Tips

The Complete Guide to Scout’s tips and advice to Double Gameweek 24

Welcome to the Fantasy Football Scout Guide to Double Gameweek 24 ahead of today’s 11:00 GMT deadline. A small double in which only four sides – Everton, Manchester City, Burnley and Fulham – are playing twice.

Following the FA Cup results and quarter-final draw in midweek, the Fantasy landscape has shifted once more. 

We now have a better idea of how the upcoming Gameweeks will shape up and, unfortunately, those cup ties have handed us a few injury blows to contend with.

Team News

The Double Gameweek 24 announcement at the start of February thrust Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£7.7m) high up on our list of targets – he was even spoken about as a potential captaincy candidate by Hall of Fame No 1 Fábio Borges and five-time top 1,000 manager Tom Freeman.

However, such plans have since been shelved with Carlo Ancelotti confirming that his main striker is set to miss Sunday’s encounter against Fulham, along with goalkeeper Jordan Pickford (£4.8m):

Both (Calvert-Lewin and Pickford) will not be available for the game on Sunday. We are looking for the next game on Wednesday where we think both of them will be available. I think (Calvert-Lewin) stopped [playing] before the problem [developed]. He only had a sensation, a feeling that something was not good and he stopped. He has a little problem, he can play on Wednesday.

– Carlo Ancelotti

One match against Manchester City is much less appealing than a double that includes Fulham.

And there was worse news for owners of James Justin (£5.2m), the most-popular defender in FPL, with the Leicester City full-back ruled with a long-term injury:

Elsewhere, Callum Wilson (£6.7m) faces at least six weeks on the sidelines, while Michail Antonio (£6.7m) isn’t certain to be available when West Ham United host Sheffield United on Monday. Although David Moyes did say his striker is “doing well” and would “hopefully be close” to being involved against the Blades.

On a more positive note, fears that Nick Pope (£5.5m) and Rúben Dias (£6.1m) were set to miss the Double Gameweek have been allayed. Both were reported to have trained ahead of the weekend after missing out in the FA Cup. 

For a full recap on the latest press conferences, read David’s round-up and check out Neale’s Predicted Line-Ups

Fixture Fun

Neale looked at the possible implications on the fixture schedule resulting from the FA Cup. 

At the moment, just three Premier League matches are confirmed for Gameweek 29, when the quarter-final ties are due to take place:

  • Brighton and Hove Albion v Newcastle United
  • Fulham v Leeds United
  • West Ham United v Arsenal

The other seven matches from that round of fixtures will therefore have to be rescheduled – the option of moving them to midweek isn’t possible as Gameweek 29 is followed by an international break. 

The most likely destination appears to be Gameweek 26, which would make it the biggest Double Gameweek of the season. But with four other matches also needing to be rearranged, a fair amount of juggling is expected. 

Legomané updated his ticker, which includes non-Premier League matches.

(click on image above to enlarge)

As Neale explained in his article, there’s a balancing act for Fantasy managers when it comes to planning for Blank Gameweek 29 as the six teams with a confirmed fixture are unlikely to play twice in Gameweek 26.

Managers with their second Wildcard and Free Hits chips still at their disposal will be at an advantage. But if you are trying to navigate the fixtures without them, all is not lost.

Every FPL boss will receive three free transfers between the Blank and Double Gameweeks and, combined with a judicious use of bench players, this should help us field a respectable side.

And the FPL Gods may spring a surprise with additional fixtures in Gameweek 29, a possibility for teams already knocked out of the FA Cup.

Pro Pundit Plans

Tom, who has a full set of chips to choose from, is considering the following strategy:

  • Gameweek 25 – Wildcard
  • Gameweek 26 – Bench Boost
  • Gameweek 29 – Free Hit

The only downside, he noted, is that because Gameweek 25 is a Double for Leeds and Southampton, his Gameweek 26 Bench Boost would include players who play once. Not ideal.

