Scout Picks

Gameweek 17 Scout Picks draws on Spurs, Liverpool, Arsenal and Palace

We have placed our trust in defence and midfield for the Gameweek 17 Scout Picks.

For the first time this season, we have lined-up in a 4-5-1 formation, coming in exactly in line with our £83.0m budget.

How many of these do you own?

Goalkeeper

Vicente Guaita (£4.8m) earns a place in the Scout Picks on account of Crystal Palace’s meeting with the Premier League’s lowest scorers Sheffield United. The Blades have found the net just eight times this season and only two teams have registered fewer big chances over the last four than them.

Defenders

Andrew Robertson (£7.4m) has great potential for a haul in Gameweek 17. Southampton have now gone three games without a goal and rank second-bottom for shots in the box over the last four matches. Meanwhile, no defender has created more chances than Robertson in their last four matches.

Romain Saïss (£5.0m) is back in the Wolves team again and doing what he does best: offering threat from set pieces. Over the last four matches, no defender can match the versatile Moroccan international for shots in the box.

Rob Holding (£4.4m) is a great budget enabler in an improving Arsenal defence with appealing fixtures. In Gameweek 17, the Gunners face a West Bromwich Albion outfit with two goals in their last five at home. Arsenal themselves have conceded the third-fewest number of big chances in their last two – Holding registering 90 minutes in eight of the last nine.

Erik Pieters (£4.3m) is our representative from the Burnley defence as they prepare to host Fulham. We fancy the Austrian to start either at left-back in place of Taylor, or even in midfield with ongoing injuries in wide areas. The Clarets have kept four clean sheets from a possible five against sides in the bottom eight this season while Fulham are unlikely to be at full-strength in light of recent positive coronavirus (COVID-19) tests.

Midfielders

Salah building up massive power in top 10k after Gameweek 14 haul

Mohamed Salah (£12.6m) has been unfortunate to blank in each of his last two outings, failing to convert a number of clear-cut chances at Newcastle. Even though Southampton have kept clean sheets in each of their last two, Salah does have attacking returns in six of his Premier League away matches this season.

Bruno Fernandes (£11.2m) has been a reliable source of points in 2020/21, blanking just twice since Gameweek 8 and registering five double-digit hauls in that time. He has seven of those in the whole campaign, more than any other Fantasy asset.

Son Heung-min (£9.7m) gets into the Scout Picks on account of his fixture rather than form. After racing to 100 points in the first 11 Gameweeks, the Spurs midfielder has just a goal and assist in the last four matches. However, during that time, games involving Leeds have yielded an average of 5.3 goals. The Whites’ expansive style is sure to open up space for Son to thrive in once again.

Unsurprisingly, Wilfried Zaha (£7.4m) is our chosen representative from the Crystal Palace attack which hosts basement boys Sheffield United on Saturday. Selhurst Park has been a reliable venue for Zaha this season, where he has scored or assisted in all but one home game he started against sides outside the top eight.

Bukayo Saka (£5.2m) has been pivotal to Arsenal’s recent mini-revival, registering a goal and two assists over the last two matches. He faces the Premier League’s worst defence in Gameweek 17, West Bromwich Albion conceding on average 2.2 goals per game this season.

Forwards

Harry Kane (£11.0m) completes our double-up on the Spurs attack for an appealing home match against Leeds. The Whites’ high-intensity setup has led them to concede 12 big chances across their last four, the third-most in the division. That should be enough to bring out the best in Kane once again.

Substitutes

  • Alex McCarthy (£4.7m)
  • Matthew Lowton (£4.4m)
  • Chris Wood (£6.2m)
  • Christian Benteke (£5.5m)

THE CAPTAIN

Who are the best captain options for FPL Gameweek 36+?

We choose the Scout Picks captain using a four-way vote between our Scout Squad pundits.

Because we use Fantasy Football Scout data so heavily in this process, the skipper we choose each Gameweek is known only to those with a valid Fantasy Football Scout subscription and revealed to the public only when the deadline has passed.

Here’s how we voted for Gameweek 17:

THE 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.

Forever In Our Shadow beat the Scout Picks in Gameweek 16, their 66-58 victory pulling the Community Champions into an 8-8 scoreline for the season.

AA33 is the current leader, defeating the Scout Picks by a 53-point margin in Gameweek 2.

2,832 Comments Post a Comment
  1. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Who scores more this GW?

