Tips

The Complete Guide to Scout’s tips, advice and best Free Hit squads for FPL Gameweek 18

Welcome to the Fantasy Football Scout Guide to Blank Gameweek 18 ahead of today’s 16:30 GMT deadline.

The most important skills to cultivate as a Fantasy Premier League manager is flexibility.

Pro Pundit Sam hit the nail on the head when discussing her plans for the upcoming matches.

The 2020/21 season continues to present challenges – the goalposts moved once again yesterday with more changes to the fixture schedule. But do those changes present us with an opportunity?

Let’s take a look at Legomané’s latest fixture ticker.

This has been updated following Aston Villa’s postponed fixture against Tottenham Hotspur and the hastily rearranged Tottenham Hotspur versus Fulham match, shifted from Gameweek 16. 

There’s talk of Southampton’s trip to Leeds United being moved because Southampton need to play their FA Cup third round match against Shrewsbury – and that must happen before the fourth round matches. 

But there’s also the chance Southampton are handed a walkover because it was Shrewsbury who were unable to field a side. However, at this point in time we don’t know what will happen.

The ‘TBA’ entries are possible slots where postponed matches could be added. These are:

  • Aston Villa v Newcastle (Gameweek 11)
  • Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur (Gameweek 18)
  • Burnley v Fulham (Gameweek 17)
  • Everton v Manchester City (Gameweek 16)
  • Fulham v Tottenham Hotspur (Gameweek 33 – EFL Cup final)
  • Southampton v Manchester City (Gameweek 33 – EFL Cup final)

Given that both Newcastle United and Aston Villa have exited the FA Cup – and their Gameweek 11 fixture needs to be rearranged – it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that Aston Villa end up with a Triple Gameweek 19. Although other slots are available.

Looking further ahead, the FA Cup quarter-finals are due to take place in Gameweek 29 and teams reaching that round could see their Premier League matches moved to Gameweek 26. That looks likely to be the next big double Gameweek, with a large selection of teams playing twice.

In general, for teams still in the various domestic and european cup competitions, further postponements are likely. And of course coronavirus (COVID-19) may cause further disruption.

In addition there’s also team news to consider, and a hamstring injury to the highly-owned Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£7.8m) will no doubt force a rethink for many.

The Best-Laid Plans

With both ‘mice and men’ struggling, assessing the best way forward is very much team specific. 

The Scoutcast provided a perfect example of this with Joe deploying his Free Hit chip, Karam navigating the blank using transfers and Seb undecided. 

For those using their Free Hit this Gameweek, Joe’s side is a good template, featuring triple-ups on Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.

Joe’s Gameweek 18 Free Hit team

Arsenal, all of sudden, provide a number of budget options. Their improved performances in recent weeks have seen their players appear on the Fantasy radar.

As Neale pointed out in his Big Numbers article, Bukayo Saka (£5.3m) has mustered seven shots in the box over the last three Gameweeks, a total that no other FPL midfielder has surpassed in that time.

And the 19-year-old has been much discussed. David looked in-depth at his prospects against Crystal Palace, where Tyrick Mitchell (£3.9m) has replaced Patrick van Aanholt (£5.4m).

David concluded that, despite the change, Saka owners need not be deterred:

There is enough in these numbers to suggest Mitchell has not improved things on the left as much as we might imagine.

But for those needing to squeeze a little more out of their budget, the cut-price Emile Smith Rowe (£4.4m) is a valid alternative.

Despite playing fewer minutes than Saka over the last three matches, [Smith Rowe] has outperformed him for assist potential.

– David

Encouragingly, Smith Rowe came off the bench to score the winning goal in Arsenal’s FA Cup tie against Newcastle United, and he’s been picked out by Pro Pundit Tom Freeman as one of his three differentials for Gameweek 18.

He appears to have established himself as an important component of Mikel Arteta’s side, with Tom pointing out:

What’s noticeable is how much quicker the Gunners move the ball with Smith Rowe in the number 10 role, and having that creative figure in central areas has really helped them click going forward. In fact, since Gameweek 15, no team can improve upon their 6.87 expected goals (xG)

Alexandre Lacazette (£8.3m) and Kieran Tierney (£5.4m) have impressed recently: no player has had more big chances (five) over the last four Gameweeks than the Frenchman, while Tierney’s total of seven key passes in the last three is bettered by just five other Premier League players (regardless of position).

