Scout Picks

Gameweek 23 Scout Picks built on Man United and West Ham assets

Manchester United and West Ham players form the spine of our Gameweek 23 Scout Picks XI.

In a side chosen by David, Neale, Tom and Andy, we have included five players from the two clubs ahead of this weekend’s fixtures.

We line up in a 3-4-3 formation this time, which comes in at £73.8m, a staggering £9.2m inside our budget of £83.0m.

GOALKEEPER

Salah and blanks again as Brighton defensive assets shine ahead of good run 3

Robert Sanchez (£4.4m) was a relatively simple inclusion in the Scout Picks this week as Brighton continue to prove the doubters wrong. They have kept a clean sheet in each of their last four matches, including against Liverpool and Spurs, while Gameweek 23 opponents Burnley are the lowest-scoring Premier League team this season (13 goals).

DEFENDERS

Salah and Fernandes blank again as focus shifts to defensive assets 8

Aaron Cresswell (£5.6m) is the first of our West Ham triple-up as they travel to face Fulham on Saturday afternoon. The left-back has created more chances than any other Hammers defender over the last four matches while six of his eight assists have come on the road this season. Meanwhile, Fulham have failed to score in three of their last five.

Long-term owners of Luke Shaw (£4.9m) were finally rewarded when the Manchester United full-back delivered two assists against Southampton, before being dragged off at half-time. After delivering the most crosses and creating the most chances out of all defenders in the last six Gameweeks, we are backing Shaw to deliver the goods again when Everton come to Old Trafford.

Antonio Rüdiger (£4.5m) has well and truly forced his way back into contention at Chelsea. After starting each of the last two league matches under Frank Lampard, the German international has played every minute of Thomas Tuchel’s reign as Blues manager. Chelsea are yet to concede since the appointment of their new boss and, in Gameweek 23, face a Sheffield United side second-bottom for goals scored this season (14).

MIDFIELDERS

In Gameweek 22, Bruno Fernandes (£11.4m) punished the majority of Fantasy Premier League’s top 10,000 players who chose to captain Mohamed Salah (£12.7m) with a 17-point haul, equalling his highest score this season. Even after a couple of blanks, Fernandes has had the most shots on target and created the most chances in the last six Gameweeks.

Son Heung-min (£9.7m) earns a place in the Scout Picks mostly on account of his favourable fixture in Gameweek 23. West Bromwich Albion have conceded at least twice in each of their last seven Premier League matches.

No Premier League midfielder can better Jack Grealish‘s (£7.8m) 10 assists this season, with one of those coming against Saturday’s opponents, Arsenal in Gameweek 8. After Bernd Leno’s (£5.0m) red card against Wolves, the Gunners could be forced to field their third choice keeper, Alex Rúnarsson (£4.4m).

It is getting harder and harder to ignore Tomas Soucek (£5.3m) after the big Czech international scored his eighth goal of the season against Aston Villa. Soucek has scored the most headed goals out of all midfielders this season and faces a Fulham team who have conceded 20 headed attempts in their last six.

FORWARDS

Newcastle stick with back five for relegation six-pointer against Sheffield United

Callum Wilson (£6.8m) has been the one shining light in an otherwise awful season for Newcastle. He comes up against Southampton on Saturday who, as well as just being hit for nine by Manchester United, also have an injury crisis at the back.

The in-form West Ham striker Michail Antonio (£6.6m) has hit attacking returns in four of his five last games. With the highest expected goals rating (xG) of any forward in the last six Gameweeks, we are backing Antonio to continue his impressive form against a Fulham side whose recent defensive improvements have stuttered.

Patrick Bamford (£6.6m) is becoming a very reliable Fantasy asset this season adding improved creativity to his goal threat of late. In the last four matches, only Fernandes has created a higher number of big chances than the Leeds’ centre-forward, who has produced three assists in that time.

