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. L S P
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Who would you rather bring in this week?

    A) Saka
    B) Holding

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

      A

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

      Holding.

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

      Need to see the whole team. Probably B

    4. Oggle22
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Akewst have holding worth bringing in Mari too

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

      A

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

    Am I G2G? 1FT 0ITB. Any news on the Burnley and City games?

    Martinez
    Dallas Coufal Taylor*
    Salah KDB Bruno Son(C) Grealish
    DCL Bamford
    Johnstone KWP Brewster Lamptey*

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

      City game goes ahead

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

        Thanks

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

      No news.

      GTG

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

        Thank you

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

    Guys, remember to use all your free transfers if you play free hit next gw. They don't carry over and free hit reset any transfers made that gw

  4. Kuzser
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Who is the best Grealish replacement with a game in 18 guys? Need to downgrade him to get City def in.
    Will be a placeholder for Souchek/Leeds mid for gw19
    1) Saka (wba, NEW)
    2) Neto (bri, EVE)
    3) Martinelli (wba, NEW)

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

      El Ghazi? Same team more points and cheaper

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

        Good shout, but concerned about next 2 fixtures

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

          You plan on making another, wasting 2 transfers on the same spot? If not just take him and hold over the 2 fixtures

    2. L S P
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      sort of similar issue (need to lose Grealish to upgrade 3rd FWD for DGW)

      I'm leaning towards Saka.

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

    So does Cancelo have corona or is he able to play?

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

      Seems possible he does

    2. DRIZ ✅
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I hear he has it?

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

      No one knows for sure but I’m believing he’s fine

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

      Ederson, Doyle, Jesus, Torres and Walker have

      1. yousunkmybattleship
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Source?

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

          Like me. Not naming the source but they are correct.

        2. DRIZ ✅
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Ketchup

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

      He's available to play. No Corona.

      The 5 players named below by HonestBlatter are the correct 5.

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

    Captain Son or Bruno?

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

      50/50, its down to luck. Prefer Bruno as the player but have to go with a rested spurs vs a leaky Leeds. Going Son.

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

      Son for me, although Kane's tempting me

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

    Who to bench?

    A) Alioski (tot)
    B) Bednarek (LIV)
    C) Dias (che)
    D) Zouma (MCI)

    On A, but just checking...

    Cheers!

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

      Yeah A.

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

        Ta

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

    me thinks KDB will haul this GW

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

      lets hope so man

  9. ShaunGoater123
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Do we think the Fulham Burnley game will be on?

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

      51/49

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

      Unsure about this one but City game is going ahead.

  10. pavlev
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    play one please:
    a) holding (wba)
    b) dallas (tot)
    thanks!

    1. Sloane426
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Obv A

  11. Rupert The Horse
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I struggle every week to get a defence out, as no matter who I get in then gets injured immediately. But any advice on what move to make her? Obviously I'll keep Dallas. 0.2m in the bank.
    James Mendy Taylor Konsa Dallas

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

      james to stones? or Mendy to Dias?

      1. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Thanks bud.

    2. BenDavies
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Mendy seems a dodgy pick but guess you can keep now with Cancelo possibly out. Taylor to Coufal?

      1. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Yeah, he was my only dodgy pick to be honest. He was just a punt and then my whole defence got injured at the same time.

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

      Taylor to Holding?
      Mendy to Dias?
      James to Lowton?

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

        Oh yeah or Coufal in.

      2. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Hey BK. How come Holding is so popular today?

  12. MattysFantasyFooty
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Which one to play?

    Coufal EVE A
    Mitchell SHU H
    Stones CHE A (already playing Dias)

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

      Stones

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

      Mitchell with Coufal first bench

  13. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Which three defenders to start:

    Dier (LEE, H)
    Coufal (EVE, A)
    Mitchell (SHU, H)
    Webster (WOL, H)
    KWP (LIV, H)

    On the first 3 at the moment.

    1. Won't sleep till after…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Agree with the 3 you've picked.

  14. Punty McPuntface
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Which man u defender is the best pick these days?

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

      Slab-head

      1. Punty McPuntface
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Thanks! Does he still possess the turning circle of the Titanic?

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

          No. More like the turning circle of an Australian road-train...

  15. PL Ball
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Ederson out for just Chelsea.. any idea if he would he miss Brighton as well?

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

    No Guesswork - Ederson,Walker,Jesus,Doyle all deffo out. Walker & jesus return to training Monday

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

      But there's 5?

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

        Torres the other.

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

      And Torres out.

  17. Kane Train
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Best replacement for Taylor. 4.5 or less

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

      Pieters

    2. Oggle22
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Mari

    3. just a man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I’ve gone Holding but I’m not happy about it.

  18. Bobby Digital
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Did a very sexy transfer of Zouma to Clark. Have 2 FTs for GW18.
    Good luck everyone!

  19. MTFCfan50
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Totally stuck for what to do with 2fts this week. Currently I have 6 starters for GW 18 (plus Brewster) and 12 for the DGW. Hoping to avoid using any chips as things are so changeable with covid.

    This week I could:
    A) Burn a FT
    B) Do Grealish + Trent to Son (c) and Lowton
    C) downgrade Grealish to El-Ghazi
    D) something else - suggestions appreciated. Feels like a week too early to use a transfer, but I lose one of I don’t use it.

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

    Brought in pope as second keeper for dgw and as keeper for plum fixture this gw. Forgot Fulham yet to be cleared. Sigh.

  21. AYLD28
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Martinez Johnstone
    Dias TAA Cresswell Dallas Dunne
    Grealish Fernandes Salah Soucek KDB
    DCL Bamford Welbeck

    1 FT 0.3 ITB

    1. Welbeck > Rodrigo
    2. Soucek + DCL > Raphina + Antonio (-4)

    Anything else I might be missing? Plan is to FH next week and BB in 19

  22. dunas_dog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Just moved captain from Son to Mané..... will I regret this I wonder!

  23. Weilong7
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    capt son kane bruno or salah?

  24. Twisted Saltergater
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Son + 5.5m forward (Benteke?)
    or
    Aguero + Martinelli

  25. Kane Train
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Roughly how many more DGW are we expecting throughout the year?

    1. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Probably 3 or 4 at this rate

  26. manu4life99
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Play Adams(LIV) or Soucek(eve)?

    1. DRIZ ✅
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      He is not included in the five as he never plays

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

        Ok.

  27. Twisted Melon
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Choose 2 for gw 19 onwards:
    A) Chillwell
    B) Cresswell
    C) Dallas

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

      A and C but all 3 are good.

  28. Reza14
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Will I lose my extra transfer if I play Free Hit chip?

    1. Twisted Melon
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yes 1 ft week after

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

      Yes

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

      Hi

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

    Afternoon all. Help with below please?

    Start

    A) Johnstone
    B) McCarthy

    Start 3 out of 5

    1) Robbo
    2) Coufal
    3) Balbuena
    4) Justin
    5) Alioski