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. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Started Matip with mitchell 1st on bench

    He will come on surely right?

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

      Yes

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

      who? Matip is ruled out, so yes.

    3. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      who to come in? Rumors Matip is out for 3-4 months and has a tear grade 3 . not confirmed though

      1. Dr Van Nostrand
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Where did you hear that?

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

          in the news

          1. Dr Van Nostrand
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 3 months ago

            Not legit news sources that's why I'm asking?

      2. Dr Van Nostrand
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        This was completely made up. Klopp said Matip is out 3 weeks. Check your sources before you post BS

    4. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Going to come on with 1-2 points if you’re happy with that

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

        Better than zilch

  2. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Get in Mitchel !! You hero!!!

    1. turd ferguson
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Hey daniel

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        hey mate, what's up ? 🙂

    2. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Mitchel own goal and red card inside first 5 minutes LOL ... just when people need a dead bench to spring to life .... good start.

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

    Pizzing Mitchell, in and out my team like a broken yo-yo.......

  4. Esalman
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Dang it probably left C on Son instead of Salah before going to sleep. He's going to haul now.

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

    I mean, nobody's surprised by the Vardy benching right?

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      I planned to bring him for a hit but the info was strong that he is going to be rested and didn't do it

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

      Was the 3rd or 4th most transferred in player this GW

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

      I brought him in on my WC even though I knew there was a good chance he would be benched today. It was the best thing for my team overall and not just for this week.

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

      I trust no one will be surprised when their captain and vc and also benched later!

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

    Probably time for the annual Perez/Iheanacho brace

    1. Party time
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Hahaha

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

      Need Kane quadruple-hattrick to save my gameweek

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

      I’ve held Mitchell all year. Benched pretty much all of his points. Watched him drop to 3.9. Transfer him out today on my WC and now he starts.

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

        CS + assist + 3bps incoming

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

          He'll probably outscore Trent this week.

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

          I love this show so this made me laugh 🙂 Going to cheer myself up with a Palestinian chicken sandwich.

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

        Sold him for Douglas + 0.2m a few weeks ago. Nice enablers both, but with Palace defensive woes he may get back in there.

    4. Weeb Kakashi
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Need a Tekkers brace here.

      1. Jonny HOW SON?
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        You have strange wishes my friend

    5. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      People need to settle down with the Mitchell hype... he’s still the second choice left back

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

        But he is 3.9.

        1. Pukki Blinders
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Plenty of 3.9 starters this week... Johnson, Struijk etc

      2. TRIPOS TOPPER
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        the way you people were carrying on you would think Mitchell was Paolo Maldini, Cafu and Doherty rolled into one

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

          Doherty has a long way to go to be mentioned in the same sentence as Maldini and Cafu. But I totally second your point.

          1. Long ago I drew a walrus
            • 13 Years
            3 years, 3 months ago

            Doherty is a FPL legend. The other two are not.

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

        Yeah it's just a rotation game

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

        Yes but PVA has been poor recently. If Mitchell does well he has a chance of taking the spot.

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

        Not after his man of the match performance today 😉

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

        He'll concede anyway. And most people won't get him off their bench either.

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

      Mitchell back. Lovely.

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

      Vardy rather cameo or no-show at all..?

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Cameo imo

        1. david31058
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          All day long, Palace will be out for the count by then and Vardy will fill his boots!

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

        Cameo when they are 2 down with 15 to go.

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

        Cameo if he gets a goal is great.
        No show if not

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

        2 min cameo please

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

        a fresh vardy against a tired palace defence will be yummy, hoping for 20-25 minutes at the end to do some damage

    8. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      No way Fofana dropped right having a wee panic as just signed him 🙂

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

        Rested.

        1. Ajax Hamsterdam
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Cheers

      2. Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Rested

        1. Ajax Hamsterdam
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Thanks hazz.

    9. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Mitchel is their best LB. Fact. PVA has 0 knowledge in defending. They are conceding 7 goals over and over again. Maybe put PVA on the wing and bench Schlupp. Simple. Mitchel deserves a starts definitely IMO

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

        Mitchell isn't that good himself lol.

        1. FPL Daniel
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          check when did they get CSs? when he played. coincidence? Not imo.

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

            I've watched Palace alot. He's an average player. Equal to PVA, nothing less nothing more. He got exposed several times when he played, hence why PVA came straight in when he was fit.

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

        Deserves a start but he is no AWB

    10. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      The game is being updated.
      Please try again later when the updated scores / teams will be available.

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

        Standard.

      2. TRIPOS TOPPER
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        disgraceful

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

        COVID lag.

      4. Pukki Blinders
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Cheers Geoff

        1. FPL Daniel
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          They got 45 minutes or so. if livefpl can update it that fast, they can surely.

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

            How many users and variables do LiveFPL have in comparison?

