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. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Best way to save money?

    A) Taylor to Lowton
    B) Dallas to Ayling or Alioski
    C) Adams, Raphina to Rodrygo, Walcott

    1. Mongreloid
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      A

    2. Begbie.
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Unhelpful again but none of those. If the first players you named in each scenario are the ones you currently own then I'd keep. They're all much better options than the others.

      Who do you need to save money for?

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

        Possible adams to Antonio... have 0.2 atm but if Vardy rises and Firmino drops I can’t do it

        1. Nate(U)dog(ie)
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          I don't think Antonio will be back for nearly a month at best, could well be wrong but Moyes keeps saying he's out on the grass now but the worrying comment he made was last week when he said something about needing to see if they need to buy another striker if he doesn't return in January, I put him in for a week a couple of weeks ago as a punt (was getting in Salah and had to pick someone in that bracket) but even if he returns in the next week or two he'll be eased in very slowly surely and could easily get injured again

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

    Current squad...

    McCarthy
    Chilwell Cancelo Coufal
    Salah(C) Son(VC) Bruno KDB
    Bamford Adams Watkins

    Forster; Soucek Targett N.Williams

    Best transfer...

    A) KDB -> Mane
    B) Targett -> C.Taylor
    C) Targett -> Dallas
    D) Save FT

    1. Phlajo
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Looks good. Save imo

  3. jonnybhoy
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Any advice guys? Currently on C

    2FT and 1.5ITB

    McCarthy
    Taylor Dias Justin
    Son KDB Salah Podence Fernandes
    DCL Bamford

    4mill Coufal Targett Brewster

    A) Targett + Podence to TAA and 4.5m
    B) Targett + KDB + DCL to TAA + Bowen + Kane -4pts
    C) Targett + Dias to TAA and Alioski
    C) Anything else

    1. Mongreloid
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      C

    2. FPL Touches
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      DCL to Kane, KDB to anyone you fancy

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

    Captain Kane or Salah?

    1. jonnybhoy
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Salah

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

      Salah - depends on which Kane turns up

    3. Homer21
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Torn between Kane, Salah, Son or Bruno myself. Currently on Salah

    4. tom2224
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Bruno

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

    Meslier (Fabianski)
    Justin KWP Dier (Alioski) (Coufal)
    Salah Fernandes Son Grealish (Soucek)
    Kane Bamford Welbeck

    Planning FH18 and BBDG19, transfer Kane for Vardy and Welbeck for Adams by the time 19 comes round.

    Currently have 0.5ITB but can’t see where to apply it - any thoughts...?

    1. Neves say Neves
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      hold i think

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

    Martínez
    Dallas - Taylor - Chilwell - Coufal
    Fernandes - Salah - Raphinha - *Son*
    Bamford - *Watkins*
    (Button - DCL - Anguissa - *Vestergaard*)

    The team above is my current team. How does this transfer plan look like? Is getting Vardy in this GW for a hit clever or stupid?

    GW 17: Watkins > Vardy
    GW 18: Free Hit
    GW 19: Chillwell > Robertson or Son > Mané/Rashford

    1. Phlajo
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Wait with Vardy.. likely to be rested today.

      Keep Son GW19.

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

        My initial planning was to keep Son, but Spurs' form makes me consider alternatives…

  7. FPL Touches
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Sitting with 2FT and some bench fodder (Davis, Steer, Mitchell) stinking up the team. Looks like I'll need to sell KDB to upgrade them.

    Looking at doing this for free:

    KDB + Davis ➡ Saka/Soucek + Kane (C) (Got Son)

    Any preference for Saka or Soucek?

    1. Neves say Neves
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      soucek and i'd rather have vardy than kane because of dgw19

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

      Soucek for the tasty DGW fixtures.

      Saka is a wait and see.

  8. C_G
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    I did Watkins ---_> Bamford on FT today, was that a good idea?

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

      yes

    2. FPL Touches
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      I don't love it tbh. Villa are creating a load of chances and Watkins is getting more service than anyone right now.

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

    Salah seems a popular (c) but, for those with both Salah and Kane, who have you captained?

    1. Rbyrne95
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Salah

    2. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Not Kane

    3. Begbie.
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Kane.

      Hate captaining against Newcastle. They just park the bus and play for a 0-0.

      1. Homer21
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Will Fulham not do the same?

    4. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      I don't think it's close. Salah is better stats wise for both attacking and Newcastle are worse than Fulham at defending.

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

      Not the centre back

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

      Head says Salah, heart says Kane

    7. The Reptile
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Salah - Kane and Spurs in general looked really bad V Wolves and the last 2-3 games

    8. FPLHaggis
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Mo.

  10. Rbyrne95
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    probability on Martial and Vardy starting?

    1. Phlajo
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Martial 80
      Vardy 50

      Just guessing though

  11. 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

    Cheers!

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

      I just did Brewster + KDB > Kane + Sako (same price as Soucek 5.1 but better fixtures + GW 18 vs Palace H)

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

        Or you could do DCL + Brewster > Wood + Watkins

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

          Bench DCL?

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

          Sorry my bad, who would I bench in this case?

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

        Sako nailed to start?

