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. Pommie22
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Noticed quite a few triple captained Salah last week any thoughts on Auba this week?

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

      Triple captain is for double gameweeks - give yourself more chance to get lucky

      1. Pommie22
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Thanks bud

    2. Silent Hunter
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Tempting

      1. Pommie22
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Thanks

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

      Nah don't do it

    4. Tasty Jerk
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      No, wait for double gameweek

      1. Pommie22
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Thanks bud seems to be the general consensus

  2. The Happy One
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Start Foden or Doucoure this week?

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

      Fody

    2. Silent Hunter
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Foden

    3. Tasty Jerk
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Foden

  3. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    For some reason I can’t click on the Members area? Anyone else with this issue?

    1. kennethrhcp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      no issue for me

      1. RAFA THE GAFFA
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Switched to Desktop view to get in

        1. Volley127
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Same issue with Safari. Might be an iOS14 issue?

          Worked on the chrome app for me, or as you say on the desktop view. Still annoying though.

  4. Logic
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Play 2 of Dallas, Mitro and ASM

    1. The Happy One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      The latter two

  5. HollywoodXI
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    WC team with next 10 fixtures in mind (Man Utd, Everton and Wolves best fixtures)...GTG?

    Meslier
    Shaw Coleman Saiss Justin Mitchell
    Salah Auba Willian Podence Bissouma
    Werner Martial DCL

    GW3 - Auba to KDB
    GW4 - Mitchell to Ayling / Dallas / Lamptey

  6. Sid07
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Start one from
    1) davies
    2) lascalles
    3) Mitchell

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

      2 for me

  7. camarozz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Davies or Bertrand ➡️ Digne for free or save FT?

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

      I would do Bertrand

    2. kennethrhcp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Bertrand

    3. Leonard hatred
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Digne already increased, I assume you've already checked that?

      1. camarozz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Yeah have 0.5

  8. LucasD
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Which option is better?

    A - Foden and Brewster
    B - Bissouma and Wilson

    Steer / Martinez
    Taylor / Mitchell / Justin / TAA / Lewis
    Harrison / Salah / KDB / Bruno / xxx
    Martial / DCL / xxx

    Thanks

    1. George Agdgdgwngo
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Beautiful. Definitely B

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

        Thank you

    2. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A

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

        Thanks

  9. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Team of death is ready:

    Martinez
    TAA | Digne | Dallas
    Auba | Bruno | Son | Rodriguez | Soucek
    Kane | Wilson

    Steer | Mitchell | Buur | Davis

    Auba to Salah in GW3, no idea how to get City but love this setup.

    Thoughts?

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

      I'd get rid of one of the Spurs boys and upgrade Soucek

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Yeah good shout mate, thanks

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

    Bench one

    A) Bowen (ars)
    B) Justin (BUR)
    C) Davies (sou)

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

      C

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

    I would love a FFS app. I wonder if they will ever make one?

    1. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Surprised they haven't.

  12. Dacra
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Jota to Liverpool for 45m? Not sure I like this as a Liverpool fan..

    But Podence now becomes a steal at 5.5?

    1. goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      It's a fantastic signing in my opinion.

    2. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Will be another shaqiri.

      1. Leonard hatred
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        He's 23, plenty of time to develop

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

      Podence and Neto look better options now.

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

      Finally a bit of cover for the front 3. Don't know how they've all stayed relatively injury free for the best part of 3 years

  13. Yankee Toffee
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Who to bench?

    Bamford
    Hendrick
    Grealish

    1. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Jimmy

    2. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Hendrick

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

    Been a bit of a disaster planning for GW2. Have lost value in two players already and have been forced into a hit. Have settled on a team now! What do you guys think? Feel free to rip it apart!!

    Ryan
    Trent, Davies, KWP
    Salah, Auba, James Rodriguez, Greenwood, ASM
    Werner, Mitrovic

    Walton, C Taylor, Mitchell, Davis

    1. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      It looks fine.

      Defense is a bit weak looking but it looks a lot like mine which ain't a good thing! Another hit next week imo could help a lot.

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

        Absolutely! Planning on another hit next week like you said. Good luck this GW.

  15. RamboRN
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Mccarthy
    TAA Egan Doherty
    Bruno aubam son ASM Bissouma
    Martial werner

    Subs Nyland vinagre Mitchell brewster

    I sat bruno on the bench for first week and have done ings to martial as free transfer. I feel I have already missed the boat to swap vinagre or son as they have gone down in value last night. Go to go or take a hit?

