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. M2.0
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bench 2 please???

    a) Mee
    b) Stones
    c) Coufal
    d) Dias

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

      personally i'd bench stones and mee because I see cs potential the same for coufal and mee but coufal being more attacking despite mee's aerial threat

  2. Ajaxeeding
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Right now I do not have any real fires to put out with my team this week but I have 2FT and 3.8 ITB.

    McCarthy (Johnstone)
    Cancelo Dias Justin (KWP/Mitchell)
    Bruno(C) Salah Son Grealish Soucek
    Antonio Bamford(DCL)

    Which one should I do with this FT?
    1) Johnstone > Pope
    2) Mitchell > Mitchell
    3) some other move?

    Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

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

      I meant Mitchell to Mee as my second option.

    2. PompeyUpNorth!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      1

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

        Thank you both for your response. I think I will do 1.

    3. Il Capitano
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      1

  3. Stranger Mings
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Hi Guys 2FT (5m itb) so worth doing anything to this?
    Mcarthy
    Cancello, Justin & Dallas
    Salah, grealish, Bowen & Bruno
    Antonio, bam & DCL
    (Nyland, gundo, stones & holding)

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

      Could do Nyland to Pope. I’m considering this move (see above)

      1. Stranger Mings
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Yep

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

      bowen might be benched again although i'm fairly confident fredericks was only in for rotational purposes

      1. Stranger Mings
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Yeh cheers slightly worried about Bowen being benched so was considering getting rashford?

  4. FF Dirtbag
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Do I play Kane in the hope he plays or bench him?

    1. No Professionals
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      If you still have him, you may as well start him

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

      I would

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

      If your feeling brave he could be an ultimate differential captain pick and your vice should sort you out if he doesn’t play —— just be nervous if 0 0 with 80 mins to go and Kane comes off the bench....

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

      Yes

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

    How many DGW players do you plan to have for GW24 & 25?

    My current plan is

    GW24: Dias, Cancelo, Gundo, DCL, Pope & Lowton

    GW25: Bamford, Raphinha & Ings

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

      For me :
      GW 24: Dias, Cancelo, DCL, Pope plus one or two others.

      GW 25: McCarthy; Bamford and KWP plus one more.

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

      Similar players 24, but Raphinha and Ings are hardly worth -8.

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

        -4 for me if I don't WC but I most likely will.

        Will be selling Son (whu) & Antonio (TOT) or DCL (liv) if I didn't wildcard which I feel is worth it anyways.

        Ings likely to have 2-3 DGWs between GW25-27.

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

      24: Cancelo, Stones, Gundo, DCL, Digne, Pope, Mee
      25: Bamford, Ings (Raphinha? Probably not as it would require a hit)

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

      Similar

      Same for 24 bar Digne over Lowton but no Raphinha in 25 unless I decide he’s worth a hit

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

    Stones to Rudiger?

    1. No Professionals
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Say what

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

        Got cancelo

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

      Not for me - like Rudiger pick but not for a city defender

  7. LewanGOALski
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Start Gundo (liv) or DCL (mun)..?

    1. No Professionals
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Gundogan

  8. Fantasydreamer
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    1 week only (before Burnley double up)

    A. Pope and holding
    B. Martinez and Mee

  9. FCSB
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Martinez
    Coufal Robertson Cancelo
    Salah Fernandes Gundogan Raphinha Soucek
    Bamford Antonio

    Forster DCL Stones Ferguson

    1 FT, 6.9 itb

    1. Forster >> Pope (for the doubles and play over Martinez this week)
    2. Save FT

    Thanks guys

  10. Free Hat
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Made the Salah to Rashford move.

    If I dont trust in captaincy and have even considered benching in the next gws, not much merit in owning.

    Could backfire easily with ownership, but at this stage I dont care anymore.

    Any other asset that blanks for so many gws Id have dropped already.

    Now it was just price and ownership keeping...

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

      I ditched him for raphina - wouldn’t captain for next 4 so taking the risk as well

      1. Free Hat
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Good shout as well. Hope it works out!

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

    Transfer suggestion? 2FT's + £3.2m

    Martinez Forster
    Robbo Chilwell Cancelo Dallas Coufal
    Salah Bruno Son Gundogan Soucek
    Antonio Bamford DCL

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

    Evening ladss! 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?

  13. gart888
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Good to go?

    Martinez
    Dias, Dallas, Coufal
    Salah, Bruno, Gundo, Grealish
    Bamford, Antonio, Kane

    Johnston, Soucek, Stones, Robertson

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

      Kane....

      1. gart888
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        He probably autosubs out for Soucek. But if Jose is pulling a fast one on us, I want him in there. I've done the same thing the last couple of weeks.

    2. PompeyUpNorth!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yep but swap Robbo n Stones around?

      1. gart888
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Yeah, that's a tough one. I just think that City are more likely to keep the clean sheet. I'm also a Liverpool fan and am pretty down on our chances. :'(

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

      Expecting Kane to be back?

