Tips

The Complete Guide to Scout’s tips and advice for FPL Gameweek 3

Welcome to the Fantasy Football Scout Guide to Gameweek 3, once again we have the new normal deadline of 11:00 BST – half an hour earlier than last season.

It’s been a rollercoaster start for FPL managers with a record number of goals scored last Gameweek. In the Scoutcast‘s ‘rough with the smooth’ many surpassed the 100-point mark while one poor soul mustered just 16 points.

The contrasting fortunes prompted a flurry of Wildcards in the Community, leading Az to reflect in this latest Pro Pundit article:

It does feel like people’s strategies – along with all sense of order and meticulous pre-season planning – have been thrown out of the window somewhat after a truly crazy start to the season.

– Az

Citing the differing experiences for managers with Man United and Spurs assets, Az pointed out that what we want one week can dramatically change the next:

With so many players performing, you simply can’t keep chasing last week’s points. You need to build a core squad of players who you feel are likely to deliver over the coming period, give them a chance to repay your faith.

– Az

Az went on to raise questions about several of this week’s targets:

  • Will Son be productive against a Newcastle side that likes to defend deep? He was afforded plenty of space by Southampton’s high line;
  • Everton are set to come up against some resolute defences in their next three matches, are Calvert-Lewin and James Rodriguez essential?
  • And will the acquisition of Nélson Semedo impinge on the Fantasy credentials of Daniel Podence and his Wolves’ teammates? 

David tackled one of those questions when he examined how the new arrival at Molineux could fit in under Nuno Espirito Santo:

The addition of Semedo to the Wolves squad should relieve Traoré of his wing-back duties very soon and shift him back into competition with Podence, Neto and Vitinha further up the field.

– David

It looks likely that those four will be vying for two places in the Wolves’ attack, although David reasons that Podence has probably done enough to secure a starting spot for now.

Semedo’s new club tops the list for upcoming fixtures, as Neale revealed earlier in the week. It’s a very appealing run:

Clashes with newly promoted Fulham and Leeds United are sandwiched by matches against West Ham United, Newcastle United and Crystal Palace, with three of those five games staged at Molineux.

– Neale

Encouragingly for owners and those considering their assets, recent comments from their Portuguese manager suggest we will see a more attacking version of Wolves this season: 

The idea is to give them freedom to put their talent onto the pitch… I would like to be more dominant, I would like to have more of the ball, I would like to improve our tally of goals scored and at the same time, decrease goals (at the other end).

– Nuno Espirito Santo

Continuing his frisk of the fixtures, Neale agreed with Az that Gameweek 6 might be a better time to invest in Everton, when their matches get really good.

And former FPL winner Simon March supported Az’s idea that now is not the time to panic and reach for the Wildcard.

A graduate in behavioural economics, Simon introduced the concept of “The House Money Effect”: 

The House Money Effect often occurs when we receive money in an atypical manner. For example; winning a bet, receiving a bonus or profiting from an investment. Behavioural psychologists have observed that people take far greater risks with such sums… [because] people don’t perceive these sums to really be their money.”

– Simon

Simon applied this idea to FPL noting that the top 10,000 managers in Gameweek 1 took on average more hits compared to the masses and, crucially – scored below average points in Gameweek 2.

For those of you reading this and perhaps regretting playing your Wildcard, there is hope in the shape of a three-time top 200 manager. 

Lateriser has made his name by starting slowly and finishing strongly. And the Pro Pundit wielded his Wildcard after an underwhelming couple of Gameweeks. The upside-chasing manager has seen enough to encourage him in the first two rounds of fixtures, in particular the emergence of a few ‘glue guys’:

Glue guys are the kind of picks in a particular ‘value’ price bracket that you just need to set in your team and forget about for a long time because they will continue to offer bang for buck for the mid-to-long term.

– Lateriser

The new attack-minded Wolves is good news for first-choice striker Raul Jimenez, argues the Pro Pundit. While Brighton’s Tariq Lamptey offers excellent value at £4.5m and can produce returns at both ends of the pitch. Last season the buccaneering defender had a better big chance creation rate than the two Liverpool full-backs. 

Finally he picked out Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who recently revealed the influence of manager Carlo Ancelotti:

Carlo Ancelotti is on me every day for first-touch finishes and to be in the box, in the right areas. It’s nice to know what I’m working on in training is coming off on the pitch.

– Dominic Calvert-Lewin

Good news for prospective buyers.

The Everton No 9 was also highlighted by Steven Reinaldo Rusli last week due to his impressive non-penalty xG stat. The Community Member looked at value (point per million) when making the case for a 3-4-3 formation to take advantage of the mid-priced forwards. 

While a value for money approach was echoed by TorpedoToien who looked back over recent seasons to reveal which players had provided the best bang for your buck. Will Jimenez and Calvert-Lewin be this season’s Mahrez and Vardy?

And the king of the puns Greyhead who finished in the top 100 overall just two seasons ago, examined the player ownership among his chosen managers in The Great and The Good. The Community scribe fancies Southampton players could be moved on after failing to live up to pre-season expectations. But with West Brom in Gameweek 4, is that a wise idea?

