Tips

The Complete Guide to Scout’s tips and advice for FPL Gameweek 2

Welcome to the Fantasy Football Scout Guide to Gameweek 2, don’t forget the new normal deadline of 11:00 BST – half an hour earlier than last season.

Captain set? Transfers made?

Before delving into the nitty-gritty of the best advice for the next round of matches, we received a welcome reminder this week on how to enjoy FPL.

If you find yourself clicking a little too often on transfers page, Community Member and Mindfulness trainer DomWatts23 explained why:

We get a dopamine hit released in our brain every time we look at our team and remember that we might be rewarded in the future for those players doing well this weekend.

– Dom Watts

Which is of course exactly what we want but, realistically, doesn’t always happen.

Dom’s thoughtful article is full of tips that help put FPL in perspective, and could possibly improve your decision-making process. 

And remember, even the best can have a bad Gameweek, as three-time top-200 finisher Lateriser proved with a below-average 43 points. Well, he wouldn’t be called ‘Late Riser’ if he didn’t start slowly. Reflecting on his pre-season decisions, the Pro Pundit considered:

Being stubborn will not make you a good FPL player. You have to respond to what you see on that television screen.

– Lateriser

It’s an exciting Gameweek with both Manchester clubs returning to action following their opening blank, and let’s not forget Aston Villa and Burnley too. Man United-fan Lateriser is sensing an opportunity to give Anthony Martial (£9.0m) the armband.

Although writing in Captain Sensible, Jan Sienkiewicz identified a weakness on Crystal Palace’s right flank that could be exploited by Marcus Rashford (£9.5m).

Encouragingly for Man United backers, the latest clean sheets odds provided by G-Whizz reveal that the Eagles are the team most likely to concede in Gameweek 2.

However, double-points king Jan notes that the safe captain pick is the popular Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£12.0m):

We can trust Aubameyang, who has been in fantastic goalscoring form over recent months and does have the underlying statistics, as well as penalties, to back it up.

– Jan

Arsenal entertain West Ham this weekend and, reflecting on the Hammers’ home defeat to Newcastle, David struck an ominous tone in the Best Captain video:

It’s quite rare to see a team get – I don’t want to say played off the park – but Newcastle were in full control of that game and I can’t remember the last time I really saw Newcastle be in control of a game and be on the front foot.

– David

One person who no doubt enjoyed that win was Neale. This week, our resident Geordie cast his eye over the statistics from Gameweek 1 in his latest Big Numbers offering. Among the many pearls highlighted was the frailty of the newly-promoted defences:

2.83 expected goals conceded (xGC) by West Bromwich Albion in Gameweek 1, the worst total in the division. In fact, the three newly promoted clubs had the worst xGC tallies in the first round of 2020/21 matches, with Leeds United (2.76) and Fulham (1.97) not far behind.

– Neale

That could be good news for owners of Everton players, with the Baggies visiting Goodison Park in the early kickoff.

The Toffees topped Pro Pundit Andy’s Gameweek 1 take-aways: underestimated following a series of sub-par performances during Project Restart, Andy noted how the arrival of midfield trio Allan (£5.5m), Abdoulaye Doucouré (£5.5m) and James Rodríguez (£7.5m) transformed their attack. 

Calvert-Lewin will get the plaudits for the goal (and what a header it was), but Richarlison (£8.0m) was brilliant. He managed seven shots, with five of them in the box and his non-penalty expected goals (nPxG) was 0.74, not a bad start. He’ll be a hard sell because of the extra £1m he costs over Calvert-Lewin, but he could be a shrewd pick for the next three fixtures.

– Andy on Everton

Although investing heavily in Carlo Ancelotti’s troops might be tricky without a Wildcard, especially with the Manchester clubs back on the menu. Pro Pundit Zophar weighed up the Pros and Cons of making wholesale changes to your squad this early in the season. 

Depending on the make-up of your team, you may want to act fast to take advantage of low-owned players from Manchester City as well capitalising on the appealing fixtures for Everton and Manchester United. Although, typically cautious in nature, Zophar ultimately prefers to wait until he has a little more data to go on and the transfer window is closed.

However, rumour has it that his fellow member of the FPL Wire, BigManBakar, has pushed the button ahead of Gameweek 2. Does this mean he’s sold Salah? His latest Gameweek review suggests he might have:

I would be more tempted to sell Salah however, if I was on a wildcard because that would have meant that I could have upgraded elsewhere easily. And I think that might be a smart strategy, because this is where the concept of VORP (value over replacement player) comes into play and if you are unlikely to captain Salah in the next four (che ARS avl eve) that ploy might be fruitful.

