Scout Picks

Blank Gameweek 18 Scout Picks built on Man City and Arsenal’s FPL assets

Manchester City and Arsenal form the spine of the Blank Gameweek 18 Scout Picks.

Ahead of matches against Brighton and Crystal Palace, we have chosen three players from Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta’s squads respectively.

We line up in a 3-5-2 formation, which comes in at £80.4m, £2.6m under our budget of £83.0m.

Goalkeeper

Hugo Lloris (£5.6m) strikes an appealing balance between clean sheet and save potential for Blank Gameweek 18. Spurs have six clean sheets in their last 11 Premier League outings while Fulham have failed to find the net in three of their last five. Meanwhile, Lloris’ 53 saves this season is the sixth-highest in the division and the most of any so-called ‘big six’ goalkeeper.

Defenders

Signing Cancelo a week before fixture swing can give FPL owners the edge

João Cancelo (£5.8m) is our chosen Manchester City defender considering his managed minutes in the FA Cup and the fact Kyle Walker played a full 90 minutes against Birmingham City. Pep Guardiola’s men have conceded just three goals in their last 12 matches in all competitions and, over the last six Gameweeks, Cancelo ranks top among all FPL defenders for expected goal involvement (xGI).

Fresh from back-to-back clean sheets, Kieran Tierney (£5.4m) has explosive potential in Blank Gameweek 18. Discounting their 5-1 win over West Bromwich Albion in Gameweek 11, Crystal Palace have just six goals in their seven remaining away matches this season (0.9 per game). Meanwhile, no Arsenal player has created more chances than Tierney in their last four matches.

With Dominic Calvert-Lewin out injured for Everton, Romain Saïss (£5.1m) has potential at both ends of the pitch in Blank Gameweek 18. The welcome return of Leander Dendoncker should further boost Wolves’ defensive potential considering they have no clean sheets without him this season and four in matches when he played 90 minutes. Meanwhile, Saïss ranks top among all defenders for attempts on goal over the last four matches and Everton are inside the bottom four for highest number of headed chances conceded.

Midfielders

A more advanced false-nine role for Kevin De Bruyne (£11.8m) against Chelsea helped him to a third double-digit haul since Gameweek 10. While we expect him to be a number 10 against Brighton, a home match against another possession-based side looks perfect for the Belgian to post another big score. No Premier League player has created more big chances than him over their last four matches while only one Blank Gameweek 18 midfielder has managed more attempts on goal than De Bruyne in the same period.

Bruno Fernandes (£11.3m) is that midfielder, having registered 16 shots over his last four. With just one blank away from home this season, trusting the Manchester United man on the road has been easy in 2020/21. No Premier League player has been afforded more big chances than the Red Devils’ penalty taker over their last four matches either.

Son Heung-min (£9.8m) is our chosen representative from the Spurs attack as they face a hastily arranged meeting with Fulham. The South Korean offers a cheaper route into this match than Harry Kane and a better balance of goal and assist potential based on recent form. Over Spurs’ last four matches, Son is ahead of his English colleague for big chances, key passes and big chances created and level with him for efforts on target.

Ilkay Gündogan (£5.4m) could provide excellent value for his owners in Blank Gameweek 18. The midfielder has enjoyed a new number eight role recently, which has helped him outperform both De Bruyne and Sterling in several key areas over the last four matches. During that time, the German international has registered more shots in the box and big chances than his colleagues and his five efforts on target are level with De Bruyne and one more than Sterling, despite less pitch-time than the Englishman over the selected data period.

Bukayo Saka (£5.3m) can benefit from a weakness in Crystal Palace’s defence on Thursday night. Over their last six matches, the Eagles have conceded the joint-fourth-most number of chances down their left-hand side. Saka has operated on the right of Arsenal’s attacking midfield in each of their last three league matches and has two goals and two assists to show for it.

Forwards

Alexandre Lacazette (£8.3m) is also in excellent form as he prepares to face a Crystal Palace side with the worst expected goals conceded (xGC) score over the last four matches. The striker himself ranks joint-top for big chances since Gameweek 14 and is behind only Anwar El Ghazi for efforts on target during that time too. Despite playing 217 minutes in the selected period, Lacazette has produced four goals.