    1. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Hold you have already compromised transfers as a .1 drop is in reality a .5 drop in budget.

  16. Chandler Bing
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Is there a chance that Pulisic starts against West Brom or can we rule that out now that he's certain to miss this GW?

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

      Lampard said he's not ready in his press conference

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

      Doubt Lampard will rush him into the starting lineup considering it's against weaker opposition

    3. Leonard hatred
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Not really, and if he does play it'll be a cameo.

  17. Art Vandelay
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Any recent news on a Brewster move? Thinking of having him in a WC. A big risk but facilitates a lovely team.

    1. Tasty Jerk
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Seems to just be between us (Palace) and Shef Utd - would love him here. Latest odds...

      Skybet
      Sheff Utd 1/3
      Palace 5/2

      1. Leonard hatred
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Aye, Sheffield don't like the buyback clause apparently.

        Shame, they could do with a striker.

    2. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      He's not a risk at all. Consider him fodder

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

        An annoying Liverpool wasted space fodder though if he doesn't go

        1. Art Vandelay
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Yep, this is the issue. In any event, don’t want a striker spot taken by someone with no chance of points.

  18. CrouchDown
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Any last minute changes to this WC?

    Martinez Steer

    Coleman Saiss Justin Taylor Mitchell

    Auba Sterling Rashford Foden Bissouma

    Werner Martial Watkins

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

      The defence

      1. CrouchDown
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        What would you change mate?

    2. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Would prefer De Bruyne in there.

    3. The Train Driver
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Looked really good then I saw it missed Salah

  19. Blue Gaffer
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Which is best?

    1. Werner to Martial
    2. Son to Rashford
    3. Robertson to Digne
    4. Save FT ?

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

      The one I would do is son to rashford but as you just missed a price drop you may aswell wait another week and see how son plays against Southampton

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

      Son to Rashford.

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

      Keep Son, he wi explode

  20. Shark Team
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Anyone else worried that in the last 7 goals Arsenal scored against West Ham at the Emirates with Auba on the pitch he has recorded only 1 assist

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

      No

  21. Gabriel Agbonlahor
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Only for this GW punt before WC..

    KDB or Sterling?
    Vardy or Kane?
    Klich or Harrison?

    1. Mr. Clueless
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Sterling/Vardy/Harrison

  22. Dacra
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Wc later today seems an option.

    Jump on all the risers happening tonight, then decide on a team later..

    1. goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      WCing just to gain TV?

      1. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        It's also just a really good time to WC for fixture swings imo. Go for it.

      2. Brosstan
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Seems silly

    2. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      They’ll all be reset

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

    Help:

    A Alli to Greenwood for -4
    B Keep Alli

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

    Is Dele Alli out this weekend? If so, is J. Rodriguez the man to bring in?

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

      Do it

    2. linkafu
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Think he ll play

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

    How many players you got playing on Saturday, then Sunday then Monday?

    I’m 4-6-1

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

      None Monday which is a pain

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

      4 7 0

  26. Mr. Clueless
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Rate this WC team out of 10:

    Ryan/4.0
    Robertson/Gabriel/Saiss/mitchell/Justin
    Willian/KDB/Sterling/doucoure/bias puma
    Werner/Jesus/Bamford

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

      What’s your defence for GW3

      City treble up interesting

  27. Muller Reus Corner
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Any last minute changes needed for my wc team?
    Ryan, Forster
    TAA, Digne, Saiss, Justin, Mitchell
    Auba (c) Bruno, James Rodriguez, Podence, Bissouma
    Martial, Jimenez, DCL

    Plan to do Auba to KDB or Sterling GW3

  28. HurriKane
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Why is James Rodriguez 4th most bought in Midfeilder despite blanking gw1?

    What am i missing?

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

      Hype train and FOMO, a deadly combination

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

      He is just starting an excellent run of fixtures and looked very dangerous. He was only Richarlson not missing a near open goal from an assist....

    3. dark91
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      He looked good, created 5 chances, and Everton looked good as a team overall

    4. tokara
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Eye test

  29. Eleven Hag
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Martial, Grealish
    Or
    Rashford, Wilson

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

      B

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

      Over season I reckon more goals in B

  30. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Need Son to haul to reverse his drop 😉