– BigManBakar

If you are looking for further encouragement to play the early Wildcard, Pro Pundit Tom Freeman was on hand with a selection of enticing differentials. Raheem Sterling led the way with nine goals during Project Restart:

Five of his nine double-digit hauls arrived following the resumption, which ensured he outscored teammate Kevin De Bruyne (£11.5m) by 86 FPL points to 73.

– Tom on Raheem Sterling

And a trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers is not necessarily such a bad fixture for the Englishman, argues Tom:

Sterling also thrived on his travels – 70% of his league goals arrived during away games, while his 26 big chances in such matches was comfortably more than any other player.

– Tom on Raheem Sterling

The Aston Villa fan also ran the rule over the Villans’ new striker Ollie Watkins (£6.0m):

Amazingly, every single one of [his] 26 goals came from open play and, when you exclude penalties, Watkins scored more league goals than any other player in English football last season.

– Tom on Ollie Watkins

A partnership with Jack Grealish could bear fruit, and Tom suggests the time to invest might be Gameweek 6 when the fixture ticker turns blue for Dean Smith’s men.

This week’s Scoutcast featured former FPL winner and Pro Pundit Simon March. Despite concerns about their defence, one player who caught the eye of the Chelsea fan was Reece James (£5.0):

We saw the goal last night, I watched that back without the crowd noise and just the sound it makes when it leaves his boot – it was like a sonic boom! Just an absolute pile driver of a shot.

– Simon on Reece James

With new signings like Timo Werner (£9.5m) and Kai Havertz (£8.5m) to get on the end of his deliveries, Simon feels that £5.0m could be a steal. And, excluding his goal, Neale pointed out that the 20-year-old could benefit from the bonus points system:

20 baseline bonus points (BBPS) registered by Reece James on Monday night, the joint-highest total in Gameweek 1. Baseline BPS is simply a player’s BPS score with all the appearances, goals, assists and clean sheets stripped away.

– Neale on Reece James

Another defender who posed a goal-threat on the opening weekend was Matt Doherty (£6.0m). Spurs were rightly criticised for their defeat to Everton but the former Wolves player made a couple of encouraging “underlapping” runs into the box: the best resulting in a glorious chance from six yards out that Jordan Pickford (£5.0m) blocked with his legs.

Final Checks

Before making any final decisions ahead of Gameweek 2 be sure to check up on the latest team news and the predicted line-ups.

Pep Guardiola has revealed that Sergio Aguero and Aymeric Laporte will miss out this weekend:

Meanwhile Frank Lampard has confirmed that Timo Werner is fit to face the reigning Champions.

Community Competitions

The Head-to-Head leagues are back! The Gameweek 1 results and tables are currently showing on the main Head-to-Head page.

The fixtures for Gameweek 2 are below:

This is your last opportunity to join The Great and The Good mini-league, the entry code is jxisbl.

And Greyhead is also recruiting for a Community Team to take on the established glitterati. Put your name forward in this Hot Topic if you are interested in taking part.

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

Finally, Pro Pundit Sam brought us the latest on the Scout Network, a new initiative this season, highlighting both new and established voices in the FPL Community.

Enjoy Gameweek 2 and may your arrows be green!

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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

2,956 Comments Post a Comment
  1. matukas66
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Guys help me what I need to do I am so dumb I do early trransfer kane to aguero and now I realised that aguero has injury and he not playing what i need to do take -4 or play with 1foward ings and aguero at the bench?

    1. Zimo
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Obviously take a hit if u don't have anyone to play on your bench

    2. Wild Card this!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      -4 for Rashford

    3. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Aguero out for a while - get rid and consider it a learning experience.

    4. Duffy Dunk
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I'd take another hit to bring a fwd with good short-and-mid term fixtures, probably Martial or DCL.

      1. matukas66
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        what you think about richarlison?

        1. KUN_DE_BRU_YNE
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Richarlison for todays Brace

          1. matukas66
            • 3 Years
            3 years, 6 months ago

            so i do -4 aguero to richarlison good or no?

