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

    sorry brain freeze. How do I double-check BB is definitely activated?

    1. FDMS All Starz
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Bench should appear green

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

      Look on the website?

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

      The bench will be highlighted or something

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

      It sure but if you try pressing the button it will probably say already activate

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

        That will cancel it!!

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

      You just hit play and confirm your team and then the bench should change colour a bit

    6. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Select pick team bench should be highlighted

    7. Davros
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      On pick team page- at the bottom underneath bench boost it should give you the option to cancel if it is active

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

      Bench is dark green. And it says "CANCEL" under your Bench Boost.

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

      Thank you all. Can see it now

  2. Arfaish
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I have Son and Kane on a single as well as Bamford on the bench currently.

    Is it crazy to bench one of the Spurs lads (probably Son) for Bamford?

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

      Not crazy at all

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

        So do it?

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

      I would bench boost that

    3. Chill, we'll call you
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Son , Kane and Bamford could all outscore many of the DGW players, given their fixtures. Only makes sense if you have a strong DGW squad.

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

    Does Antonio score 4+pts more than Bamford this week?

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

      Yes - rumours on Twitter Bamford may be sick

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

        Get out!! What?

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

        You’re serious? I need to take a hit then!

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

        Ignore false rumour re Bamford but still get Antonio

        1. Scoring freely
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Did you make up the Bamford rumour or do you have a link?

    2. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I hope both score good. Have both and think they will do the job. Depnds if you are scared of Antonio fitness

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

      Think so

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

    TC and 11 DGWs = 26 opportunities at disappointment

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

      You going KDB over Salah TC mate? Confident?

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

        Yes no Salah so KDB TC is easy

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

          Who would you go if you had both?

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

            KDB

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

          Good luck

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

            Cheers

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

      Good luck to you mate

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

        Ta

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

      Salah or KDB TC?

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

        Kev

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

    What will the EO of Mo and Kev be?

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

      Kev will be super high

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

      Mo little less than 100 I guess
      KDB around 140

  6. iL PiStOlErO
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    GTG? KdB(C)?

    McCarthy
    Cancelo Justin Coufal
    Kdb(C) Salah Bruno Soucek
    Kane Antonio Bamford

    Forster Dallas Lowton Romeu

  7. Kane Train
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Who to captain ?

    A) KDB
    B) Rashford
    C) Bruno

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

      A

    2. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      A

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

      A

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

      Check captain poll mate

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

    Play zouma or el ghazi
    Or bb with fabianski, one of the above, dallas and brewster

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

      Zouma.

      Villa not great fixtures

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

        And unknow squad situ with COVID

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

          Thanks

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

    Im 700k now. If I dont get at least into the top 400k with BB my season is over...

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

    Hits! Hits! Hits everywhere!

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

    Thinking Wood to Antonio for a hit?

    I should stop over thinking, right?

    1. Front 442
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Do it

    2. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Just do it! 😉

  12. JoeSoap
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    A. Mendy>Soucek/Foden -4 (bench Dallas - have Antonio & Coufal)
    B. Dallas>Cancelo (bench Bamford)
    C. McCarthy>Ederson
    D. Gealish/Adams>Foden/Vardy (-8)
    E. Stick (have 8 DGWers McCarthy, Bamford & Dallas)

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

    Bench right now for Bench boost
    Meslier taylor Dallas Brewster

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

  14. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Salah or KDB captain?

    First one to 3 wins

    1. Front 442
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Antonio

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

      KDB

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

      Cresswell

    4. Feed tha Sheep
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Kdb

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

      Ings

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

      Cancelo

  15. aborg
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Would you do Mings to Stones for a -8 due to AVL uncertainty ?
    Already took hit to bring in Kilman for Cancelo earlier.

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

      A hit to bring IN Kilman for Cancelo??

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

        Lol sorry, the other way round. 🙂

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

    Pulisic or Ziyech?

  17. Heiro
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Start Holding or Dallas?

  18. Thunder Warrior
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Captain Salah or Sterling?

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

      Tricky. Both on bad form

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

      Sterling. Misses penalty then hatrick is super troll form

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

    Just for that extra reassurance please.

    Bench boost active. Right call?

    McCarthy (lei)
    Justin (SOU, CHE)
    Bamford (BHA)
    Holding (NEW)

    Thanks

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

      Yes

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

        Cheers !

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

      I would. Who the hell knows what'll happen in the rest of the season.

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

        Thanks, exactly!

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

    Salah and Coufal VS Mané and Stones

    Who wins?

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

      B

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

      Mane and Coufal, obviously

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

    (a) Rashford + Justin
    (b) Maddison + Robertson

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

      Tough one, long term A but differential element of B is great

  22. jernej93
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Play 1:

    Son, Dier or Lowton

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

      Son - should be a no brainer surely??

  23. The Train Driver
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Any last minute rumors to mess up my team?

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

      Your wife is having an affair

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

        Must be the bus driver....

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

      Bamford illness rumor above :p Probably BS

  24. Balls of Steel
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Biggest decision of this gw now is whether or not to transfer Son and Kane out for Salah and Antonio?

    It would be for a -4 and probably gonna captain Mo!

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
        3 years, 2 months ago

        For sure

      • Debauchy
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        If Mo Cpt then sure gl

      • Balls of Steel
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Thanx guys

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

      Raphinha to Foden for a -4?

    3. buttsy9
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Is Antonio worth a punt as captain over KDB?

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

        Noo

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

        I'm tempted but too risky, owning him is enough imo.

    4. Pacer.
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      (S)alah + Smith Rowe

      Grealish + Madison (C kdb or Vardy)

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

        Second is -4

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

      Is Watkins really the only sensible pick at 6.1 or less.....?

      Anyone else?

      The final piece to my puzzle

      Thanks

      1. FDMS All Starz
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Yes, also has good fixtures after gw19

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

        Thanks

    6. Paddy Gooner
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Big dilemma after BB cancelled and took a -4. Should I bench:

      A: Alioski (BHA) and play 4-4-2 or

      B: Anguissa (CHE, MUN) and play 5-3-2

      ?????

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

        A) 1 to 9 points possible
        B) 4 almost guaranteed

        I would bench B

      2. FDMS All Starz
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Bench Alioski

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

      Which one to put first one the bench?

      A) Dallas

      B) Dier

      1. FDMS All Starz
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        B

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

        Doesn't really matter

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

        A