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

    Options are:

    A. Smith-Rowe / Soucek / Vardy

    B. Son / Soucek / Watkins

    C. Son / El Ghazi / Antonio

    All are for -4. Thoughts?

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

      A or C

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

        A

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

      A, but all 3 are decent. Not a huge Watkins fan mind you

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

      A

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

      A

      1. topmandan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Thanks guys

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

    TC Vardy, or save for a later Man City DGW? Too worried about a rest for KDB:

    Martinez
    Stones, TAA, Justin, Coufal
    KDB (V), Salah, Bruno, Soucek
    Vardy (C), Bamford

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

      Won't TC vardy

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

        I have a good feeling. But of course the sensible move is to wait. I did originally plan BB this week, with triple Leeds and some Southampton on my bench 🙁

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

      Save TC

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

      I'm captaining him and saving TC, captain is differential enough.

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

        Fair point. I usually use TC at a sensible time on the “template” pick and I have only ever got returns once that I recall, so feeling something a bit different. TC Mane during a DGw last season for 1pt was a highlight.

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

          I have a good record with TC, Sanchez that one year, Salah last year same week as Mane failed. I'm waiting for a Spurs double proably this year.

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

            Yeah I got Sanchez that time years ago, and got a very large haul from Kane in 15/16 I think. Other than that, all blanks.

    4. Aurora Borealis?
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Save triple captain. I was thinking about captaining vardy but now gone with salah. Southampton and Chelsea defensive form might return

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

        Salah and Pool in general have been far from their best of late, I haven’t really considered Salah tbh, Bruno is one yellow from a suspension and Pep’s usual cryptic chat has put me off KDB due to rotation risk.

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

    Morning all. Final decision I need help with please. Play one:

    A) Justin (SOU, CHE) 4-4-2
    B) Decordova-Reid (CHE, MUN) 3-4-3

    Thanks in advance 🙂

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

      A

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

      A

  4. Kante Touch This
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Hear me out... Hudson odoi

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

      CHO CHO choose him

      1. Kante Touch This
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Believe me I’m close!

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

      Get out!!

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

      Nope

    4. hustler7
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Will he start both games with Ziyech, Pulisic and Werner all fit? May not even start one

      1. Kante Touch This
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        He’ll start over Puli this week, then I guess depends on performance for the next game

  5. TMF86
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    WCing.

    A or B?

    A
    Martinez/Nyland
    Holding/Mitchell/Chilwell/Cancelo/Coufal
    Kdb/Bruno/Son/Soucek/Salah
    Bamford/Antonio/Brewster

    B
    Martinez/RYAN
    Holding/Mitchell/Chilwell/Cancelo/DIAS
    Kdb/Bruno/Son/Soucke/SAKA
    Bamford/Antonio/VARDY

    ?

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

      A

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

    Mane>KdB worth a hit? I think I'm going to stick I'm not convinced.

    1. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Mane a better option than Salah this GW IMO! Keep

      1. shirtless
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I think so too. Fresh and rested. I have both!

  7. Slim25
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Hi Guys!
    Martinez,
    James, Stones, Coufal
    KDB, Bruno, Salah, Grealish, Soucek
    Kane, Bamford
    (Button, Brewster, Ayling, Mitchell)

    Do I do the following?
    A: Bamford - Antonio
    B: Triple Cap Salah or KDB?

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

    I can't keep up.

    1. james 101
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Date someone closer to your age?

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

    Maddison or Barnes?

    1. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Maddy

      1. Mufc202020
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Do we not like the Barnes shout??

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

      Maddison

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

    Is this worth a BB?

    Ramsdale (TOT)
    Taylor (whu,liv)
    Anguissa (CHE, MUN)
    Ayling (BHA)

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

      No

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

        Correct answer. Just testing the community.

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

      No

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

        Correct

  11. dsefton
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    repost, sorry
    Bench: Areola, Bamford Lowton Tierney
    A) Save BB
    B) Tierney --> Justin/r.James (-4), play BB
    C) Play BB (no hits)

  12. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Nicolas Pepe hasn’t created a single chance from an open play in Premiership this season.

    72m

    Let that sink in

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

      Please don’t remind us

      1. La Roja
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        lol

    2. Party time
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Because he is pants

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

      Exact cash for Martial, Son, Tierney ➡ Antonio, Salah, Coufal. I can't avoid taking hits this DGW so I might as well pull the trigger. SO MANY OPTIONS ...

