Tips

The Complete Guide to Scout’s tips and advice for Double Gameweek 19

Welcome to the Fantasy Football Scout Guide to Double Gameweek 19 ahead of today’s 11:00 GMT deadline.

The fixture schedule has shifted once again. Like a surreal game of Grandmother’s Footsteps, it’s moved every time you turn to look at it. 

Aston Villa lost and regained their Double Gameweek in a matter of hours, although they now face Newcastle United instead of Everton in addition to Manchester City. But the clever fixture juggling did not extend to Leeds United and Southampton, with their upcoming midweek game postponed to accommodate Southampton’s rescheduled FA Cup tie.

During these testing times, we can expect further changes with little warning.

In a letter sent last week, Premier League chief executive Richard Masters alerted clubs that they should plan for more matches being postponed or rearranged at short notice. And a joint statement from the Premier League, FA and EFL, restated the desire to complete the season in May.

So, who knows what twists and turns await? Could we yet see Leeds vs Southampton rearranged for Gameweek 19?

Shrewsbury, already without their manager Steve Cotterill for Tuesday’s tie, may suffer more ill-effects from coronavirus (COVID-19), or, by some miracle, could the Shrews beat Southampton on Tuesday? However unlikely, Leeds and Southampton would then both have a free weekend slot.

But that might be taking ‘Fantasy’ football a step too far. Sticking with what we know, here’s Legomané’s updated fixture ticker:

‘TBA’ fixtures Possible Gameweek Slots
Aston Villa v Everton24-to-28, 30-to-34, 37
Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur 26, 32, 37
Burnley v Fulham24-to-28, 30-to-34, 37
Everton v Manchester City24, 26, 27, 32, 37
Fulham v Tottenham Hotspur26, 32, 37
Leeds United v Southampton24-to-28, 30-to-34, 37
Manchester City v Southampton24, 26, 27, 32, 37

Triple Gameweek Scenario

Future Double Gameweeks, and possibly Triple Gameweeks, await Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City.

The two sides contest the EFL Cup final (coinciding with Gameweek 33), and are both still in the FA Cup and European competitions: should they progress to the latter stages, Spurs will potentially have to squeeze five matches into three available Gameweek slots, and Man City would have to fit five games into five free slots.

So no COVID-19 leeway and additional fixture shenanigans could lie ahead.

To Bench Boost or not to Bench Boost?

After the latest changes, a question facing many managers – and one tackled by our Scoutcast trio of Joe, Seb, and Karam – is now that Leeds and Southampton don’t have two matches in Gameweek 19, is it still worth using the Bench Boost?

The thing is, if you already Wildcarded in Gameweek 16, and you set up your team to Bench Boost, you need something bigger than this to back out from it. Because it’s one of the chips that if you don’t do it now, you will wait for another chance [and] you might have a lot of funds remain on your bench.

– Karam

Leeds-fan Seb added:

Ideally I want to be Bench Boosting all 15 players for double, unless someone crazy has got a great fixture, [but] often they might be more expensive, so typically you’re going to have medium to cheap assets on the bench, that’s the goal … On Leeds, so I think if you’ve been forced into this a little bit and you still want to use that Bench Boost, it’s not terrible. They’re playing Brighton at home … if you’ve got Bamford, Dallas, and Raphina on your bench maybe that is a Bench Boost – Bamford could score three!

However not all managers feel the same. Pro Pundit Az has been reduced to eight Double Gameweek players, scuppering any hopes he had for using the chip.

So, with fixture rescheduling putting any plans I had for a Bench Boost on hold, I am considering which chip I should use if any.

Instead the co-host of FPL BlackBox is contemplating using his Triple Captain. But Manchester United go to Liverpool with Bruno Fernandes (£11.3m) a booking away from a one-match ban, and Mohamed Salah (£12.5m) is out of form. Although both sides have favourable second fixtures against Fulham and Burnley respectively.

Buying Manchester City Players

The other challenge facing Az and those like Pro Pundit Darren Wiles, who used their first Wildcard late to set up a Gameweek 19 Bench Boost, is how to accommodate Manchester City players?

The Citizens didn’t feature in Darren’s original plans, given that they had just a single Gameweek before their fixture with Aston Villa was rearranged.

But they’ve since come into form with an eye-catching 3-1 win away to Chelsea, and Pep Guardiola’s side have now kept six clean sheets in their last eight matches, giving them the best defensive record in the league.

