Scout Picks

Scout Picks starting XI for Blank Gameweek 18 draws from 11 different teams

We have chosen our best starting XI of players for Gameweek 18 of Fantasy Premier League.

This weekend is proving a tricky one for Fantasy managers with Liverpool fixtureless and Manchester City hosting Leicester City.

We’ve been brave enough to select two players from Saturday’s Etihad Stadium clash while Wolves, Southampton and Everton are tipped for goals this weekend.

After deliberating over David, Neale, Paul and Geoff’s selections in the Scout Squad article we came up with this 3-4-3 team, that comes in at £81.2m, well inside our £83.0m budget.

Goalkeeper

Vicente Guaita (£5.1m) has averaged 8.5 points per game over the last four Gameweeks and has even proved he doesn’t need a clean sheet to deliver for his owners. He racked up nine saves and claimed three bonus in the 1-1 draw with Brighton on Monday night. Therefore, a Gameweek 18 trip to Newcastle looks promising. The Magpies are bottom of the league for shots in the box over their last four matches and are missing some key attacking personnel right now.

Defenders

Matt Doherty (£6.1m) makes the Scout Picks this week after a name-check from David, Neale and Geoff. Over his last four matches, only one defender has managed more touches in the penalty area as the Wolves right wing-back. Furthermore, his aerial presence could exploit Norwich’s weaknesses to set plays. No side has conceded more chances from dead-ball situations than the Canaries this season.

John Lundstram (£5.2m) was selected by all four of our pundits for Gameweek 18, three of them designating him as the best defender this weekend. Only Aston Villa have conceded more shots in the box over the last four matches than Brighton, which should lead to plenty of chances for Sheffield United. Meanwhile, during the same period, Lundstram is joint-top among the Blades for big chances created and has more touches in the final third than any of his colleagues.

Jetro Willems (£4.7m) joins Guaita in the Scout Picks as we predict a low-scoring affair at St. James’ Park on Saturday afternoon. Only Watford have found the net fewer times than Newcastle (17) and Crystal Palace (15) this season. Meanwhile, over the last four Gameweeks, the Eagles are bottom of the league both for big chances and shots on target.

Midfielders

Kevin De Bruyne‘s (£10.3m) 19-point haul against Arsenal has risen his stock back to the levels of several months ago. A new advanced position for the Belgian helped him score twice and get an assist. Crucially, no player has registered more shots on target than De Bruyne in their last four matches. If he is handed a place in the front three against Leicester then it’s hard not to see him involved in the goals somehow. The Foxes’ defensive statistics have been promising in recent weeks but they have conceded in all three of their away trips to so-called top-six sides this season (Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool).

Despite a blank against Wolves, no player has averaged more points per game during Jose Mourinho’s time at Spurs than Son Heung-min (£10.1m). Since the former Manchester United boss took over in north London, the South Korean has scored 7.8 points per game. Crucially, Son is offering both some goal threat and creativity in equal measure. This weekend he faces a Chelsea side struggling defensively and without a clean sheet away from home this season.

Richarlison (£7.9m) has rediscovered his form in recent weeks, averaging one big chance per game over the last four despite facing Leicester, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United in that time. The Everton man has converted three of those into goals, which bodes well ahead of Arsenal’s visit to Goodison Park, especially as the Gunners have conceded at least twice in six of their last eight outings.

Jack Grealish (£6.2m) has attacking returns in three of his last four and was arguably unfortunate not to improve on that form the penalty spot against Sheffield United. At Bramall Lane, the midfielder was the clear focal point of Aston Villa’s attack which bodes well for a meeting with a Southampton side still displaying defensive issues. Ralph Hasenhüttl’s men last kept a clean sheet away from home in Gameweek 5.

Forwards

Jamie Vardy (£10.1m) may have a tricky fixture on paper in Gameweek 18 but we are still backing him for the trip to Manchester City. Pep Guardiola’s men have kept just one clean sheet at home since Gameweek 7 while Wolves, Southampton, Chelsea and Manchester United have all scored there. Therefore, with Vardy top of the league (among those playing in Gameweek 18) for shots in the box and big chances and third for big chances over his last four matches, it seems likely his fine form can continue.