The alternative he is considering is to use his Bench Boost now, followed by a Wildcard in Gameweek 26. Although with the injury to Calvert-Lewin, he might be reconsidering. 

Az was having similar thoughts before the news of Calvert-Lewin’s injury. Faced with a benching dilemma between West Ham duo Tomas Soucek (£5.4m) and Vladimir Coufal (£4.7m), who enjoy a home game against Sheffield United, playing his Bench Boost now seemed a good solution.

But speaking on the latest episode of FPL Black Box, Az mentioned the possibility of switching Calvert-Lewin to Richarlison (£7.9m) and saving his Bench Boost.

Although fellow Pro Pundit Seb isn’t convinced: “Richarlison doesn’t particularly interest me, I wouldn’t have considered him before DCL was out, the latter’s absence doesn’t change that.

Instead, he’s potentially joining Pro Pundit Lateriser in moving to Danny Ings (£8.4m) as his Calvert-Lewin replacement. 

When Seb shared his thoughts 12 hours before the deadline, the Saints striker had found a place in his XV. Although with his Wildcard active, that is subject to change:

I’m not sold on Ings but the Calvert-Lewin injury has forced a front-line rethink. He is the best suited to my plans due to his upcoming doubles and ability to be converted easily to a number of other strikers in due course. He has missed a lot of big chances recently (four in two matches), which can be read in two ways: he’s been poor or he’s been unlucky. My reading will probably be decided by if I pick him or not!

– Seb

Lateriser was slightly more upbeat:

It might even be a good idea to jump on Danny Ings, who has a decent looking fixture against Wolves in Gameweek 24 before his Double Gameweek in 25 … I particularly mention Ings here because, to me, he looked really sharp against Newcastle and got a lot of shots off which hasn’t been the case with him normally.

Seb’s Wildcard

This week’s Scoutcast used Seb’s Wildcard plans to structure debate around a number of key talking points ahead of Gameweek 24. But, given that it was recorded before Everton’s thrilling 5-4 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup, it included the now stricken Calvert-Lewin.

To bring us up-to-date, Seb has kindly revealed his revamped Wildcard squad as it stood on the eve of the new Gameweek:

The eagle-eyed amongst you will have noticed that nothing has changed, aside from the introduction of Ings for Calvert-Lewin.

As Joe was quick to observe last Tuesday, Seb has answered the “Which Man City trio?” question by doubling-up in attack.

The Raheem Sterling pick allows Kevin De Bruyne back in the future with ease. Or a simpler return to Mohamed Salah (whose absence does concern me; we’re all casting him off very easily, especially with Fulham in Gameweek 27). I’ll miss the extra City defender, but there are plenty of other options in that department over the coming weeks.

– Seb

It’s a move that was first mooted on site by Camzy ahead of Gameweek 23 – and which proved to be correct with Ilkay Gündogan (£6.0m) and Raheem Sterling (£11.6m) combining for 21 points against Liverpool. And last week’s Scoutcast also promoted the England international as an option for our midfields.

This week, David and Jan have put their weight behind the switch to double attack.

Part of their reasoning has to do with how poor Man City’s upcoming opponents, Spurs and Everton, have been of late. Especially at the back. Over the last four Premier League matches they feature among the worst defences in terms of expected goals conceded (xGC):

On balance, it looks as if Spurs and Everton are both much more likely to concede, maybe even heavily, against Manchester City – than struggle to ask questions of their own going forward.

– David

Gündogan and Sterling top the expected goal involvement (xGI) for Pep Guardiola’s troops in the last six matches. And Sterling’s position on the left of Man City’s attack could be crucial given a weakness down the right flank for both Everton and Spurs.

Over the last six matches, only Southampton (27) have given up more chances down their right-hand side than Jose Mourinho’s men (25). Everton have conceded 22 chances there, the seven-worst in the Premier League, and more than they have given up through the middle or the left.

– Jan

This vulnerability sees Sterling favoured narrowly ahead of his team-mate in Jan’s Captain Sensible article. 