Ahead of enticing homes matches against Crystal Palace and West Brom, Jan Sienkiewicz sides with the captain poll in backing De Bruyne with the armband:

De Bruyne is a truly world class player and it should be only a matter of time before he matches his outstanding underlying statistics. With two home games against non-top-six sides, Manchester City should continue their winning run and De Bruyne is expected to be at the heart of the action.

All this leads Darren, in his latest article, to contemplate a minus 12 to bring in Kevin De Bruyne (£11.8m), Rúben Dias (£5.8m), John Stones (£5.0m) and Michail Antonio (£6.2m) for Harry Kane (£11.1m), Marcus Rashford (£9.6m), Kyle Walker-Peters (£4.8m) and Fabián Balbuena (£4.4m).

I am not rushing into any decisions but I feel multiple hits could be on the cards in order to get two or three Manchester City players in prior to the Double Gameweek and as part of my long term thinking.

– Darren

But the Live Hall of Fame No 2 remains undecided on whether to use the Bench Boost as it would include players like Che Adams (£6.0m), who is available for selection after recovering from concussion.

Tasty Transfers

In direct contrast to Darren’s multiple hit, Former FPL Champion Simon March used Marshmallows to demonstrate that patience is a virtue.

A graduate in behavioural economics, Simon referred to the Stanford Marshmallow Experiment in which children were given the choice of eating a marshmallow now or instead being given a second marshmallow in 15 minutes.

When they followed up 10 years later, the scientists found that the children who delayed gratification and waited for the second marshmallow, had scored better in their SATs, performed better in school generally and even had healthier BMIs.

Pro Pundit Simon likened this to wise FPL managers who save their chips for later in the season (traditionally the better time to play them), and the benefits of rolling a transfer.

Aside from giving you more flexibility in who you can sign, potentially shifting funds to different areas of your team, it also buys you an extra Gameweek of information and more thinking time.

Fantasy Favourite

A player both Darren and Az are tempted by is Michail Antonio. West Ham enjoy an appealing pair of fixtures in Gameweek 19, at home to Burnley and West Brom, but the question mark, as ever, is over Antonio’s fitness.

Ted Talks FPL offered some encouragement, observing that:

With Haller joining Ajax, West Ham must be confident that 1.9% owned Antonio must be back to full fitness, certainly in the short-term. He looks to be an excellent pick for Double Gameweek 19.

Pro Pundits Tom and Andy agreed, giving the Hammers striker the nod:

Michail Antonio is a bit of a favourite of mine and now he’s fit and got through 90 minutes I can’t leave him out. He’s averaging 0.47xG per 90 minutes so far this season. It’s down on 2019/20, but still excellent given his price. – Andy

I’m also backing Michail Antonio. Though he looks short of match fitness, he needs games, and as West Ham United’s only recognised striker, should see enough minutes across the two fixtures. – Tom

While Big Man Bakar, who was looking dashing in pink on the latest installment of The FPL Wire, reminded us of Antonio’s excellent early season form, despite the tricky start.

But is it too soon to take the plunge?

Team News

Frustratingly, as Colm Hayes noted in his press conference round-up, David Moyes did not provide a specific update on his injury-prone centre-forward, leaving Fantasy bosses wondering what to do.

In other news, Anthony Martial (£8.8m) and Pedro Neto (£6.0m) are doubts after suffering knocks in Gameweek 17. But both may still feature this weekend.

And Joel Matip (£5.4m) could return to Liverpool’s backline depending on how well he does in the next two training sessions.

Finally, new Fantasy Football Scout writer Jamie, ran the rule over Manchester United’s latest signing Amad Diallo and assessed the impact Robert Snodgrass (£5.7m) could make under Sam Allardyce at West Brom.

Community Competitions and Head-to-Head Fixtures

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

The January to May League, which started scoring in Gameweek 17, remains open for those who want to track their progress until the end of the season. The code to join is h62bh1. The current leader is Denville Tyrell, who has risen from 29,903rd to 5,121st in the last two Gameweeks.

For those interested in the Head-to-Head Leagues, the main page can be linked to here. The fixtures for Gameweek 19 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

5,142 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Maddamotha
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Why is this so difficult!? Help appreciated. I have no Man City atm. Will C Salah if option A.

