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. Jack.Armstrong96
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Bench Bowen or Cresswell this weeek?

    1. Jack.Armstrong96
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      *week

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

      Cresswell. I think Everton will score.

  2. ASAP Rocky
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I need to get in Salah and/or Fernandes, who do I ship? 0.1 ITB. Cheers!

    Martinez - McCarthy

    Dias-Dallas-Coufal-James-Williams

    Son-KDB-Grealish-JWP-Soucek

    Kane-Bamford-Firmino

    1. ASAP Rocky
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      2 FT

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

      Son/Kane but not this week. Firmino maybe can go as well.

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

    Bench one

    1) Soucek
    2) Raphinha
    3) Adams

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

      3

    2. ASAP Rocky
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      2 for me

    3. drughi
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      have all 3 and benching soucek atm

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

      Soucek as Adams can easily score against that back 4.

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

    A) Dias Balbuena

    B) Stones James

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

      A

  5. rodog
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Pieters is Dutch not Austrian 🙂 Maybe big Dave had Fuchs in mind 😉

    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Nah, just incompetence.

      1. Granville
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Oh nice. Some new year abuse.

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

      Or Ashley Barnes; he is also Austrian

  6. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Pieters or Lowton for this Gw and the double?

  7. CrouchDown
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    If I have 2 FT now, and plan to FH in GW18, must I use them both or lose them?

    1. kime67
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      you will lose them but dont make a move if it feels forced. nothing wrong with burning a transfer.

  8. kime67
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    kane to vardy would allow me to do taylor to justin.

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

      Why on earth would you get rid of Kane?

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

    Do we know who the MCY players are who have COVID?

    1. snow pea in repose
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Ederson...

      1. Denis Tueart on the wing
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Really?

  10. 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

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

      Would be tempted to hold.

    2. Captain Haddock
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Hodl

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

    Who makes way for a city defender this week?

    Zouma, Coufal, Mitchell, Justin, Dallas (might start Mitchell this week in the hope he starts)

    Want to use transfer for GW19. Not BBing.

    1. ASAP Rocky
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Zuma or Justin. Probably Zouma??

  12. anish10
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Is GW19 best to BB or TC, opinions?

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Depends on how your team is set up

    2. kime67
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      tc looks good for kdb

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

      Depends on your team. Was originally planning on BB but now thinking TC as need to take hits for BB.

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

    20 minutes to go and I've no clue what I'm doing!

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

      20 minutes?

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

      Deadline is 4pm mate

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

      Almost 3 hours till deadline

    4. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Deadline is 4pm UK time

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

    Lampard says as far as he’s aware at the moment, #CFC’s game against #MCFC is on.

    https://twitter.com/SJohnsonSport/status/1344994251776663554

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

      He also said Werner and Havertz will bang in a lot of goals.

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

        In 2022 probably

    2. kime67
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      yeah manc had zero positive tests in the most recent test i beleve

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

    Double up on WH or Leeds defense in DGW?

    Already have Dallas and Coufal.

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

      WH

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

    Hi guys! Need help with my ft, i wanted to transfer out Che adams but i am not sure. I have 2,6m itb My 11
    Martinez
    KWP Dias Coufal
    Bruno Rash Grealish Salah Son
    Adams Bamford
    Thanks in advance

  17. Tonyawesome69
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Anyone who has both Son and Kane decided which one to captain yet?

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

      Sure.
      Always Kane over Son for me.

      If Son scores Kane scores too. If it's 1-0 because of a penalty, Kane will be motm.

      1. Tonyawesome69
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        If Son score, Kane most likely assists*. Son has the higher ceiling with goals as a midfielder. When was the last time Leeds conceded a pen? How many pens have they conceded

    2. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Just don't captain one and vice the other!

      1. Tonyawesome69
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Yup vc is locked on Bruno

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

    Rather play

    A) Raphinha vs Spurs
    B) JWP vs Liverpool
    or play both and bench DCL vs West Ham

    Happy New Year!

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

      A

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

      I am with a

  19. Lucky Z
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Which are the best GK options through the next few GWs?

  20. n14mul
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Start which one

    A. Saka
    B. Podence

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Saka

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

    Who to play:
    A) Soucek
    B) Adams
    C) Dallas
    D) Stones

    1. Jet5605
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      A, C, D and B in that order

  22. Jet5605
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Struggling to use my ft this week...thoughts? Zero ITB. Plan was fh18, and BB 19.

    Maybe TAA > Cancelo?

    Martinez, Johnstone
    Dallas, taa, balbuena, coufal, lowton
    Salah, Son, Bruno, Soucek, Raphina
    Vardy, Adams, bamford

  23. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Bench one:
    A. Saka (wba)
    B. Grealish (mun)
    C. DCL (WHU)
    D. Bamford (tot)

    1. Don Kloppeone
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Grealish based on fixtures but I’d personally bench Saka I think

  24. Don Kloppeone
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Bottomed

    G2G? Unsure if I’ve got the bench right? Armband is a toss up. Keep switching between Salah, Son and Bruno!

    Martinez
    Robbo, Dias, Dallas
    Salah, Bruno (v), Son (C), Raphinha, Soucek
    Kane, Bamford
    (Forster) (Coufal, Adams, KWP)

    Plan to FH in 18 and BB in 19. Will either bring in Vardy and Rashford for Kane and Son or find a way to get in KDB depending on how he looks.

    Cheers and GL!

    1. Jet5605
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      My head says Bruno but my heart says Kane/Son.

  25. afsr
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    No sure if I should FH18 now with the new fixtures, have 2FT to spend before the deadline.

    Martinez
    Mitchell, Dallas, Cresswell
    Bruno, KdB, Salah, Son, Raphinia
    Bamford, DCL

    4.0, Watkins, Matip, Taylor
    2FT, 0.4 ITB

    A - Matip, Taylor -> Cancelo, Lowton/Holding
    B - Matip, Cresswell, Taylor -> Cancelo, Coufal, Justin (-4)
    C - Matip, Taylor, Mitchell -> Cancelo, Lowton/Holding, Kilman (-4)
    D - your suggestions?

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

    Potential WC18 draft, considering doing this then BB in 19. Will save FH and TC for later.

    What do people think of this?

    McCarthy, Johnstone
    Dias, Maguire, Dallas, Balbuena, Lowton
    KDB, Salah, Fernandes, Harrison, Soucek
    DCL, Bamford, Watkins

    Enough money ITB for DCL to Vardy for the DGW. Will have 7 for 18 and a full BB team for 19 depending on cancellations and rotations.

  27. tbhogal
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    HNY guys ! Do you think Mictchell will keep his place ?

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

    Taking into account today 18) and 19) - any suggestions on this lot?

    Have 2FTs and 5 ITB

    McCarthy (Macey)
    Justin TAA Cancelo* Saiss (Struijk)
    Salah Son (c) Raphina (Soucek, Grealish)
    Wood DCL (vc) Bamford

    * Waiting on Covid news

    Thinking Grealish to Bruno but have another FT to play with before 18).

  29. sergioaguero67
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Luke Shaw nailed?

    1. Shatner's Bassoon
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Was pondering this yesterday. IMO has nice potential for attacking returns and kind fixtures on the way but he's too vulnerable to playing sub-60 mins to make him a reliable option. At least with say Stones he'll play 0 or 90 and bench can cover if it's the former.

  30. Luton_Fan
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Who scores more this gw in order please.

    A. Mane
    B. Bruno
    C. Son

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

      C
      B
      A