  2. Scout
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Help please

    Ryan
    Justin shaw saiss
    Auba Sterling salah Bruno bissouma
    DCL Wilson

    1) Bruno DCL and shaw out for rashford lacazette and c Taylor
    2) Bruno and DCL our for martial and Willian
    3) Bruno DCL and Wilson our for martial Werner and ASM

  3. milanista10
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    On WC, would you rather:

    A) Watkins (343)
    B) Podence (352)

    1. THFC4LIFE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      B

    2. Scout
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      B

    3. Duffy Dunk
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      B

      1. milanista10
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        On him already, thanks for the reassurance lads

    4. Hairy Potter
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      B

  4. gooner_112233445566
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Current team

    Mccarthy nyland
    Trent, James, Justin, mitchell, saliba
    Salah, auba, barnes, Mount, bissouma
    Werner, ings, davis

    1itb, What to do this week?
    A) Mount for James/greenwood
    B) Mount and Werner for sterling/kdb and Watkins/mitro -4
    C) Mount and Werner for rashford and richarlison -4
    D) save ft

    1. CostaCoffee
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A

    2. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Save and assess both Manchesters this week

    3. Rassi
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      D

  5. THFC4LIFE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Who to bench?

    Egan Davies C.Taylor

    Currently on C.Taylor

    1. CostaCoffee
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Taylor

    2. krzys
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Taylor

    3. COLLIN QUANER
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Taylor

  6. No Totti No Party
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Last WC decision
    A:KDB Wilson
    B:Auba Watkins

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A

    2. International Richard
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A

    3. krzys
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A

  7. Rinseboy
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    gtg this week?

    Mccarthy
    TAA Ayling Justin
    Auba (c) Salah Rashford Jrod Soucek
    Werner Adams
    Steer Dier Mitchell Davis

    1. Scout
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Adams for Wilson?

      1. Rinseboy
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        na will give Adams a couple of games cheers did consider it

    2. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Good to go- like the Rashford pick.

      1. Rinseboy
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        cheers bro.Yea tempted to captain him a bit!

    3. COLLIN QUANER
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Nice team

  8. dunas_dog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Alli to Rodriguez-4 . Yes or No?

    1. aDUUU
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      yes

    2. Rinseboy
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      defo

  9. Tomas Brolin ate all Depays
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    4.5 4.0
    TAA Robbo Vinegar James Ayling
    Salah Havertz Auba Soucek ASM
    Adams Werner Adams

    Was thinking of doing TAA Havertz Soucek -> Mitchell Rodriguez Rashford ??????

    Then

    ASM to Podence next week

  10. Ask Yourself
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    My son > Bruno for a hit paid off I see.

    1. FPL Forward Thinker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      What was your other transfer?

      1. Ask Yourself
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Already did Kane > Martial, not expecting a drop for son and expecting a rise for martial lol

    2. Whats the Huth
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      How so?

  11. Will J 256
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Would you WC this lot?
    Ryan
    Trent, Davies, C Taylor
    Salah, Auba, Pulisic, James Rodriguez, ASM
    Werner, Mitrovic

    Walton, KWP, Mitchell, Davis

  12. FOO FIGHTER
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Who has considered Jaysus?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Pope?

      1. FOO FIGHTER
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Lol, Jesus City

        1. Rassi
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Vatican?

    2. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Decent shout with less City fish in the pond

  13. Whiskerz
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Thinking about a gw3 wc. 11 changes in this version. Trying to hit wolves fixture swing. Lost 0.1 on son last night which prices me out of podence, so hendrick is in instead.

    How does it look?

    Martinez
    TAA . Robbo . Saiss . Lamptey/Ayling
    KDB/Sterling . Bruno . Zaha . Hendrick
    Jiminez . Wilson . Werner

    4.0 . Mitchell/Fergusson . Biss

  14. Where dahoud at
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    So here's my wildcard team and my captain Pick, people will question my captain Pick, but thank about it Aubameyang playing in a Derby, and il not be shocked if West ham show up, Chelsea Liverpool I feel will be a cagey game, and I reckon united will be like a 1-0 chances being united get a penalty, where as Everton are looking a well oiled team against a team I fancy to get relegated by Xmas, pick the bones outa this

    Martinez
    Taa, shaw, Justin, saiss
    Salah, grealish, sterling(vc), James Rodriguez (c)
    Martial, werner

    Bench, steer, Bissouma, Ferguson, brewster

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      It’s great

      1. Miguel Sanchez
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Warning on having Martinez, Steer and Grealish means you will be locked out of Watkins if he proves a bargain at 6.0

        I went Button over a steer for this reason

    2. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Very nice team......GL with capt choice

      1. Where dahoud at
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Thanks people, that's a great shout by the way with button

  15. Dirty Harry
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Start:

    1. KWP
    2. Taylor

    1. krzys
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      KWP

      1. Dirty Harry
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Thanks

    2. Where dahoud at
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Kwp

  16. Hairy Potter
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Imagine if Mane hauls this week

    1. FPL Forward Thinker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Cat. Pigeons.

    2. Where dahoud at
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Hahaha hahaha don't say that lol

    3. Over Midwicket
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Oh good lord

  17. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Much as head says KDB the heart says Sterling after this Kun news. Stats show marked improvement with no Kun plus the fact he is normally one of the fittest players and this I think makes him start seasons very strongly.