    McCarthy (LIV) or Martinez (mun)

    1. Puntillimon
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Martinez imo

      1. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Think he could do well too, 6 saves certainly possible

    2. Black Knights
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I’m going McCarthy. United more likely to score. Both as likely to make saves.

      1. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Cheers, that’s who I have currently but plan to bring in Martinez for Blank/Doubles, think I’ll hold off it for a week

        1. Black Knights
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          I own both so I’m sorted for blanks and doubles. Been doing me well for a while. 9,10,6,8 in last 4.

          1. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Very tidy! Good luck for this GW 🙂

  2. Jam0sh
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Which would you play:

    A) Watkins
    B) Soucek

    1. Meinhoff
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      A

    2. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      A

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

      A

  3. corderz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Martinez Forster
    Robbo Chilwell Cancelo Dallas Coufal
    Salah Bruno Son Raphina Soucek
    Vardy DCL Bamford

    A) DCL > Watkins
    B) DCL > Brewster (To fund Son>KDB/Raz next week)

    1. Jam0sh
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I'd probably save a FT

      1. corderz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I can't save a transfer as I'm free hitting next week

        1. Jam0sh
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Maybe Forster to playing keeper if you are going to bb on 19?

          1. corderz
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            I'd love to do that but only have 4.2m to spend

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

          I’d burn then.

          But B over A.

          1. corderz
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Means an extra hit down the line but probably make a better decision with available info

            B would mean kdb + Brewster over Son + Watkins.......

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

    Interesting picks. Not surprising to see Palace, Arsenal, Burnley, and Wolves players in the selection given the fixtures this GW

    1. S.Kuqi
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Agreed. 451 didn't see that coming.

  5. davies
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    A) Stones James

    B) Dias Balbuena

  6. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Bench 2?

    Zouma
    Robbo
    Coufal
    Stones
    Dallas

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

    Repost here on Cancelo:

    Right, so apparently the Bluemoon forums believe that Ederson, Cancelo and Torres are the three that tested positive. The guy on Reddit who first broke the news said he thinks it was those three too (plus one more). On the other hand... https://twitter.com/FPLCheetah/status/1344921352277544963

    Not sure what to think. I'm going to go against my earlier thoughts and say Cancelo is a big risk.

    1. Puntillimon
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Oh damn. Ok thanks man.

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

      Wait until 15.30ish UK time. We'll have the latest info by then on everything. Might be useful, might not. But will be a better position than now.

      1. Flair
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Undoubtedly, but this doesn't concern me as I don't have any of those three. Just posting this as new info has come to light for me.

    3. Karan14
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Didn't he get tested on Tuesday? And all returned negative.

      Anyways I think City had a test yesterday also and will get those results today and they will be tested on Saturday too.

    4. tisza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Parker & Pep have scheduled press conferences this afternoon so a clearer picture should be available then

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

    Play cancelo or soucek?

    1. Just For Kicks
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Cancelo as will play or not be in the team if COVID positive. Whi will be your first defender sub if he doesn’t play

  9. Tshelby
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    2ft’s one to Spend

    A or B?
    A) KWP to Alioski
    B) Grealish to El Ghazi

    1. Puntillimon
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      A

  10. ElChapo
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Pedantic but, Erik Pieters is dutch, not austrian.

    1. Black Knights
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Noticed that too. Looked very odd.

  11. Gizzachance
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    any thoughts/help appreciated
    1ft 0.6 itb. taylor to
    A Stones, no blank, dgw (have cancelo)
    B justin, blank, dgw
    C holding, no blank or dgw, decent fixtures and price
    D saiss, no blank, no dgw (bri, eve, w brom)
    E other ( have cancelo, dallas, coufal, kwp}
    cheers, good luck all

    1. Bollard
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      What about Luke Shaw? Good fixtures and GW18 and DGW19 to come - all for 4.8?

      1. Gizzachance
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Good shout, good option to
        Cheers

      2. ebb2sparky
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        But isn’t he being rotated with Telles?

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

    Which def to bench from

    A: Coufal
    B: Dallas
    C: Cancelo
    D: Stones

    1. Jimbo-Jones
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Stones

    2. ebb2sparky
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Probably B

    3. Cilly Bonnolly
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Covid might do it for you but given the choice, Stones.

  13. Jimbo-Jones
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Remove Taylor? 4.7 to spend....
    FH next week so need to use the transfer.

    Holding?

