Tips

The Complete Guide to Scout’s tips and advice for FPL Gameweek 17

Happy New Year and welcome to the Fantasy Football Scout Guide to Gameweek 17 ahead of today’s 16:00 GMT deadline.

As Fantasy managers, 2020 certainly kept us on our toes and its 366th day was no exception with the announcement of additional fixtures for Gameweeks 18 and 19.

Those with assets from both Manchester clubs, Aston Villa and Burnley now have more players available for the upcoming blank and double.

But are you leaping for joy or simply scratching your head wondering what to do?

As Pro Pundit Andy was at pains to point out when talking through the implications of the fixture changes yesterday, the ideal solution will depend on your team and chip situation.

Step forward the innovative FPL Community with two tailor-made graphics.

The first, by Legomané, helps us plan transfers by using a traffic-light colour code to highlight the rest periods between matches:

(click on graphic to enlarge)

And the second, by FPL Zh0u, is a handy flowchart on strategy, which can steer our teams in the right direction.

(click on graphic to enlarge)

Andy wondered if it was time to abandon our plans for Double Gameweek 19, especially with Manchester City now having arguably the most attractive fixtures, at home to Crystal Palace and Aston Villa.

The Pro Pundit, who leads the Mods & Cons mini-league, originally wanted to play his Bench Boost chip but is debating whether targeting his transfers to bring back Kevin De Bruyne (£11.7m) is perhaps the better course of action.

Liverpool also enjoy two home fixtures in the upcoming Double Gameweek and Mohamed Salah (£12.6m) had been the default captain choice for many, however two frustrating blanks has dampened our enthusiasm.

But reporting on the match against his beloved Newcastle United, Neale emphasised that it could have been very different for those who backed the Egyptian:

This was one of those games when the margins between double-digit haul and a three-pointer were slim …  But Salah has historically had a profligate side to his game and occasional frustrating afternoons come with the territory.

– Neale

Something our Captain Sensible writer Jan Sienkiewicz does when making his recommendations for the armband, is to consider how the games will unfold.

Often Fantasy managers like to target teams thought of as ‘whipping boys’, but sides frequently adapt their approach based on the opposition – and Newcastle are no exception:

The Magpies resemble a solid outfit in a backs-to-the-wall 5-4-1 but look less so in a 4-4-2/4-2-3-1, conceding goals against the likes of Burnley, Fulham, West Bromwich Albion and Brighton and Hove Albion – all at home – this season when playing without a third centre-half.

– Neale

Leeds United, however, take a different approach: employing the same style of play no matter who they are facing.

The open end-to-end nature of their games means that no team has conceded more big chances than the Whites this season and, at the same time, no team has taken more shots in the box. 

On the Scoutcast, Joe and Az both identified the trip to a rested Tottenham Hotspur as the standout fixture for captaincy. And Jan agreed, making Harry Kane (£11.0m) and Son Heung-min (£9.7m) his top candidates for the armband, despite their recent poor attacking form.

But it was the attacking displays of Marcelo Bielsa’s side that caught the attention of Pro Pundit Zophar. Considering their budget options, the seven-time top 10,000 manager noted:

Raphinha’s numbers, in particular, are excellent as he is second for shots in the box (nine) and joint-top for chances created (10).

– Zophar

And like Zophar in his column piece, David picked out a cheap midfielder whose displays have impressed recently for Aston Villa:

His total of 24 attempts on goal is the highest in the league between Gameweeks 12 and 16, at least 10 more than any other midfielder at the time of writing. El Ghazi is also top of the league for big chances (six) and shots on target (15)

– David

However, it remains to be seen if Ross Barkley (£5.9m), returned to fitness and available for selection, will dislodge El Ghazi from the starting XI.

Moving up in price, the recent performances of Christian Pulisic (£8.2m) have been encouraging. In his Scout Notes on the match at Stamford Bridge, David observed:

It was noteworthy to see Christian Pulisic start a second game in two days and manage to last 90 minutes each time – perhaps suggesting he can offer a robust route into Chelsea’s attack for matches against Fulham (away) and Leicester (away) in Double Gameweek 19.

– David

Finally, Harry Maguire (£5.4m) is the headline differential pick for the New Year. Pro Pundit Tom is impressed by his attacking threat with no defender having taken more shots in the box, and Manchester United sitting top of the ticker from a defensive perspective until Gameweek 25.

Community Competitions and Head-to-Head Fixtures

RedLightning rounded-up the Community mini-leagues and competitions in a hot topic yesterday.