Community Competitions and Head-to-Head Fixtures

You can now enter the Fantasy Football Scout Cup competitions, qualifying will get underway in Gameweek 25.

A total of £300 in prizes is available across the two tournaments, entry is free for the open-to-all Fantasy Football Scout Cup but only Premium Members may sign up for the Members Cup.

RedLightning rounded-up the latest Community mini-leagues and competitions

For those participating in the Head-to-Head Leagues, the main page can be linked to here. There’s been a small tweak this week by Mat (aka matzi11a) to the fixtures and results displayed on that page.

From now on, the main page automatically shows the current Gameweek rather than requiring a manual intervention each time. The final scores will therefore be available quicker at the end of the Gameweek.

The fixtures for Gameweek 24 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

3,176 Comments Post a Comment
  1. LewanGOALski
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Who’d u bench out of:

    A) Antonio
    B) Bamford
    C) Soucek
    ..?

    1. The VAR Team
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      C

    2. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      soucek

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

      c

  2. Art Vandelay
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Morning all. A couple of quick questions if you don’t mind. cheers

    Bench

    1 Son
    2 Antonio
    3 Bamford

    Start

    A Coufal
    B Targett

    1. In a Rush
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      3 A

      1. Saïss Doesn't Mat…
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        +1

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

      Antonio and Coufal for me

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

      1A

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

      2A

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

      1B

    6. Art Vandelay
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Cheers folks. I am on 1A at the moment so looks like Coufal is getting a run out. More mulling on which forward to bench.

    7. Ross Geller
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      1A

  3. fpl_tp95
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bench 1

    Grealish
    Watkins
    Antonio
    Raphina

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

      Raph

    2. In a Rush
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Raph

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

    A) DCL > Ings (-4)
    B) DCL > Cavani (-4)
    C) Bench DCL and play Soucek/Chilwell/Dallas

    1. In a Rush
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Soucek

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

        Save transfer and play Soucek?

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

          Yes. DCL will be back next week

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

      C and play Chilli

    3. Art Vandelay
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Very tough. I would go with B > A > C

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

      I'm doing C but B is very tempting

  5. In a Rush
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Play
    A. Coufal
    B. Rudiger
    C. Coufal ➡️ Lowton-4

    1. Art Vandelay
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

      1. In a Rush
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers

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

      B

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

      B

    4. Balls of Steel
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Rudi

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

    Good to go? Saving ft and keeping dcl for dgw26

    Thanks

    Pope (martinez)
    Cancelo dias Lowton (dallas coufal)
    Salah Bruno grealish gundog soucek
    Antonio Watkins (dcl)

  7. jimbo90
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Pope Martinez
    Mee Cancelo Stones TAA Coufal
    Salah Gundo (c) Bruno Soucek Son
    Bam Richar Antonio

    Worth a BB?

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

      Always a gamble (and no one gets it on their bench max for the season) but probably as good an opportunity as you are likely to have now.

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

    Digne or Shaw for this GW and BB26 in mind?

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

      Surely Shaw won't play both in the double with Chelsea Palace and City in 6 days. If you are only looking at those two GWs and not price then Digne.

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

        Thanks, completely forgot about United having three fixtures in six days. 🙂

  9. Weasel51
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    3.1 itb with 1 FT

    Martinez
    Coufal Stones Cancelo
    (S)terling Son Saka Bruno
    Watkins Bamford Antonio

    Leno Maddison AWB Holding

    Any transfers I should look at?

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

    Morning!

    Would you BB?

    Pope
    Cancelo Dias Targett
    Bruno Gundo Salah Son
    Cavani Watkins

    McCarthy Bam, Soucek, KWP

    Cheers!

