we try to bring them in.

– Jurgen Klopp

When quizzed by Andy on the likely Liverpool starting XI Neale nimbly evaded the question. However after his 15-point haul against Everton, Sadio Mané is included in this week’s Scout Picks. Sam, in her video review of Gameweek 15, agreed with David Wardale’s conclusion that:

Where Salah was once the undroppable driver of the Reds’ attacking juggernaut, Mane is now the man behind that particular wheel, and ignoring him is to play a very perilous game indeed.

– David Wardale

Dare Klopp rest him?

Another player to miss the midweek round of fixtures was Anthony Martial. Rotation’s Alter Ego revealed in his team news summary that the Frenchman is now fit again although unlikely to start in the Manchester derby.

With understandable concerns over rotation and injuries during this busy period, Greyhead investigated which of the Great and the Good had made the best use of their benches. The answer is Neale, who has gained an average of 5.4 points per auto-sub. A hot topic on benches followed.

Cheap defenders may come to our rescue. The talking point on this week’s Scoutcast centered around the proliferation of budget options. Joe, Andy and Az debated whether we should even be opting for four at the back. 

Although there wasn’t such good news for the poster boy of defensive value this season – John Lundstram – when Sheffield United lost at home to Newcastle on Thursday evening. Reflecting on that defeat Neale suggested that conceding an early goal changed the dynamic of the match:

Sheffield United averaged 41.1% possession and 137.9 passes in the opposition half per Premier League match before Thursday night. Against Bruce’s backs-to-the-wall Geordies, those figures shot up to 72.7% and 362 respectively. All of a sudden the boot was on the other foot and a Blades side so adept at soaking up pressure and hitting teams with dynamic, direct attacks had to find a way of patiently breaking down a five-man defence.

– Neale Rigg

Lundstram owners will be hoping for a more open game when the Blades travel to Norwich City this weekend. And Joe is fairly confident they will be in luck. On the Scoutcast he revealed that no team has conceded more chances at home than Norwich in their last four home matches (17):

Norwich at home are far worse than they are away.

– Joe

Looking for opportunities is a key component of David’s Captain Sensible article. With Vardy and Mané neck and neck in the captaincy poll – in addition to his normal stats tables – David uses the members comparison tool to assess the pair. Opponents Aston Villa and Bournemouth are also scrutinised. 

Manchester City are narrowly top of the latest DS stats, fixtures and clean sheet odds brought to us by G-Whizz. And Raheem Sterling is top of this week’s RMT predictions. However Pro Pundit Zophar has already sold the 24-year-old and is busy plotting on how to spend the cash.  

In terms of captaincy, Zophar voiced concerns Mane’s playing time as his reason for sticking with Vardy:

Captaincy is likely to remain on Jamie Vardy. Sadio Mané playing 90 minutes on Wednesday has me worried he might be benched against Bournemouth keeping in mind their Champions League game on Tuesday.

– Zophar

Indeed in his Gameweek 16 forecast Pep Pig thinks that Salah will bounce back after his midweek benching. He also picks Marcus Rashford to shine in the Manchester derby. It was pointed out on the Scoutcast that Rashford has scored against top six teams he’s faced this season – Chelsea, Leicester, and Liverpool. 

Although United-fan Andy was more cautious, suggesting that it was his side’s domination of the Spurs midfield that afforded Rashford the opportunities to score twice. He doesn’t expect a similar domination against Manchester City.

To view all our discussions please visit our Hot Topics page, and if you’ve got some analysis, scout reports or features brewing, be sure to visit our community section to submit your article.

If you’re a member and are yet to get to grips with the custom statistics tables, you can view this movie for an explanation of how they work. Also, remember to tag them so that people can find the tables with ease.

Community Competitions

For a full update on all FFS Mini-Leagues and Community Competitions, please click here to read the latest round-up. 

For those interested in the Head-to-Head Leagues, the main page can be linked to here. The fixtures for Gameweek 16 can be found below:


Use the drop-down menus to show your league and division. To find out which league and division you are in, follow the instructions on the main Head-to-Head page.

Once the Gameweek starts, if you click on your opponent’s name you will be linked to their team on the FPL website.

Best of luck for Gameweek 16!

