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. Stinglikeabee
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    A kane and Prodence
    Or
    B Werner and Grealish

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

      B

    2. Jam0sh
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      B

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

      Thanks guys

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

      B

  2. Super salah
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    1) A Digne and ayling
    B coleman and ake

    2) A Bamford
    B watkins

    help please?

  3. lordkippe
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Bench one :

    A : Justin
    B : Davies (BEN)
    C : Mitro

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

      A

    2. Maddamotha
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      B

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

    Take a hit to do Pulisic to Rodriguez or just start Bissouma?

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

      Bissouma

      you have lost 0.1 on Pulisic so might as well hold him until he gives you profit later and beside Chelsea has good run after LIV

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

        Thanks

  5. LordEllison
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Captain auba or martial? Thanks.

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Both good picks...

      Toss a coin?

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

      A

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

    Salah(C) here we go!

    1. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Silly silly

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

        Kepa...

        1. Pukki Blinders
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Oh now I see...

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

      You have to cap a 12.0 asset otherwise he is of no use!

      1. Pukki Blinders
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Not against a top 6 side!

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

          So Kepa going to become world class overnight. If Thiago starts for LFC then it is game over for Chelsea.

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

        Not every week

  7. ArseneKnows
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Hi all

    Wisdom of the crowds.........who would you pick?

    A) Robertson & Ings/Jimenez

    B) Digne & Werner

    Thanks

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

      Probably digne jimi. But since that isn't an option, b.

  8. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Who is better for the next month?

    KdB or Abua?

  9. Siva Mohan
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    start Davies or Adams?

    1. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Adams

    2. WhatWouldYourZlatanSay
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I'm doing Davies

  10. Puntillimon
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Squeaky bum time. Who to captain?

    a) salah
    b) son
    c) kane
    d) hamez

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

      When in doubt
      Mo Salah

    2. WhatWouldYourZlatanSay
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A, just

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

      A

    4. BERGKOP
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A

    5. Puntillimon
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Cheers

    6. Jam0sh
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A

  11. Amey
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Who to score more this GW ??

    A. Saiss Harrison (-4)
    B. Bissouma Davies

    Done A 😛

    1. R.C
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Downgraded VVD?

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

        Pulisic 😕

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

    My midfield is light with Mane, Barnes, Alli and bench: Saka, Stephens.

    Alli out for a hit?

  13. WhatWouldYourZlatanSay
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Bottomed...

    The classic last minute 2nd thoughts...currently NO utd with a view to 2FTs next week but...

    A) Vardy > Martial
    B) Son > Greenwood
    C) Vardy and Son > Bruno and Rich (-4)
    D) Vardy and Son > Martial and Rash
    E) Salah > Bruno

    Thanks guys....any help appreciated

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

      I've done E. Ahhh!

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

      I'd keep, unless you could do son to rashford.
      Vardy just scored two goals, and Greenwood is doubtful.

      1. WhatWouldYourZlatanSay
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Thanks, just know ML people have gone Werner to Martial and I edged last week, don't want to lose it on no UTD. But I think you are right.

  14. Flair
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Players playing today:
    Rodriguez - Haul
    Ayling - CS
    Martial - Haul

    Let's make this happen!

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

      6 players for me today

  15. chudbond007
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Any love for Grealish ? tempted to get him in by downgrading Werner

    1. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Prefer Barnes

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

      You might want Werner back next week.

      Grealish is a decent shout though as presumably Villa won't be as woeful as they were last year with their new signings.

  16. boroie
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    A - TAA & Adams
    B - Taylor & Martial

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I prefer B

      But hard to hold off TAA

  17. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Alli to Podence for free? Yay or Nay?

    1. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      After this week

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

      You’ve been going about Podence whole week man...just do it already! 😉

      1. Pep Roulette
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        You're right! I should do it! Cheers mate!

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

      I'd save and have 2 FTs next week

  18. Nightf0x
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Captain?

    A) auba
    B) bruno
    C) salah

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

      Stuck between a and b

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

      A

  19. Differentiator
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    RMWCT

    4.0 - Martinez
    Justin - Mitchell - VVD - 4.5 - 4.5
    Salah - Greenwood - Romeu - KDB - Klich
    DCL - Kane - Martial

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

      Bissouma-less

    2. OverTinker
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Kane to Jimi and improve mid

  20. Abusive_Sgt_Daelrhos
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Alli to James for free or hold?

    1. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Do it

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

    G2G?
    Ryan
    Justin shaw saiss
    Salah Auba Sterling Bruno bissouma
    Wilson dcl

  22. Teahupo'o
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    WC. Where to get .5 to upgrade Struijk?

    Martinez
    Digne Justin Struijk
    Salah Auba Fernandes Rodriguez Podence
    Martial DCL

    (Steer, Brewster James Mitchell)
    0ITB

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

      No city cover that’s risky imo

      1. Teahupo'o
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        gw3

  23. Warbling Wendy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Martinez Nyland
    Digne, Shaw, Saiss, Lamptey, KWP
    Salah, KDB, Rodriguez, Foden, Bisoumma
    Martial, Jimi, DCL

    Thoughts? On wildcard. Any huge mistakes that jump out?

    I know there are question marks over Foden's starting berth, but I think when he does play he will score well. With David Silva gone and his ability to play in the midfield 3 and on the wing I actually don't see him as more of a rotation risk compared to any other City attacker with the exception of KDB.

    1. edfiasco
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Shaw not nailed?

  24. Riggs
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Start:
    A) Che Adams or Bissouma
    B) KWP or Taylor?

  25. Kodap
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Bottomed:

    Am I G2G?

    McCarthy
    Trent - Saliba - Justin
    Salah - Auba (c) - Son - Soucek - ASM
    Werner - Martial

    Button, CTaylor, Mitchell & Brewster

  26. drughi
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    McCarty
    TAA Justin Ayling
    Salah Aubameyang(C) Barnes ASM
    Ings Werner DCL

    button KWP Taylor Bissouma

    Am I gtg ? Saving a FT even though some moves are tempting.

  27. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Over the next month or so:

    A) KdB and Greenwood

    Or

    B) Auba and Grealish?

    Thanks

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

      A for me.

  28. edfiasco
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Anyone like either of these medium term punts?

    A) Saka - Doucoure -4
    B) Havertz - James -4

    Probably save tbh

  29. Luca Toni
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Ryan or McCarthy in Starting XI ??

    1. edfiasco
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Ryan imo

  30. SimonOwen
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Cheers for the suggestions on keepers.

    Jorginho + Doherty or VVD and Bissouma

    I prefered 1st option but being talked out of it by a friend any other options here!