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. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    -12 taken. Triple Leeds on bb. Oof it’s gonn be painful come 5:30

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

      don't understand why you'd take such a big hit, especially during a covid season

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

        hits are life

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

          life in prison maybe

      2. Tsparkes10
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Time to have fun. Hits were Lowton to Stones, McCarthy to Martinez and Adams to Antonio which could all pay off. Wanted to bb... bored of playing safe 🙂

        1. Ian J
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          I think you'll get those -12 back, against what you swapped out, some during the DGW and more importantly over the next 3/4 games weeks.
          The players you've brought in will also be the 'wannabe' players and will increase in value.
          Green arrows coming your way
          Good moves!
          Enjoy the DGW
          playing BB makes it somuch more exciting with having 4 more players to follow

    2. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      All the best!

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

      Very cool

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

      Some here , a 1-0 defeat is gonna hurt

  2. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    It’s going to be a long week if Kane and Son blank

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

      Decided to go without Salah this week then? Could you have afforded Son to Salah for free?

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I did indeed, no I couldn’t which is partly why I didn’t

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

          Fair enough. I had planned to get KDB in ever since the City DGW announcement so Son to KDB was always happening this week for free.

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

      I think Son could score 2 goals.

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I’ll be partying if he does

    3. Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      They wil 😉

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Wouldn’t surprise me

    4. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      They won't blank especially Son 😛

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

      Yes, same for me. Hopefully they both haul.

    6. El Presidente
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      SHU CS incoming... 🙂

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

    Bb laca holding and smith Rowe

    Up the gooners

    (Spurs fan)

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

      Don’t worry I won’t tell anyone

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

      sacrilege to even say that

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

    -8 and triple captain

  5. Cruyff's Eleven
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I have no players in the first game.

    Now what do I do....

    1. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Johnstone the only one really who anyone will own really

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        No need for the double ‘really’

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

        That's if he plays ??

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

      Delete account 🙂

  6. 272MK
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Can't believe I miss the deadline while I was pondering which striker to replace Kane with. SIGGGGHHHHHHH. First time making this kind of mistake. How did I forget the time

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

      Blessing in disguise

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

      Kane essential

    3. L'Aeroplanino
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      hattrick incoming

      1. 272MK
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Heres hoping

    4. Ian J
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      most last minute transfers fall flat - you'll be thanking yourself.

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

    State of Salah TCers come thursday night

    A) they FEAST!

    B) they'll love to see it

    C) They move!

    D) absolutely NOWHERE to hide

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

    -8 triple captain KDB with Son as my only single... Let's go

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

    Agree with you Leaf lol

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

    If I'm in the top 100K by the end of this GW I'll be a very happy (and lucky) man

  11. Digital-Real
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    let's see the KDB and Salah cappers...

    KDB (c) here

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

      Salah (c)

      Was a really close call

    2. Party time
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Kdb(C)

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

          Salah TC

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

        Mané here.....

      • Big Ronnie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        KDB (TC)

      • aleksaa2
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Kdb tc

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

      Has anyone gone Salahless this week?

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

        Booked my slot behind the sofa for tomorrow

      2. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Yes

      3. chrismoo75
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        swapped salah for KDB and TC him

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

      Finally a GW where it's fine to cheer for Son or Kane to haul.

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

        Would enjoy this

      2. chrismoo75
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        this

    5. HonestBlatter
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Give me the EO for Salah, KdB and Bruno after all TCers

      1. Mr. O'Connell
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Probably 300s across the board

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

        270
        230 and
        195

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

      Anyone on a -16 or -12 this week? Tell me your tales

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

        -12. i decided it worth it

      2. Tsparkes10
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        -12.. Lowton, McCarthy, Adams to Stones, Martinez, Antonio and bb

      3. Gunners in Haaland
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        -12, BB and Sterling(c)

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

        My brother did -12

        DCL to Brewster
        Son to KdB
        Anguissa to Soucek
        Taylor to Stones

    7. Maddi Son
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      My uncle's sister in law works in City's cafeteria. Rumour spreading around that Foden is on corners.

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

        Sure it isn't cornflakes?

        1. Maddi Son
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Hahaha

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

        And penalties?

      3. DA Minnion (Former great)
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        What cleaning them in the cafe?

      4. El Presidente
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        You mean pens?!

    8. Free Hat
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      If Martinez gets 2x 9 points it will be a very good gw for me.

      1. Free Hat
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Oh and I forgot City vs Cry 0-0 😀

    9. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Just having a cup of tea and browsing. Has everyone on here played a chip. I just took a hit to get 8 double players plus Dallas Bamford and Kane. Saving the chips for later.

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

        TC for me! KDB

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

      Anyone else in for the party ?

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

        Yes and McCarthy ingoal just for some insurance

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

        Van Wilder

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

        You know it

    11. Karan14
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Took a -4 at the last minute to get Cresswell and bench Raphinha

      Hope it doesn't backfire!

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

        Raphinha 2 assists incoming

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

        Live life on the edge

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

        Should be fine.

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

      Went with KdB, Cancelo and Brewster (-4) over Foden, Stones and Vardy (-8). Don’t feel good about, but better teamstructure for the next GWs.

      1. Hy liverpool
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        No Raz no party

    13. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Ive got a Mo TC with DDG in goal. At least a pen save will be slightly covered lol

      1. Free Hat
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Unless he puts it over the bar like Sterling 😀

    14. Quan MisTaka
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Last minute switch of captain from KDB to Salah. Anyone else?

      1. Silicon Vialli
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Yup

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

      Regretting benching Bamford now!
      Martinez
      Konsa Stones Holding
      Salah Son Bruno Soucek Foden
      Kane Antonio

      Steele Bamford Mitchell Kilman

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

        BB?

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

        Who could u have benched instead?

    16. Rains of Castamere
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Joined the Vardy party for the first time this season - cue hip strain in the first match.

    17. mookie
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Imagine missing the deadline for a DGW and burning a FT.

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

        Did u do that?

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

          Most certainly did.

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

        come on Mookie - really?

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

          Yep

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

            head in hands emoji

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

            On a Saturday deadline?

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

        Might turn out good. What would have been your transfers?

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

          Probably Kane to Vardy and Raphina to Grealish.

      4. Rains of Castamere
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        What's your excuse? I've got to hear this.

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

          Pondering about my League of Legends DFS lineups.

    18. Luton_Fan
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Neto brace incoming

    19. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Impatient 😆 and tried RMT to tell me what to expect from BB team: 126! Ready for disappointment?

      1. aleksaa2
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Depends on how many players you own that are in scout picks. More you got, more dissapointed you will be as always hahaha

        1. Magic Zico
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          6 out of 15, so it's promising 😛

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

      -12, no KdB and Mane(c). Big red here I come

      1. Karan14
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Ballsy

        I sold Mane for KDB(c). Its a weird gameweek!

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

          Was tempted by Bruno to KdB. Mane a decent differential atm

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

        I thought I was brave capping Lord Rash

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

          Rash been getting chances. Just needs to remember how to finish!

    21. Nimby
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I've gone without KDB so triple captained Salah to try and make up for any losses there. That's smart management!