Tips

The Complete Guide to Scout’s tips and advice for FPL Gameweek 6

Welcome to the Fantasy Football Scout Guide to Gameweek 6. It’s the first Friday deadline of the season – you have until 18:30 BST to ready the troops!

Who to captain?

This week Jan Sienkiewicz, our sage of the armband, recommends Sadio Mané (£11.9m), Mohamed Salah (£12.3m) and Raheem Sterling (£11.6m) in his Captain Sensible article. Risk-taking often factors into our decision-making process, and in terms of popularity Salah is the safest pick:

“Backed by over 66% of our voters combined, Salah and Kane seem to be the safe choices for Gameweek 6, the heavily-backed Egyptian the safest of the two.”

– Jan

In the latest edition of The Review, BigManBakar also tips Salah ahead of an enticing encounter against Sheffield United:

He’s on penalties playing for a team that has the best xG this season. According to the bookies, Salah has the best odds of scoring a goal and Liverpool are the most likely team this Gameweek to score 2.5+ goals. No player in the league has recorded more shots in the box this season.

– BigManBakar

Meanwhile David, who returned to the Captain Video after successfully transferring out a wisdom tooth last week, brought more good news for those considering a Liverpool player. Pointing out the impact the now-departed Dean Henderson (£5.4m) had on the Blades’ defence, he noted:

Sheffield United last season, for all the clean sheets they kept, I think a lot of people … would have assumed their xGC (expected goals conceded) was often quite good, but actually it really wasn’t. They would give up lots of Big Chances, but Dean Henderson had the second-best xG Prevented in the whole division last year, i.e. he was making incredible saves to keep Sheffield United in games.

– David

And if you prefer a differential option – a tactic last week’s Meet the Manager guest Graeme Sumner advocates – Neale was on hand with a tasty stat in his Big Numbers piece.

79.4 minutes per expected goal involvement (xGI) recorded by Sadio Mane, the best figure in the division from any player who has started at least one Premier League match this season.

– Neale

At under 10 per cent ownership, the Senegalese could be the better option for those willing to move away from Salah.

High opportunity cost

With so many players performing well this year it’s impossible to have them all. One strategy is to switch between the premium assets for their best fixtures, to give yourself the best captain candidates. 

But, as Greyhead has found out this season, you will have to accept the high opportunity cost.

The Community scribe sold Jamie Vardy (£10.0m) before his unexpected Gameweek 3 hat-trick away to Manchester City, he then ditched a potentially-injured Son Heung-min (£9.4m) ahead of his brace in Gameweek 4, and even his Gameweek 5 transfer-out Che Adams (£5.8m) returned 11 points after leaving his team.

The topic was raised on this week’s Scoutcast, with all three of Joe, Az, and Lee holding differing opinions on how to deal with the season. Az in particular was against switching out expensive players:

I think you can build a team with these premiums and you don’t need to worry about switching them out every week to try and catch different ones, because we’ve seen how much that can hurt people.

– Az

Instead, Az prefers to identify blocks of fixtures rather than transferring out a player because he blanked. 

Pro Pundit Simon March offered a different perspective on opportunity cost when discussing loss aversion, a cognitive bias that describes our tendency to fear losses more than we value gains.

Arguably the number one source of anxiety among Fantasy managers comes from transferring a player out who you suspect might suddenly start scoring, something that always seems to happen.

– Simon

Citing Timo Werner’s (£9.3m) haul against Southampton’s high-line defence, Simon explained that “one of the key skill elements of FPL is identifying the contextual factors that influence whether a player will score or not.

Essentially, judge the decision not the outcome. Simon concluded:

Most importantly, although it might feel like it, a player did not start scoring because you transferred them out. That kind of ‘magical thinking’ can quickly sabotage a Fantasy manager’s season as it removes logic and objectivity and puts events firmly into the hands of chance.

– Simon

And fellow Pro Pundit Lateriser doesn’t expect the rollercoaster of a season to stop any time soon.

This season, variance is a lot higher than usual and I expect that trend to continue. Be prepared for it and remember that this is only a game, one which involves a fair amount of luck and unpredictability as well.

– Lateriser

Value Villains 

Several contributors have noted the value on offer in Aston Villa’s ranks, who have surprised us all with their excellent start.

Now is a good time to invest in [Villa] from an attacking standpoint. When it comes to their attackers, I get the feeling that you will get what you pay for. Jack Grealish (£7.2m), Ross Barkley (£6.0m) and Ollie Watkins (£6.0m) are all correctly priced in my opinion and could be good stick-and-forget options for a while.

– Lateriser

In his Scout Notes from Gameweek 5, David Wardale, the author of Wasting Your Wildcard, revealed that Grealish was the most advanced Aston Villa player against Leicester City. While Az also recommends the Villa talisman:

Looking at the numbers, Grealish seems the stand-out option. Turning attention to Mark’s “Top Penalty Box Dweller” table in the Premium Members Area also shows that no player in the league can better the number of touches that Grealish has had in the opposition box (38) over the last four Gameweeks.

