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. Miro
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Foden -> Son for a hit and bench DCL or just play DCL ?

    1. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Seems sensible in theory, but Spurs/Son are very out of form

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

    Play Soucek or Gundo?

    1. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Both?

  3. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone punting on Alonso?

    I want to but worried he won’t start?

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

      same problem. thinking of Azpi, because he wont get benched, but more defending than alonso

  4. Manani
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    gtg? save FT?

    Martinez
    Cancelo Holding Coufal
    Soucek Gundogan Salah Pulisic Grealish
    Adams Antonio
    (Chiwell DCL Diaz)

    1. Im New Here
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      How much in the bank? Puli -> Fernandes is what you want to do

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

    Start 1 please:

    A) Coufal
    B) Stones
    C) Dallas

    1. Neves say Neves
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

    2. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Dallas

    3. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Stones

      Liverpool aren't scoring

    4. Miro
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      C

    5. Nedvěd11
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      C

  6. Neves say Neves
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Don't fancy Bruno for the captaincy this week, going for a differential. Which one should I pick?

    A) Watkins (vs an abismal keeper)
    B) Bamford (decent shout vs cpl)
    C) Raphinha (in form, good fixture)
    D) Soucek (fulham struggle to defend aerial threats)
    E) Pope (likely chance of a cs + bps)
    F) Coufal (likely chance of a cs + crossing vs bad fulham aerial defence)

    TIA!

    1. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

    2. mezza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B - only penalty taker from there and arguably the best fixture

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

      B

  7. Pukki Party
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Will Taylor get his place back when fit?

    1. Neves say Neves
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I think so, he was playing very well before his injury

      1. Pukki Party
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers will probably keep and hope he plays in the double

        1. Neves say Neves
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Good plan!

  8. Jimmy Boy
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    McCarthy
    Dias - Cancelo - Coufal
    Salah - Bruno - Gundo - Son
    Bam - DCL - Adams

    Forster - Neto - Reguilon* - Bernardo*

    Which transfer should I prioritise for this GW? Antonio ownership looking likely to cause me some damage atm but if Adams is ever gonna score surely it'll be against Newcastle?

    A) Adams > Antonio (currently set on this)
    B) Reguilon > Alonso/Azpi (would likely start in place of Dias/Adams)

    1. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A, life is better without Adams in your fantasy team

    2. Pep bites Kun
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A all day

    3. Neves say Neves
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Adams has got a dgw in gw 26 so he could be a hold for now.
      I would get Shaw if you sell Reguilon

      1. Jimmy Boy
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Apologies, should have included that I plan to wildcard 25 so not concerned about Sou DWG

        1. Neves say Neves
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Oh ok, in that case yeah I would get Antonio

  9. Pep bites Kun
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    GW Cap is a tough choice - let's separate the wheat from the chaff with a bit of Son! 😉

  10. FPLord
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Martinez (Forster)
    Cancelo Coufal Justin (Dallas Dias)
    Son Fernandes Salah Grealish Gundogan
    Bamford Antonio (DCL) 2FT 1.1

    Unfortunately I'm 0.4 off the Forster>Pope move, so I'm seriously considering
    A. Salah, Forster > Raphinha, Pope
    or
    B. Salah, Forster > Rashford, Pope

    There is no one else I'm keen on downgrading...What do you think?

  11. pundit of punts
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Would you change anything?

    Martinez
    Dier - Mee - Holding
    Salah - Sterling - Bruno - Grealish
    DCL - Bamford - Wilson

    Button - Foden - Dias - Mitchell

    1. Jimmy Boy
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Would be tempted to play Dias over Holding

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

        I am playing Dias over Holding and think it's a no brainer. City have higher CS odds against Liverpool than Arsenal do against Villla for good reason. (

    2. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Probably not
      Pool v City is so hard to call though

      1. pundit of punts
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        This

        Struggling big time with that

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

        Equally hard to call is Arsenal against Villa.

  12. Will J 256
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Play two:
    A: Dier (WBA)-H
    B: Coufal (FUL)-A
    C: Justin (WOL)-A

  13. HarryS
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Grealish-Salah-Raphina-Bruno

    2FT Grealish > Soucek Salah > Son?

    1. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Very high risk

    2. Neves say Neves
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I don't really like these moves. Grealish is getting points and Spurs look horrible at the moment. What else could you do?

      1. HarryS
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I honestly don't know defense is ok attack is ok, any ideas on that mid?

        1. Neves say Neves
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Salah > Gundo/Sterling if you don't have triple city?

          1. HarryS
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            I have Bissouma should I transfer him for Soucek or Gundo?

            1. Neves say Neves
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              bissouma > soucek sounds very good!

  14. Nedvěd11
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Play 3

    Shaw, Digne, Cress, Cancelo, Soucek, Gundo

    Currently on

    Shaw, Cress
    Soucek

    1. Aster
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Would do the same

  15. Aster
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bench two

    A) Coufal
    B) Cancelo
    C) Dias
    D) Shaw
    E) Dallas

    (My GK is DDG)

    1. Nedvěd11
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Play Dallas at least.

      Zaha out (?) and attacking returns?