TopMarx Fan of Fantasy Football and Monty Python. "Archimedes out to Socrates, Socrates back to Archimedes, Archimedes out to Heraclitus, he beats Hegel. Heraclitus a little flick, here he comes on the far post, Socrates is there, Socrates heads it in! Socrates has scored! The Greeks are going mad, the Greeks are going mad! Socrates scores, got a beautiful cross from Archimedes. The Germans are disputing it. Hegel is arguing that the reality is merely an a priori adjunct of non-naturalistic ethics, Kant via the categorical imperative is holding that ontologically it exists only in the imagination, and Marx is claiming it was offside. Follow them on Twitter

1,426 Comments Post a Comment
  1. subhojit123
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Also..should I start -
    1. Kelly
    2. Ayew

    1. beric
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      2

    2. Aftermath
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      1

  2. manu4life99
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Play Kelly or Soy?

    1. beric
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Soy

    2. Aftermath
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Soy

  3. DeadStarComing
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Mane will...

    A) Start and play 60+ mins
    B) Be benched and come on
    C) Given a full rest

    Reasons too please 🙂

    1. beric
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      A, they need him

    2. Athletic Nasherbo
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B

      1. Athletic Nasherbo
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Seems planned nobody expected that Eve lineup

    3. twoplustwo
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I would be surprised if he came on if benched, probably C

    4. lilmessipran
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      A will play until the game is comfortably in the bag

    5. DeadStarComing
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I'm leaning towards A but my god it's worrying if captaining. So frustrating that Vardy feels the safer pick but I would much prefer Mane if I knew he was starting.

    6. Aftermath
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B as we have an important CL game coming up and klopp has trust in the remaining attacking options we have, since mo and Bobby had their rest. It's as good of a time as any for a Mane rest

  4. Grounderz
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Alli or Son, FT?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Alli

    2. Pacer.
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I like son of the two. The bournmouth game he was a whisker away from hitting an enormous score. I don't get that vibe from Alli

      I own both

    3. beric
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Son

  5. jackhammer1
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    If you didn't have Lundstram would you make the move Tomori to Lundstram this week? Or ride it out one more week and save?

    1. beric
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Id do it

  6. UnitedFan
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Correct bench order for these?

    A) Dendoncker (bri)

    B) Kelly (wat)

    C) Tomori (eve)

    1. beric
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Abc

    2. Yann12
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Bac

  7. Dynamic Duos
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    G2G? Save ft?

    Pope
    TAA Soyuncu Tomori Lundstram
    Salah (c) Maddison Pulisic
    Aubameyang Vardy Jiminez

    Button Martial Cantwell Hanley

    1. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Nice team! Yep, am about to switch Mané to Salah and captain.

      1. Dynamic Duos
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Why you selling Mane?

        1. Twisted Saltergater
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          (Risky) blank, Watford, blank, Leicester.

  8. DavidSilva
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Perez out for.....?

    0.0 ITB

    1. Dynamic Duos
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      JWP?

    2. FirMinaMiMo
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Grealish

    3. Kip
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Gotta be Grealish

    4. DavidSilva
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Nice one fellas

  9. The Gambler.
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Big decision on free transfer

    Kdb > Alli

    Have no spurs currently and KDB only City!

    Thoughts??

    1. Dynamic Duos
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Prefer Son

    2. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Tough one. Keep KdB but try to get Spurs cover in some other way.

    3. El Platano
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Nah

  10. iL PiStOlErO
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Sorry for reposting but one last try. Gtg?

    Pope
    TAA Lund Kelly
    Salah KdB Son(C) Pulisic
    Vardy Rash Mousse

    Button Soy Guilbert Dendo

    0.2 itb, 1ft

    1. itsmeguneet
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Looks gtg

      1. iL PiStOlErO
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Cheers.

  11. Woy_is_back
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Pope to?

    0,5 itb

    1. Slartibartfast
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Ryan

    2. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Guaita

    3. beric
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Hendo

    4. Woy_is_back
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      lol :/

    5. Aftermath
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Guaita

  12. BT31 - WE ARE ALL TINKERMEN…
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Start Pope or Gazzaniga?

    1. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Gazza

    2. beric
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Gazza

    3. Aftermath
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Gazza

  13. twoplustwo
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Have Mane and Mo... Capping Mo this week, but is it worth swapping Mane for Son ahead of the blank?

