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

    How does this WC look?

    Johnstone McCarthy
    Taylor Justin Cancelo Dallas Coufal
    Salah Bruno Son Soucek Raphinha
    Kane Bamford Wood

    1,5 itb

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

      Boring and gtg

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

    Rumors of DCL rest
    Who can they start up front with Richarlison already out?

    1. Obi Wan Elokobi
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Tosun

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

        Then city defence will have a rest

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

      Tosun, where have you seen these rumours?

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

        Lots of comments on here about it. Looks like people are trying interpret Ancelotti

    3. Iwantmorepointsthanks
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Does Tosun still play for them?
      🙁

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

      Pickford!
      He might do much better out of goal.

    5. lilmessipran
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      source?

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

        Certainly not from me
        Just relaying the many posts on here with people predicting he will get rested

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

      Tosun?

    7. Pat Bonner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Based off this I think

      Carlo Ancelotti: "We have to think about the players who can recover in two days. After that, we have to rotate some players. Richarlison is following his concussion protocols and has to stay out."

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

    Why Salah over Bruno/Son for Captain?

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

      Dunno. I am going simple with Kane. Dont want to overthink it. New is more solid.

  4. Garfield1001
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Is Lowton a rotation risk?

    Cannot stretch to Taylor

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

      Lowton is nailed

      1. Garfield1001
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        No chance of Bardsley?

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

      Should be ok for 95% of games.

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

    Captain:

    Gut is saying Kane
    Logic is saying Salah

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

      Salah

    2. The Pesci challenge
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Stick to salah

    3. Balls of Steel
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Same question I've been asking myself all morning...leaning slightly towards Mo due to Spurs awful displays lately!

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

      Kane

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

      Logic is saying Kane.

  6. SpaceCadet
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Kdb Brewster > Kane Saka for free? Yes or no?

    Salah kdb Bruno son soucek
    Dcl bamford Brewster

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

      I quite like that. Risky with spurs being out of form, and arsenal being.... well arsenal. But it gives you formation options

  7. Letsgo!
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Martinez
    Stones dallas kwp
    Bruno salah jwp mahrez
    Dcl bam kane(c)

    Subs steer cresswell lamptey asm

    Gtg? 0.9 itb

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

    Bench
    A) Coufal or
    B) Welbeck
    ?
    Thanks

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

      Never dat guy

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

      A since you are brave for having B already play him.

  9. The_FF_King
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Who to captain? First to 3 wins:

    A) Kane
    B) Salah
    C) Fernandes
    D) Son

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

      A

    2. Balls of Steel
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      B

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

      b

    4. FER FUSCH AKE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      B

  10. LordEllison
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Hey all, have 2 FTs and 0.0 ITB not sure what trasnfer to make any ideas? Thanks.

    Martinez
    Chilwell Dias CTaylor
    Grealish Bruno KDB Salah(c)
    Watkins DCL Bamford

    Forster KWP Coufal Riedewald.

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

    Is Lowton a sure starter for Burnley?

  12. Shrimpy
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Play 1 of Coufal, Soucek, Rafinha

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

      Soucek

    2. Calculated Risks
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Raphinia only just ahead of soucek

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

      Raphinha

  13. Sid07
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    1) kdb to son
    2) dcl to kane
    3) save

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

      1

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

      2

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

      2

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

    Would you play any of my bench?

    Martinez
    Zouma, Robbo, Stones
    Bruno, Son, Grealish, Salah
    Kane, Bamford, Adams

    Forster, Dallas, Soucek, Coufal

    .6

    Plan FH18 & BB19

    1FT

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

      Same bench as me...I've soucek first tho, coufal last

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

        Ta

  15. the snazzy viking
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    A) Mane + Raphinha
    B) Kane + Anguissa

    on wildcard, ranked 700k

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

      A

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

      AAAAAAAA

    3. the snazzy viking
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      B lets me upgrade Zouma to Trent

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

      A more exciting

    5. the snazzy viking
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      cheers

  16. panda07
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Start two?

    A) James
    B) Dallas
    C) Taylor

    1. Ross Geller
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      BC

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

      B,C

  17. Obi Wan Elokobi
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Should I start Bowen or Watkins?

    1. Dash444
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Watkins, Bowen might be benched.

  18. sminkypinky
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Cap Mo or Bruno? Brunos form in impeccable.

  19. Oh Mane Mane
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Salah or Kane captain?

    First to 5 wins....

    1. Taegugk Warrior
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Kane

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

      Salah
      Salah
      Salah
      Salah
      Salah

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

      4. Damn, soooo close. Salah.

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

    Which combo for gw19?

    A) Vardy - Taylor - Bednarek
    Or
    B) Adams - Robbo - Dias

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

      B

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

      A.

      But if rumours of Vardy rest are true. Then B

  21. Michelle Davin
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Son captain anybody?Might be a nice differential

    1. Rotation's Alter Ego
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      5 shots in his last 4 - that's Pepe levels thanks to him being shovelled wide. Fulham are also much improved lately.

      A good option for the week, but happy playing safer with the crowd on Salah or similar

  22. Agamenmon
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Start
    A) Adams
    B) Raphinha

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

      B

    2. Calculated Risks
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Adams easy

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

      Still not sure

  23. shapply
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    bench one:
    A) DCL
    B) Soucek
    C) Cresswell

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

      C
      Carlo might decide for you

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

        yeah, I expect DCL to come off the bench

    2. Calculated Risks
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Cressy

  24. Ruudy Van
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Last minute panic. With an eye on DGW

    KDB DCL OUT

    Maddison Vardy in

    1. Iwantmorepointsthanks
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Could pay of in DGW, but might be bad for today.

  25. M2.0
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Have i gone for the correct bench??

    Martinez
    Taylor - Zouma - Coufal
    Son - Raphina - Salah - Bruno
    Bamford - Kane - Adams

    Soucek - Ogbonna- 4.0 - 4.0

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

      So its basically soucek or ogbonna ? Long winded way to ask an easy question...soucek 1st of course

      1. M2.0
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Appreciate your reply however i was referring to bench selection rather than bench order

    2. Dash444
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Yes, IMO

  26. Lecky Legs FC
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Any City fans on here if so does Mahrez start tonight? Might take him out for a hit if there's a feeling he won't

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

      MEN thinks he will

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

      Worth keeping. Not a -4.

      1. Lecky Legs FC
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Ok sound cheers chaps

  27. Mane Mane Mane
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Watkins or Wood?

    1. Dash444
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      I’ve gone Wood.....but if there’s a trap out there I’ll step on it!!!

  28. Kodap
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Any changes? Or can I bank my FT?

    Meslier
    Dallas - Dier - Taylor
    Salah (c) - KDB - Bruno - Soucek
    DCL - Kane - Bamford

    Subs: Martinez - Stones - Coufal - Burke

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

      Easy bank.

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

        Might play Stones ahead Taylor.

  29. Konstaapeli
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Best cheap (max 4.6) defender with GW18 fixture?

    A) Holding
    B) Ampadu
    C) Lewis
    D) Someone else

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

      Holding

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

    Which 2 to play?:
    A) Dallas
    B) Justin
    C) Coufal
    D) Soucek
    E) Raphinha