Marcus Rashford (£9.1m) may have blanked against Everton but since Gameweek 7 he has registered an impressive total of eight goals and four assists. Gameweek 18 takes him to Vicarage Road to face a Watford side being managed by Nigel Pearson for the first time at home. Despite showing some improvement against Liverpool last time out, the Hornets are inside the bottom six for big chances conceded across their last four home matches.

Danny Ings (£6.4m) looks set to benefit from Aston Villa’s serious problem defending their penalty box this season. No side has conceded more shots there over the first 17 matches and they are also bottom over the last four as well. Therefore, a man who arguably should have had a hat-trick last time out and has eight goals in his last 11 matches should do well against it.

Substitutes

Martin Dúbravka (£5.0m) represents an alternative route into the Newcastle defence ahead of facing a goal-shy Crystal Palace side.

Lewis Dunk (£4.7m) was selected by two of our pundits in their Scout Squad submissions. The Brighton centre-half has had more efforts in the box than any other FPL defender in the last six Gameweeks.

Martin Kelly (£4.4m) is a cheaper route into the Crystal Palace defence although arguably slightly less likely to pick up the extras compared to Guaita.

Joao Moutinho (£5.4m) could be set for an impressive Gameweek considering Norwich’s problems defending set pieces.

The Captain

The Scout Picks has a captain for the 2019/20 campaign.

This skipper is chosen using the conclusions of the latest Captain Sensible article and a four-way vote between David, Neale, Paul and Geoff.

Because the use of Fantasy Football Scout data is used so heavily in this process, the captain we choose each Gameweek will be known only to those who have signed up to Membership for the 2019/20 season.

It will be revealed to the public only when the deadline for the Gameweek has passed.

Here’s how we voted for Gameweek 18: 


  • David: Rashford, Vardy, Ings
  • Neale: Richarlison, Son, Vardy
  • Paul: Son, De Bruyne, Grealish
  • Geoff: Rashford, Son, De Bruyne

Here are the results:

  • Son – 7 points
  • Rashford – 6 points
  • De Bruyne – 3 points
  • Richarlison – 3 points
  • Vardy – 3 points
  • Ings – 1 point
  • Grealish – 1 point

Therefore, Son Heung-min is handed the captaincy for Gameweek 18 with Marcus Rashford selected as the vice-captain.

Community Champion

Representing the community against the Scout Picks in Gameweek 18 is Mince n Tatties.

They have gone for a 3-4-3 line-up of De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Lundstram; Son, Alli, Zaha, Grealish; Kane (c), Vardy, Jimenez.

The community member who beats our picks by the biggest margin over the campaign will win a £100 Amazon Voucher and a place in our Contributors and Moderators League for the following season.

Community Champion THFC4LIFE was defeated in Gameweek 17, the Scout Picks winning by a 73-55 scoreline.

The current winning margin of 17 points recorded by irfansheikh in Gameweek 7 and AK in Gameweek 10 remains the score to beat.

901 Comments Post a Comment
  1. damiang2233
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Start Pope or Patricio?

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

      Pope

    2. OverTinker
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      both

    3. Calvin Valance
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Pope because Burnley seem to keep more clean sheets. Wolves tend to concede one goal. Pope also gets bonus when he saves

  2. KDB4PREZ
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    A) Ali
    B) Sterling

    Who gets more for a 2/4 week punt?

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

      A

    2. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      A

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

      A

    4. Calvin Valance
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Sterling. Pep can play him as striker and it looks like it might be his phase of scoring for City. Plus City score more than any other team.
      Spurs are both variable in how much they score and also have a variety of sources (Son, Lucas, Alli and Kane)

    5. STEP rOVERS
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B

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

    Bottomed

    Bench one of...

    A. Traore
    B. Zaha
    C. Vardy!

    Leaning towards A myself... but leaving Traore on the bench cost me last GW.

    Cheers!

    1. el polako
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      This should be A or B question.

    2. KDB4PREZ
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Lol

    3. KDB4PREZ
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I’d bench A obv not Vardy anyway

    4. Calvin Valance
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I'd bench A. You can't get last week's points but you can try and learn from the last week.

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

    A. Maddison > Grealish
    B. Connoley >Martellini/Greenwood

    got 2 FT, so want to spend it

    1. Connor's Calling
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Maybe A?

  5. Shiva_Destroyer
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Anyone with Everton training ground pics? Desperate to know if Digne is fit

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

    Would you free hit or wc this
    Hendo pope
    Lundstram maguire soyuncu cahill robetson
    Mane alli pulisic traore saka
    Ings rashford vardy

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      WC maybe, not free hit ... but 2 transfers and you gtg

  7. Liastro ⭐️
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    2FTs, 1.0m in the bank but no idea how to use them - any advice?

