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. 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? ?

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

      I'm doing it.

      Yes. They could get a double in 26 but it would be shu CHE. I prefer this one.

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

        Could be good. Curious as to why you aren’t going KDB?

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

      Good time for a TC, only thing is that this virus could cancel the games...

  2. Vlekz
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Already on a -4.
      A)laca to Antonio (-4)
      B)dier to Robertson (-4)
      C)both for a total -12 for the week
      D) none of the above

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

        BB or no bb?

        I like a

    • Saka Punch
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Feel like Salah vs KdB is the hardest captaincy decision so far this season. And perhaps the most important to get right

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

        Yeah could go either way, and could be massive swings if you get it right or wrong

      2. Takedog1
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Crystal Palace usually make it difficult for city

        1. Steve The Spud
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Burnley normally make it difficult for Liverpool

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

      GTG with BB?

      Martinez
      Stones, Chilwell, Coufal
      Salah (C), Bruno, Son, Foden, Soucek
      Kane, Antonio
      Meslier, Justin, Bamford, Dallas

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

        Yes - good bench boost

      2. Vlekz
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Yup

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

          I have a bench of Mcarthy Bamford Dallas ESR and considering don’t BB.

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

        Folks, who’s the better pick?

        Cresswell
        Zouma

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

          Zouma

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

          I like Cressy for this week

        3. Vlekz
            3 years, 2 months ago

            For this week Cresswell I think

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

          Start Son (SHU) or Reece James (ful and Leo)?

          1. Fpl stress
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Has to be son, guys too explosives and has punished too many times

          2. Vlekz
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Reece coming back from a hamstring injury. Might only play one

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

                Very true. Thanks

          3. Takedog1
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            best daw defender to get 5m or under???

            1. Takedog1
              • 10 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              dgw****

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

              Stones still 5m?

              1. Takedog1
                • 10 Years
                3 years, 2 months ago

                got him mate

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

                  Coufal?

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

              Stones?

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

              Justin maybe coufal

              1. Takedog1
                • 10 Years
                3 years, 2 months ago

                not sure if he will play 2 90s???

          4. kennethrhcp
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Doing my head in for a few days now. Raphina to Foden -4 on bb

            Yay or nay?

            1. Fpl stress
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Nahhhhh

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

                Thanks for the reply

            2. el polako
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              I'd risk it, have some fun.

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

                Thanks El P... I'm leaning to doing it alright

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

              I would, more upside and 1 more game

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

                Thanks Demba Demba (if you read back)

          5. el polako
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Pages flying, how much well thought through advice can you get from someone in 5 seconds ?

            1. Make United Great Again
              • 11 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              This.

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

              Well if you look 1 above I'd appreciate your 5secs 🙂

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

                Ps... true

                I'm just hoping a couple of regulars who I trust give an opinion

                1. el polako
                  • 6 Years
                  3 years, 2 months ago

                  There you go.

                  ...don't trust me though 😉

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

                    I was 60/40 in favour tbh

                    That Shrewsbury rumour put me off a bit

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

                        Thanks for that!

          6. fuzzymike
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Is Antonio for Wood worth 4 point hit??

            1. Fpl stress
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Antonio in then yeah one goal in one week and you're covered, allow having (dead) wood in your team

            2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
              • 14 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Wood somehow has 6G 1A in 6 apps vs West Ham if it’s any consolation

              He also has more big chances than Kane this season & as many as Salah

              Still won’t be a long term or even medium term hold mind you

              Antonio can always go boom plus probably has pens

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

                I'm concerned about Antonio lack of match time, only sub appearances lack 2 league games

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

            I all ready took a hit to bring in KDB.

            Would you

            1) hold the BB chip

            2) BB with Wood, Walker-Peters, Holding & Forster.

            3) BB with a hit for Wood, Coufal (-4 hit), Holding & Forster.

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

              Or triple captain kDB

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

                TC KDB

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

              Hold the chip

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

            Salah 3 league blanks in a row and has United which could be a tight affair. Not buying this is a good use of a TC chip and I’ve used mine on Salah the last 2 seasons.

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

              Completely agree

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

              Same in captaining him but not using TC at the moment, don't understand the desperation to use a chip just because it's a DGW doesn't mean it's the right week

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

              Agree, and he's looked tired the last few outings, but it's a personal preference I guess. There's more doubles to come, so I'm opting to save for possibly Kane in the future. Plenty of time & opportunity for chips

          9. ratski
            • 13 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Anyone able to help I just can't decide.
            Grealish and kane for Salah and Watkins (-8)

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

              Im doing this for -4 with Antonio, if it helps

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

              Could work out this week but reliant on Salah scoring highly, also got to think who you want in the longer term as well though

            3. Vlekz
                3 years, 2 months ago

                It's essentially kane to salah for -8. Doesn't look viable if you can captain kdb

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

                Look above

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

              Raphinha to Foden or Walker-Peters to Stones? Thank I might bench boost, even with a few singles, and Leeds have a better single than Southampton so I'm thinking Stones in?

