Tips

The Complete Guide to Scout’s tips and advice for FPL Gameweek 28

Welcome to the Fantasy Football Scout Guide to Gameweek 28. 

Firstly don’t get caught out – we have an early deadline this week: Friday 19:00 GMT deadline.

Read on for help with those all-important transfer and captaincy decisions.

Captain candidates

Mohamed Salah once again tops the Rate My Team tool and the captaincy poll ahead of Liverpool’s trip to Watford.

However, is trusting a player who has scored just twice in away matches this season – and not at all when Mane has played – a good idea?

In his Captain Sensible article David left us in no doubt:

The case for Salah is very strong, considering his underlying data. Yes, he is still without a goal in an away match than Mané has started, but Salah’s underlying statistics suggest he is due at least something at Vicarage Road and that such an unwanted fact is nothing more than happenstance.

David

But he’s perhaps not the only option to consider. 

Form versus Fixtures

Heading into Gameweek 28, two players encapsulate the perennial form versus fixtures dilemma.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin is the form player. As Neale noted in his analysis of the underlying stats:

Since Carlo Ancelotti took charge in Gameweek 19, no other FPL asset has had more attempts on target or big chances than the Everton striker.

– Neale

However the fixtures stiffen for the Toffees, who are second bottom in our Season Ticker for the next three matches.

Although Pro Pundit Tom Freeman feels the fixtures aren’t as bad as they seem on first glance, and includes Calvert-Lewin as one of his forwards to consider. 

Leicester City, on the other hand, are top of the Season Ticker. 

But the out-of-form Jamie Vardy has failed to score since Gameweek 18. Did we see any signs of encouragement in Gameweek 27?

Pro Pundit Sam is one manager who will be keeping the Foxes forward:

There were some glimmers that the old Vardy we used to love pre-Christmas is coming back.

– Sam

Pep Pig – top of  RedLightning’s January to May League (league code aafkpq) – picks out Jamie Vardy as one of the three players to watch in Gameweek 28:

I’ve stuck with my plan to bring him in for the in-form Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and even giving him the armband over Mohamed Salah.

– Pep Pig

However David did caution in Captain Sensible:

When he was at the height of his powers earlier in the campaign, Vardy was not busting many statistics, he was simply dominating them. He was doing well because he was regularly top for shots in the box, big chances and shots on target for four-match blocks at a time. So the fact his numbers have dropped off in line with his returns is certainly more of a factor in his decreasing points potential than some would have us believe. 

– David

Both Calvert-Lewin and Vardy have been named in this week’s Scout Picks but rumours circulating on Friday night suggest the Leicester striker may not even be in the starting XI.

Grealish versus Harvey Barnes

A question many have been considering recently is what to do with Jack Grealish, who has provided just one assist in the last four Gameweeks. FPL Virgin asked the question – should we sell Grealish

Pro Pundit Az was fairly unequivocal in his answer:

I think Villa go down and their fixtures couldn’t be worse. He’s literally their only threat, teams that are capable in defence are surely just going to mark him out of the game. He might get the odd assist, but Leicester / Chelsea options may be more explosive with their run ins so I think I’m going to ditch.

– Az

Meanwhile JohnRoss concluded in his hot topic that it was worth selling Grealish if you are buying Harvey Barnes. 

And the Leicester City midfielder was one of the names picked out by Pro Pundit Zophar in his latest piece which looked at stats and upcoming fixtures to identify which players to target

Team News

Neale brought us the latest news with Rotation’s Alter Ego providing us his summary in a hot topic.

The headline is that Martial is doubt for Manchester United, Solskjaer revealed:

I don’t know with Anthony, to be honest. I’ve not asked. He tried [on Thursday] morning, so he wasn’t that bad, but we’ll have to do a scan [on Friday] probably.

– Solskjaer

Another United player who has got people talking this week is january-signing Bruno Fernandes.

He’s a player Joe transferred in for Son last week with the Portuguese delivering a 14-point return in Gameweek 27. He’s particularly good at penalties, scoring 22 out of 24 over his professional career. 

Speaking of his new signing Solskjaer said:

He has been known for his set plays. He has practised quite a few penalties and I wasn’t in doubt that he would score.