    Johnstone
    Cresswell Dier Coufal
    Salah Son Bruno Grealish Soucek
    Kane Bamford

    Dallas Taylor** D-Reid

  14. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    A) KDB to Son(C), then switch back for the DGW
    B) Konsa to Stones, captain Salah

    1. JBG
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      A

    2. ebb2sparky
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I don’t like selling with a plan to buy back next week since it locks in your transfer and makes you more likely to need a hit. Therefore B for me

  15. ebb2sparky
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    A) Dias
    B) Cancelo
    C) Maguire

    B seems the most exciting pick but I’d prefer an absolutely guaranteed starter so considering C. Am I crazy to consider a Utd defender?

    1. MikeS
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I'm considering too

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

      I went this route also

    3. ebb2sparky
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Thanks Guy. Might just go for “slab head”, It would be a replacement for Zouma since feels like I need to put an end to my Chelsea defensive double up

  16. MikeS
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Incoming dgw 19 will be a complete flop, games will be called off due to covid and bench boost will be pointless. Agree?

    A. Yes
    B. No

    1. ebb2sparky
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      B

    2. Cilly Bonnolly
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Covid isn't going away any time soon so these concerns will be there no matter when you play it.

      1. MikeS
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Covid will be less of a problem after Feb/march

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

          What's happening in feb/March

          1. MikeS
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Spreads easier in cold months for a start. So like last year things will start improving from spring. Plus by end of Feb 15mn will be vaccinated providing a degree of herd immunity and lower transmission rates.

  17. JasonG123
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Play Kilman (bha) and Coufal (eve)?

  18. JONALDINHO
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Thoughts on this hokey-cokey?

    Martinez
    James • Coufal • Dallas
    Salah • KDB • Bruno • Son • Grealish
    DCL • Bamford 2FT 0.0ITB
    (Steer / KWP / Brewster / Douglas)

    For this week - KDB and KWP to Mane and Mitchell
    Next week - Salah and Mane to KDB and Rashford(-4)
    For DGW - Son to Salah(TC)

    Will WC and BB25 and FH29.

  19. Iceball
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Prepare for potential bb
    A) Steer to Johnstone
    B) Mitchell to Balbuena/Lowton
    C) DCL to Rodrigo
    DCL has better fixture now and maybe there are defensive rest so B maybe had most potential upside this week.

    1. ZLNR
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Seems to be some doubt on balbuena keeping place

      1. ZLNR
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        But B is good!

  20. ZLNR
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Any sites which summarise the press releases I won't be online when taking place

    1. ZLNR
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Conferences*

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

      Google them after they happen, usually lots of news sites who summarise

  21. flippetyflop
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Play Reece James or Bissouma

  22. Ruinenlust
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Captain Bruno or Son?

    1. Blens
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Son for me ...the Leeds fixture looks made for Sonny

  23. Dirty Harry
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Taylor > Stones -4?

  24. Rinseboy
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    team gtg? subs correct?

    Johnstone
    Maguire TAA Justin Dias
    Son (c) Salah Bruno Raphinha
    Kane Bamford
    Soucek Coufal Brewster

  25. JollyGoodYellows
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Guys, worth doing Mccarthy + Zouma > Martinez + AWB?

    I know on paper it doesn't look great but I'm not doing FH in 18 and this gives me 2 more players who play in 18 and have a double in 19. Only problem is I have a lot of value tied in both Mccarthy and Zouma.

  26. Pringle
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Would you keep or sell Reece James now?

  27. KAALI_DAAL
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Play Two:

    A. Coufal (Everton Away)
    B. Dallas (Spurs Away)
    C. Brewster (Palace Away)
    D. Webster (Wolves Home)

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

      A, B, attackingness

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

      A+B

  28. JenkoJunko
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Looking for some ideas and advice this GW as a bit lost.

    2FT 0.9 ITB - Looking to set up for DGW19 so very happy to take a -4 with 3 FTs... What would you do?

    Mcarthy
    Cresswell Dallas TAA
    KDB Bruno Salah Grealish
    Giroud Bam Adams

    Forster / Bissouma / C Taylor / Neco

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

      If going for a DWG Keeper do it this week, and Taylor to Coufal.

      if not Man City defender if you think they play?

  29. hogree
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    If you were to own one...

    Saiss, Dallas or Stones?

    FH 18

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

    Just realised it is the first round of the FPL Cup.

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

      I'm concentrating on the league 😉

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

      3rd 🙂