As mentioned, the Manager of the Month in the Community Members mini-league is Josh Paulin. Josh wins a £50 Amazon voucher. Josh, please contact Geoff (geoff@fantasyfootballscout.co.uk) to claim your prize.

The Manager of the Month winners in 2020 were:

SeptemberHamdy Sameeh
OctoberEmmanuel Oloche
NovemberJames Frimpong
DecemberJosh Paulin

And for those interested in the Head-to-Head Leagues, the main page can be linked to here. The fixtures for Gameweek 17 can be found below:

Use the drop-down menus to show your league and division. To find out which league and division you are in, follow the instructions on the main Head-to-Head page.

Once the Gameweek starts, if you click on your opponent’s name you will be linked to their team on the FPL website.

May your arrows be green!

TopMarx Fan of Fantasy Football and Monty Python. "Archimedes out to Socrates, Socrates back to Archimedes, Archimedes out to Heraclitus, he beats Hegel. Heraclitus a little flick, here he comes on the far post, Socrates is there, Socrates heads it in! Socrates has scored! The Greeks are going mad, the Greeks are going mad! Socrates scores, got a beautiful cross from Archimedes. The Germans are disputing it. Hegel is arguing that the reality is merely an a priori adjunct of non-naturalistic ethics, Kant via the categorical imperative is holding that ontologically it exists only in the imagination, and Marx is claiming it was offside. Follow them on Twitter

2,511 Comments Post a Comment
  1. 272MK
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Any news on which ManCitys player in isolation?

    Apart from Jesus, Walker, Ederson.

    Really want to do Taylor --> Cancelo

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

      Can't see enough value doing that today instead of holding till we see the squad city field this GW. Price just rose too I think.

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

    Start Mitchell or Dallas?

    1. Mr. Mystic
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Mitchell

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

      same dilemma...starting mitchell with dallas first on bench..
      i hope mitchell is either 60 plus or 0 mins..

  3. WE GO FOR IT
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CJeiCpoHTBt/

    @ederson93
    same house, more different environments. away from my babies.
    happy New Year. God bless 2021

    1. Bruce Lee
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Why's he all dressed up? Look good to go to the kitchen?

      1. WE GO FOR IT
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        There was a part at his place I guess though. You can see his story. He was upstairs and the rest of the family/friends downstairs.

  4. Bruce Lee
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    If you're on browser scroll all the way down to the footer of the page... anyone see the scout picks? Lol

  5. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Best chance do a clean sheet this week chaps???
    A- Arsenal
    Or
    B- Palace
    Thankyou

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

      A

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

      A

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

      B knowing Arsenal!

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

    Could Johnson keep his place when Masuaku is still out?

    1. Danno - Emre Canada
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      He didn’t keep his place last game

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

    Im planning on using transfers for week 18 and BB in 19
    What should I do?

    Fabianski Johnston
    Robbo Justin Dallas Taylor Coufal
    Moh Bruno Son Soucek Anguissa
    Kane Bamford Adams

  8. Shark Team
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Best fwd below 7m who can outscore DCL?

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

      Watkins
      Antonio
      Adams

  9. M2.0
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Bottomed, sorry. Which 2 to bench please??

    a) Dias
    b) Zouma
    c) Coufal

    1) Raphina
    2) Soucek
    3) Adams

    1. Mr. Mystic
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      B & 1

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

      B1

  10. gunthourinho
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Is it a bit mad to Wildcard 17, Free Hit 18 and BB 19?

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

      no

  11. iL PiStOlErO
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Meslier
    Cancelo Justin Coufal
    Salah Bruno Son Soucek
    Kane(C) DCL Bamford

    McCarthy Dallas Romeu Taylor

    0.1 itb, 1ft

    Taylor to Lowton?

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

      Would wait, Taylor could be back for dgw.

      1. iL PiStOlErO
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I know bit expecting cs from them tgis gw and Cancelo also probably wont play.

  12. 9I6
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Bottomed sorry

    Which team looks better for bench boosting dgw? Second team involves a 4 point hit.

    1
    Mendy, Walton
    Robertson, Dias, Coufal, Taylor, Alioski
    Salah, Son, Bruno, Soucek, Bissouma
    DCL, Bamford, Vardy

    2
    Mendy, Areloa
    Robertson, Dias, Coufal, Taylor, Dallas
    Salah, Son, Bruno, Soucek, Grealish
    DCL, Bamford, Adams

    1. thepuntmaster
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      2

    2. M2.0
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      1

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

    Captain

    A) Bruno
    B) Son

    1. thepuntmaster
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I'm on B

      1. Mr. Mystic
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        B for me too

    2. Heisenberg W. W.
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      B

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

      Cheers, convinced me to switch to Son from Bruno 🙂

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

    Any chance that Burnley Fulham is postponed?

