Captain Sensible

The best FPL players to own, sign or captain for Gameweek 16

Liverpool, Leeds and Burnley are the key teams for the Gameweek 16 Scout Picks.

We have included a double-up from each of these clubs as they prepare to face Newcastle, West Bromwich Albion and Sheffield United between now and Thursday.

This team was chosen by Scout Squad pundits David, Neale, Tom and Andy – and includes a longer-than-usual captaincy segment considering the lack of turnaround time for one of Jan’s excellent Captain Sensible articles.

We line-up in the 4-3-3 formation, coming in £82.0m, £1.0m inside our budget of £83.0m.

Goalkeeper

Alex McCarthy (£4.7m) remains one of the best value assets in FPL this season, offering 13.2 points per million spent, third among goalkeepers. Fresh from a 0-0 draw with Fulham, Southampton host a West Ham side who, aside from Tomas Soucek, spent large parts of Sunday afternoon offering little going forward.

Defenders

Ahead of travelling to Newcastle, Andrew Robertson (£7.3m) is joint-top for chances created among defenders over the last four matches. Meanwhile, the Magpies have failed to score in each of their last two meetings with top-six opposition this season.

João Cancelo (£5.6m) looks likely to get another start for Manchester City as they face Everton at Goodison Park. Kyle Walker remains sidelined following a positive coronavirus (COVID-19) test while Guardiola hailed Cancelo’s “regeneration and physicality” as “incredible” in his pre-match press conference. Manchester City’s defensive capabilities continue to inspire confidence. Ahead of meeting an Everton side still without Richarlison and James Rodríguez, the Citizens have conceded just one goal since Gameweek 10.

Stuart Dallas (£4.7m) is another rather locked-in defender due to absences elsewhere in his team. Leeds are still without Liam Cooper (abdomen), Robin Koch (knee) and Diego Llorente (muscle), leaving Marcelo Bielsa no choice but to keep the Northern Ireland international at right-back. While West Bromwich Albion stifled Liverpool at Anfield, we expect them to come out of the traps a little more against Leeds, leaving more spaces for exploitation than we saw on Sunday. That should benefit Dallas, who sits behind only three defenders for attempts on goal in the last four matches.

The inclusion of Charlie Taylor (£4.5m) in the Gameweek 16 Scout Picks is a relatively routine one. Burnley have kept a clean sheet in each of their last three meetings with a bottom-eight Premier League side. Meanwhile, winless basement boys Sheffield United have the worst goals per game ratio in the division after 15 Gameweeks (0.5).

Midfielders

Salah building up massive power in top 10k after Gameweek 14 haul

Despite a reputation for only delivering at Anfield, Mohamed Salah (£12.6m) has registered either a goal, assist or both in each of his last six away matches. The Gameweek 2 win at Chelsea was the last time the Egyptian blanked on the road for Liverpool, averaging 9.8 points in that time. In fact, 62 of Salah’s 120 points this season (51.7%) have come away from Anfield. So facing a Newcastle outfit with one clean sheet since Gameweek 2 looks very favourable indeed.

Fresh from another away-day double-digit haul, Bruno Fernandes (£11.1m) retains his Scout Picks place despite the short turnaround. The Portuguese international is too pivotal to Manchester United’s fortunes for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to rest him for a big clash with Wolves and his posted a double-figure score in two of his last three home matches.

Jack Grealish (£7.8m) was desperately unfortunate not to get some assists against Crystal Palace as Aston Villa managed to roll the Eagles over despite the man-disadvantage. Seeing Chelsea crumble under an out-of-form Arsenal attack suggests Grealish can continue his decent form even at Stamford Bridge, where Frank Lampard will almost certainly have to break up the back-four that has provided so much defensive stability this season.

Forwards

We expect an improved Fulham defence to park the bus at Spurs on Thursday night, but we also fancy Harry Kane (£11.0m) to make a breakthrough. He has scored or assisted in all six of Spurs’ meetings with bottom-eight sides this season. Crucially, Kane found the net in each of his last two at home against such opposition (Brighton and Arsenal).

As already mentioned, West Bromwich Albion are a lot more likely to venture forth at home against Leeds than they did at Anfield, opening up space for Patrick Bamford (£6.5m) to exploit. The Leeds forward has been excellent away from home this season, netting seven times on the road since promotion.

Chris Wood (£6.2m) is top of the league for expected goals (non-penalty) over the last four matches. That bodes well ahead of facing Sheffield United side that is yet to keep a clean sheet in 2020/21.

Substitutes

  • Sam Johnstone (£4.5m)
  • Serge Aurier (£5.2m)
  • Anwar El Ghazi (£5.7m)
  • Raphinha (£5.4m)

THE CAPTAIN

Who are the best captain options for FPL Gameweek 36+?

As there was no time for a Captain Sensible article between Gameweeks 15 and 16 today, we have condensed it into the armband section of this piece.

As this section uses data from the Fantasy Football Scout Premium Members Area, only those with a valid subscription can see it in full.