Callum Wilson (£6.6m) may be without a goal since Gameweek 14 but his record against lesser opposition this season suggests he can get something at Sheffield United. In seven meetings with teams inside the bottom nine since joining Newcastle, the former Bournemouth man has accrued four goals and four assists, producing 7.1 points per game in such matches.

SUBSTITUTES

  • Karl Darlow (£5.0m)
  • Luke Shaw (£4.8m)
  • Federico Fernández (£4.7m)
  • Chris Wood (£6.2m)

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 Blank Gameweek 18:

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.

Due to the short turnaround, there was no Community Champion for Gameweek 17, although the Scout Picks had an impressive week with an 85-point score.

AA33 is the current leader, defeating the Scout Picks by a 53-point margin in Gameweek 2.

2,514 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    A) start Gundo or Saka
    B) Saka/Lloris downgrade to upgrade bench??

    Thanks all 🙂

    Lloris // 4.0
    Cancelo Tierney Saiss // Mitchell 3.9
    KDB Bruno Son Gundogan// Saka
    Kane Lacazette Wilson

    1. OneArseneWenger32
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      same team except harry for saiss..and starting saka

      1. Top Lad Dakes.
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Harry?

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

          Kane

          1. Top Lad Dakes.
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Confused by their comment then

          2. Max City
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Redknapp

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

          I'm guessing Slabhead Maguire

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

      Winks

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

    ok all, i am going for a balanced FH squad to cover any surprise postponements/covids/rotations.. please let me know if G2G?

    Darlow - (Dubravka)
    Tierney / Stones / Cancelo - (Maguire / Mitchell)
    Saka / De Bruyne / Fernandes / Son - (Lookman)
    Wilson / Lacazette / Kane

    THEN IM DONE!

    1. LE CHARO
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      G2G

  3. Elly88 > KTR (Kevin The …
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Pick 2 to start
    A. Tierney
    B. Wan Bissaka
    C. Saiss

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

      A and C

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

      A+C

      1. Elly88 > KTR (Kevin The …
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I was tempted by AC at first but I see United turning up today to top the table.

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

          Good point. Would like to have Rashford too.

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

            Sorry, wrong post.

    3. OneArseneWenger32
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      AB

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

    Best pairing?

    a. Sterling(c) + Smith-Rowe
    or
    b. Rashford + Wilson

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

      B

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

        Would mean risking Cancelo?

    2. I Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      A

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

    Does anyone else just imagine rage metal music in their heads when it becomes carnage like this on here? 😆
    Just me?

    I'm hoping that in the grand scheme of things just playing a FH and having most of the decent picks will at least mean not a big red arrow - anything else at this stage, with 20 GWs left, is a bonus

    Have a brew and chill out

  6. The Frenchie
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    On a WC, I need to replace Meslier and Dallas now. I will go on Coufal but what is the best goalkeeper for DGW19 and long term?

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

      Martinez

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

        Do you think he will play this weekend? Might. W out for longer if he has Covid?

  7. john25
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Repost.

    Hey guys, struggling to pick between Dias or Stones, not using a FH so need the player to be nailed on for at least the next 4-5 GWs. Would you say they are equally nailed on for at least the next few GWs (considering Laporte is coming back as well)?

    Cheers

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

      Stones

  8. Arsenal97
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    RMT and suggestions on FH :

    De Gea

    Stones Saiss Tierney

    Son Salah Bruno KDB Rashford Saka

    Kane Wilson

    subs; Steffen Yedlin Mitchel Brewster

    1. OneArseneWenger32
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      salah? and is stones the most nailed city def?

      1. Arsenal97
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Salah Mistake

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

    Why no Sterling in FH teams?

    1. OneArseneWenger32
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      your name says it all

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

      I don’t know. He scored a hattrick in this fixture last July.

    3. Blue&White85
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Because he's very expensive and most people want KDB, Fernandes, Kane and Son too. It's viable to get Sterling in but you then end up with a weaker defence and almost non-existent bench.

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

      He’s looked rubbish all season

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

    Captain?

    a. Kane
    b. Bruno
    c. KDB

    Cheers

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

      currently on Bruno

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

      Kevin

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

      C

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

      cheers on KDB 🙂

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

    AWB or Tierney?

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

      Tierney

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

      AWB for CS
      Tuerney for offensive pts

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

    Do we know if Shaw travelled with the team? or Shall I just go for Fernandez from Newcastle?