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

        -4 or -8

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

          That'd be first -8 of the season I think.

      2. La Roja
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I’d pull the trigger

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

          Cheers La Roja!

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

        Why did you even ask. No brainer moves in my opinion 🙂

    4. Ohh1454
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Start Dallas or Dier ?

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

        Either can get points.

      2. La Roja
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Dier

    5. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Kevin De Salah! Too hard to call

      1. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Morning mate.
        Who to bench.
        1, Coufal home to WBA, BUR.
        or
        2, Bamford home to BHA ??

        1. RAFA THE GAFFA
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Bench 2 imo mate.

          Kev or Mo for the armband?

          GL 🙂

          1. Cojones of Destiny
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Mo

          2. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            I have both and have gone KDB

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

            I'm leaning on salah but not triple.

            Seconded guessing pep is too stressful, you rarely win.

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

      Which transfers should I make?

      A) Taylor for Dawson since Balbuena has covid
      B) Stones Vardy for Kane Taylor (-4).

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

      Bench right now for BB
      Meslier taylor Dallas Brewster

      1) Brewster to Watkins (-4)
      2) taylor to stones (-4)
      3) 1 and 2 for (-8)
      4) Don't BB

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

        1

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

          Not worried about taylor
          Should I BB

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

        Do both transfers and BB, I did a -12 and BB
        I’m BB McCarthy, Bamford, Dallas, Pieters

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

      Kane to Vardy?

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

        Yes

    9. Bobby
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      if i have taken a hit but decide now to activate my wildcard, will the -4 still count?

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

        No

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

        No but a minus 4 is fine sometimes

      3. Carlton P
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        No. 11 years in the game...

      4. Thinkering like a Boss
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        not count anymore

    10. Garfield1001
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Thoughts on Raphinha to Foden for a -4?

      Already taken a -8?

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

        No for me

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

      Gtg? Rate /10

      Martinez
      Cancelo • Stones • Coufal
      Salah • KDB(C) • Bruno • Son • Grealish
      Antonio • Bamford
      (Steer / Dallas / Mitchell / Brewster)

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

        gtg. 8.5

      2. RAFA THE GAFFA
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        9. Very nice

    12. tractorjess
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      McCarthy
      Chilwell Robertson Stones
      KDB (C) Rashford Son Saka
      Firmino Antonio Wood

      BENCH: Bailey-P Raphinia Amartey Dier

      £1.5m itb.

      1) Would you do anything? Transfers, benching change, captaincy?
      2) Would you bench boost?

      Wondering about McCarthy to Martinelli or possibly Fabianski (presume he will at least be back for their second game)

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

        *Martinez!

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

      Ayling > Lowton for a hit?

      1. La Roja
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        lol

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

          Hehe

      2. Ritchies Magic Hat
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        No way

    14. Q
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Bench boost or not to bb fabianski, zouma, Dallas brewster

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

        yes

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

        Go for it. I am BB with Johnstone, Coufal, Bamford and Brewster. Got a feeling Brewster might start and get something against Spurs.

    15. pompeyben21
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Fabianski
      Zouma, Dias, Stones, Coufal,
      Fernandes, Foden, Rashford, Tielemans, Grealish
      Antonio

      Bench: Martinez, Justin, Kane, Bamford

      Should I BB or GTG?

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

        I would

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

      BB with Holding - RAPH - Mitchell only?

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

        No

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

      How many hits have you taken?

      I`m on -4 and thinking to switch McCarthy to Areola or Johnstone before the deadline.

      I struggeling with my Starting-11.
      I have to bench on of Soucek and Bruno - an i really fear a 1-Pointer from Bruno in that DGW. See Liverpool dominating that Game (2:0) and a high risk of Bruno getting his fifth YC.

    18. Hybrid Theory
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Brady + Maddison to KDB + Antonio too sideways?

    19. FPL-Albion
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      0.7 itb 0 ft

      Dier to
      A) Wan B
      B) Coufal or cresswell
      C) Reece James
      D) keep and save

    20. frenchfries
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Steer -> Ederson (-4) for the next 5-7 gw?

      My only starting GK is McCarthy with sgw and a hard schedule for the next 7 gw