    Henderson Button
    TAA Lundstram Soyuncu Mings Kelly
    Sterling Mane Alli Mount Dendoncker
    Vardy Jimenez Ings

    1. KDB4PREZ
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Taa&mount>anyone&son

    2. PascalCygan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Really good team. Maybe Mount to Grealish or Martial? I’m thinking of doing similar with Pulisic

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

      Mount to Grealish or Richarlison

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

      Mount to Grealish

  8. MGD
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Which option:

    A)
    This GW:
    Rico (BUR)
    Next GW:
    Cantwell (avl)

    B)
    This GW:
    Targett (SOU)
    Next GW:
    Targett (NOR)

  9. PascalCygan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Advice appreciated please

    Left it late to get rid of Pulisic but going to do it tonight. To who?

    A) Martial (free)
    B) Grealish
    C) Something else? Involving a hit?

    Currently 1FT 0.4ITB
    Pope
    Lundstram Rico Kelly
    KdB Maddison Pulisic Dendoncker
    Vardy Kane Ings

    McGovern Soyuncu Mane TAA

    Thanks!

    1. PascalCygan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Hit moves could include TAA > Aurier then Dendoncker > Grealish or Pulisic > Alli? For -4

    2. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B

      1. PascalCygan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Cheers

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

    Who scores more this GW:

    A) Alli vs Chelsea defence
    B) Richarlison vs Arsenal defence

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

      A

      thinking Arsenal may ge that new manager bounce

    2. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Should be B, Arsenal defenders are clowns

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

      A

    4. Calvin Valance
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Great question. I feel like it will be 2 all.

    5. Stef rocks
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I think both will score to be honest - unfortunately don’t have any of them

  11. shirtless
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Can't decide between Mane>Sterling or Son. And either of those or Jimi to (c)...

    Need a couple of hours of Fleetwood Mac and a glass or two to decide!

    1. Jullepuu
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Go your own way

      1. shirtless
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        🙂

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

      Son this week IMO

  12. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Is doing Ings > Kane and playing Heaton+Targett a mistake?

    1. Heiro
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Ings has Villa. Seems a poor move. Must be something more pressing?

    2. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Selling Ings doesn’t make sense IMO.

  13. OptimusBlack
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    On WC who to get for long term can get pts and CS ?
    A- Ramsdale
    B- Guita
    C- other GK

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

      Guaita

    2. Hits from the Bong
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      b

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

    Which one to pick guys:

    Gazzaniga
    Kelly Lundstrum Rico
    KDB Madison Zaha Cantwell
    Vardy. Ings. Abraham

    A: Cantwell to richarleson
    B: Mane to Son ( Will lose no value getting him back)
    C: Abraham to Rashford

    1. George James
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      C for me.

      Thoughts on my post below?

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

      A to Grealish?

    3. Hits from the Bong
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      b

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

      B

  15. George James
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Which move looks best? 2FT

    A) Tammy + Mane >> Rashford + Alli

    B) Tammy + TAA >> Rashford + Aurier

    C) Mane + Cantwell >> Alli + Richarlison

    1. Heiro
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      A: But can you afford to get Salah or Mane back doing A?

    2. PascalCygan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      If you don’t have too much invested in Mane A looks good

      1. George James
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Selling Mane for 11.9

        Would buy salah back in GW20 I think

        1. Heiro
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Yep I'm going Salah instead of Mane back

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

    Anything worth FT here? 1.2 ITB
    Guaita
    Kelly, Soy, Lund
    Son, KdB, Maddy, Alli
    Vardy, Ings, Connolly

    Mane, TAA, Reid

    1. Heiro
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Nope. Roll it!

    2. Dthinger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      might as well upgrade Reid so yo have a playing sub just in case

  17. semiconductor
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    I have 2 FTs and will WC before GW20. So thats for these 2 coming fixtures.

    1. Salah+Pulisic to KDB+Son (i have Alli)
    2. Pulisic+Robertson to Aurier+Son
    3. Salah+Abraham to Son+Kane
    4. Robertson+Pulisic+Salah to Aurier+Sterling+Son (-4)

    1. Heiro
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I like C for a 2 week punt. No1 has Kane

      1. semiconductor
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        You mean 1 and add the kane transfer?