Captaincy and Manchester City

A major talking point this week has been Kevin De Bruyne’s performance for Manchester City as he lined up in an attacking midfield role. The question many have been asking is will Guardiola continue to use the Belgian as a No 10? 

David analysed his performance against Wolves and assessed the competition for places within the City squad.

And our new Captain Sensible writer Jan Sienkiewicz included the current PFA Player of the Year on his shortlist for the armband alongside Timo Werner, Kai Havertz, Mohamed Salah, and Sadio Mané. 

While City assets look particularly appealing, Neale and Andy reported a possible concussion for the De Bruyne sustained in Thursday evening’s EFL Cup tie.

And today, rumours of a possible injury to striker Gabriel Jesus were confirmed by the player himself:

Focusing on Chelsea, Jan described Werner and Havertz as the outstanding picks for Gameweek 3. The double-points maestro questioned whether the Baggies will have enough to stop the Blues from scoring.

While on FPL Black Box, Fantasy Football Scout founder Mark reaffirmed his strategy for selecting a captain this season – going with the player who has the best fixture – and following that rationale, he is handing Timo Werner the armband.

A look at the latest clean sheet odds provided by G-Whizz backs the decision to go with a Chelsea or Man City player. Their opponents West Brom and Leicester City have the worst odds of a shutout in Gameweek 3.

And BigManBakar revealed in his in-depth review of Gameweek 2 that he will be selecting De Bruyne for the captaincy: according to the bookies, Man City are the most likely team to score 2.5+ goals.

Community Round-up and The Scout Network

The spotlight in the Fantasy Football Scout Network this week fell on Mini-League Mate. If you want a stat-packed breakdown of how your mini-league rivals fare each Gameweek (complete with attractive charts and graphs) then this for you.

And it was also announced that Tor Mikkel Tokvamm, creator of the Transfer Algorithm, and FPL Poker Player will be joining the Scout Network

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

And for those interested in the Head-to-Head Leagues, the main page can be linked to here. The fixtures for Gameweek 3 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!

GET IN-GAME DATA AT LIVE FPL

Check your own rank and in-play FPL stats on LiveFPL.net every Gameweek

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

3,543 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Baron Penguin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    1. DCL & Justin
    2. Robbo & Fodder

    Have Hamez & TAA

    1. Don Van Vliet
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      1

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

    Which one?

    A) Werner + Foden
    B) Jimenez + Zaha

    1. thegaffer82
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A)

    2. Don Van Vliet
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A, with an eye on switching Werner to Jiménez if the German fails to deliver this weekend.

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

        I like that

  3. Tmel
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Martinez Steer
    TAA James X Lamptey Mitchell
    Salah KDB X X X
    Jimi DCL X

    Best way to complete this wildcard?

    a) Vinagre, Sterling, Foden, Burke, Brewster

    b) Saiss, Son, Foden, Podence, Brewster (+1.0)

    c) Saiss, Foden, Podence, Burke, Werner (+0.5)

    1. JT11fc
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      C

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

      C) but with Zaha instead of Foden

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

        Prefer Barnes

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

    Martinez - Steer
    James - Justin - Mitchell - X - X
    KDB - Salah - Son - X - Anguissa
    DCL - Jiminez - Mitrovic

    Who would you have in the placeholders?
    A) VVD - Dunne - Havertz
    B) TAA - Vinagre - Foden (+0.8 ITB)

    Any thoughts/comments highly appreciated. Thanks

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

    Best option?

    A. Zaha+Jimenez+DCL (343) or
    B. Bruno+Podence+DCL(352)or
    C. Salah+Podence+Mitrovic (352)

  6. pundit of punts
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Play 1 -

    Taylor(bur)

    Or

    Mitchell(EVE)

  7. Twisted Saltergater
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Who are Brighton actually going to play as CM??

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

      Lallana?

      1. Twisted Saltergater
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        They’re surely going to be overrun by United’s midfield, no?

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

    Will it be wise to quit if KDB, Foden, James, Semedo, Lamptey doesn't start today :p

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

      Ani

      Marathon

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

    Quick vote guys (No TAA/Robo. Have Salah):

    1. VvD Taylor Foden (Bench Fodder: Dunne)
    2. Keane James Zaha (Bench Fodder: Mitchell)

  10. ZeBestee
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Mahrez had 11 goals and 14 assists from pretty much around 2000 minutes. That pretty much around 7 points+ every other game. Chances of him starting?

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

      Last season stats*

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

      Very high.

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

        Cheers. Worth bringing in on WC?

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

    Bottomed...

    Locked in, G2G?

    Martinez (Steer)
    Trent - Saiss - Taylor (Lamptey & Dallas)
    Salah - KDB - Foden - Podence (Burke)
    Werner (c) - DCL - Jimmy

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

      Nice team, template.