    1. Where dahoud at
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Exact reason why I went with sterling, in saying that I'm sure at some point I will also try get kdb in, the thing about kdb is any goals city score chances are hel be involved in most a them, the thing with sterling he has more chance off hauling, I don't thank u can go wrong with any the two a them, the only plus side for sterling is ownership, he's far less owned than kdb

  18. Tsssst
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Nota good time to have Jota, do I...

    A. Keep and have Mitchell come on for him
    B. Bring in Foden - 4
    C. Bring in Podence - 4

    1. Duffy Dunk
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      C

  19. Whats the Huth
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Ings to Richarlison?
    For free

    1. Duffy Dunk
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Yes, unless you already have an EVE attacker.

    2. FPL Forward Thinker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Different move from the norm, and could pay off over a few weeks. If and only if Ings scores more this weekend, keep the head as over 3 weeks I reckon Richarlison scores more.

    3. vincentwsho
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Currently thinking as well... or whether to roll the FT

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

      Ings seems to have a good record against Spurs last year.. but Richarlison against WBA looks tasty

  20. Chief Break-Everything
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    It would appear that I did some late night Friday transfers, and have woken up to find Podence in my squad? Could be worse I suppose..

    Who to play? Adams (Tot) or Podence (MCI)

    Thx

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Pod

    2. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      If that's the worst thing that happened last night then you have done well.

      1. Chief Break-Everything
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Haha... you're not wrong! Thanks

    3. Over Midwicket
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Charles Podence XI

  21. Tomas Brolin ate all Depays
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Have both.... which is more essential ??

    A) 7.5 TAA
    B) 7.0 Robbo

    1. Duffy Dunk
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      B's form looks better now.

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I think Robbo May be the better value option and has been a little better than TAA for a while

    3. kevchenko
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      TAA is essential.
      Free kicks.

      1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        They seem to be about level on dead ball stuff now

        1. kevchenko
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Not the direct ones?

          I hope TAA scores a free kick against Kepa today and we'll see everybody that took him out cussing their luck.

          I own both, and wouldn't consider losing them to be fair.

  22. owenread
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    thoughts on this WC team?

    Martinez (Steer)
    TAA, Digne, Justin (Saiss, Mitchell)
    Auba, B Fernandes, J Rodriguez, Podence (Bissouma)
    DCL, Martial, Jimenez

  23. gooner_112233445566
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Worth a -4 to get sterling and watkins for Mount and werner?

    Or leave and save the ft

    1. Duffy Dunk
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Save

  24. Will J 256
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Thoughts on this hit?
    Alli and Pulisic to James Rodriguez and Grealish (-4)

    1. Will J 256
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Sorry Greenwood not grealish

  25. Rinseboy
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    start Steer or Mccarthy?
    and start Dier or Soucek?

    1. Duffy Dunk
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      McCarthy & Dier.

    2. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Steer but doubt he starts

    3. FPL Forward Thinker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Alex and Eric

  26. Illu
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Martinez or Steer starting ag Sheffield United

  27. Dirty Harry
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Kind of scared going into GW2 without an Everton attacker. First time I've said that for a few seasons.

    1. Scout
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Really? What are your thoughts on DCL. Doubting it a bit and don’t no why

      1. Dirty Harry
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        I think DCL is good value especially with the midfield behind feeding him.

        I'd have him on a WC but if I was to bring him in now it would be for a -4 at least.

        1. Scout
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Is he nailed?

  28. Neevesy
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    I've took a minus 4, if I WC (big if), will I cancel the minus?

    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Yes

  29. Scout
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Repost got no response

    Help please

    Ryan
    Justin shaw saiss
    Auba Sterling salah Bruno bissouma
    DCL Wilson

    1) Bruno DCL and shaw out for rashford lacazette and c Taylor
    2) Bruno and DCL our for martial and Willian
    3) Bruno DCL and Wilson our for martial Werner and ASM

  30. Eat my goal!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Amazed by pools purchase of jota - good player, tad injury prone - mane to Barca?