But for Pro Pundit Lateriser, the upside option is Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.3m). On penalties for the Gunners, his form has improved with that of his team-mates. Lateriser made the case:

Aubameyang’s registered 1.42 expected goals (xG) in his last two games, which is the same he managed in five full matches previously. His total of two big chances in the last two Gameweeks is also the same he managed in five full games previously.

His co-host on The FPL Wire, Pro Pundit Zophar, also included the Gabon international in his Free Hit selection for Gameweek 18.

Meanwhile, Pro Pundit Andy explored the option of using the Second Wildcard to set up a strong side for Blank Gameweek 18 and a potential Bench Boost in Double Gameweek 19. Although his article was written when Aston Villa still had a match in Gameweek 18. 

Which Man City Trio?

Elsewhere, form and fixtures have aligned for Manchester City.

Kevin De Bruyne (£11.8m) was Joe and David’s choice for the armband on the Captaincy video. And Jan Sienkiewicz had the Belgian ahead of team-mate Raheem Sterling (£11.4m) in Captain Sensible:

De Bruyne is certainly the safer of those two considering the most recent fitness update on Sterling but he remains the exciting explosive option considering his hat-trick performance against the Seagulls last season.

Tom Freeman highlighted the improvement at the backRúben Dias (£5.8m) and John Stones (£5.0m) have conceded just one goal in eight starts together.

A double-up on their defence appeals for many, with Joe including João Cancelo (£5.8m) alongside Stones in his Free Hit team. According to Tom, “attacking returns look imminent!” for the Portuguese.

But if you fancied a cheap attacking player then look no further than Ilkay Gündogan (£5.4m).

Karam’s differential on the Scoutcast, a player the creator of Live FPL, Ragabolly, picked out when interviewed by Lateriser and Zophar, and one written about in glowing terms by both Tom and Neale.

His seven shots in the box and four big chances in his last four matches are more than any other City player. And the former Borussia Dortmund midfielder has spoken of a shift to a more advanced position:

… even though I like to be included in rotating the ball, when I am playing as a number eight and more offensive position, I try to put myself in the spaces where I think something could happen or I feel like the space is not occupied by a player of ours or the opponent. Both goals I scored in the last games were similar in the way they were from the right side and Raheem assisted me both goals and I tried to be in a space where I am free and able to get the ball and finish with one touch. It worked out quite well and as long as I am playing in that position I try to continue like that.

– Ilkay Gündogan

How to cope with a rollercoaster season

Mindfulness coach Dominic Watts wrote an excellent piece last week on how to handle the highs and lows of this uniquely challenging season.

On the face of it, I can understand the view that we should not get ourselves worked up about FPL. After all, you’re picking an imaginary team of real players who get points for you and then getting really annoyed when you don’t pick the right ones.

But if you want to pick it apart, you can make similar arguments about most things people care about. The thing is that as human beings we create meaning. We give meaning to the things that we care about and so if we decide to care about FPL, it becomes meaningful to us.

Without doubt FPL matters to those of us who play it seriously.

In his article, Dominic described how we are ‘time-travellers’ who ride the rollercoaster of FPL. He offered us ways to manage this uncertainty but acknowledged how difficult that can be:

Uncertainty relates quite nicely to acceptance because it’s hard to accept uncertainty. When we can’t accept something, we fight it, and this uses up a lot of energy.

The solution he proposed is to learn to look properly and that by connecting to the present, we will be able to see things in a different light. Well worth a read.

Community Competitions and Head-to-Head Fixtures

RedLightning rounded-up the Community mini-leagues and competitions last week.

The ‘open-to-all’ Fantasy Football Scout mini-league and the Community Members mini-league are currently the top two leagues in FPL. Congratulations to the high-flying managers participating in those.