– Solskjaer

Although Karam noted on the Scoutcast that Fernandes does take the vast majority of his open play shots from distance, which isn’t great for Fantasy potential. 

Another player potentially taking over penalty-taking duties is Kevin De Bruyne. 

In the absence of Sergio Aguero, the Belgian stepped up and converted his spot-kick against Real Madrid in the Champions League. 

Holly (aka FFCommunity_) opened a hot topic on what to do with Kevin? 

Despite the blank fixture for Man City this Gameweek, the Scoutcast were unanimous in their decision to keep De Bruyne. Highlighting a potential Double Gameweek 29 for the champions.

Looking ahead

Considering what we know of the expected blank and double Gameweeks for the season, FPL Virgin outlined his trademarked plan – the “FPL Virgin Chip Strategy

In his community article he explained why he feels using his Wildcard in Gameweek 33, Bench Boost in Gameweek 34, and Free Hit in Gameweek 37 could reap rewards.

It was an excellent week for The Great and The Good, with all bar one of the featured managers gaining green arrows. The FPL General has played his Wildcard and Greyhead expects him to Bench Boost in Gameweek 29. Can he match Andy’s success in Gameweek 27

Finally in his Gameweek review, TheFantasyFreÆK looked back on data from the previous seven seasons before concluding:

After going through the data, I can confidently say that this season to date has witnessed some of the worst defending in the league’s history. To put things into context, at this stage, Villa have conceded 330 shots inside the box while West Ham have conceded 86 big chances. The FPL repercussion is that the findings cannot be more obvious, target attackers who play against these teams!

– TheFantasyFreÆK

Useful information for planning future transfers.

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.

Fantasy Football Scout Memberships are now available for a reduced price of £9.99 for the remainder of the season. Rolling monthly subscriptions are also available for £2.99 per month. Click here to sign up or upgrade your account.

Community Competitions

Don’t miss out on your chance to win a share of £300 in prize money by entering the latest edition of the open-to-all Fantasy Football Scout Cup

Sign up via the entry form here. The deadline for entries is 10:30am on Monday 2 March.

For an 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 28 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.

May your arrows be green!

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

1,351 Comments Post a Comment
  1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    For all we know this twitter guy IS Vardy. The sort of party trick he would pull

    1. Greek Freak
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      His bio does read like something Vardy would say tbf.

      1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        And Red Bull is very low calorie

  2. Ritchies Magic Hat
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Vardy out now!? Can’t be dealing with these last minute shenanigans... it’s Friday night I’m going to the pub

    1. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Huh???

  3. Pukkipartyy
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Grealish + Traore to Barnes + Maddison (-4)

    Thanks!

    1. Ritchies Magic Hat
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Might as well Make it a -8 and do Vardy to Andy Carroll whilst you’re at it

      1. Pukkipartyy
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        😀 sure if own Vardy

  4. The Train Driver
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Isn't Nacho injured?

    1. Rotation's Alter Ego
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Tsk somebody doesn't read my weekly HT 😉

      1. The Train Driver
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        I just read the tweets while driving...

  5. Puzzle
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Which Leicester mid is the best to get? Disregard price.

  6. Wheyyyy
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Hendo/Lund/Bergwijn to Mccarthy/Pereira/Perez -4?

    1. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Not bad.

  7. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    link to these vardy rumours ?

  8. Pep's Money Laundry
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    I can't believe I'm captaining Richarlison, wish me luck

    1. jaybradlights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Brave - he's always got a red card in him

  9. WE GO FOR IT
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Pick one

    A. Kelly -> 4.9 def. (Newcastle defender?)
    B. Play Dendoncker for his 2 points. Save FT
    C. Play Dendoncker. But use FT for Traore to Perez

  10. Aftermath
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Take martial out for a hit or play him and hope he starts, Hayden first sub

    1. Yank Revolution
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Martial owner here. I think he's out.

  11. goriuanx
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    The real question here is how he has only 1.3% body fat

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Even CR7 has more being a fitness freak

    2. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      pretty good effort to still be alive I'd say

    3. rnrd
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      1.3 is very very low tbh
      Not so reliable then?

  12. Thomas Magnum
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Any advice would be great
    A) Lasc
    B) Taylor (have Pope)

  13. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Looks like no double announced tonight .