      1. gart888
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Not really, but if he is back then I'd like him in. If he's not we'll autosub in Soucek. No harm in having him in there just in case.

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

      Tough, but I think Soucek does well again

      1. gart888
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Odds are he comes in for Kane anyway.

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

      Bench boost

      1. gart888
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Already used it, but even if I hadn't, probably wouldn't make too much sense to only get 3 (probably) games out of it would it?

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

    Thoughts? 2 freebies and 1.0 ITB
    Martinez (Johnstone)

    Stones Cancelo Cresswell (Alioski Lewis)

    Salah Bruno Grealish Sterling Soucek

    Bamford Antonio (DCL)

    Strongly thinking Salah to Son C for 1 week punt and
    Johnstone to Pope
    Cheers!

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

      Looks good, that is what i am doing

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

        Thank you. Appreciate that

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

    Would you do Salah to Son?

    1. VaVaVoom14
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      No

    2. PompeyUpNorth!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Am seriously thinking that yes, but I think I’m on my own? Crazy? I’m top 5 in ML And 2 rivals have him so was trying to cancel him out I guess?

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

      yes

    4. Rhodes your boat
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Nope

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

        No I would wait until Gw25 when Kane is back

  16. mdm
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Saka or DCL to play?

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

      Saka for sure. Hes hauling this week

    2. JoeSoap
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Saka

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

      Saka. If Villa can concede three goals vs Burnley, anything is possible.

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

    Start Dias or Gundogan? Already starting Cancelo

    1. The Seagulls and the Trawle…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Gundo

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

        Gundo

    2. JoeSoap
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Gundo

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

    Start two?

    A) Smith Rowe (vs Villa)
    B) Rodriguez (vs Man Utd)
    C) Stones (vs Liverpool)
    D) DCL vs (Man Utd)
    E) Targett (vs Arsenal)

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

      AD tough

    2. Dosh
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      AB

  19. JoeSoap
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bench 1

    A. Dias (pool)
    B. Justin (wolves)
    C. Coufal (fulham)
    D. DCL (utd)

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

      DCL

    2. Dosh
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      D

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

      Between A & D, if you have Cancelo then A to split risk.

    4. JoeSoap
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Thanks all. Thinking A or D, maybe A to split risk as suggested.

  20. Rhodes your boat
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Gtg all? 1FT 4.5itb

    Martinez
    Stones coufal rudiger
    Salah sterling bruno(c) son soucek
    Antonio bamford

    Forster Mitchell holding davis

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

      Yep

      1. Rhodes your boat
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks 🙂 GL

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

          You too (even if you want Palace relegated 🙂 lol

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

      Great team

  21. Crunchie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    What to do with Chilwell (Done McCarthy to Pope and playing him)

    Defence is Chilwell, Dias, Cancelo, Dallas, Coufal

    A. Play him (hope for rotation)
    B. Coufal instead.
    C. Drop a Man City defender for Dallas and play Coufal
    D. Sell for Shaw
    E. Sell for Mee

    1. Rhodes your boat
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I’d play him or sell for shaw

      1. Rhodes your boat
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Or wan bissaka

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

          Thanks been holding him for a while and would need to sell to fund Kane in DGW 26

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

      E for the dgw, then D for the long run (man u don't have the best of fixtures but i like shaw as an asset)

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

        Keep Chilwell for this week then?

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

      Would just hold this week.

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

        Thank might play him then

  22. Dosh
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Would you do Salah to Rashford FT? Can always reverse it with plenty money itb.

    1. Rhodes your boat
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Not personally

    2. JoeSoap
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I wouldn't

  23. Jindaljain
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Captain???

    1. Rhodes your boat
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Brunoooo

    2. JELLYFISH
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Still undecided between Bruno, Son and Antonio

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

      Bamford (saving the disappointment to the last minute of the GW)

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

      Fernandes

  24. Rhodes your boat
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Am I right in thinking son was cursed by Zambian witch doctor after salah?

  25. Egg noodle
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Benching Salah this week. Pray for me.

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

      Don’t try to be the hero
      Play salah

      1. Rhodes your boat
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        This

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

    Bench 2:

    a) coufal
    b) shaw
    c) cancelo
    d) justin
    e) gundogan
    f) salah

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

      Very tough. D and F/A

  27. Tinkermania
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Who is in your team?

  28. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Lowton or Rudiger?

  29. el polako
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Been very busy at work recently so didn't had time\strength to analyse fixtures.

    Is there anywhere decent action plan for those with all chips intact ?

  30. Footieboot
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Martinez - Forster
    Stones - Dias - Dier - Coufal - Mitchell
    Salah - Bruno - Son - Grealish - Gundo
    DCL - Bamford - Brewster

    4m itb 2ft

    A) Brewster --> Antonio and leave DCL on the bench
    B) Forster --> Pope and play Pope

    Planning to play bb 26 with FTs so A is not very helpful in that sense but Antonio looks so good atm.

    1. waldo666
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

    2. Crunchie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I would do both TBH