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

      Yep

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

    Thoughts on this team

    Darlow
    Cancelo maguire sais
    Gundogan dbruyne son rash Bruno
    Wilson lacazate

    Sub
    holding Fernandez bruister

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

      Darlow small doubt

  14. rubberdignerapids
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Which FH first 11 looks better, A or B?

    A) Ramsdale*
    Shaw* / Stones / Holding
    Sterling* / KDB / Bruno / Son / Saka
    Lacazette / Kane

    B) Lloris*
    Dias* / Stones / Holding
    Rashford*/ KDB / Bruno / Son / Saka
    Lacazette / Kane

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

      B

  15. Mr.K
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    How likely is Mitchell to start against Arsenal? Percentages only please!

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

      63.4%

      1. Mr.K
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Thank you, Sir! This sounds thoroughly analyzed!

  16. Sahin
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Thoughts on this team

    Darlow
    Cancelo maguire sais
    Gundogan dbruyne son rash Bruno
    Wilson lacazate

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

      Saiss over Dier?

  17. Zilla
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Dier or Stones? (Already got Cancelo)

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

      Stones for me

    2. S.Kuqi
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Dias if money not an issue.

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

      Stones

    4. FF Dirtbag
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Stones

  18. Weeb Kakashi
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Pick one

    A Sterling ( Ings/Vardy) Antonio
    B Rashford Ings Vardy

    If going Sterling i have to keep one of Vardy or Ings out.

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

      B

  19. S.Kuqi
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Cancelo is worth a risk. We all have him and the alternatives have low ceiling

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

      Not if the alternative is Dias no?

      1. S.Kuqi
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        6 point max

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

          9 point max.

          1. S.Kuqi
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Not so bad then 😀

  20. Sabina_S
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Manchester Evening News is predicting Cavani, Telles and Tuanzebe will be in the starting line up.

    1. S.Kuqi
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      So who drops out? Martial, Shaw and ?

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

        Lindelof is my guess

    2. Mr.K
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Now I wanna gamble Cavani over Lacazette except I probably don't!

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

    Best defender who plays in 18 and got DGW 19?
    The budget is 5,3 and already have AWB, Stones and Coufal.

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

      Cancelo, Dias, Maguire

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

      But consider Reg and Dier

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

      Already tripple on City and United.

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

        Spurs then

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

          Think i just keep Dallas

  22. tuturututu
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Kilman or Mitchell as a first sub?

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

      Mitchell

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

    I have
    Pieters, Taylor
    Son, Fernandes (VC)
    Wilson, Kane (C)

    1. Balbuena, Robertson, Soucek > Cancelo, Tierney, Gundogan for -8 and 9 players
    or
    2. FH to get in Leno/Loris, Saiss, Debruyne, Lacazete in addition to 1.

    Is it worth FH?

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

    Lloris
    Cancelo Stones Tierney
    KDB Bruno Son Saka
    Kane Laca Wilson

    Bench: 4.0 Burke, Kilman, Mitchell

    0.0 ITB. G2G or any downgrade worth doing to bump the defence? Lloris -> DDG and Kilman -> Yedlin maybe?

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

      100% same first 11!

  25. umerlfc
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Anyone still going with Darlow like me?

  26. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    What, do people expect a Cancelo rest??

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

      Some people on here yes. Would you go for Maguire or stick with Cancelo with Kilman and Mitchell on the bench?

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

      No

    3. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yes

    4. The Tinkerman
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Nope

  27. The Tinkerman
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    A or B?

    A) 442, (triple city, Brewster 1st Sub)
    Lloris
    DIAS, Cancelo, Tierney, Wan Bissaka
    KDB, Bruno, Son, SAKA
    Kane, Laca

    B) 343 (Fernandez first sub)
    Lloris
    Cancelo, Tierney, Wan Bissaka
    KDB, Bruno, Son, SMITH-ROWE
    Kane, Laca, Wilson

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

      A

  28. Flynny
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Anyone playing it safe with dias instead of cancelo??

    Thanks

    1. OLLY G
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yes

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

      I am. Dias and Stones

    3. Mr.K
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yes. I don't know why you wouldn't (unless you're not FHing or WCing)

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

    Would you do Salah > Rashford if it allows Balbuena off my bench > Dias ??

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

      Yes

    2. Mr.K
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yes

  30. ZakyJ
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    A: Lloris & Shaw
    or
    B: DDG & Dier

    1. JELLYFISH
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      A

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

      B