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. Warby84
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Play

    A. Martinez

    B.DDG (dbl w/Shaw)??

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

      A

  2. Old Bull
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone giving Antonio the cataincy?

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

      Plenty are

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

      def in my top 2

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

      Not a bad shout but Fulham tightened up.

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

      currently he is my cap

    5. Old Bull
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I hate straying from Bruno

    6. Lilac Breasted Roller
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yeah think so

    7. Iain Dowies Love Child
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Between Bruno and him

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

    Bench one please
    A) Gundo
    B) Salah
    C) Dias
    D-allas

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

      It's B or D for me.

    2. Neo-Viper
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      D-allas

    3. Bennyboy1907
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      D

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

      D

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

    The under performing players in my team are:

    - Dier
    - Fabianski (playing Pope)
    - Son

    2 ft.

    Shall i just do:

    A) Fabianski to Steer to release money for returning players in the future (already had a good BB in gw19 rank).

    B) Move Dier for Shaw

    Or

    C) Both?

    Cheers

    1. Neo-Viper
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Just B. Fab has a good fixture this week.

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

        I'm essentially not burning a transfer.

        But still likely to play Pope home to Brighton but you could be right.

        Also Spurs home to WBA. Dier and Son only 2 Spurs players above 7 points on SofaScore last match.

  5. gooberman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Questionable decision to start Soucek over Raphina in the scout picks. Bookies odds has Raphina at a 46% chance of a return compared to 31% for Soucek.

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

      soucek hatty this week then lol

    2. Granville
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Soucek's numbers are far superior.

      1. gooberman
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        So why isn't that reflected in the market odds? The market doesn't get it wrong. The odds will reflect the probability of the event happening.

  6. Super John McGinn-
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Any ideas what to do with this then and who to bench? Want to leave enough in the bank to get Kane in for DCL too
    Still got WC, BB and TC so is it worth building a good bench or just do that on WC

    Martinez
    Robbo, Cancelo, Dallas
    Salah, Bruno, Grealish, Gundo, Soucek
    Bamford, Antonio

    Forster, DCL, Dias, Mitchell
    2 FT 5.7 ITB

    A) Forster > Pope
    B) Mitchell > Rudiger/Lowton
    C) Soucek > Son
    D) Other.

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

      A

    2. gooberman
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Both DCL and Dias should be ahead of Soucek in the pecking order.

  7. balint84
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Son to Vardy for free? (also Reid to Raphinha)

    1. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      How are you doing that?

      1. Pandastar5
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        ^^ two ft?

  8. jonnybhoy
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Got 2FT any changes to make? Kinda want to get Rudiger/Pope/Antonio/Grealish but not sure its worth it?

    McCarthy Forster
    Cancelo Stones Coufal Justin Alioski
    Salah Son Bruno Soucek Gundo
    DCL Bamford Brewster

    Any thoughts guys?

  9. Wılly
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Which one to bench?

    A. TAA (MCI)
    B. Gundogan (liv)
    C. Adams (new)

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

      C

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

      C or A

    3. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

    4. Feed tha Sheep
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Prob C but A is for consideration madly enough

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

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

    1. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B

    2. Feed tha Sheep
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B

    3. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Both are good option nobody else you can bench ?

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

        Agree- any other options?

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

          Cancelo

  11. Davros
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    A) Johnstone -> Pope
    B) Raphinha -> Son

    1. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A 100%

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

        Why Raphina, has Palace and then a double in two weeks time?

    2. Feed tha Sheep
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

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

        Thanks

  12. Iain Dowies Love Child
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Robbo to:

    A) Shaw
    B) Mee
    C) Rudiger

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

      A

    2. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I’ve done Mee.

    3. Feed tha Sheep
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B due to DGW but shaw doing really well

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

      A

    5. toerag
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      hahahahahah Grav 😆

  13. Weak Become Heros
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    When is the ticker going to get updated?

    Ben Crellin has done so well but i prefer FFS ticker!

  14. bitm2007
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    McCarthy
    AWB, Dias, Justin, Dier
    Salah, Bruno, Son, Gundo, Soucek
    DCL, Bamford, Antonio

    Which two should I bench ?

  15. DannyDrinkVodka
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I am somewhat perplexed by the number of people here benching Salah......seriously?!

    1. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Have you seen the City defence?

      Have you seen Salahs form?

      Case closed.

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

        Form is temporary though.....he’s got it in him to score a brace

      2. Warby84
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Salah form is 4 in 4 inc cup

    2. Iain Dowies Love Child
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yeah this is a crazy thing to do - far to risky

    3. Old Bull
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      This is really interesting imo. I really won’t be surprised if he does nothing or if he gets something from the game. I don’t think leaving him on the bench is as barmy as it sounds, but you’ve got to be brave to do so.