              1. Keep Calm and Play On
                • 8 Years
                3 years, 2 months ago

                I really wanted to get Foden this week but I think he will only play 90 total over the gw so I’d go stones who should play both

              2. Cilly Bonnolly
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 12 Years
                3 years, 2 months ago

                *think

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

                Latter

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

                Thanks guys.

            5. Keep Calm and Play On
              • 8 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Alright first to 2, captain?

              A) KDB (May be rested but has FA cup for that and on better form)

              B) Salah (Rested but on poor form)

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

                KDB

              2. Cilly Bonnolly
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 12 Years
                3 years, 2 months ago

                KDB. Play the fixtures.

              3. Keep Calm and Play On
                • 8 Years
                3 years, 2 months ago

                Cheers! KDB it is

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

                  TC?

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

              What do people think of Grealish as an option this week?

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

                Sold already

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

                Avoid

              3. Keep Calm and Play On
                • 8 Years
                3 years, 2 months ago

                He made way for KDB for me, it was him or Son and he got the boot

              4. Make United Great Again
                • 11 Years
                3 years, 2 months ago

                Nah

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

              Insanity to do Saka to El Gahzi for -4 ?

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

                Yup

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

              Tierney owners are you keeping or selling?

            9. Make United Great Again
              • 11 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              A. Vardy
              B. Kane

              I own Son.

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

                Kane always

                1. Keep Calm and Play On
                  • 8 Years
                  3 years, 2 months ago

                  Yeah Vardy’s hip injury would worry me that he only plays one game and then gets rested, I only sold Kane to get funds for KDB and I’m slightly worried

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

              Bakar says I should BB, you agree? Forster 2nd keeper

              Who to start?
              A) BamBam
              B) Holding
              C) Dier
              D) ESR
              E) BB

              1. Make United Great Again
                • 11 Years
                3 years, 2 months ago

                Yes

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

              Salah TC or just C..?

              1. Keep Calm and Play On
                • 8 Years
                3 years, 2 months ago

                Just C

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

              What are your thoughts on Martial, keeping him or transferring him out ? if out, who for assuming that you have £0 ITB
              Thanks

              1. The-Red-1
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 6 Years
                3 years, 2 months ago

                I initially had him as his fixtures post 19 are good. But the injury doubt got to me and took him out for Antonio. Watch martial haul now

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

                  I already have Antonio. My thinking is that he should play one game and is worth a -4,

            13. Bishopool
              • 12 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Yes or no?

              1FT

              Saka -> Soucek

            14. Nay08
              • 3 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              need some thought.

              Martinez
              Dias/Robbo/Creswell
              Salah/Kdb/Bruno/Grealish/Saka
              Bamford/Watkins

              Button/Dallas/benteke/bernardo

              I plan to do Dallas to Coufal (1FT) and bench Saka.

              is that good enough? any suggestion for a better move?

            15. cheeky moses
              • 8 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Need some input On this.
              Which scores most?
              A) Dallas and Stones
              B) Antonio and Cancelo (-4)

            16. Sho-kun
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Bruno/Coady --> Salah/Alioski

              Yes or no?

            17. Sgt Frank Drebin
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Thoughts about doing Dallas to Stones for -4 and then playing bench boost? According to the 6 games projections that would give me 3 additional points from Stones and 3.6 from Adams. 7.6 points is not great but on the other hand I doubt it will be better going forward. What you think?

            18. The-Red-1
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Good to BB right?

              Martinez
              Dias Maguire Stones Coufal Chilwell
              Sterling (c) Rashford (v) Bruno
              Vardy Antonio

              Johnstone Soucek ElGhazi Bamford

            19. fatherted
              • 12 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              If I use my w/c, do I still get one for the 2nd half of the season?

              Mental block.

              1. Keep Calm and Play On
                • 8 Years
                3 years, 2 months ago

                This is the second half of the season...first WC had to be used by gw16 I believe.

                Sorry to be the bearer of bad news if you burned it

                1. fatherted
                  • 12 Years
                  3 years, 2 months ago

                  Cheers. Needed it anyway, so not all doom and gloom. Still got all the others.

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

              Which transfers should I make?

              A) Taylor for A dgw defender
              B) Stones Vardy for Kane Taylor (-4)