    A. Mccarthy > Ederson -4
    B. Son, Robbo > KDB (c) Dias

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

      B

    2. Scooby75
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      A, keep SON

    3. Pep bites Kun
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      B, better fixture run

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

      B

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

      Thanks all

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

    Should i triple captain salah? Is there a chance that liverpool receive another double gameweek?

  3. FPL ElasticO
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Should you take further -4 hit for DGW GK, if you already on -8?
    I'm considering doing

    A. McCarthy >> Martinez
    B. McCarthy >> Johnstone

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

      I’d take a -4 to do McCarthy to Johnstone

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

      How much $ do you have in McCarthy?

      1. FPL ElasticO
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I bought him for 4.5 now 4.6 so 0.1, so What do you suggest?

    3. #Swish41
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      What’s the love with Johnstone, WBA shipping goals for fun?

    4. #Swish41
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Can you upgrade to Fabianski?

      1. FPL ElasticO
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Yeah, I can got 0.5 ITB, but he is doubtful.

        1. #Swish41
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Tweeted yesterday that he was good to go...

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

    Am I crazy to go without KDB? Would require a hit and destroying my team

    Martinez
    Konsa Stones Holding
    Salah Son Bruno Soucek
    Firmino Bamford Kane

    Steele Saka Mitchell Kilman

    Cheers

    1. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I'm considering same and trying to get a second City defender in or Foden

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

      I took a -8 and Kane out to get KDB in

    3. Scooby75
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I’m going KDBless
      Lots saying minutes managed.

  5. Van der Faart
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    A) Bruno and Adams to KDB and Watkins.(-4) Captain KDB
    B) Son and Bamford to Foden and Vardy (-4) captain Salah
    C) something else

    0.7 ITB

    Martinez
    Dias Cresswell James (Holding Taylor)
    Son Soucek Bruno Salah (Riedwald)
    Bamford Kane Adams

    1. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Or even this
      Adams and James to Antonio and Stones?

  6. AnfieldLad
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    A) Mane -> KDB (c) for a hit
    B) Salah (c)

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

      I did A

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

      B for sure

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

      B

    4. Scooby75
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      B

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

      B!

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

      B

  7. Wooterr
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Hello! Would you guys advise me to take a -4 to get KDB for Son?

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

      Yes!

    2. Scooby75
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Nope

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

      Yes

    4. jeanrubeya
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yes

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

    Dgw fewer got me.

    Holding -> Furlong for a hit. Is it worth it?

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

      No

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

      No

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

      Cheers

    4. pricycle
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      No

  9. jackoasean
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Good to go with the bench boost?

    McCarthy
    Mee cresswell (C) wan-bissaka Justin
    Salah Fernandes soucek son
    Vardy Antonio

    Bench - Areola Watkins alioski McGinn

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

      yeh looks fairly strong.

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

      Love the captaincy pick

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

        Will either be a king for the weekend or fall flat with no city players. Just weary of pep, loves a rotation.

  10. Mo Mane No Problems
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Who will get more points:

    A) Antonio
    B) Dias (with a -4)

  11. Tasty Jerk
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    FH played - gtg?

    Johnstone
    Coufal,Stones,Justin
    Salah(vc)KDB(c)Fernandes,Grealish,Soucek
    Vardy,Antonio
    Subs Areloa,Lowton,Mitchell,Brewster (0.1 ITB)

  12. stu92
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Hi guys, looking for some last minute help!

    Martinez
    Robbo Zouma Coufal Targett
    Salah Bruno Son Soucek
    Vardy Antonio
    (4.0 Bamford Raphinha Alioski)

    A) 4.0 > Johnstone, and play BB (-4)
    B) Alioski > Clark, as well as Johnstone, and BB (-8)
    C) GTG and hold the BB

    B) Bench boost, but

    1. Scooby75
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      C

  13. Warby84
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    BB option?

    Martinez**/Bamford/Smith-Rowe/Yedlin**

    60/40 against but not sure if I’ll get a better bench after WC I would move Yedlin on but I am on a -8

  14. Milk, 1 Šuker
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    In the words of Lateriser, "enjoy the ride" of double gameweek 19 people! I'm all set. GL!

    1. Scooby75
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      GL Cometh!
      I was set now having a panic about being KDBless!

  15. Pringle
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Any defenders with dgw for max 4.6? (Not Targett)

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

      Craig Dawson, West Ham

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

        Thanks!