  14. The_FF_King
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone doing KDB to Mane?

    KDB (blank, utd away)
    Mane (Watford away, Bournemouth home)

    Has to pay off in next 2 weeks right? I already have Salah

    1. Champions League Varane
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Already did it

  15. Amey
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Next Leicester game is 10 days apart.
    Should keep Vardy then 😮

  16. Long ago I drew a walrus
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    would leicester really be playing two holding mids against norwich?

    1. Rotation's Alter Ego
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Possible - Praet can also play further forwards in a regular 4141. Tielemans has been poor so dropping him isn't a massive surprise.

      1. Long ago I drew a walrus
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        you believe the vardy rumour RAE?

    2. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Wolves played a 352

  17. SADIO SANÉ
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Perez nailedness? better pick than Barnes generally or about even?

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Don't know
      Will go with him though If Vardy is out.
      He does well in his absence

    2. Peteex
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      About even. Prefer Barnes, but If Vardy really is out then Perez (on pens)

  18. FC Hakkebøf
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    GTG? Anything worth a hit? Worried about Martial and Vardy.. Former is flagged and latter is rumoured to be out. What do you think?

    Dubravka
    TAA Gomez Boly Aurier
    Salah Martial Traore
    Vardy Jimenez DCL
    ___
    McCarthy Hayden KDB Lundstram

    3.4 itb 0 FT

  19. Don Van Vliet
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    To think Munday wasted his career-defining headline on Klopp's teamsheet earlier in the season, too.

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      This will be STUNNING

    2. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      wassat?

    3. Rash
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Please elaborate

  20. Hansel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Looks as if I'm only fielding 10 with Vardy out

    A) Grealish -> Fernandes (-4)
    B) Vardy -> DCL (-4)
    C) Kelly -> Doherty (-4)
    D) Save

    1. DycheDycheBaby
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Who said that?

  21. FPL Blow-In
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    If Vardy is out I have Rico as my only cover. Something worth a hit here????

    TAA, Doherty, Lascelles
    Salah, Manè, Perez, Cantwell
    Vardy, Ings, Greenwood

    Button/Hendo, Rico, Kdb, Baldock 0ft .4 itb

  22. dunas_dog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Vardy to Iheanacho or don’t believe unless rockstar confirms ?

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Absolutely no harm in waiting for him to post at least

    2. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Remember when people heard Kun was out and they got Jesus in, how many goals did Kun get that game?

    3. Rinseboy
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      how have you got Vardy?

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

        I don’t but knew if I asked question DCL to Vardy answer would be no! But wanted to try and tease out views on Nacho

        Anyway I did get Iheanacho in for DCL at 6.59 on free - shot to nothing as can get DCL ( no price loss) or Jota back next week if does work out but huge upside if Nacho scores and Vardy perhaps out more than week. A gamble but liked the odds and will also make game fun to watch !

        1. Rinseboy
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          very nice! good luck mate

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

            Well that went well. Still got me top of ML tonight so not all bad!

  23. corderz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Bottomed......

    A) Barnes + Saiss
    B) Pereira + Saka

  24. My neck my back my Saed Kol…
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Which option is best for free? Team is

    Ryan button

    Salah KDB Martial Traore Grealish

    Aguero Ings Greenwood

    A) aguero & Lund to jota & Doherty
    B) Grealish & Lund to Barnes & Boly

  25. Gianluca Busio's Hair …
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    if it makes anyone stressing about Vardy feel better, I just transferred out the wrong red and white stripped defender.

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      😀

    2. Party time
        4 years, 1 month ago

        LOL

    3. Garfield1001
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Bench one:

      Holgate (MUN)
      Traore (tot)
      Cantwell (LEI)

      Cheers

    4. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Morgan Schneiderlin is out as well. 4-8 weeks.

    5. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Rockstar to the rescue

    6. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I remember a few years ago, there were rumours of vardy being out and people on this site bombarded his wife with messages asking if it's true he's injured

      1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        She is a long way from 1.3 body fat right now

      2. Ange Ball
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        lol no lol shocking

    7. Totti
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      martial and kelly -> bruno and saiss for -4

      A) yay
      B) nay

      my bench rico kelly
      and starting TAA soyuncu

      need your help guys