  12. b91jh
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Bench one:
    A) Cresswell
    B) KWP
    C) R. James

    Bench one:
    A) Soucek
    B) Raphinha
    C) DCL

    1. b91jh
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Sorry.
      1) Soucek
      2) Raphinha
      3) DCL

  13. Lebowski85
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    First 11 dilemmas in a 3-4-3

    1) Dallas or Coufal
    2) Soucek or Neto

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

      Dallas & Soucek

  14. LJJH1984
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Best to keep Son or Grealish? Thanks all.

    1. Dee Lixon
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Son

    2. Rbyrne95
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Only thing that worries me with Grealish is his current yellow cards

    3. LJJH1984
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Forgot about Grealish and his yellows!

      Going to keep faith with Son.

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

      Because it's Barcelona and they're stupid.

      They've drove away the GOAT with such stupidity. It's not surprising any more.

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

      Home grown for UCL?

    3. The Count of Monte Cristo
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Given our transfer dealings lately, it would make complete sense to buy him.

      In reality we don't need him as Dest has done well since he arrived.

  15. karsworde
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    If I save my transfer in GW17, make two changes in GW18 for DGW19 and then play the FH for GW18, do the two transfers made in GW18 count towards DGW19?

    1. b91jh
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Your initial 19 squad would be the same with your final 17 squad.

  16. FPL Doctor
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Any suggestions?
    1FT 0.7 ITB

    Martinez
    Dias Dallas Justin James
    Salah KDB Bruno Grealish
    Bamford Wood

    Steer Soucek DCL Coufal

    A) Save
    B) KDB to Son
    C) KDB + James —> Son + Robbo (-4)
    D) James to Taylor

  17. Ze_Austin
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    If you're on a wildcard, you don't need FH18:

    You can set up your team for GWs 16 to 22 following the template, have 2 FTs for BGW18, FH19, and sell one GW18 player by GW20 (say, Dier to Reece for free)

    GW23 marks a massive City fixture swing. This frees up funds via something like Dias/Cancelo (especially if you get two City defenders on your WC now) to a cheap defender with good fixtures

    We'll know the DGW26 doubles before GW24. If you roll a spare FT from GW23, you'll have FOUR free transfers to prepare for BB26, which will have about 4 to 6 doubles, according to Crellin

    You'll then have your WC to clear the bench after and prepare for BGWs 29 and 33, as well as TC for the minor DGWs for Bruno (Burnley or TGW), Grealish (Newcastle), KDB/Kun (Southampton)

    1. Blue Moon Rising
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      It’s a school of thought but long term plans like this don’t account for the variables such as injuries and dips in form

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

      It's too late now. There's a reason nobody is doing it that way too. Because it doesn't make sense imo. If you have a WC in 16, it's perfect to setup a GW19 BB.

  18. RUUD!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Start Konsa or Coufal this week?

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

      Coufal

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

    Play one:

    A) Coufal vs Southampton
    B) Ampadu vs Burnley

    I know A looks easier and the more obvious pick but a player from a relegation battling team against a team that is less attacking than Southampton can prove to be good.

  20. HNI
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Who will you start?
    1) Taylor vs SHU
    or
    2) Soucek vs Soton'
    Benching Soucek after a long time :p By best cheapie till now but Sheffield seems best possible Burnley match

  21. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Salah or Bruno captain?

    1. Neves say Neves
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      mo easy

    2. tom2224
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Bruno

    3. 1314
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      tough, Salah for me..could go either way though just like last gw..

  22. gomez123
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    What are the KDB owners doing??...(A)Keeping one last week or(B) selling?

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

      B

    2. C_G
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      keeping

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

      Keeping till BGW at least.

    4. Salarrivederci
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Selling for Salah

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

      Keeping, keeping the faith as he is even more a differential this week after droves have dumped him

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

    I no longer really look at Fulham and West Brom as a captainable fixture.. anyone the same?

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

      They’ve definitely tightened up. Crystal Palace look like the current whipping boys.

      1. Homer21
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        This

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

      My record so far..Kane cap against westbrom returned, bruno cap against westbrom returned, vardy cap against ful returned(one assist Oly),kdb cap against ful returned,salah cap against ful returned,salah cap against westbrom blank.oly one blank it depends on the player also, I have captained all the one who was on penalties which gives you an added advantage..

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

      Ye I agree.
      Think Newcastle looks poor at the back after returning from Covid outbreak.

    4. Nate(U)dog(ie)
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Yep, made a post about it here yesterday but everyone keeps underestimating Fulham in particular. 1 loss in 6 and that includes games v Liverpool, City and Leicester and they've only conceded 2 in their last 4

  24. mickjoe
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Pick one , Kane for Adams or DCL

  25. Liastro ⭐️
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Dias or Cancelo on WC?

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

      Dias. More nailed.

      1. Blue Moon Rising
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Correct, Cancelo suprisingly nailed though plays RB occasionally and is probably our first choice LB

  26. ABCDEFC
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    On WC: 0M ITB. FH18. BB19.

    Kane to Vardy GW17.
    Son to Rashford GW19.

    McCarthy (Johnstone)
    Justin - Robbo - Dallas (Balbuena - Coufal)
    Bruno - Salah - Son - Raphinha (Soucek)
    Kane - Bamford - Adams

    G2G?

    1. Drogo
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Wow, what is your team value?

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

    Morning.
    Couple of questions.

    Would you play Taylor over Coufal this gw?

    Also would u bring him McCarthy with dg19 in mind for free? And play him over Martinez this gw?

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

      Yes. Burnley are better defensively than West Ham and have a better fixture too.

      Not sure about the 2nd question.

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

      Yes, and probably yes

  28. ymx
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Dallas or Taylor?? For next 3 GWs??

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

    Pope or Fabianski?