COMMUNITY CHAMPION

Each week, one of the Fantasy Football Scout community takes on the Scout Picks by pitting their chosen XI against ours.

The Community Member who beats our team by the largest margin will win a £100 Amazon Voucher and a place in our Moderators and Contributors League for the following season.

Rupert the Horse helped the Community Champions to their seventh victory of the campaign in Gameweek 15, winning by a 47-36 score-line. The Scout Picks lead 8-7 for the season.

Forever In Our Shadow takes us on for Gameweek 16 going with a 4-3-3 formation of Pope; Robertson, Alexander-Arnold, Tarkowski, Dallas; Salah (vc), Fernandes, Raphinha; Kane (c), Bamford, Wood.

AA33 is the current leader, defeating the Scout Picks by a 53-point margin in Gameweek 2.

4,776 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Andre_The_Giant
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    James or Justin on WC?

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

      Justin

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

      Justin

    3. jimmy.floyd
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Justin

    4. Bury94
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      James won't play today, so Justin

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

        We don't know if Justin plays today either yet tbf 🙂

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

      Justin. James' injury, our fixtures & Azpi being an option aren't in his favour.

    6. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Justin

  2. jimmy.floyd
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Captain
    A Kane
    B Son
    C Salah

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

      A

  3. LLoris
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Thoughts on this WC team w BB in 19

    Pope Johnston
    Robbo Justin Dallas Taylor Coufal
    Moh Bruno Son Soucek Anguissa
    Kane Bamford Adams

    Would you make any changes??

    1. Kip
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Fabianski instead of pope

    2. Andre_The_Giant
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Haha, have the exact same wildcard.

      I'm thinking of downgrading Coufal to Balbuena and moving Justin to James. Thoughts?

      I'll be moving Kane to Vardy for the double also and Anguissa to Raphina

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

        haha same plan for transfers. I prefer Justin over James.

    3. Neo-Viper
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      No City?

  4. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Martinez
    Robertson Cancelo Coufal
    Salah Bruno Kdb Grealish
    Dcl Bamford Watkins

    Fodder lamptey fodder fodder

    1.2 itb 1ft

    A)Save
    B)Kdb to Mane
    C)Kdb to Son
    D)Grealish + dcl to kane + soucek(-4)
    E)Kdb + watkins to Kane + soucek + cash itb (-4)
    F)kdb + grealish + watkins to Kane + Son + soucek(-8)

    1. Boom Boom Sheikh the Toon
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Following, as I'm also considering KDB to son and want to see others thoughts, D,E,F not worth for me too big a hit do those over a couple weeks.

  5. Weasel51
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Martinez
    Robertson KWP PVA
    KDB Salah Bowen Grealish Fernandes
    Bamford DCL

    4.0 4.0 Lamptey Brewster

    2 fts what shall I do?

    1. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Grealish + dcl to one of the spurs players + another player

  6. Boom Boom Sheikh the Toon
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Son in for KDB this week followed by Robbo in for Creswell next week, GTG?

  7. abaalan
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Lamptey ->
    A) Justin
    B) Dallas
    C) Lowton (double BUR def)
    D) Holding

    Will BB 19

    1. OleBall
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      A or B

  8. Fulchester's New Centr…
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    PVA and/or Lamptey out for starters

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Reply fail to Weasel above

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

    Any obvious changes needed here?

    Ederson
    Stones / Dier / Dallas
    Salah (c) / KDB / Bruno / Son / Grealish
    Bamford / Giroud

    Forster / Coufal / Brewster / Mitchell

  10. 2hotty
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Kdb to Mane locked in can see big Kev getting rested

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

      Pep has ruled out any possibility of a KDB rest.

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

      Can't see KDB being rested.

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

      I'm fairly confident KDB won't be rested but yeah, it's probably time to ditch him.

  11. Right In The Stanchion
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Right then. Am I the only one Thinking of doing DCL > Cavani?

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

      Yes, you're the only one

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

    KDB haul this gw?

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      You know it

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

      No idea. Toying with selling for Son(fixtures) or Mane(form).

    3. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Yep 13 points incoming

    4. BrockLanders
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      I sold him so yeah. Double digits easily

  13. sentz05
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Why all the live for Meslier? He has Spurs next week.

    1. Ron_Swanson
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Because Spurs have only scored 5 in their last 6 games and seem to be happy trying to grind out narrow wins

  14. Jdpz
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Will Reece James play this gw? I want him on my WC. Why not take Justin and buy James for him in the next round?

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

      Are you arguing with yourself here..

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

    Did Mark put together a good WC then? Didn’t get chance to catch it

    1. Qaiss
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Pope is nailed on in goal for him

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

      He hadn't settled on it 100% but Dias + Cancelo + Salah + Mané + Justin + Pope + Johnstone all looking likely. Potential Wood appearance too.

