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. RomeluStormzy
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    How many people will be ripping up their wc team this week?!

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

    7 minutes to go!

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

      Nearly

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

    wilson or watkins ?

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

      Watkins?

    2. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Who’s Watkins?

    3. GROBARI
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Wilson

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

    Does Jota leaving mean Podence is nailed?

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

      Not really

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

      Yes

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

      A lot less risk of rotation, could put it like that

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

      Neto, Silva, Tralee still options up top

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

        *traore

    5. Bubz
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      No

    6. Hulk Smash
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Good question

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

    Morning chaps.

    Hit me with your questions?

    I've got 10mins

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

      (Throws a brick with a question on it)

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

        Ha

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

      If a farmer had 322 cows and took one shot that got all the cows. How did the farmer do it?

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

        *can I go to the audience*

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

      Play which def?

      Davis v SOU (Have JWP & Che)

      or

      Taylor v LEI

      Cheers

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

        I'd probably go with Taylor but it's tight.

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

          thats who i am on now - cheers

    4. Bartowski
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Why does it hurt when I pee?

      (It's more of an emotional pain than a physical one)

      Thanks.

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

        Try sitting down

  6. Vazza
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Who to start

    A. Bissouma vs new
    B. Coady vs MCI

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

      Please respond guys. It’s the second time I’m posting this question

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

      B

    3. djoker_nole
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      bissouma

    4. the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A

    5. Bees4Lyf
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Bissouma

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

      A

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

    Bottomed

    Pulisic to Willian worth -4

    WC GW3

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

      Probably not

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

    McCarthy (Ryan)

    TAA Justin Holding (Lewis, Mitchell)

    Salah Son Bruno H-Rod (Jorginho)

    Martial Wilson Watkins

    WC played last Sunday, thinking of this as my final team. 0.4 spare

    Decisions, decisions!

  9. gooberman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Right wildcard team I've finally settled on.

    Pickford (Nyland)
    VVD, Digne, Justin, (Taylor) (Mitchell)
    Auba (C) Bruno, Rashford, Foden (Bass)
    DCL, Wilson, Martial

    Auba out for KDB next week

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

      Triple united?!

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

        on a WC too!

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

      That 1.0 saved going with VVD rather than TAA seems like a good idea to me. Might do that myself.

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

    Hold Tight!!!

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

    Have McCarthy, which two between these should I play?
    a. Dier
    b. KWP
    c. Taylor

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

      B

    2. the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      BC

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

    Pick one please!!

    A) Robbo + Wilson

    B) TAA + Watkins

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

      A but only because I dont know much on watkins

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

      B

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

    Pickford (4.0)

    James, Ayling, Justin, Mitchell, Lamptey

    Salah, Willian, KDB, JamesRodriguez, (Lemina)

    Werner, Wilson, Martial

    RMT Thoughts lads? Any 5 of my defenders could play any week really, no set bench player...No Wolves Scares me...

    1. Sarri-ball
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I like it

      4.5 to vvd and rodriquez to prodence.

      Wolves cover gives you vvd everyweek plus 2

  14. Gorbitz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Who to bench??
    A) Che Adams
    B) ASM
    C) Justin

  15. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Pick one please:

    Steer
    Ryan

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

      Im starting Steer - am i crazy lol

  16. El Presidente
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Is there anyone with really insightful last minute info out there? Thanks

    1. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      don’t eat yellow snow ?

      1. El Presidente
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        🙂

      2. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        This

  17. Hotdogs for Tea
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    hold FFS, hold ... nail down that knee 🙂

    1. Rolls-Royce
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      It's been difficult

  18. Rolls-Royce
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Start one:

    A) Ben Davies
    B) KWP

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

      Ben Davies

  19. SHOWSTOPPERRR
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Gone with kwp over v Taylor..Any suggestions?

  20. JURGENAUT
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Hi, can some help with my bench order. It’s quite thin but is it g2g?

    Steer / Mitchell / Brewster / Douglas

    Although Brewster is linked to Sheffield, is it possible he could be given a cameo against Chelsea if Liverpool require his services or will he be completely nailed to the bench even if they are losing?

    Douglas, I have no idea about him. Does he have more chance of playing than Brewster this weekend?

    Thanks

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

    Last 2 decisions

    Should I?

    A - Son -> Greenwood
    B - Save FT

    Bench:

    1 - Davies
    2 - Adams

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

      B
      Davies

    2. Maeki2
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A

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

    How's this looking...

    McCarthy
    TAA, Holding, Justin
    Saint-Maximin, Salah, Auba, Rashford
    DCL, Adams, Werner

    Nyland, Vinagre, Mitchell, Anguiss

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

    GTG? On WC

    Martinez
    Digne Justin James Ayling
    Salah Auba(C) Bruno Podence
    Martial(VC) Jimenez

    (Steer Saiss Bissouma Brewster)

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

      Good team

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

    Final WC decision, Soucek in a 3-5-2 or another 4.5 in a 4-4-2?

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

      Or maybe Phillips/Jorginho?

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

      442

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

      Find extra .5 for Podence? TAA -> Robbo

    4. FPL Virgin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Soucek if you need someone to start every week or to start in a rotation.

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

        Thanks Virg and everyone

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

    Absolute scenes... Never expected that..

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

      What happened?

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

        Trolling

      2. Rolls-Royce
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        He is benched

  26. Reddonkeyham 42
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Martínez

    Dier, Walker-Peters, Digne
    Saint-Maximin, Aubameyang(C), Salah, Rodríguez
    Martial, Werner, Adams

    McCarthy
    Soucek
    Vinagre
    Mitchell

    What changes would people make? Looking at Citeh and Wolves assets next week.....

  27. Jones Kusi
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Bench 1
    A. Mitro
    B. Asm
    C. Adams
    D. Lamptey

  28. Kane Train
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Best 4.5 keeper?

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

      Think I’m going Martinez ready for their DGW

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

        Clever. Good thinking!

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

    Best 4.5 defenders for this week?!!?

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

      Ayling, Justin, Lamptey

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

      Dallas for me

  30. Sponge-worthy
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Anyone going Martial captain over Auba? Tempted.

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

      Same... just seen Lateriser is as well... very tempted

    2. Mr. Funny Name
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      All roads lead to an Auba haul

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

      Yes

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

      I am, and I wish us both luck mate...........defo swimming against the Auba tide...........