  16. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I'm using BB in 24 rather than 26. I fancy my Villa & Leeds players in GW24 on bench rather than West Ham players against City in GW26. No WC or FH remaining. Thoughts?

  17. JP\'s
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Who to bench?

    A.DCL
    B. Lowton
    C. Dias
    D. Coufal
    E. Dawson

    1. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      E

  18. Pukki Party
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    What would be the best transfer here with 2ft 0.0itb?

    Martinez
    Robbo Cancelo Holding
    Salah Bruno Son Soucek
    DCL Richarlison Bamford

    Ramsdale Stones Anguissa Taylor

    Best way to afford Ramsdale to Pope?

    A) Richarlison to Antonio (Rich has a dgw24 but Antonio two good fixtures)
    C) Robbo to Chelsea defender (Alonso?)

    1. FPLord
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      C for me

    2. Lazaretti
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I was thinking DCLto Antonio(c) for a hit but then he has his 3rd game in six days which is putting me off.

      So C maybe Rudiger as he seems to be nailed

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

    Mendy
    Rudiger, Shaw, Justin
    Bruno(c), Salah, Sterling, Son, Maddison
    DCL, Antonio

    Fodder, Coufal, Stones, fodder

    Thoughts?

    1. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Good team that

    2. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Play Coufal
      Bench either DCL or Shaw, will be hard for both to return

    3. Skymonkey
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      No Bamford is a crime really

  20. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Gtg? Bench is hard

    Pope
    Stones Coufal Dallas
    Salah Sterling Soucek Gundogan Bruno(c)
    Bamford(vc) Watkins

    Sanchez Richarlison Robertson Konsa

    1. Smudger’s Dirty Dozen
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Right call for me

  21. MIGHTY JOE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Might be stupid question but: Lowton nailed for Burnley?

    1. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yes

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

        Ty

  22. Cilly Bonnolly
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bench Salah or DCL?

    1. Aster
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      DCL

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

        DCL

    2. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      DCL all day

    3. Danstoke82
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Even though he’s hot and cold right now I could never bench Salah. DCL for me

  23. Smudger’s Dirty Dozen
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Team for GW

    Martinez/Nyland*
    Dallas Cancelo Justin (Stones Kilman)
    Son Bruno (VC) Salah Gundogan Barnes Antonio(C) Bamford (DCL first sub)

    2 FT
    A Swap Nyland for DGW GK
    B Kilman to Cresswell
    C Kilman to AWB

    1. Neves say Neves
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A (pope)

  24. Henning
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    One of those for free?
    And anyone worth a hit?

    1. Areola to Pope
    2. Barnes to Soucek/Grealish
    3. Coufal to Cresswell
    4. Dallas to Shaw

    Martinez
    Coufal Dias Justin
    Son Barnes Salah Fernandes Gundogan
    Antonio Bamford

    Areola Dcl Dallas Stones

    1. Neves say Neves
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      1 for me

    2. Smudger’s Dirty Dozen
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      2 Grealish

    3. Danstoke82
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Pope for free. Gets your ready for next week. Nothing worth a hit IMO.

    4. Henning
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Thanx all

  25. Danstoke82
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Whom to captain? Am chasing in my ML

    A) Antonio
    B) Son
    C) Bruno
    D) Bamford

    I’m thinking A but could do with opinion. Thanks in advance!

    1. Neves say Neves
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      If I had Antonio I would captain him without thinking twice. Go for it!

      1. Danstoke82
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers!

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

        Who are you going to captain?

        1. Neves say Neves
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Scroll up, really not sure. It will probably be Bamford

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

      I think A Is a great option

      I actually think this is a reasonable week to take a bit of a punt

    3. Skymonkey
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Call me template but Bruno for me. Everton haven't looked at their best, Bruno scored 17 points in the reverse fixture, and whenever he has scored 17 points (vs.SOU), the next game he gets a double-digit haul, so his stats are on his side.

  26. jimmy.floyd
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Play one:
    A AWB (have DDG)
    B Coufal (have Cresswell)
    C Stones (have Cancelo)

    1. Skymonkey
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Play Coufal with AWB ahead of stones on the bench only because Stones might not play.

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

    Barnes to

    1. Grealish
    2. Son
    3. Keep Barnes

    1. jimmy.floyd
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      1

  28. RUUD!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Will the ticker update soon?

  29. Hazardous1983
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Start coufal or dias.starting cancelo already

    1. Skymonkey
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Coufal, and Dias first sub. Cancelo might not play.

      1. Neves say Neves
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Yeah, what this guy said

      2. Aster
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        No way.

        Cancelo is nailed.

  30. Weasel Boy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Who would you bench from the following

    A Salah
    B Gundo
    C Soucek
    D Bruno
    E Son
    F Watkins
    G Bamford
    H Antonio

    Thanks

    1. Skymonkey
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Watkins

    2. Neves say Neves
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A