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. LLoris
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Would you rather have Pope or Fabianski?

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

      Pope

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

      Pope for now but fab in dgw

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

      Both too expensive. Taylor or Coufal better for me

  2. Well you know, Triffic
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Isn't Barnes on penalties rather than Wood?

  3. abhirup780
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    A. Johnstone + Soucek
    or
    B. Fabianski + Anguissa

    For DGW19?

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

      A

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

      A

    3. marcos11
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      A

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

      A

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

    Bench one

    A) Alioski (WBA A)
    B) Justin (CRY A)
    C) Podence (MUN A)

    1. marcos11
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      A

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

    I'm forced to do KdB+Watkins to Rashford+Vardy tonight as I have exact cash.

    Worth the risk?

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

      Could be good, could be horrible. Wait for the gw to end as kdb already lost 0.1 so you might as well wait it out.
      Problem is Vardy is probably going to rise tonight.

      If you already have Bruno, I would suggest going for Maddison and roll one transfer.
      Watkins looks like a kind of player that could do well against more offensive minded opposition.

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

        I got Maddison and Bruno already. Would like Vardy and Rash for GW17 and DGW19.

        But has to do the transfers tonight as I'll be priced out tomorrow. I'm sure Vardy will rise, or maybe Kdb to drop again

  6. Well you know, Triffic
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    I predict Benteke will score.

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

    Which combo is scores more for dgw19?

    A) McCarthy - Taylor - O’Shea - Rashford
    Or
    B) Dier - Justin - Robbo - Adams

  8. The 12th Man
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    If Im benching Calvert Lewin this week then im moving him this week.
    Decision made.
    KDB,DCL > Raphinha ,Kane
    Leaves 3.4m itb to get a DGWer in for Watknis and Ferguson in 17 and 19.

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

      Good idea, Soucek & Podence etc score more than Rapha

      1. The 12th Man
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        I already have Soucek and Podence only plays once in 19.

    2. Yankee Toffee
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      booooooo....

      1. The 12th Man
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Lol.
        Ill still enjoy a DCL goal though. Im only losing 0.1m on him anyway.

  9. Yankee Toffee
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Might cap Salah just because so many ppl will miss the deadline and just leave it on him.

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

      I think he is best choice

    2. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      my captain.

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

      I thought this but I think the masses are active (maybe because of lockdown). The price changes were quite volatile last night for instance.

  10. Bobby_Baggio
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Afternoon all. Bench order correct?

    McCarthy
    Justin - Robbo - Taylor
    Bruno - Son - Salah (C)- Soucek
    Adams - Bamford - Vardy

    Johnstone - Raphinha - Dallas - Coufal

    1. Yankee Toffee
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      G2G

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

        Cheers

  11. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Salah's EO this GW - going to be super high again right?

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

      Yep

    2. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Yep. My (c).

    3. Bobby_Baggio
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Yep my (C)

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

      Not that high after he blanked, will be evened out across him, Bruno and Kane I think

  12. Benditlike
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Have not had as much time as previous seasons to plan everything around fpl. So looking for some advice here on what to do with my team. Have 2 FT 0.6 ITB and not a clue on what to do 🙂 Any tips?

    Current team:
    Martinez, (Langley)
    Cancelo, Dallas, Justin, (Mitchell, Lamptey)
    Salah, Son, Fernandea, Neto, KDB
    DCL, Bamford, (Davies).

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

      Maybe..
      Neto to Soucek now
      DCL+KdB to Vardy+Rashford next gw?

      FH 18

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

        Thanks. But forgot deadline ;D

  13. Whats the Mata?
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Saka or Martinelli? Who'd you get (basically for gw18, will be a bench fodder)

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

      Saka - more assured of starts as things stand. But Gabi can still do well.

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

      I'm getting Saka because of more playing time

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

    A) Dallas, Adams - 0.5 ITB for either McCarthy -> fabianski or Adams -> Antonio if fit for the DGW. Dallas first sub this GW
    B) Cancelo, Rodrigo - Tripple up on Leeds attack but Rodrigo benched

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

    Haha pages flying. Very little thoughtful advice being given right now. Go with your gut guys and good luck

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

      I’ve been doing that but but it keeps coming up offside on VAR.