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

      Theres a chance yeah

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

        Tricky part of the season to navigate 🙁

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

      Yes

  15. thepuntmaster
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    G2G this week?

    Fabianski (eve)
    Chilwell (MCI) - TAA (sou) - Kilman (bha)
    Son C (LEE) - Salah (sou) - Fernandes (AVL) - Zaha vc (SHU)
    DCL (WHU) - Bamford (tot) - Watkins (mun)

    (Steele - James* - Coufal - Anguissa)

    Right bench order and starters?

    1. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yup

  16. Khalico
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Who'd you captain in this team for this gameweek?
    Martinez
    Bellerin, Justin, Dallas
    Son, Salah, Bruno, KDB, Grealish
    DCL, Bamford
    Subs: Forster, Brewster, Coufal, KWP

    1. I SPEAK ENGELS AND DRINK GI…
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Son

    2. Sam (Team Sam)
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      My mid and attack is identical and I'm going for Son

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

    Who to replace C Taylor with (max 4.6m def)?
    This is my defence and GK:
    McCarthy Johnstone
    Robertson Zouma Taylor Coufal Balbuena

  18. Garlana
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Would you do anything here to get son or Kane in?

    Martinez/Johnstone
    Taa, Robbo, Coufal, Dallas, Mitchel
    Kdb, Bruno, Salah, bissouma, lookman
    Adams, dcl, bamford

    1ft, 0.4 itb.

    Was planning to do lookman to soucek.

  19. Ronny Sandstone
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Sorry guys probably been asked to death...

    If I've 2FT then Freehit, will I have 2FT otherside of the freehit week, basically do they both carry over?

    Cheers

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

      No

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

      Hello

      1. Dont give a fuchs
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Lol

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

        Lol

      3. dark91
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Is your username applicable to other GWs as well or only GW 18? 😀

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

        Genius

      5. Ronny Sandstone
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Haha!

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

        Refer them to this HT, TM: https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/comment/23091924

  20. I SPEAK ENGELS AND DRINK GI…
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Bottomed

    Bench 1
    A) Dier
    B) Dias
    C) Bamford

    1. Mr. Mystic
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      A

  21. jazzy g
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Who are the five Man City players that have Covid?any rumour who they are?

  22. Muscout
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Who would you bench this week:
    A) Coufal
    B) Dallas
    C) Warde-Prowse

    1. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      A

  23. The 12th Man
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Right, decision time. Have to use the FT up.
    Ferguson has to go for a DGWer.
    1FT. 3.4m itb.
    Martinez
    TAA,Dias,Dallas
    Salah, KDB,Fernandes, Grealish,
    Watkins,Bamford,Rodrigo

    Johnstone,Soucek,Coufal,Ferguson

    A) Cancelo ( have bench cover if he has COVID. 2 weeks until wk19.)
    B) Stones. Cheaper,easier to bench but less exciting.
    C) Justin
    D)Chilwell. Good attacking defender but leaves massive benching problems and injury doubt.
    E) cheap alternative under 5m.

    1. Winston.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      D or A

  24. as33
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Which 1 to start:
    KWP
    Mitchell
    Kilman

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

    Hause or Taylor?

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

      Taylor is injured

    2. I SPEAK ENGELS AND DRINK GI…
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Haise will be benched

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

    Would you do Firmino to Vardy?

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

    James to Stones(-4)? 0.1 off Cancelo/Dias

    1. Dont give a fuchs
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      James would not start so stones

  28. Heisenberg W. W.
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    GtG

    McCarthy
    Konsa-Dallas-Holding
    KdB-BFernandes-Salah-Son(c)
    DcL-Bamford-Adams

    (Martin-Soucek-Coufal-Taylor)

    1. Soucek for Adam - Yes or No
    2. Coufal for Konsa - Yes or No

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

    Bench two:
    A) Robertson (sou)
    B) Stones (che)
    C) Chilwell (MCY)
    D) Coufal (eve)
    E) Dallas (tot)

  30. sozopol
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Play 1:

    Z Zouma
    S Soucek

    Currently on Z but about to change to S. Already playing Dallas and Raphinha. Thoughts? Thank you!

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

      Always Soucek