– Az

Referring once more to Neale’s stat-dive article, we find that Dean Smith’s men could be set for more immediate returns:

2.8 direct attacks per game recorded by Aston Villa this season, the highest number in the Premier League. Leeds United, Villa’s opponents on Friday, have had the most direct attacks against per game so far this term (4.0). A direct attack is one that starts just inside a team’s own half, has at least 50% of movement towards the opposition goal and ends with a shot or touch in the opponent’s box. Aston Villa ranked 16th for this statistic last season (1.4).

– Neale

A change in attacking style this season that looks set to reap rewards again in Gameweek 5.

Are Premium Defenders Worth the Money?

– the black circles represent the defenders priced £5.5m and over

Lateriser is considering selling Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.5m), Magnus Carlsen has sold Trent Alexander-Arnold, and BigManBakar’s research finds that “Andrew Robertson (£7.1m) is beating Trent in almost every single underlying stat that matters – not only this season but post restart”.

The graphic above is taken from FPL Ted’s video analysing premium defenders. Alexander-Arnold stands out with nine shots and nine chances created, which would suggest attacking returns are imminent. But perhaps the numbers aren’t as impressive as they first appear:

Alexander-Arnold seems to have monopolised direct free-kicks, which may explain why all nine of goal attempts have been small chances.

– FPL Ted

Neale, too, paints a less-than-ideal picture of the Liverpool full-back:

50 minutes per chance created by Trent Alexander-Arnold this season, still a very reasonable figure but down on last season’s average of 37. His average number of crosses per match has dropped from 10.1 to 7.4, in no small part thanks to his rate of corner-kicks dipping (4.3 to 2.6); Robertson, indeed, has delivered more of those than the Liverpool right-back in 2020/21.

– Neale

Will he be making way in your team this week?

Finally, before confirming your starting line-up, don’t forget to check the latest Team News and Predicted Line-ups. In case you missed it, James Rodriguez (£8.0m) may make a miraculous recovery for Sunday’s game!

Community latest

Earlier today, the Best of the Community feature included a tactical analysis from Kroos Kontrol, a ‘keeper evaluation from El Estadístico, and Jaydutt’s list of potential transfer traps ahead of the weekend’s fixtures.

And finally, for those interested in the Head-to-Head Leagues, the main page can be linked to here. The fixtures for Gameweek 6 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!


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

1,099 Comments Post a Comment
  1. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Captain:

    A) Jiménez
    B) Kane
    C) Son

    Cheers

    1. royals forever
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      B

    2. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      B

    3. Hansel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      B

  2. royals forever
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    On WC

    Pick 1

    Dallas & Srtujik (Double LEE)
    Semedo & Kilman (Double WOL)

    Any ideas would be welcomed

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Wolves

    2. That Was Easy!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Do you want to get some games out of your 4.0 player? Reckon you have a good chance of getting some use out of them over the next 2 for Kilman.

  3. shady4revr
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Got salah foden fernandes hames

    Hames to son -4 ?

    1. That Was Easy!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Hamez is probably going to start.

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Really?

        1. That Was Easy!
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          That's how I'm reading what's been said. He lightly trained today and has all of tomorrow to train/improve.

          1. AC/DC AFC
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            Okay then, bench first sub James or DCL?

    2. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Yes but I'd try to turn Foden into Rodriguez somehow later on

  4. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Thinking to C Son ahead of Salah. Those high line by Burnley...

    1. Joey Tribbiani
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Burnley and high line lol

      1. Niho992
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Yup. Did you saw their games this season ?

        1. Joey Tribbiani
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          yes I have xD

          1. Niho992
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            right

            1. Joey Tribbiani
              • 3 Years
              3 years, 5 months ago

              The amount of people here who have no clue...

              1. Joey Tribbiani
                • 3 Years
                3 years, 5 months ago

                Still Son could do well, but not THE reason

    2. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Nick Pope

    3. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I prefer Son tbh, can get something in behind Long & Lowton. Egan playing LCB apparently which isn't easy for Mo

    4. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      8 till 10 pm on a cold night in the Lancashire hills?

      I'm thinking Jimi out scores them home to Newcastle on a Sunday afternoon... Main game!

      1. Coys96
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Serisouly???

    5. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      it could work or backfire, high risk high reward option

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

      if burnley play a high line they might as well just go and start playing in the championship right now

  5. Arteta
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Haven't seen McGinn in many teams. All about Grealish and Barkley huh?

    1. Milk, 1 Šuker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      If that's what you're seeing, then it probably is?

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

    A) Jimi -> Kane
    B) Save FT. Next week TAA, Mitro -> Lamptey, Mitro

    1. Hansel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Kane in B, not Mitro..

  7. That Was Easy!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Anyone know if Alzate comes back in this week? Tempted to start over Konsa given it's WBA and I imagine Leeds will score.

