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

    189k brought in Vardy this GW
    Who is going to be the jammy autosub?

    1. Captain Vantastic™
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Soucek.

    2. Egg noodle
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Was there a lineups leak?

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

      Vardy will come on

    4. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Podence
      Wouldn't say its jammy as he'll probably get 1 point.

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

    Last min cap change to BRUNO!! :S

    1. Egg noodle
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      I swapped from Bruno to Salah last minute

    2. Party time
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Switched to Bruno(C) last night. It was an easy decision

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

      Scenes

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

        And cut

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

      I need Kane to blank so so bad

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

        That seems unlikely

      2. Wild Rover
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        I need you to cry your eyes out (c)

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

          Haha

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

        Jose will see to that

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

          Hope so!

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

      Slightly worried Justin doesn’t start both in 19 now

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

        This. Any news on Pereira?

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

      Have soucek first sub as I did last week, then he didnt come on for his 10 pointer but surely will come on for 1/2 pointer this week

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

      I just took out Bruno for a -4, anyone done anything more crazy?

      1. Egg noodle
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Crazy or stupid?

      2. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Why?

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

          I brought in Kane captain. Also because I’m not free hitting in 18.

      3. Hect.OR 98th
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Brave, but I like it. After all, what's the point of the game if everyone does the same thing?

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

          It's like saying why drink clean water when u have sewage water. There's just some things that u shouldn't do.

          1. Hect.OR 98th
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 3 months ago

            Not really. Selling Bruno isn't likely to see you succumb to disease.

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

            Kane will outscore him over the next 3 easily so that’s just my thinking. Apart from Leeds game, Man United have also been really really poor at home.

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

              I shall applaud u if it works out. Can't say it's not ballsy.

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

              But u should take into consideration that the home games he didn't haul in were against Chelsea City Spurs Arsenal. The first game against Palace doesn't matter because United were rusty while Palace had had a game before that. He hauled in WestBrom and Leeds.

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

                Yes, it is a big risk, it could define how my season goes and I’m aware of their fixtures they’ve had at home. But I think Wolves and Villa could keep the scores down. Im expecting him to get a goal or so but I’m also expecting Kane to get more.

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

                  Well good luck! But also not really cuz i don't have Kane 😛

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

        Well he is the best fpl player so no no one can beat that

      5. Hotdogs for Tea
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        me too 🙂

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

          High five

          1. Hotdogs for Tea
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 3 months ago

            I brought in Kane captain too, also because I’m not free hitting in 18.

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

              Wow, we really had the same thought process.

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

        Got Kane in for Vardy for -4, cost me about 20 pts last 2 GWs

      7. Wicked Weapon
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        I can foresee some cascading beautiful red arrows for you my good sir.

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

          Can’t have em all

          1. Wicked Weapon
            • 3 Years
            3 years, 3 months ago

            Fair point but I personally feel Salah and Bruno are a given this season.

    8. Sim Simma
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      ⚽ Team News 📰
      CRYSTAL PALACE : Guaita, Clyne, Tomkins, Kouyate, Mitchell, Milivojevic, Riedewald, Townsend, Schlupp, Zaha, Benteke.
      Subs: Butland, Ward, Van Aanholt, Ayew, Sakho, McArthur, McCarthy, Batshuayi, Eze.

      LEICESTER : Schmeichel, Justin, Evans, Amartey, Thomas, Choudhury, Praet, Mendy, Perez, Barnes, Iheanacho.
      Subs: Ward, Soyuncu, Morgan, Gray, Tielemans, Vardy, Albrighton, Ndidi, Fuchs.

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

        Mitchell starts

      2. Party time
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Palace will spank them

        • mookie
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Cheers!

        • Hect.OR 98th
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Mitchell! Hopefully a good display from him and he can stay in my squad, perhaps even going back up to the 4.0 I paid for him.

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

            No way he displaces PVA from the team... would have to be at right back but I doubt that either.

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

              It’s a possibility after conceding 10 in 2 games. Especially if they keep a CS.

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

              Roy sending a message to his defenders who shipped 10 goals in 2 matches...

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

        LEICESTER TEAM NEWS
        Team to play Crystal Palace: Schmeichel, Justin, Evans, Amartey, Thomas, Choudhury, Praet, Mendy, Perez, Barnes, Iheanacho.
        Subs: Ward, Soyuncu, Morgan, Gray, Tielemans, Vardy, Albrighton, Ndidi, Fuchs.

        CRYSTAL PALACE TEAM NEWS
        Team to play Leicester: Guaita, Clyne, Tomkins, Kouyate, Mitchell, Milivojevic, Riedewald, Townsend, Schlupp, Zaha, Benteke.
        Subs: Butland, Ward, Van Aanholt, Ayew, Sakho, McArthur, McCarthy, Batshuayi, Eze.

      4. Captain Vantastic™
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Mitchell back!

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

        Mitchell starts get innn knew it was worth keeping

      6. L'Aeroplanino
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Mitchell Wagon...fixtures are gold after dgw

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

        Vardy nice and rested for Newcastle and the double. Def coming in next gw for me

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

        Glad I don’t have Vardy

      9. Steve The Spud
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        makes Maddison against Newcastle and then with the double even more tempting now he also gets a rest

      10. Sandy Ravage
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Kane (LEE) or Vardy (new)?

        1. Big Hands Barry
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Kane

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

        CRYSTAL PALACE TEAM NEWS

        Team to play Leicester: Guaita, Clyne, Tomkins, Kouyate, Mitchell, Milivojevic, Riedewald, Townsend, Schlupp, Zaha, Benteke.

        Subs: Butland, Ward, Van Aanholt, Ayew, Sakho, McArthur, McCarthy, Batshuayi, Eze.

        LEICESTER TEAM NEWS

        Team to play Crystal Palace: Schmeichel, Justin, Evans, Amartey, Thomas, Mendy, Choudhury, Praet, Perez, Barnes, Iheanacho.

        Subs: Ward, Soyuncu, Morgan, Gray, Tielemans, Vardy, Albrighton, Ndidi, Fuchs.

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

        My first time to the party and Vardy hasn’t turned up.

      13. Steve The Spud
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Mitchel returns!

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

        Mitchell is back
        CS incoming!

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

        Mitchell back just as I’m about to sell

        1. Hect.OR 98th
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Keep him? I was selling but he's an enabler and if he gets any points, it's a bonus.

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

            Going to use BB in 19 though

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

        Who do you think will take set pieces for Leicester?

      17. Hect.OR 98th
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Mitchell CS and a goal. You can see it coming.

      18. denial
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Maddison not even in squad. What a transfer in! Jesus.

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

          not surprising, he's played a lot of minutes recently and remember it wasn't long ago his minutes were back after returning from the surgery he had.

      19. Bartowski
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Zaha will haul as I have just sold him...

        1. Wicked Weapon
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Don't mind if I do. I'll take the haul.

      20. R.C
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Mitchell is back on the plate!

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

        Maddison not even on bench

      22. ivantys
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        This Leicester team is so weak, Rodgers looking down on palace.

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

        Vardy party off the bench

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

        Maddison not even making the bench? Think a few transferred him in on here. Sore one.