    1. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Do we actually know if Mane is going to be rested ?? or just the huge amount of speculation on here ?? have we had any leaks from LFC ????

      1. LordRougeGrog
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Dont think Mané will be rested, not with an 80 per cent fit Salah to be nursed. Wouldn’t surprise me to see Salah sit this one out again. 2 weeks rest at this stage of a season would rejuvenate the Egyptian.

  14. PocketZola
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Alli or kdb for captain?

    1. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Alli

  15. AC Yew
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Any suggestions what to do here here guys? 2 FT 0.7 ITB

    Pope 
    Robertson Lundstram Kelly 
    De Bruyne Mane Maddison Zaha
    Vardy Jimenez Abraham
    Soy Dendoncker Rico Heaton

    Literally cannot think of any good moves

    1. C'mon the Fylde
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Alli

      1. AC Yew
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Cant afford without losing one of the first 3 mids

    2. Aftermath
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Might as well replace Pope with a gk with better fixtures

      1. AC Yew
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Have brought in Guaita

  16. Henning
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Play Ings or Mousset?

    1. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Mousse cause New is maybe more solid then Nor

    2. Aftermath
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Ings

  17. Bubbles1985
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Anyone sticking the armband on Tammy?

    1. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Too risky imo. Do we know if he plays?

      1. Bubbles1985
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        No haha

        Have Vardy and KDB as vc but not sure on Villa away being the best choice...

        1. iL PiStOlErO
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Understand you mate. Agree about AV, think they will play good game. My gut says Sonny, so I am on him. Good luck.

  18. FleckyT
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Play Lund of soy? Been playing Lund but missing out on soy points

    1. Melania
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I’m going Lund

      1. FleckyT
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Same high ceiling

  19. Melania
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Bench Tomori (eve) or Soyuncu (avl)?

    1. Igz08
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Tomori

    2. Netley Lucas
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Tomo

    3. Aftermath
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Tomori

    4. Gandalf
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Tomori

  20. C'mon the Fylde
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    I have 1FT.
    Should I save?

    Ryan
    TAA Lundstram Kelly
    Mane Alli Pulisic Son Maddison
    Abraham Vardy(C)

    Button, Soyuncu Connolly Rico

    2.9m itb

    1. itsmeguneet
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Yep!

    2. Aftermath
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Easy save

      1. C'mon the Fylde
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Cheers!

  21. itsmeguneet
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Gtg or any improvements?

    Pope
    Soy - TAA- Lund
    Mount- Salah- Zaha- Sterling
    Mousset- Vardy- Tammy

    Button, Dunk, Traore, Janmatt

    1. Aftermath
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Gtg

  22. Athletic Nasherbo
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    G2g or play Willems/Dunk?

    Ryan
    TAA Soy Lund
    Mane KdB Son Alli Mount
    Vardy(C) Abraham

    Button Willems Dunk Greenwood

    1. suddenorgan
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      would play Willems over Lund

  23. Arsenal97
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Aurier Lundstram Chillwel
    Need 2
    Gk: Gazzaniga

    1. Aftermath
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Tough one, Chilwell and Aurier if it's upto me

  24. suddenorgan
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Any sense in playing Cantwell ahead of Mount? Think he starts?

  25. Pacer.
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    How much longer do I have to sit here shuffling my captain from Son to Mane to Alli.

    60 minutes? Sakes

    1. Igz08
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Reckon Mane is benched

    2. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Just close your eyes and feel the haul 😉

  26. Igz08
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Anyone TC Salah this week?

  27. tristanabc
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    As many of us do, some benching uncertainty this week.
    Which one to bench?

    A) Rashford (mci)
    B) Cantwell (SHU)
    C) Zaha (wat)
    D) Madisson (avl)

    1. Igz08
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B

  28. The Legend Squad
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Bench 2:

    Kelly
    Rico
    TAA
    Tomori
    Lundstram

    1. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Rico,Tomori

  29. Atimis
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    If Mane was sure to start, would you (c) him over Vardy?

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Yep

    2. Relaxing
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I would

  30. Muscout
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Best cheapie defenders?
    Currently have a defence of:
    TAA, Dunk, Lundstram, (Kelly), (Rico)

    Is Targett a better option than Dunk? Will free up 0.2 (on WC)