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. Captain_Shirokov
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Best City defensive option? Already have Dias.

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

      Cancelo if/when he doesn't have COVID.

      If the story is true Walker is not getting that RB spot back ever again.

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

        Which story?

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

        Yeah. Disgusting behaviour !
        Normal people like us would be behind bars ....

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

    Philips or Struijk an valid option for the upcoming double? Need to downgrade somewhere

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

    Morning all. Looking to FH like most in GW18 & BB in 19. How am i set for this GW? Get Taylor out? Only have 4.7m ITB. Cheers.

    McCarthy
    Justin - Robbo - Alioski
    Bruno (C) - Son - Salah - Soucek
    Adams - Bamford - Kane(VC)

    Johnstone - Raphinha - Coufal - Taylor

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Taylor to Cresswell?

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

        Double West ham defence?

        1. Coys96
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Looks fantastic in DGW - WBA & BUR

          And on set-pieces

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

            Cool cheers

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

    start Dias or Soucek or Coufal?

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

      Soucek

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

      Dias

    3. Digital-Real
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      i'm starting Dias and Soucek. Tempted to bench Dias for Coufal

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

      Dias

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

    What’s Pep sayin then

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

      Players due to COVID but he can’t reveal the names as the premier league have asked him not too

      Will find out tomorrow

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

        Ffs how annoying

  6. Chandler Bing
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    James -> Dias worth a hit? Gives me an extra player for the BGW.

  7. JJeyy
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Scout loves Benteke so much they put him in the team twice

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

      Benteke is a legend

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

    Any insight on whether Rodrigo is nailed? Why has he only started in the last 5 weeks?

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

      I think the biggest problem is that he needs that central striker position to explode but it is blocked by Bamford who just keeps returning.
      Rodrigo will be the best striker option in FPL if Bamford should get injured one day.

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

    How is there not a city ‘in the know’ on Twitter?!

  10. Sz21
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    FH 18, TC 19
    McCarthy.
    Robbo, Stones, Dallas, Coufal.
    Salah, Son, Mane, Fernandes.
    Bamford, DCL.
    Forster, Lookman, Brewster, Ferguson.
    1ft, 0.4m ITB.

    1. Lookman -> Soucek this GW + possibly Son-> Rashford in 19?
    2. DCL-> Rodrigo this GW + possibly Son -> KDB in 19.
    Anything else standing out?

  11. fc_skrald
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Play Taylor or Coufal?

    Martínez
    Lowton, Robertson, Taylor
    Son, Salah, Fernandes, Grealish
    Wilson, Bamford, Kane

    Button, Burke, Coufal, Douglas

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

    KWP to alioski?

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

    For DGW19 BB which GK alongside Martinez:

    A) Fabianski - best fixtures but most pricey and ruins a bit team structure having quite pricey 2 GKs after DGW

    B) Johnstone - chepest

    C) McCarthy - price is fine but I am not fan of his DGW fixtures (lei, lee)

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Definitely not C. B rotates the best but A is the best -A if you can't get Cresswell

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

      Meslier, Fabianski or McCarthy

      Wouldn’t touch Johnstone.

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

    So sick of these changes and fpl season in general, cancel it!

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

      No one's forcing you to play are they?

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

        No one

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

      sounds like a weak ass attitude. It's the most challenging season ever to minimize luck and shine though as a quality manager. Some people just don't have the temperament

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

        Oh yeah? Luck in FPL is everything, don't fool yourself, even more now since your team depends on which players caught Covid lol.

    3. chrismoo75
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      What changes? There have only been 3 games cancelled so at worst it has cost you 20-25 points . Can be made up through a couple of captain picks so what is the problem?

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

        It ain't only that. It's the rescheduling of the games, new covid cases, absolute uncertainty. Feels like we don't have any impact on our teams. Come on, you can't tell me you're enjoying this

  15. RED HOT CHILLI
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    The Article listed players don't match the team up above?

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

      New Year's day ... let's be gracious to the hangovers 😆

  16. Zladan
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Adams to Wood for free?

    Better fixture this week, plays the BGW has a DGW.

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

      Yes, Adams looking tired! I am priced out by 0.1 so looking at Watkins.