    2. Stef rocks
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      1

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

    Who to capt?
    A - son
    B - kdb

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

      b

    2. 7shadesofsmoke
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Im on KDB but might swap to Son by the time i go to sleep

  19. fgdu
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Mane to KDB or play maddison lads?

    1. 7shadesofsmoke
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      play Billie Maddison

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

      Mane to Kdb if you have no City or if you do. Go son

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

        got son and alli in my mid too

        1. Heiro
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Oh if it KDB or Play Mad then Play mad

  20. 7shadesofsmoke
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Mount -> Zaha or Grealish for free...
    Or roll a trannie over.

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

      grealish free

    2. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Grealish

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

      Grealish

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

      Grealish for free definitely.

  21. Stef rocks
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    What to do:
    A) Play Cantwell and save FT
    B) Get Grealish for Cantwell - some bench headache after that and money locked in 8 attackers

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

      A

  22. darkmatt3r
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Would you leave this as is or any obvious moves? I have 1ft and 0.5itb

    Pope
    Aurier Lundstram Kelly Rico
    KDB(c) Alli Shelvey
    Vardy Jiménez(v) Kane

    Heaton Dendoncker Chilwell Mané

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

      Great squad, leave as it is for this gameweek.

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

    I try to avoid hits as long as possible, but really thinking would it be worth it here to do something. Wildcard still intact, so have to play it next round or GW20 latest anyway.

    0 FT, 6.6 ITB

    Ryan
    Lundstram - Rico - Soyuncu
    KDB - Martial - Alli - Maddison
    Rashford - Vardy - Mousset

    Bench: Button, Tomori, Saka, TAA

    A) Do nothing and fix squad with wildcard GW19 or 20
    B) Saka to Son -4 (and bench Mousset)
    C) Tomori to Doherty -4
    D) Mousset to Kane -4

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

      A

    2. Stef rocks
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      If I were you I would probably WC this round - not worth getting a hit now and I doubt something will seriously change for 2 GWs

      Out of those players I would ditch - Mousset, Martial, Tomori, Saka. Also probably TAA and Ryan

      But that’s me 🙂

  24. have you seen cyan
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Brighton vs Sheffield will actually be a really good game to watch

  25. Rinseboy
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Mane to Grealish for a -4?

    Or just play Target?

    1. Stef rocks
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Nah not for a hit

    2. Taking the Mkhitaryan
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Play Targett

  26. Nemanja Vidic
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Pope Gazzaniga
    Lundstrom Rico Kelly (Soyuncu) (Van Dijk)
    Sterling MartialC Grealish Moura (Sterling)
    Vardy Ings Connoly
    1FT 1.5ITB
    1. GTG?
    2. Pope or Gazzaniga?
    3. Vardy -> Kane?
    4. Vardy --> Jimenez?

  27. Rangers1690
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Anyone considering using their free hit chip?

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

      No - wasteful to use with fixtures and more advantage when blanks /double game weeks come along

    2. Taking the Mkhitaryan
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Nope

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

      I'm sure there's someone out there with 5 players from WestHam and Liverpool. But I doubt anyone who isnt in that debacle would consider it.

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

    How many Champions League winners can you think of that have played in the Conference? Whether before or after they won the European Cup?

    Steve Finnan and Edgar Davids are the only I can think of.

  29. Velin
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    I am between five players for captaincy this weekend all seems ok and wrong to me in any moment, thoughts?
    1 Alli
    2 Vardy
    3 Zaha
    4 Grealish
    5 Rashford

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

      1, or 5 ( I am between then and thinking Alli)

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

        yup, same for me

    2. Stef rocks
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      This GW will be very unpredictable, but it should be 1 or 5
      I am on Son so I would vote 1

    3. Velin
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Yes, differentials, but seems to me that everybody is going with spurs assets or Rashford, so maybe Zaha or Grealish are real differentials this gw, but who knows?

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

      It was Alli or KdB for me... went with the Citizen

  30. RyanMK
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Start Pope or Heaton? If it matters, I have Ings in my line up as well

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

      I have Pope and am playing him. Ryan was the other option but I can't face a keeper off against ace striker Lordstram.