Substitutes

  • Nick Pope (£5.5m)
  • Matt Lowton (£4.4m)
  • Dan Burn (£4.2m)
  • Raphinha (£5.3m)

THE CAPTAIN

Who are the best captain options for FPL Gameweek 36+?

We choose the Scout Picks captain using a four-way vote between our Scout Squad pundits.

Because we use Fantasy Football Scout data so heavily in this process, the skipper we choose each Gameweek is known only to those with a valid Fantasy Football Scout subscription and revealed to the public only when the deadline has passed.

Here’s how we voted for Gameweek 23:

1,095 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Black Knights
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Here we go.

  2. _Gunner
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Who is a better pick from Burnley’s defense?

    A- Mee
    B- Lowton
    C- Tarkowski
    D- Pieters

    1. Digital-Real
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      E- Taylor

      1. _Gunner
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Is he back?

        1. Digital-Real
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          close to return. can't find the Dyche presser anywhere.

      2. Catastrophe
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Recovering from a recurrent hamstring injury?

    2. Catastrophe
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

    3. Black Knights
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Pieters will lose place to Taylor any second. Mee probably. Cheaper than Tarkowski, more goal threat than the full backs.

    4. Karan14
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I've gone Lowton so that I can afford Steer to Pope next week.
      Not much to split them really.

    5. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      C

  3. SHOWSTOPPERRR
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Guys have 2ft initial plan is to do bissou to son and bench dcl now thinking other plans

    A) bissou to maddison
    B) bissou to Barnes
    C) bissou to rash
    D) martin to pope(have Martinez)

    1. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Awww bisou to you too 😳

  4. Every Dog Has Its Day
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Get the ticker updated please

    1. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Just not your day is it 🙁

  5. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    G2G?

    McCarthy (new)
    Cancelo, Stones (liv) | Mee (BHA)
    Gundo | Bruno! (EVE) | Saka, ESR (avl) | Son (WBA)
    Antonio!! (ful) | DCL (mun)

    Martinez (ARS) | Richarlison, TAA (MCI), Mitchell (lee)

    1FT. 8.0 ITB.
    ! - VC
    !! = C

    1. Catastrophe
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Looks good. Not tempted with TAA over Stones?

      1. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Could be. I feel like an attacking return isn't very likely from either, so I went for the CS and bonis potential from that. If TAA and Liverpool were in form, I would easily go for TAA. What do you think?

        1. Catastrophe
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Yeah not sure either, none of them are particularly inspiring choices this week. Just fancy Liverpool to bounce back with a half decent chance Trent is involved.

          1. Deulofail
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            I just think City are better than Pool right now - and a bounce back is sort of guesswork?

            1. Catastrophe
              • 13 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              Yeah you're probably right. City are certainly the better team but I fancy both teams to score. We will see!

        2. Catastrophe
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Currently starting TAA with Dias and Stones benched.

    2. mr messi
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Double city defence? I’m still trying to decide

      1. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        If you're not sure because of the doubleness, then chances are the double is the way to go.

  6. Radzio
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Play 1
    a) Adams(new)
    b) Gundo(liv)

    Feel Liv-MC will be low scoring and with NEW defence all injured leaning towards Adams. Thoughts?

  7. Tommy Tynans Left Shin Pad
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Feel very uninspired this GW. The last DGW absolutely ruined me and I haven't really recovered.

    Captain Bruno or Son? First suggestion wins

    1. Catastrophe
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Bruny

      1. Tommy Tynans Left Shin Pad
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Legend. Thanks mate

    2. JJeyy
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Son easy

  8. Burger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Who would you play?

    A. Martinez (ARS)
    B. Sanchez (bur)

    ?

