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

    Have already uses FH so I think it will be difficult to BB dgw26 since then you coukd have major trouble dealing with bgw29.
    A) TC Salah
    B) BB Mendy Coufal Bamford Brewster
    B would cost 1 hit to bring in Mendy for Steer.

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

      Why is Coufal not starting?

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

        All other with DGW also

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

      go for BB with that bench

    3. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      B but with Fabianski

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

        Already 3x West Ham

    4. AC Yew
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Would find a way to start Coufal with those 2 juicy home fixtures

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

        Defence is Robbo Dias Stones Zouma. Would have bench Grealish or Soucek

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

          BB and GL

          1. AC Yew
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Would be inclined to bench Grealish on 4 YCs plus no confirmation hes available or BB. GL

    5. jomikijiq
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      B

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

    Is it mad to bench Bamford and not BB?

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

      Risky

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

      Depends on the rest of your bench

  3. have you seen cyan
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Leeds going to punish the faithless, "why didnt I start Dallas", "why did I take out Bamford for glass legs Antonio"

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

      Agree

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

    Leicester averaging 2’goals a game last 7 including Spurs away and United at home. Shouldn’t be deterred by Chelsea fixture and they’ve had more pens than anyone.

    Vardy(c) locked.

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

      You’re forgetting that this is a grudge fixture for saints.

      The past result that shall not be mr roomed needs avenging again

    2. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Leicester better on the road where thry can hit teams on the counter and use Vardy's strengths

  5. Here's Tom with the We…
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    A KWP to Coufal
    B Taylor to Dawson

    The one not transferred out will play

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

      A higher ceiling but Taylor a doubt so B

      1. Here's Tom with the We…
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I had planned to do A. But I just can’t see Taylor playing

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

    Go with your gut this week - always the worst feeling when you don’t and it would have come off

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

      Good advice. Good luck!

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

      Yup

    3. Greasy Grealish Gang
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      This may be the best advice I've seen! Applies to more than just FPL actually.

    4. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Are you TC or BB?

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

    A) Salah TC and why (on this)
    B) KDB TC and why

    Salah:
    Pros -
    Well rested
    Loves a shot
    13 goals vs 3
    Will this leading goalscorer really get another DGW? (May set up BB for such a week)

    Cons -
    Plays United and Burnley who are both good defensively

    KDB:
    Pros -
    Good fixtures

    Cons -
    Looks exhausted (too exhausted to take a pen?? May be due a rest)
    Doesn’t look as clinical
    AV game a small risk of cancellation?

    Anyone care to add some points

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

      TC Salah.

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

      Salah rarely comes off early, KDB might.

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

      Undecided, City will get another DGW, maybe thats a better time to TC

    4. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      B fixtures and form.

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

    Bench boost these?
    Shaw Bamford Mitchell

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

      Not for me

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

        Thanks for your advice

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

      Who is keeper? If inactive or sgw then not worth it

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

        Steer and no money to upgrade.

  9. Sid07
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Is taylor out for both games

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

      He may not be out for either, he’s a “maybe”, I’m selling

    2. Here's Tom with the We…
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Might make pool. Can’t see him playing against West Ham

  10. Erez Avni
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    need some help please

    martinez
    robo justin chilwel kwp (mitchell)
    salah bruno soucek son (poveda)
    vardy bamford (adams)

    A. coufal for kwp
    B. coufal & kdb for son & robo (-4)

    cheers!!!

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

      A. No way losing Robbo for a hit

  11. golden skulltula 69
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Hi everyone.

    Play Bamford (BHA) or Wilson (ars, avl)?

    Cheers!

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

      I started both, but Bamford if I choose one.

      1. golden skulltula 69
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Thank you!

    2. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Bamford

      1. golden skulltula 69
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Thank you!

  12. LanMi
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Typically, how many teams are due to get the double for getting into later stages of European and Domestic Cups?

  13. FPL price manipulators are …
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Not a single reply

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

      This

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

        Oh, there's one ^^^

      2. Jam0sh
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        That tweet?

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

          Yeah, game changer....

    2. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Hello

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

    Hi guys, need help, 1ft. 0 itb. Who’s your one transfer? And bb or not to be?! Doin my head in

    Johnston
    Dias coufal cancelo
    Son Fernandez raphina kbd(c) soucek
    Kane Bamford

    McCarthy dallas dier adams

    Sorry No replies

  15. h3nh3n
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    bench either Grealish or Bamford

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

      Bam, reluctantly

  16. Giles G
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Star Dier, Dallas or Smith Rowe?

    Or...

    Take a -4 for Coufal?

    1. @ocprodigy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Dallas.

  17. pjomara
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Who to drop - Soucek or Wilson?

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

      wilson for me

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

      Wilson

    3. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Wilson. I took a hit to replace him with Antonio

  18. Kno
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    justin -> cancelo to triple on the city too sideways? Dont really see a CS for leicester this week

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

      Do it

  19. Bonus magnet
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    1. Vardy + mane + Soucek

    2. Antonio + Salah + Maddison

    1. @ocprodigy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      1, think Vardy will outscore Antonio

  20. The Doc
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Would you move Mane to KDB? Already got Salah and spent -4 on other transfers. Kinda like the differential of keeping him.

  21. Amey
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Don't just post questions. Answer others as well FFS ❗

    1. Bonus magnet
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Ok

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

      It’s particularly bad close to deadline

  22. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Is it worth it to BB with Cancelo, Stones, Vardy and McCarthy on the bench? 😉

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

      Yes definitely

    2. Kellz86
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Naw definitely not, better to leave your bench empty and take the cheeky 0pt week to avoid any negative scores

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

    Predict your total points for this week...

    1. Jam0sh
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      85

    2. TKC07
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      106

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

      104(-4)

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

      147

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

      200

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

      112

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

      23

    8. Thomas Shelby from Birmingh…
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Top 1m rank this GW would be good

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

        If I dont get GW rank top 100k Im retiring.

  24. Fpl-king
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    On free hit

    Any thoughts gtg?

    Mendi
    Stones,Ogbonna,Shaw (Zouma, Michell)
    Fernandes, Salah, Kdb, Foden, Soucek
    Kane, Antonio (Davis)

    Also do I Leave Kane or swap for Vardy?

  25. Davidwes
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Son and TAA to Reece and KDB for a -8?

  26. SoShy
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Kane & Raphina to Werner & Foden -4 ?
    Drop Justin to the bench

  27. aardvark22
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    BB dilemma. Going round in circles any help apreciated

    Martinez (Steer)
    Robbo Coufal Cancelo Stones (Lowton)
    Salah(C) Fernandes Soucek (Mahrez, Raph)
    Vardy Antonio Bamford

    A) Stick with current
    B) Play Mahrez vs Bamford
    C) BB with Steer to Mendy (-4)
    D) BB with Steer, Mahrez to Mendy, Ziyech (-8)

  28. adstomko
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Shall I take Fernandes out?
    Think he'll get his 5th yellow vs Liverpool

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

      No

  29. dokutsu08
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Hi,

    Is it worth it to upgrade ampadu -> cresswell for a hit ?

    Cresswell will play in place of raphinha.

    Don't know if cresswell will massively outscrore raphinha to repay the hit.

  30. Gordon Cole
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Worth a -4 to replace C Taylor with Stones?

    McCarthy/Forster
    Dier, James, Dallas (Targett, Taylor)
    Soucek, KDB, Bruno, Salah, Son
    Antonio, Adams (Brewster)

    If so, play Stones instead of Dier or Dallas or Adams?

    1. phrampton534
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Probably - Taylor unlikely to play and Stones will likely get at least one CS.