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

      He had four drafts. The last the closest to what he’ll likely run with. That one included:

      Pope Johnson
      Trent Dias Cancelo Coufal James
      Salah Mane Bruno Rafinha Soucek
      Bamford Wood Rodrigo

  16. Brehmeren
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Any twitter rumours suggesting the DCL benching, or is it just speculation on here?

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

      Doubt he'll be benched

  17. Mr_Barbs
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Wildcard tweaking. Thoughts?

    A) C.Taylor, Dallas, KWP, C.Jones, F.Silva
    B) C.Taylor, Alioski, Balbuena, C.Jones, Rodrigo
    C) Lowton, Dallas, Struijk, C.Jones, Barnes

    McCarthy, Johnstone
    Robbo, Cancelo, XXX, XXX, XXX
    Salah, Bruno, Son, Soucek, XXX
    Kane, Bamford, XXX

  18. Gunner1290
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Who gets more points over the next few weeks:

    A)Son and calvert
    B)Grealish and Bobby

  19. FDMS All Starz
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    For dgw19 which is better?

    A) Adams & Robbo
    Or
    B) Rashford & Taylor

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

      B

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

      A

  20. FootieFan77
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    5 Yellow cards before GW19 means a 1 game suspension. So Grealish becomes less appealing as he has 4 yellows. He has 3 tough away games in a row where he is more likely to get booked. Also his goal threat isn't as high as Watkins and El Ghazi recently. His appeal is in assists which he is still one of the best at chances created but I feel Soucek(headers) or Rafinha(assists) for less money can achieve those points in the next 4 GWs. Does anyone agree?

    1. Ron_Swanson
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      You can always take him out if he gets a yellow. I fancy his productivity to rise from GW17 once Barkley is back and he can play a bit more advanced with service coming in from midfield

    2. ABoyNamedLew
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      I don't own Grealish and have been lucky holding off on him in recent weeks. All of what you say makes good, logical sense, but as the talisman for the club, I think he'll step up against sides these sides who are defensively sound.

    3. Mcster
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      I agree - probably removing for Soucek for GW17 - The latter has the DGW and frees up some cash to upgrade bench player(s) in advance of GW19 BB. If not suspended then will probably include in my BGW18 squad and bring back in around GW20/21, hopefully post-suspension and with Barkley back in support.

  21. Bambi
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Anyone managed to build a WC team with Kane AND Vardy?

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

      Why would you want to?

      1. Bambi
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        two best forward options long term?

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

      I have

      1. Bambi
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        care to share?

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

          McCarthy
          Taylor, Zouma, Justin, Dallas
          Salah, Bruno, Maddison, JWP
          Vardy, Kane, Bamford

          Martinez, Bissouma, Coufal

  22. Jarnathan
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Anyone know the fate of Matip?

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      "Joel is injured and it's not the first time that a centre-half is injured," said the Liverpool boss.

      "It's of course not good, especially now as he was in a really good shape again, but we cannot change that. We just have to accept it and carry on."

  23. prichardson311
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Play Wilson LIV(H)

    Or bench and play;

    Coufal SOU(A)

    ?

    1. Kane and Ablett
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      That’s a coin toss

  24. Jdpz
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Play Justin or Raphinha this gw?

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

      Justin

  25. LLoris
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    I was wondering is there a chance that players go up or down in price before the start of this gameweek?

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

      not possible

    2. james 101
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Not now

    3. THFC4LIFE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Nope, price rises at 1am Uk time I think

  26. EL_FENOMENO
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Which 4th mid to go for:
    a) Raphinha
    b) Soucek

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

      B

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

      A

  27. fc_skrald
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Best Max 4.5 million defender besides Taylor?

    1. mcsteely
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Balbenua, Holding

      1. fc_skrald
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Thanks

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

      Balbuena

  28. mcsteely
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    I can get to 11 solid dgw19 players with no hits (that’s a player with a double or at least a favourable fixture)

    Is it worth hits to get a playing bench to bench boost or best to roll with TC? Going to FH18

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

      I'd say 12/13 on BB DGW19 could bring much riches

    2. spray
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Traditionally, bench players are less likely to get 4 points, so I'd say no to hits.
      I'd aim for a GW18 player at a minimum if you're going to bench boost. A GW19 double is better of course, but. GW18 player let's you decide if you want to bench boost or not.

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

      Neither are bad. I'm rolling with BB.

      United may have a fair few fixtures that could end up being a double and Bruno is as fine a choice as any other player across two matches.

  29. The Red Devil
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Meslier nyland
    Zouma Alioski Taylor Bednarek Dunne
    Kdb Salah son grealish Fernandes
    DCL Bamford Brewster

    2 FT 0.0ITB

    A- Kdb -> Neto
    B- Kdb + Brewster -> Soucek + Kane
    C- grealish -> Neto

    1. OleBall
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      B

  30. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    1 week punt or hold Vardy?

    Firmino, Cavani, Aguero or Martial

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

      hold

    2. spray
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Crystal Palace versus Liverpool, and the shots allowed (whoscored.com) that allowed Villa to score three, should mean Vardy is a strong hold?