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

        Will he play both?

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

    Ayling to Robbo for a hit worth it?
    Or Son to KdB, keeping Kane, also for a hit?

  17. Iain Dowies Love Child
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    In your opinion, what hit is acceptable for a dgw when transferring a sgwer to a dgwer?
    A) -4
    B) -8
    C) -12
    Not expecting many C votes!

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

      If you think the player you're buying scores 4 more points than the player you're selling, I think the total hit us irrelevant personally

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

    Bench boost y/n?
    Antonio (c) y/n

    Johnstone
    Robbo - stones - Cancelo
    Salah - son - Bruno - soucek
    Kane - Antonio - bamford

    McCarthy- holding - raphinha - Mitchell

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

      Y,N

  19. Viper
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Dallas -> Cancelo (-4)? Already taken a (-8)

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

      Yes

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

      yep, just gaze at those City fixtures.

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

        Yes

    3. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      That one could pay off, not sure about the others

  20. CAPA
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Who scored more points this week, Pogba, Maddison or Barnes. Or anyone better up to £8m for a mid?

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

      *s

  21. Ci Siamo
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Which one to sacrifice to get KDB?

    a) Mane (in a -4)

    b) Kane (in a -8)

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

      Mane

    2. Scooby75
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Leave as is

    3. Pep bites Kun
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Very much depends on the rest of your squad and who you're sacrificing in each option.

  22. Ady87
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Not taken a hit yet. What we saying, anything worthwhile? £1m banked. First XI are DGW except Son, bench SGW.

    Johnstone
    Dias Stones Coufal AWB
    Son KDB Bruno Soucek
    Bamford Vardy

    Subs: Leno Dier Saka Bamford

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

    Fabianski | Coufal | Soucek | Lowton

    /10 for this BB?

    1. Ady87
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      7

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

        Wow, Lowton seriously letting it down then.

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

      Solid. 4 double players is more than most will have! Many will be bench boosting with single game week players or with a player without a game at all as one of the four.

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

        Yeh, I initially had Coufal and Taylor.
        Injury forced a further trade to Lowton alongside the other two in.

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

          I guess danger is Taylor back for a game or even both. Doubt he will play 90 if just back from hamstring though. I would still BB.

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

      Go for it/10

  24. Nightf0x
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Leno
    Target dias saiss (dalas dier)
    Salah son bruno neto (saka)
    Antonio vardy bamford

    Which ?

    A) FH or BB
    B) neto -4 to gundogan/foden/ghazi/traore/soucek
    C) do B) + saka out -8 & bench bamford
    D) do B) + sais out -8 to coufal

  25. Detweiler
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Play Son or Reece James?

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

      Son

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

    Have taken a -8 hit to get the team below. Would you BB with these SGW players or wait until later? Could be a minefield later with cancelled games. Still have my WC and could BB shortly after that later on if need be

    Johnstone
    Robbo - Justin - Dallas - Stones
    Salah - Bruno - Soucek - Son
    Kane - Bamford

    McCarthy - Rafinha - Adams - Balbuena      

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

      *Coufal instead of Balbuena

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

        close then but still wouldn't. cancellation of Saints and Leeds game has hurt.

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

      nup. Balbuena might not feature either.

  27. Munny Man
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Hi.
    Would you bench boost with, Bamford, Raphina, Dallas, Johnstone?
    First 11 are all double game weekers!
    Thanks.

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

      Yes

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

      Yes

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

      Y

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

      Yes.
      Leeds cancellation hurts.

      1. Munny Man
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        It really does! I was happy with the team until that happened!

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

    I would captain Dias if I had him. He will play 180 minutes, two very likely cs and due a goal. Mega haul. Thank me later

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

      takes 1 goal to ruin it though.
      I'd rather C KDB.

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

    Real tricky one, some votes would be really appreciated!
    A: Chilwell to Canelo for a hit
    B: Keep Chilwell and play him (one of Justin/Bamford benches)
    C: Keep Chilwell, bench him fro Justin/Bamford
    Cheers!

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

      B - keep and play over Bamford

  30. Transferred Out
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Mccarthy Adams Raphina Dallas - Is this worth a BB?

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

      Yes - I think 4 playing players is worth a BB

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

        I agree

        Sometimes waiting for a DGW to have all players on the bench playing both games is unlikely and there usually fodder anyway