  8. t4thomas
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    bench one:

    1. brewster - liv(a).
    2. chilwell - mun(a).
    3. dallas - avl(a).

    1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Brewster

  9. MGD
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Martinez
    TAA - Regulion - Saïss
    Salah (c) - Son - Pulisic - Graelish - Rodriguez
    DCL - Maupay

    Steer - Chilwell - Brewster - Mitchell

    1 ft
    G2G?

    Seems weird benching chillwell...

    1. Ritchies Magic Hat
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Tough call but I would with that squad- nice team!

    2. ClassiX
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Good call - Chilwell on if JRod still injured

  10. Firmino
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    FanTeam, play one

    A) Bissouma
    B) Soucek

    1. Hansel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      S

    2. Shultan
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      B

  11. Shultan
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    play Jrod or Barnes?

    1. Hansel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      J

  12. Futureform
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Captain which big hitter? Needs solving!

    A - Kane
    B - Salah

    1. Shultan
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      A

    2. Hansel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      B

    3. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Salah

    4. Futureform
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Thanks all. Still have no clue! 🙂

  13. JollyGoodYellows
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Play Mitchell or Justin?

    1. Shultan
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Mitchell

  14. kevos83
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    I've a choice of starting costa (leeds) or Brewster, thoughts?

    1. Shultan
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Costa

    2. ZimZalabim
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      brewster imo he feel he will score his first prem goal at Anfield

      1. ZimZalabim
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        I feel*

    3. MidTableFantasy
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I'd go Costa, fixtures and who knows if Brewster is playing 90 mins

  15. ZimZalabim
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    what percentage of the game do u think will miss the deadline ?

    Also what percentage do u think is active still ?

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      20 and 80

  16. VinMar
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Best nailed palace defender at 4.5 max... cahill is out

    1. ZimZalabim
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      does it have to be palace .. Ward then but there are better options

      1. VinMar
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        No but rotates perfectly with Kilman

  17. Kodap
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    G2G?

    Martinez (Steer)
    Trent - Saiss - Lamptey (Dallas & Taylor)
    Salah (c) - Son - Zaha - Podence (Burke)
    Kane - DCL - Jimmy

  18. Ritchies Magic Hat
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Will most likely drop either Rash or Raz to accomodate Son. Which combo is better longer term?
    A) TAA, Rashford, Jiminez
    B) TAA, Sterling, Wilson
    C) Reguilon, Sterling, Jiminez

  19. wulfrunian
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    One last time.Werner->Dcl for a hit?

    1. FPL_trail_runner
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      No.

    2. Shultan
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      No

    3. joey
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Nope, Man U are awful defensively

    4. wulfrunian
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      cheers

  20. SHIKABALAA
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Sell for Burke Barkley or sell Podence for Barkley and get into benching dilemma between Podence/Wilson ?

    Also sell Doherty for Lamptey or Reguilon or Matty Cash?

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

    TAA captain, IDGAF

    1. FPL_trail_runner
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I do GAF

      He has been my captain since Wednesday

      Locked in

      Trying to get back into top 100k from 280k

    2. Shultan
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Brave

    3. Weeb Kakashi
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Ok Rhian do your thing here.

  22. Reggie Nainggolan
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    REGGIE NAINGGOLAN2 mins ago

    On WC. G2G?

    Martinez Forster
    Gomez Saiss Justin (Mitchell Kilman)
    Son Salah Fernandes Grealish (Bissouma)
    Kane DCL Maupay

  23. AandyzZ
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Bench Foden or Hamez????????

    1. Milk, 1 Šuker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Bench Hamez

  24. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Still loving the fact that the FPL deadline move this season has put paid to all the team leaks.

    And I say that as someone who has benefitted from leaked lineup news.

  25. tabby98
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Reece James --> Saiss for -4?

    1. ZimZalabim
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      only if u dont have 3 starters

      1. tabby98
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Have KWP, Justin, TAA and mitchell

  26. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Trent' s going to punish those casuals.

    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      he's punished his owners quite a bit so far

    2. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Oh yes, Leicester away haul incoming!

  27. Weeb Kakashi
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Have Watkins and Barkley playing today. Will take a return apiece .

  28. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Evening boys and girls! GTG? Planning to save FT:

    Martinez
    TAA | Lamptey | Dallas
    Salah (C) | Bruno | Son | Rodriguez* | Soucek
    Kane (VC) | DCL

    Steer | Mitchell | Davis* | Buur

    0.3ITB, 1FT

    Thanks

    1. ZimZalabim
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      gtg

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Thanks

  29. YEAH PITCH!
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Play

    A) Justin

    B) Ayling

    1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Ayling

    2. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      B

  30. HippY
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    My attack is heaven. My defence is hell.

    Which 2 to select alongside Digne

    KWP (EVE)
    Justin (ars)
    Mitchell (ful)
    Other defender is Holding (injured)

    1. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      First 2