    1. Karan14
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Sanchez

      1. Burger
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Thank you

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

      A

      1. Burger
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Controversial 😆

  9. OverTinker
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    REPOST
    DDG
    Cancelo Stones AWB
    Salah Bruno Gundo Barnes
    Antonio DCL Bamford

    Johnstone Chilwell ESR Coufal

    2 FT and 4.3 in the bank

    1. DDG and Chilwel to Pope and Lowton for free
    2. DDG and Barnes to Pope and Grealish for free
    3. Just DDG to Pope and carry one transfer (Play chilwell and AWB first on bench as Chilwel has Sheffield)
    4. Any other idea

    1. BobbyDoesNotLook
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      1-3 sound all good. Maybe 3 and save ft.

      1. OverTinker
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        cheers

    2. ctulhu
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I'd bench Stones for either Chilwell or Coufal.

  10. Tmel
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Martinez
    Dias Coufal Chilwell
    Grealish Salah Son Bruno Gundo
    Bamford Antonio
    (Steer DCL Stones Mitchell)

    0.9ITB & 2FT

    a) Mitchell > Lowton
    b) Mitchell > Rudiger
    c) Chilwell > Shaw
    d) Chilwell > Alonso
    e) Chilwell > Mee
    f) Mitchell & Chilwell > Mee & Shaw

    1. Karan14
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Chilwell to Mee

    2. School of Poch
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      F

  11. Karan14
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    How does this team look for DGW24?

    Pope
    Cancelo Dias Lowton Cresswell
    Salah Bruno Grealish Gündo
    DCL Antonio

    (Martinez Son Bamford Mitchell)

    Will then most likely wildcard in GW25 and use BB in GW26.

    1. Radzio
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      With similar team(Dallas instead of Mitchell and Soucek instead of Son) I'm leaning towards BB24 and keeping WC ( don't have FH though).

      1. Karan14
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Yeah it could work out.

        I just don't like the fixtures for my bench in GW24. Martinez (bha) Son (mci) Bamford (ars). Plus I'll have to take a hit to sell Mitchell.

        In GW26 I could have Raphinha & Bamford (AVL) plus 2 DGW players on my bench for BB which looks better.

        1. Radzio
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Yes, in your situation BB24 doesn't look make too much sense I guess. I just like the idea of keeping WC for later but it's individual depending on the team for sure

  12. School of Poch
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Posted on old page.

    Would you make any changes here or save FT?

    Thinking I could get Antonio for the next 2 but all my strikers have doubles so not sure if it's worth it.
    A: DCL > Antonio
    B: Watkins > Antonio
    C: Bamord > Antonio
    D: Neco > Lowton (would still bench anyways so could just wait for the double next week)
    E: Save FT (will do Neco Riedewald > Gundo Lowton next week)

    Martinez / Forster
    Cancelo Coufal Dalllas / Dias Neco
    Son Salah Bruno Barnes / Riedewald
    DCL Watkins Bamford

    1FT 3.8ITB

  13. yanky
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    major bench headaches this week,, need to bench 2 ...

    a) TAA (MCI)
    b) Dias (liv) note- already playing Cancelo
    c) DCL (mun)
    d) Soucek (ful)
    e) James (shu)

    1. School of Poch
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      BE

    2. BobbyDoesNotLook
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Ab

  14. Jam0sh
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Thoughts about Watkins and Coufal to Antonio and Lowton for free?

    1. Flynny
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Watkins has 3 in 4....would look to keep

      1. Oooo Matron
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Save. You can always get Lowton next week.

  15. FPL Pillars
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Hey guys,

    My bench order ok?

    Martinez
    AWB Cancelo Dallas
    Son Salah Gund Bruno
    Bamford Antonio Watkins

    Areola / Saka Coufal Dias
    1FT 4.4ITB

    Bruno Antonio or Son for the armband. Haven’t decided yet.

    Goodluck!

  16. gaurava1216
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    A) Soucek to Son and C Son ( next week will transfer to Rasford anyways)
    B) Soucek to Rashford
    C) Neither and Play Soucek and cpt Bruno

    1. frenchfries
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      C

    2. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      C

  17. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Hello everyone.

    What to do here lads. 2 FTs and 1.0 iTB. Thinking to use BB in DGW26 but also to save WC for later.