For the 8,000+ competing in the Head-to-Head Leagues, the main page can be linked to here, and the fixtures for Gameweek 18 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

2,473 Comments Post a Comment
  1. TheBiffas
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    chances of a cavani start?

    1. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Low

    2. Ginger Pele
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Would be too much of a gamble for me.

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

    Lloris
    Cancelo / Tierney / AWB
    KDB / Fernades / Son / Gundogan / Saka
    Kane / Lacazette

    Areola // Saiss / McGoldrick / AWB

    How does it look? You can never be too safe, eh? 😉

    1. Bad Kompany
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I’d downgrade your bench to upgrade your starting 11

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

        With your recommended players being..?

        1. Bad Kompany
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Gundogan

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

            To whom? Too big a jump for Rashy without changing much else.

            1. Bad Kompany
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Wilson or Neto/Traore maybe

    2. Ginger Pele
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Looks decent. I like it.

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

      Virtually the same as me.
      I have Saiss starting though with Yedlin and Wilson on the bench McGoldrick and AWB.

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

    Lacazette or Wilson?

    Help meeeeee choose

    1. Bad Kompany
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Laca

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

      Laca between the two...so many coin tosses this week

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

      Laca

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

      Thanks all, Laca it is

    5. Ginger Pele
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Laca the better option I think. Depends where you would spend the change.

  4. Bad Kompany
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Is Smith Rowe much worse than Saka?

    Could stretch to saka but it would mean no bench in case cancelo doesnt play

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

      No

  5. Pukki Party
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Anyone know why Aurier hasn't started last two PL games?

    1. Guru Mediation
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      He stupidly gave away a penalty so being punished by Jose (is my read of it)

      1. Pukki Party
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Ok so a doubt then

  6. Stupendous
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Patricio
    Dier Holding Saiss
    Esr Son Kdb Sterling
    Jesus Kane Lacazette

    Boom!

    No United in my city leagues

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

    A) Lacazette (Saiss, Doucoure)
    B) Rashford (Holding, Brewster)

  8. Whats the Mata?
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Best one week punt midfielder for gw18 who's Not Bruno, Saka, Son or any City midfielder? Who you'd get for a -4? (Essentially a -2 as I don't have a full 11)

    Budget 7.5m

    1. Drogba Legend
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Gotta be someone like Neto, Traore, Zaha, Berjg

    2. Ginger Pele
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Neto or Zaha. I fancy Zaha this week personally.

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

    Which pair on FH

    A) Rashford & Kane & Dias
    B) Sterling & Laca & Cancelo

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

      That‘s a threesome!

      I prefer Son over Rashford or Sterling

  10. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Thoughts on Mané over Salah for the double? Gives me much more cash that I need right now.

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

      I got Mane, he looks on it atm, and is imo a better player than Salah

      1. Champions League Varane
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Don’t agree with the last bit but that’s true may lean toward him

        Thanks

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

      40 points more for Salah for just an extra 0.6m .... maybe if they were away matches but not for 2 home matches

  11. Better Call Raul
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Have low team value so looking at this FH with 0.1 itb:

    Leno
    Dias-Stones-Holding
    KdB-Bruno-Son-Rashford-SmithRowe
    Kane-Cavani

    and a weak bench.

    G2g or too risky with Cavani and no bench?

    1. Drogba Legend
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Don't like Cavani, would rather go Wilson and upgrade bench

      1. Ginger Pele
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Agree with this.

  12. grennans2
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Is Shaw likely to start?

    1. Nemes1s
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      He and Telles get rotated a fair bit

  13. gomez123
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    KDB or KANE ELCAPITANO??

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

      DB

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

      Ambas son buenas opciones.

    3. Ginger Pele
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      KDB

  14. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Will Mari start!!??

  15. The Road to Turfdom
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    reckon Sterling starts?

    1. The Road to Turfdom
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      lol

  16. nico05
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    This good enough? I've avoided FH & transfer hits?
    Leno
    Cancelo Reguilon Holding Taylor(Porbz injured)
    KDB Bruno Neto
    Wilson Brewster

    Should I take a hit or anywhere or ride it out?
    Thanks

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

      I'm holding a prayer circle later to wish for a Kane blank - You are welcome to join

      1. nico05
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I think I maybe necessary haha. Whats your team like?