    11. TRIPOS TOPPER
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      the best time of the gameweek - we get to spy on opponents teams and laugh at their inept changed before our GW are ruined

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

        so true, every single week I've done this, I should be top of my ML by 200 points and ranked within the top 100 by now if my pre GW musings were anything to go by

        as it is I'm just inside the top 3 million

      2. Captain Kakaroto (I blame R…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        lol, correct! love that part

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

        Oh yes , haha muppet has Neto, ha what a casual , hasn’t he seen the fixtures. Neto scores hat trick doh, why didn’t I pick Neto - I hate this game. Watch Az or gianni having worse game week - feel better about myself. Repeat.

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

      Not sure I would get a palace defender if he cost £2.0 at this point.

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

        Ah you would. FPL's greatest enabler.

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

          What if you had to start this enabler every game?

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

            He wouldn't be an enabler then.

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

      Mitchell owners celebrating the 1-2 points already?

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        this is the GW where we are probably going to see most rotation, so he is welcomed gift. I am happy. Can you please happy for us Mitchell owners?

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

          No I hope he gets a red card

      2. MagicMessi
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Mitchel owners left their dead teams so they won't even know he plays

    14. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Van Aashole

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

        Yes you are

        1. La Roja
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Oi

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

      FH in GW 18 so is this crazy?

      Kane -> Vardy.. have Son

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

        before Leeds?

        1. Ajax Hamsterdam
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Yes

      2. Pukki Blinders
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Madness ahead of Leeds

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

        No. Not crazy at all.

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

        18 is after Leeds

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

      Any chance Dunne starts with all the 3.9 starting

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

      wish Mitchell played the DGW!

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

        He will after his hatty tonight

    18. Rolls-Royce
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Can't wait for my FHGW18 Aguero(c)!

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

      Mitchell bandwagon back?

    20. Blzbobuk
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      I still have a candle lit for Nathan Ferguson who is nearly back (and has been nearly back since the start of the season).

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

        Has anyone seen him anywhere? How do we know he's not been killed by a teammate and they're covering it up.

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

          It wasn’t a team mate it was Roy, he drank his blood to keep going.

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

        The Man Who Never Was

    21. Top Dog
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      I’ve seen a lot different reason for selecting strategies for the BGW and DGW. One thing I haven’t seen mentioned much is how this links to people’s plans for the likely DGW 26 and BGW 29.

      For me this means that the Bench Boost is definately the best option for 19.

      There isn’t going to be enough time to plan for the DGW in 26 so in order to optimise it you will need to either FH (can’t then use BB) or Wildcard to get an optimal team. If you Wildcard and aim for 12-14 DGK players you won’t have enough transfers to get enough players for BGWK.

      Therefore my strategy is
      FH -18

      BB -19

      WC - 24/25 (also means don’t have to worry about ‘carrying’ any players from BB for too long) Likely be 10 or 11 DGWK with 4 or 5 players playing in BGWK 29

      BGWK 29 - 4 free transfers to get 9 or 10 players

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

        Mark had similar reasons.

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

        You could do like FTs for 18, TC in 19. And then WC 25/BB 26, FH 29. That is the next best option imo.

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

          I am currently on this one

        2. Top Dog
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          That is the alternative option, especially if no first WC available. I am in a position that I can’t get close to putting out a team for both with using FH or WC.

          I always like to maximise blanks and doubles, aiming for as many players as possible in both.

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

        depends who is in your bench though 😉

      4. schwing
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        I don't see why FH for 18 is such a good idea, besides the 3 MCI players the other 9 players don't scream big hauls, surely it is better used in a GW where several big teams play weaker teams is a better option where you can cram in 8 or 9+ players?

        1. Top Dog
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          I think this year it’s not as clear on what future GWKs will look like.

          My FH team has 8 players that haven’t moved (3 x MCI, 3 x TOT, Grealish & Wilson) , think there are then more than enough players to punt on DCL, Podence, Neto, Auba, Zaha, all with potential of returning

    22. Danstoke82
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Punted on Maddison...not even in the squad. Do we think he’s being rested or injured?

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

        rested

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

        He's always been a rotation risk tbf.

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

        Maddison is and always has been a trap, had him once probably 5 game weeks but felt like a life prison term.

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

      First it was those bum flap onesie adverts, now it's lingerie adverts! What is going on with this site 😀

      1. TRIPOS TOPPER
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        apparently tailored to your profile. What sites have you been looking at?

        triffic babes.com?

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

          Mexican BBW stilletoes

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

          Not on the desktop!

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

        it reads your surfing history and matches it - I get cars & holiday adverts 😉

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

          Damn, too much Daily mail i think.

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

            I AdBlock. Haven't seen an online ad anywhere for years

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

      Anyone else still with 0 hits taken so far?

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Yep second.seasom running

      2. Fit of Pique
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Me. I'm trying not to take a hit all season this year

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

      Lol at those mitchell owners, iheanacho can easily bang in one. U guys love1/2 pts?