  16. n-doggg
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Currently have Stones and Sterling. For the city DGW would you get in

    A. Gundo
    B. Cancelo
    C. Dias
    C. A and B/C and remove stones -4

    1. Bennyboy1907
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      C

    2. Feed tha Sheep
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      C

    3. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      C

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

      C

  17. Bagheri Arce
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Appreciate help folk...

    Marty

    Justin, Coufal, Bellerin

    Bruno(c) Sterling, Gundo, Soucek, Salah

    Bamford, Watkins

    Foster, Robbo, DCL, Stones

    A) Robbo > Shaw/Mee/Digne (and play instead of Bellerin)
    B) Martinez > Pope
    C) Watkins > Antonio

    2ft and 1.6m in bank

    Cheers

    1. zdrojo187
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Robbo>Mee

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

      C

  18. Bennyboy1907
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Sorry to be annoying
    Who to play this week pick 3:

    A) Stones
    B) Dallas
    C) Coufal
    D) Cancelo
    E) Ben mee

    1. Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      BCD

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

      CBE

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

      Coufal, Cancelo and Mee

  19. Sc007
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    If you had to pick 3 to start this weekend out of.
    Dias
    Stones
    Coufal
    Lowton
    Alioski

    1. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      DSC

      1. Tsparkes10
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        This

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

      LAC, Liverpool will score

    3. Iain Dowies Love Child
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      DCA

  20. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone salah cap?

    1. Feed tha Sheep
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      God no some arnt even starting him never mind capt

    2. Jet5605
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Salah is lucky to make my starting line up and is probably 5th choice captain

    3. Iain Dowies Love Child
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Not again no

  21. Jet5605
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Pick two to start alongside Justin

    A - Dallas
    B - Coufal
    C - Stones
    D - Robbo

  22. DannyDrinkVodka
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Antonio is tempting as a captain choice until one considers the consequences of Bruno getting a cheeky pen and an assist.....rank killer

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

      Exactly.

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

      Bruno (c) Antonio (vc)

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

      Bruno did not pass my eye test against Southampton.

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

        I'm sure he'll be devastated to hear that. 🙄

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

          Devastated or not, he has been poor recently, notwithstanding his 17 pts.

          1. Iain Dowies Love Child
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Inclined to agree. Been off the pace for the last few. But, 17 points can't be ignored! And look at his points in the reverse fixture

  23. JelliedSpark968
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Rudiger or Tarkowski?

  24. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Can’t decide what to do? Tempted by Coufal to mee or salah, Johnstone to Sterling/Rash, Pope. 2FT 0.4itb

    Martinez
    Justin Dias Dallas
    Salah Son Raph Greal Bruno
    Bamford Antonio
    (Johnstone, Stones, Coufal, DCL)

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

      Whatever you choose just do the one transfer. You’ll want two next week

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

      I have similar team and am thinking Johnstone tomPppe

      1. Tsparkes10
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I would if I had the funds 🙂

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

    Who to start?

    A....Chilwell at Sheffield

    B...coufal at Fulham

    Wondering if chilwell may start this weekend.....but don't want a cameo...thanks

    1. Feed tha Sheep
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B

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

      B

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

        Thanks

  26. Kodap
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Got 2 FT’s & 9.9m in the bank after doing KDB & Kane > Gundo & DCL.. what are my obvious moves here? Don’t want to waste a transfer...

    Martinez
    Dier - Holding - Coufal
    Salah - Bruno - Soucek - Gundo
    Antonio - Bamford - DCL

    Bench: Meslier - Stones - Dias - Smith Rowe

  27. Sid07
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Start
    1) Martinez
    2) meisler

  28. Party time
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Spurs suck.

      I avoided Son & Kane almost throughout the season because I know they play shittty football with no pattern whatsoever.

      Now I brought both in, Kane got injured while Son has turned into Kim Sung Yueng

    • Bennyboy1907
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Who would you play:
      A) Stones vs Liverpool (playing Cancelo)
      B) Mee vs Brighton
      C) Dallas vs Crystal Palace

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

        C - highest ceiling

      2. Bennyboy1907
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        How do you delete these after posting them

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

        Mee

    • Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Is anyone gonna captain Pope or Mee in DGW24?

      1. Dank Squid
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Considering it, yes. Changed captaincy from Stones to Vardy just before GW 19 deadline, still regretting it. GKs/defenders have been doing well in DGWs past few seasons.