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. Ruinenlust
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Play Dallas or Soucek?

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

      Dallas.

    2. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Soucek

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

    A : Torres & DCL > Son & Benteke -4
    B : KDB & DCL > Kane & Pulisic -4
    C : Grealish & Torres > Son & Raphinha -4

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

    Kane likely a rest this gw? Want to captain him...

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

      I wouldn't think so, not after a draw.

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

      He'll play

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

      If Mourinho wants to get sacked before the new year he should bench him 😉

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

    Is Kane essential for these fixtures?

    1. Bennyboy1907
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      No

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

      No but a really good option nonetheless.

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

      Hopefully, Jose is realising he needs to be more expansive, and if so then definitely.

    4. Muchentuchel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      He absolutely is.
      No chance he'll blank another game.

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

        Because he's due? 😆 u know that's not a thing.

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

          Then see what happens against FUL 😉

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

            Likely another blank with the way Spurs are playing. I'd want only for Leeds. Doesn't even matter anyways because he's blanked 3 straight so anyone with someone else for that time has already won.

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

      Leeds yes, Fulham no

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

      Don't have him atm I'd have to sacrifice Sterling

    7. DycheDycheBaby
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      No.

  5. Forever In Our Shadow
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Really want Robbo or Trent. How do I get one of them in? 1FT. 2.0ITB

    Martinez
    Coufal Dier Dias
    Salah (c) Bruno (vc) Son Grealish Soucek
    Kane Bamford

    Steer DCL Casey Douglas

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

      You need to strengthen that bench defensive coverage IMO.

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

      Imo Grealish is almost useless.
      I'd cash in and go cheap on his position to get TAA or Robbo.

      1. Forever In Our Shadow
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        That’s what I’m thinking but I’ll want him back in 3 gws and price may stop me. Thanks.

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

          there's plenty other cheaper and equally good options. Just take a look at JWP who's a set piece monster or look out for players like Raphinha.

  6. 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

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

    To finish the WC?

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

  8. HARLEY
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Play Dias or Dallas?

    Got Robbo and Dias

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

      *KWP

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

        Go with Robbo, Dias and KWP if you play a back 3.

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

      Dias

  9. Totalfootball
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Captain -
    Kane
    Salah
    Bruno

    1. Bennyboy1907
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Mo

  10. VICTORIOUS SECRET! !
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    DCL + KDB -----> KANE + GREALISH (-4)

    worth a hit ?

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

      No

  11. Bennyboy1907
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Johnstone
    Robbo, Dallas, Chillwell,
    Son, Salah(c), Bruno, Grealish
    Adams,Bamford,DCL

    Martinez, Coufal, Bissouma, Mitchell

    GW17: Mitchel>>> KWP
    GW18: FH18
    GW19: Bissouma>>> Soucek/Raphinia

    And BB?

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

    Any leaked lineups peeps?

  13. threeputt
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    If I do a FH18 I'm still allowed to make one xfr in dgw19 right ?

    1. Mo Salah No Mane
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Yes

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

    Vardy benched surely?

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

      Not sure.. they need to win this

      1. markus808
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Just wanted to say that every team will beat Palace right now, but except maybe Leicester, it's in their DNA, to play like that. They will destroy big teams, home and away, and then just lose to Palace.

  15. alimantado
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Start 4 from these 5 for this GW

    A) Justin - cry (a)
    B) Coufal - sou (a)
    C) Chillwell - AVL (h)
    D) Dias - eve (a)
    E) Stones - eve (a)

  16. MattysFantasyFooty
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Wood or Adams?

  17. beanz87
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Hi all, on a WC. A or B?

    A
    McCarthy (Johnstone)
    Robbo - Dallas - CANCELO (Taylor KWP)
    GREALISH - Salah - Bruno - Soucek (RAPHINHA)
    Wood - Bamford - KANE

    B
    McCarthy (Johnstone)
    Robbo - Dallas - JUSTIN (Taylor KWP)
    SON - Salah - Bruno - Soucek (ANGUISSA)
    Wood - Bamford - VARDY

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

      B

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

    What sounds like a good punt?

    A) Grealish to Maddison
    B) Grealish to Zaha
    C) DCL to Adams
    D) None of the above

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

      A

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

    Adams or Wood?

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

      Wood

  20. Bob.
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Martial or rashford on wc?

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

      Rash without a doubt.

  21. Muchentuchel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    As a 4th midfielder:

    A) Play JWP
    B) Play Raphinha
    C) Play both and bench DCL

    ?

  22. WillyP
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Who to captain out of Son, Fernandes, Vardy or Kane?

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

      Bruno

    2. I Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Fernandes

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

        Cheers!

  23. HARLEY
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Play KWP or Dallas?

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

      Dallas

    2. WillyP
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Dallas

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

      Dallas

  24. Shark Team
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    3 questions
    1) Who to captain between Kane Salah
    2) Who to bench between Chilwell Coufal
    3) Do you think Adams or Wood outscore DCL by more than 4 pts this gw?
    Thanks and good luck all

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

      1. Salah
      2. Chillwell
      3. No

  25. Gaffa914
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    play James Justin (cpl) or Dallas (wba)

    1. Viper
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Dallas

  26. Viper
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    KWP or Taylor on WC? (Mccarthy in goal)

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

      I dont fancy Burnley but they have good fixtures.

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

      Taylor

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

    Thoughts on this WC team with BB in 19

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

    Would you make any changes?
    Pope or Fabianski?

  28. stefanbkanev
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Play one, please:

    Coufal (sou)
    Soucek (sou)
    Wilson (LIV)

    1. I Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Soucek

    2. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Soucek

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

      Soucek

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

      Coufal

  29. Tonyawesome69
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    A. Son, Kane and rodrigo
    B. Mane, Adams and Wood

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

    Start Raphina or Soucek. I have Bamford too and this confusion is just why I think having two from Leeds seems like a silly idea (on a WC) :/