    McCarthy
    Dias-Cancelo-Dallas
    Salah-Sterling-Bruno(C)-Raphinha-Soucek
    DcL-Bamford

    Johnstone-Coufal-Davis Balbuena.

    Well, Balbuena blocking Antonio move in easy route so thinking to do Salah, Davis and Balbuena to Grealish, Antonio and Mee for -4 and prepare for DGWs.

    Thoughts? Anything else? Cheers

  18. frenchfries
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Ederson
    Justin Coufal Dallas
    Salah Bruno Son Grealish
    Antonio Bamford Watkins

    McCarthy Gundogan Dias Taylor

    2ft 2,4itb
    A) Ederson -> Pope (2ft to get in another city player, and pray Taylor is back)
    B) Taylor -> Mee

  19. Flynny
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Good to go here? Set up correct?
    4.3mitb and 1ft but plan to save it

    Thanks

    Pope (Martinez)
    Cancelo dallas chilwell (coufal dias)
    Salah bruno (c) grealish gundog soucek
    Antonio watkins (dcl)

    1. Oooo Matron
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Would probably start Coufal ahead of Chillwell. You don't want a one pointer & think Fulham will offer up plenty of points for West Ham

      1. Flynny
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers.....yes I'm undecided on that....have a feeling chilwell may start....thanks

  20. Oooo Matron
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    G2G? (Roll FT)

    Martinez
    Cancelo Dallas Dawson
    Grealish Fernandes (C) Sterling Salah Son
    Antonio Watkins

    Subs: Dias, Mitchell, Brewster

    1. Niho992
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Gtg

    2. Reacher
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      GTG

  21. Pedersen
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Got McCarthy. Get Pope or martinez as second keeper ?

    1. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Pope if you have WC left

  22. Eleven Hag
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bench one plz?

    A) Dias
    B) Gundagon
    C) DCL
    D) Digne

    1. Reacher
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      C

    2. Oooo Matron
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Digne

    3. Karan14
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Dias or Digne

    4. Niho992
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      D

    5. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A or D

    6. frenchfries
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

      1. frenchfries
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        D actually

  23. Reacher
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Decided to bench Stones and play Diaz, but need to pick 2 from the following 3 defenders to start

    A, Coufal

    B, Allioski

    C, Justin

    Help

    1. Oooo Matron
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Coufal

    2. Digital-Real
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Stones better than Diaz aerially

      1. Reacher
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Diaz more nailed

    3. MoSalad
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A & C

    4. tuturututu
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Tough one really. Maybe bench Alioski

    5. frenchfries
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      AC

  24. JohannaAdams10
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Who to start:

    A) Justin (V wolves)
    B) DCL. (V Man Utd)

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

      A

    2. Niho992
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

    3. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

    4. frenchfries
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

  25. MoSalad
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bench one:

    A) Cancelo
    B) Coufal

    1. Niho992
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B

  26. tuturututu
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Captain Bruno or Son? Spurs look pretty poor without Kane but should at least trash WBA.

    1. Niho992
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B

  27. winchester
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Good day lads! Have 2ft and 0,3m itb Wildcard, bb, tc available. Kane back next gw? keep or sell? what would you lads do with this lot? cheers guys!

    martinez (martin)
    dias cancelo dallas coufal (taylor)
    salah bruno son soucek gundo
    bamford (adams kane)

    martin+kane -> pope+antonio/wilson/watkins/DCL ?
    y/n?

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

    Salah and Saka out

    For Raphinho and Soucek?

    1. waltzingmatildas
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Nope

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

        How about for Raphinha?

  29. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Kane to Antonio for free or just save and play Watkins.

    1. waltzingmatildas
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I'd save, sounds like Kane might not be too much longer

  30. waltzingmatildas
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    2fts
    A) johnstone to sanchez (bench Martinez)
    B) robbo to shaw (bench coufal)
    C) robbo to mee (bench coufal)
    D) one of B/C and martinez to pope