  16. adstomko
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    What to do with Vardy?

    A) Risk him
    B) Swap for Firmino
    C) Swap for Adams

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

      Vardy is for life, not just for Christmas.

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

        Haha this!

    2. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      If you have him already then id keep.

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

    Need to save 0.1m in a WC...

    C.Taylor >> Lowton a decent option without compromising much?

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

      No others options?

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

        other*

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

          Dier / Balbuena perhaps? Or Robbo --> TAA

          Martinez
          Robbo -- Dias -- Dier -- C.Taylor -- Balbuena
          Salah -- Bruno -- Son - Soucek -- Raphinha
          Kane -- Bamford -- Brewster

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

            I'd consider Dier.

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

      Yeah that's alright. Or Balbuena if you plan on benching

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

      just did that so I could afford Dias for Cancelo, who will surely get rested once Walker returns

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

        Thanks guys

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

    Martínez
    Stones | Dallas | Taylor
    Salah | Fernandes | Son | Grealish
    Kane | DCL | Bamford

    Forster | Coufal | Mitchell | Burke

    1.8 ITB

    What do you think is the best combination for a BB in gw19?
    Forster, Mitchell & Burke are the players that I would be trading out + 1.8 equates to 14.0 ITB for 3 players, a GK, defender & midfielder.

  19. JJeyy
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Stones the perfect value defender?

    Either gets a clean sheet or plays 0 minutes and you get a sub coming on

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

      Yep, I got Stones over the other City assets.
      0.8m cheaper couldn't be ignored.

    2. Yankee Toffee
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      This ^

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

      I will get for gw20,21,22

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

      like him a lot but i'll be playing only 6-7 players in gw18 so i want them all nailed. it's why i went for dias instead of cancelo

  20. Eleven Hag
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    No FH in GW18 and TC in GW19, please advice

    GW18
    Martinez
    Dias
    Son Grealish
    Kane(c) Brewster

    GW 19 (son + Kane ➡ Mane + Vardy, no hits)
    Martinez
    Dias Coufal Dallas
    Bruno Grealish Salah (TC) Mane Soucek
    Vardy Bamford
    - CTaylor Brewster 4.0

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

    Bench one:

    A) Dallas(WBA away)
    B) Soucek(SOU away)
    C) Justin(CRY away)

    1. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      B

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

    Start one:

    A) Soucek
    B) Justin
    C) Rodrigo

    1. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      B

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

    Anyone using 2021 WC in GW17, FH18, BB GW19?

    1. TONEY HONEY
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Not me

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

        No

  24. TONEY HONEY
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Ayoze brace incoming

  25. Bobby_Baggio
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    On a WC shall I go with Kane or Vardy?

    McCarthy
    Justin - Robbo - Taylor
    Bruno - Son - Salah (C)- Soucek
    Adams - Bamford - _______

    Johnstone - Raphinha - Dallas - Coufal

    1. TONEY HONEY
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Vardy benced today. Kane, or for dgw Firmino

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

        Will be doing BB19 not worried about today and Vardy bench.

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

    McCarthy
    Zouma/Justin/KWP
    Salah/Bruno/Soucek/Podence
    DCL/Kane/Vardy

    Mitchell/Bissouma/Douglas
    2.3itb 2 ft

    A) Vardy + Podence -> Bamford + Son
    B) Keep the same
    C) DCL + Podence -> Bamford + Son
    ?

  27. AppleDunk
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Who do you prefer if BB DGW19? Has Bamford.

    A) Adams
    B) Wood

  28. Jack.Armstrong96
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Bench Watkins or Bowen

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

      Easy Bowen

    2. TONEY HONEY
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Bowen

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

    On WC

    A. Mane
    B. Vardy

    1. TONEY HONEY
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      A easily. Vardy benched today

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

      A

  30. Heiro
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Best Leeds defender that isn't Dallas?

    1. TONEY HONEY
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Alioski

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

        yep. this.