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. Leonnides
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Saka or martinelli?

    1. Lev Yashin
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I went M purely because it allows me to do Son -> KdB next week.

      Still, he plays ahead of Adams in my team this week.

      1. BENOIT
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I think Mart is dropped this week....Auba back

        1. Lev Yashin
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          We'll see. He's only in as my 5th mid instead of Bissouma so I'm happy to ride it out.

    2. tom_p77
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Saka (should be fit and Martinelli could be dropped for Laca)

  2. Come on you Kante
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Who scores more

    Saka
    Pogba
    Foden

  3. Lev Yashin
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    What's the consensus on Dallas (tot) v Coufal (eve)?

    No CS in either game but Dallas ahead on attacking points?

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

      I think Coufal has a decent shot at a CS. Everton are not that good attacking now without Hames or Digne.

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

        Issue is West Ham themselves have regressed defensively recently. Would still go for Coufal though.

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

      Dallas easy

  4. Paqueta Rice
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Jose Mourinho

    Playing against a team known for its attacking play. Am I the only one worried that he will play his usual negative defensive tactics? Leeds in theory should be caught out on the counter but spurs were lethargic last few games and Leeds are off the back of two clean sheets

    1. Bobby
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      hes had too much grief recently for his tactics, I think he'll take it to Leeds

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

        Mourinho has proven over the years he doesn't care what anyone thinks 😉

    2. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      he's basically done that every game since they drew v west ham

    3. YEAH PITCH!
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Spurs rested. Think it'll be 2 - 2

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

      I don’t expect spurs to score many but they have had extra rest which should help

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

    Play Raphinha or Kilman?

    1. tom_p77
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Raph

  6. tom_p77
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Pick 2 to play this GW

    A) Balbuena (Eve A)
    B) Dallas (Spurs A)
    C) Martinelli (WBA A)
    D) Antonio (Eve A)

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

      AD

      1. tom_p77
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        You think Antonio will start?

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

          A good chance

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

    Bruno c over Son because of pens?

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

      Yes

  8. Jdpz
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Martial as a differential captain pick? or just captain Bruno?

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

      Bruno

  9. SpaceCadet
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Start Dallas or coufal?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Coufal

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

      Coufal

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

      Tough one tbh, can’t decide myself

  10. AC Yew
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Looking for best two week punt for GW 17&18. Narrowed it to the following:
    Saiss: BHA Eve
    Maguire: AVL BUR
    Holding: WBA CRY
    Considering fixtures/starts/CS etc who would you rather?
    TIA

  11. Miguel Sanchez
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Do you prefer Kane or Son for the captaincy this GW?

    1. Tosa86
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I have the same doubt

      1. Miguel Sanchez
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Kane shots way up on Son but have a feeling about Son’s pace in behind Leeds

    2. Pieterke30
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Im on Son bc he will play more advanced than Kane (I guess). And bc of Leeds always attacking.

      BUT Kane has a child birth to celebrate, and he is on pens - Leeds have already conceded a fair bit of those.

      It’s a close call.

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

      They’ve scored 20 of 26 spurs goals so far and one is likely to assist the other.
      Kane for pens but looking at son myself if I bring him in

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

      Son. Kane has the better goal threat but it's very close, and Son is outscoring him this season despite having 4 fewer attacking returns and 1 fewer appearance point. Son will get more points per contribution.

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

      Kane's underlyings are significantly better so I'm going for him.

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

    *Repost* 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

  13. iveseenitall
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Maguire in for Zouma or upgrade one of burke/kilman?

    1. Come on you Kante
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yes m in

  14. Leonnides
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Which cheap liv CB will play - phillips, neco or Rhys?

  15. Atimis
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Have Cancelo now, would you double up with Stones or go Justin?

  16. Letsgo!
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Jwp to barnes for free
    Lamptey to saiss for -4?

    Or just asm to neto for free?

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

    Who's your VC?

    Going for Bruno, most viable asset with the earliest fixture for me - if I had DCL I'd put it on him. Less danger of games being cancelled the closer they are, though it won't always work as seen by Everton vs City.

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

      Salah

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

      Good point. I was on Salah but have now switched to DCL

  18. Stranger Mings
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    All, Bruno is ahead in captain poll and my rival in ML always captains him so is BruNo the safe pick over Kane or son? Cheers

  19. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Play Adams or Soucek?

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

    FH in 18. Konsa to:
    A) Lowton
    B) Balbuena
    C) Hold and burn FT.

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

    Who’s more nailed - Mitchell or Kilman

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

      Both aren't to be honest.

    2. boc610
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      dunno but you can get 'milkman' from both their names so I reckon they will both deliver??

  22. Donny_Rover
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Captain one:
    1. Salah
    2. Kane
    3. Fernandes

    Bench one:
    A. Stones (Dias already playing)
    B. Grealish
    C. Bamford
    D. Coufal
    E. Soucek

    Rest of the team is Martinez, Dias, TAA, Robbo.

    1. Here's Tom with the We…
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      2D

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

    With fh 18 and bb 19 in mind

    A. Mitchell to Dias (-4)
    B. Taylor to Dias (-4)

    Other defenders at present: james, Dallas, coufal

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

      Or stones over Dias?

      1. Here's Tom with the We…
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        A

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

          Thanks very much for that

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

    Would you do Grealish to Soucek this GW to afford DCL to Vardy for DGW?

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

      Fh in 18? If yes do it

      If not. Wait

  25. boc610
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    kyle walker must be one dim bulb.

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

    Start Targett (mun) or Bissouma (WOL) ?

  27. LIARS POKER
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Best Taylor replacement if BB in 19?

    5.3 to spend

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

      Creswell or Dallas

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

      Is he out GW 19?

      1. Here's Tom with the We…
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Dallas or Stones

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

      Stones?

    4. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Stones

  28. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Re: How crazy is it to consider using BB without a 2nd keeper?
    It would need a hit to bring the keeper and a transfer to sell him after DGW, also takes up 1m budget when he'll barely play after DGW(It's Martinez and the other keeper is Mendy), although having Martinez also gives me a playing keeper for 18 so I'm confused...

    1. JoeSoap
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      FHing 18 and probably not BBing now as I have no second playing keeper and have Mendy in midfield. Don't think hits are worth it to have to change your team after.

  29. Leonnides
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Up to 5.4m to spend on a mid. Who do you go for...
    Currently have martinelli....

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

      Saka or Harrison

  30. Sif
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    GW18
    9 players enough and hold the FH?

    Martinez
    Maguire - Stones
    Son - Bruno - KDB - Grealish
    DCL - Brewster