    2. Digital-Real
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      yes, Wood will hit form at some point, can't continue to blank

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

        These days I hope

  17. GinjaWhinja
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    If Hodgson says no one is out (besides Cahill), what does that make the back 4?
    Does Mitchell get dropped again?

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

      Pva definitely first choice

  18. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Captain Kane or Bruno?

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

      Kane to add enjoyment of watching goals galore football (assuming)

  19. FPL price manipulators are …
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    1. FPL price manipulators are …
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Pep Guardiola says that Manchester City "have a good squad" available for Sunday's match against Chelsea, despite the recent coronavirus outbreak in the City camp.

      Give us some names you bald fraud!

      1. FPL.team
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Not allowed.

  20. Botman and Robben
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Happy new year scout fans. Am I GTG?

    Johnstone
    Dallas Coufal Dias
    KDB Bruno Salah Son
    Bamford Adams DCL

    Martinez Bissouma Bednarek Taylor*

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

      Looking good Red! captain Son? (like me)

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

    From Sam Lee on Twitter: Guardiola says the Premier League told City not to confirm the names of the three players that tested positive on Monday, also says maybe an element of protecting personal details.

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

    With all the uncertainty surrounding the City squad, would you make these moves for free? Plan to fh in gw 18.

    Kdb Brewster > vardy Neto

    Salah kdb Bruno son soucek
    Dcl bamford Brewster

    1. notlob legin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yes

    2. Bubbles1985
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I have the exact same 8 and planned the same 2 moves as you.
      I have now kept KDB due to the new fixtures and pray he plays!

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

        Thinking if he plays this gw then I can get him back for gw18 on FH and dump son for him for the dgw.

        1. Bubbles1985
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Yes good plan imo.

          Spolit my plans this fixture change as i was all set on dumping KDB to fund Brewster upgrade!

          Also done Lamptey to Cancelo this morning, so another mistake!!

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

            You never know, might work out in the end. You think Neto’s a better pick than saka? Confused between the two. Saka saves me some cash.

            1. Bubbles1985
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              If not I will save my FH and navigate through!

              If you need the cash elsewhere I would go Saka. I literally had 6.0 so Neto was my choice, plus I think he looks great and is greedy!

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

                Cheers mate. And good luck!

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

    If Villa had to go shopping in Jan for another striker, which current PL striker would be a good fit? I think Giroud might work for them - any other better options?

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

      Giroud won't leave Chelsea.

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

        Not a question about if it could happen - more a question about which striker would best take advantage of the opportunities created by the Grealish/Barkley/El Ghazi mid-field?

    2. Simon69
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Lol

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

      Chris Wood might do ok and would get better service than at Burnley

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

        Hmm - you're might be right - but very difficult to work out if Wood's output would improve

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

      Antonio

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

        Good shout

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

      Not PL, but hows about Costa?

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

        Wow - blast from the past. Not sure - haven't seem him play in years, TBH.

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

          He's 32, just released by Atletico cause he's not happy Suarez always plays ahead of him

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

            He'd actually be a great call if he's still fit and able.

  24. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Where are the updates from Parker's press conference...

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

    Anyone Son (C)?

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

      here but might switch to bruno, feels safer with bruno somehow

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

      Currently yes. Still debating.

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

      Was on son but switched to Bruno as he's in pens

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

    FPL Draft

    Bellerin or Tierney?

    1. Not again Shirley
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Tricky one. If you have enough bench cover then Bell but guess Tierney more guaranteed start.

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

        Cheers mate

        1. Not again Shirley
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Hope you played tierney.

  27. fpl_tp95
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Who is the best sub 5 mil keeper for dgw? I already have martinez and want another as I plan to bench boost.

  28. KenyaDigIt
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Che Adams - will he even start? Sell for Ollie Watkins?

    1. KEN YA DIG IT
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yes, ataanza bro

  29. aapoman
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Ayling or KWP to Mee? Is for free

  30. Simon69
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Salah, Son and Bruno owners... Who's getting the armband?

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

      Was on Son but changed to Bruno and I rarely change it. Seems always involved.

      Spurs have been poor, Soton ok defensively and Pool has had couple of difficult games. All can haul for sure. If Thiago starts I think Pool and Salah will have a great day.

    2. Party time
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Salah gets my armband. I’ve got those 3 but Salah(C) is locked in

      • Mo Mane Mo Salah
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        On Salah, as well