    2. Glad He Ate Her
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Downgrade dallas to Mitchell and upgrade Taylor to James and you have my team

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

        I can’t, missed out on price rises etc. It’d leave me with 4.9 to spend so 0.2 short!

        1. Glad He Ate Her
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          RIP

  12. Scots Gooner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Martinez | Steer
    TAA | Digne | Saiss | Lamptey | Mitchell
    KDB | Salah | Hames | Foden | Zaha
    Jiminez | DCL | Brewster

    Good to go?

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

    Captain?

    Sterling
    KDB
    Son

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

      Sterling

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

      Raz

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

      Kdb

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

      Ta

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

    Play two.
    A.Mitchell
    B. Justin
    C. Vinagre
    D.Taylor.

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

      C & D

  15. C'mon the Fylde
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Have I gone too heavy with Man City?

    Martinez
    Robertson James Saiss
    Foden Sterling KDB Rodriguez Podence
    Jiminez Werner

    Steer Mitchell Davis Lamptey

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

      You can never go too heavy with City.

    2. Glad He Ate Her
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      There's no such thing

    3. Danstoke82
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      No Salah would concern me but everyone has their own opinion

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

      No Son but nice team

  16. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    In Goal...

    Martinez or Ryan...or both?

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

      A

    2. FPL Blow-In
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I’d be playing Martinez

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

    1. Werner Sterling Son
    or
    2. Kane Salah Rodriguez

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

      1 with Salah

  18. FPL Blow-In
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Can I get help on my line up please ? Really don’t know who I should start.

    Meslier
    James, Shaw, Saiss
    Kdb, Rashford, Havertz, Pereira
    Werner, Martial, Wilson

    McCarthy, Dier, Bertrand, Soucek

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

      Shaw...? with Telles potentially coming through the door.

      1. FPL Blow-In
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        I’m not on a WC and have used my 2ft. Don’t need to get rid of him this week surely?

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

    Need a Bruno haul today to make it slightly easier watching Son haul tomorrow.

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

      Son will blank don’t worry

      1. Glad He Ate Her
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        What are you doing playing FPL, instead of making millions playing the lotto?

  20. The Yorkshire Pirlo
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    No ‘pool, Man Utd or Chelsea (only James)

    Sterling(C), 1.4 ITB. Thoughts?

    Martinez
    Semedo, Saiss, James
    Son, Sterling, KDB, Foden, Hamez
    Jimenez, DCL

    Steer, Lamptey, Mitchell, Brewster

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

      G2g

  21. Jebiga
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Does anyone knows when Ferguson is comming back for Palace ?

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

      Mentioned this a few pages back 🙂 "Rumours Ferguson is out for longer than we expected, hence Nathaniel Clyne trials as possible cover (can cover RB/LB)"

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

    Was it solely down to the fact Havertz was playing Barnsley that he scored a hatrick??

    Really want to capt him even tho I have Kdb...

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

      Yes. But the CAM role looks like his best and very appealing for him. I wouldn't (C) him, but I love risk takers.

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

      Yep, illogical to all the people suddenly considering him especially as C

    3. Maddi Son
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Probably, but 29 goals in 64 apps in the Bundesliga shows his quality. He's only 21 and will get better.

      You've gotta cringe at the people writing him off after 2 prem games.

      1. Glad He Ate Her
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        The word cringe is cringey

  23. Arteta
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Can I please get some feedback for this squad?
    I think it's decent, a little bit different and you can't own them all of course.

    Martinez - Steer
    Digne - Doherty - Saiss - Lamptey - Mitchell
    Salah - De Bruyne - Son - Rodriguez - Podence
    Jimenez - Calvert-Lewin - Brewster

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

      It's very good.

    2. thegaffer82
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Not keen on no TAA.

      He's probably the best value player in the whole game. Yes, he's the most expensive DFer, but he's still only 7.5 for a player that will more than likely break 200 points comfortably again this year

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

      Rod - Doh to Foden - Robbo maybe?

  24. HNI
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    How about this team on WC guys?
    Martinez
    Robertson RJames Saiss Justin Mitchell
    Salah Kdb Son Podence Foden*
    Werner DCL
    I am nervous about Foden considering he played midweek as well. Othet option is Werner + Foden to Jiminez + JRod

  25. KEN YA DIG IT
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Chances of foden starting against leicester(%)?.I want to transfer ASM to Foden for a hit

    1. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Do it

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

      90%

  26. Cilly Bonnolly
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Foden or Greenwood on wildcard? I have KDB and no United.

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

      Greenwood

    2. Champions League Varane
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Greenwood

  27. Atimis
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Play Mitchell or Justin?

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

      Mitchell

  28. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Anyone else capping salah?

    I think pool look on it and could put a couple past arsenal

  29. zizoo10
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    A) 343 with Ings and reliable 4.5 fodder (burke)
    B) 352 with Havertz and dead fodder in Brewster

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

    Tempted to captain Werner over KDB. But not sure he has the same goal threat on LW. What do you think?

    1. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      It will either work in his favour or against. Really tricky to call.