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

          Got 11 good players - Just no Kane and no subs

          Lloris
          Bellerin, Cancelo, Stones, AWB
          KDB (C), Rashford, Bruno, Son
          Lacazette, Wilson

          Have take a -16 to bring in Lacazette, KDB, Soucek, AWB, Lloris

          1. nico05
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Looks really strong that team. -16 is quite hefty but your team looks good, puts mine to shame for sure!

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

    a) DDG + Dier
    b) Leno + any Spurs/United defender

    1. nico05
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Leno & Shaw

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

    Best option for both GW 18 and 19?

    A) Cancelo
    B) Dias

    1. nico05
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      A

  19. Woy_is_back
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Aurier or Regulionnnnn?

    1. nico05
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Reguilon-more nailed imo

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

      Do either start?

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

      Or Doherty?

  20. Nemanja Vidic
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Foden or Gundogan?
    2FT 0.3 ITB
    WC FH BB TC available

    Martinez Mendy
    Regulion Saiss Justin Coufal Mitchel
    KBD Fernandes Son Grealish Saka
    Kane Bamford Brewster

    Mitchel -> Stones
    Grealish -> Foden\Gundo

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

      Foden starts on the bench I think

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

    Done!

    ONLY QUESTION is.... Start Wilson or Saka?!

    Lloris
    Cancelo, Tierney, Saiss
    KDB (C), Bruno (v), Son, Gundogan
    Kane, Laca, Wilson
    (Steer) (Saka, Clark, Mitchell)

    Cheers and GL all!!

    1. nico05
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Nice team, start Wilson I think mate

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

        Thanks mate GL

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

      Saka imo

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

        It's a killer decision!

        Thanks mate and GL

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

      Wilson just to make the game interesting - watching SHU v NEW without any players would be so pointless

    4. Ginger Pele
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I vote Wilson. He’s got pens.

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

    A) Play with 7 players (Mitchell, Stones, KdB, Fernandes, Son, Kane, Wilson)
    B) FH

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

      Play the 7

      1. nico05
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I agree, save the free hit. Captain KDB

    2. jdp219
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      You're already flush with players in the Scout Squad (for whatever that's worth), so I would think about saving the FH.

      Is this without transfers?

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

        Thanks all,

        It's with Transfer, early last week I made Salah > KdB and Anguissa > Soucek to anticipate price increase

  23. jdp219
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    FH G2G? Need a better bench?

    Darlow
    Cancelo, Stones, Tierney
    KDB, Son, Bruno, Saka
    Kane, Wilson, Laca
    (4.0; Burke, Kilman, Mitchell)

  24. Sean
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Have managed to shake off my Sterling and Lacazette urges, can spend the last half an hour mindlessly saying Cancelo or Dias in my head now

    1. shady4revr
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Dias

  25. shady4revr
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Martinez
    Dias Pieters Mitchell Dier
    KDB Son Reed(fulham lol) Bruno
    Kane Wood

    Steer Chilwell DCL Bowen

    1m in the bank, ft made, dcl to laca -4 hit? Or martinez to darlow?

  26. Lukakuna
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Any news on the Leeds Saints fixture?

  27. Henning
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    In freehit 1.5 m in the bank
    Good to go or should i make any changes?

    Lloris
    Cancelo Tierney Saiss
    Son Kdb Fernandes Gundogan Saka
    Kane Lacazette

    Steer Wan-Bissaka Yedlin Brewster

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

      No point leaving anything ITB on a FH ... why not a second GK at least

  28. Scholes Out For Summer
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Which one:

    Darlow + Cancelo + Rash + Laca
    Lloris + Saiss + Sterling + Wilson

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

    Is Darlow a risk?

    1. shady4revr
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Dubravka is back

  30. The Habib Beyes
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Thinking about taking a 4 point hit to bring in Tierney for KWP...

    Given I've already got Cancelo, Chilwell and Justin, am I investing too much at the back? (Also BB next week)