    1. mrpink32
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yep, when else are you saving it for? If planning wc 25 be 26 then no, otherwise yeah as you have all playing bench

  11. deshawn7
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bench one
    A) Bamford
    B) Son
    C) Cresswell (already playing Soucek)

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

      B

  12. SharkyT
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Captain:

    A) Sterling
    B) Gundo
    C) Bruno

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

    Morning guys, would really appreciate some advice here. 2FTS and 1.1itb

    Pope (Martinez)
    Dias Stones Digne AWB (Dallas)
    Salah Bruno Gundo(C) (Son Soucek)
    Antonio Bamford DCL

    Thinking DCL > Ings although not completely sold on SOU fixtures.

  14. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    G2G?

    Areola
    Dias Coufal Lowton
    Salah Bruno Son Foden(C) Gundogan
    Antonio Bamford

    (Targett, DCL, Mitchell)

  15. immybob
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone think Pope for a -4 is stupid or good to go?

    1. Paddy Gooner
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      GTG methinks

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

      No

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

        Why no, what’s your thinking?

    3. Gandalf
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Not worth a -4.

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

      Absolutely, made the mistake earlier this season. Not again. Take the hit.

    5. immybob
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I mean he’s a genuine shout for Captain this week, so a minus 4 (would be my first of season) seems like a reasonable gamble.

    6. MMN
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Surely it depends who you are selling

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

        McCarthy.

    7. immybob
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Worth mentioning I will have triple Burnley D.

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

        If it's for the long run I wouldn't. If you are WCing soon then yes.

  16. ZAWAd25
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    DCL to who? 3.9m itb

    1) Punt on Cavani
    2) Watkins
    3) someone else?

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

      1

  17. Fit of Pique
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Really struggling to get Digne injury news.

    Any news? Help much appreciated!

    1. Shaw must go on
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Digne isn´t injured!!

  18. Von Lipwig
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Please help. I'm torn:

    A)
    GW24: Richarlison (DGW)
    GW25: Ings (DGW)
    GW26: Kane (-4)

    B)
    GW24: Kane
    GW25: Kane
    GW26: Kane

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

      A

    2. Ross Geller
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

    3. Gandalf
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Depends on how well set up the rest of your team is. If need hits elsewhere beyond the Kane one then just get Kane now. I've got no interest in Richarlison with his form

  19. Paddy Gooner
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    DCL > James Rod and a -4 (already on -4) ????

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

      No

  20. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Think I’ve just figured out my BB team for 26, though it would mean taking out Cancelo due to low team value....

    Hopefully all DGWers except Dallas & Bamford:

    Martinez
    Stones | Lowton | Pieters
    Salah | Bruno | Son | Grealish | Gundogan
    Kane | Watkins

    McCarthy/Areola | Mitchell | Bamford | Dallas

  21. Saïss Doesn't Mat…
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    De bruyne has lost over two-thirds of his owners since getting injured. How come he's only dropped .1 in price??

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

      Fixed

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

      Or maybe red flag

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

    Would you start Chris Wood this weekend? Or should I just play Coufal or Bamford?

  23. nothingbutgreen
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    anyone doing FH this week??

    1. Saïss Doesn't Mat…
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      If you still have it save it

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

    Any injury/rest rumours?

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

    Start DCL or Coufal?

    1. In a Rush
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Coufal

    2. Paddy Gooner
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Coufal

  26. ebb2sparky
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Start one from
    A - DCL
    B - Anguissa
    Cheers

  27. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Would you start Raphina or Son?

    1. In a Rush
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Son for me rafa

    2. Ross Geller
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Son

      1. super zlatan
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Sam dilemma for me.
        When with son given his ownership.

  28. ViperStripes
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Can't decide between Watkins and Grealish so playing both and benching DCL....

    Right choice?

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

      Yes, DCL will only play city game if at all

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

      Yes

  29. deshawn7
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Play one
    A) Bamford
    B) Son
    C) Cresswell (already playing Soucek

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

      I like Cresswell for this fixture

    2. Prison Mike
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

  30. Garlana
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    A) Barnes to Rashford
    B) stones+Barnes to tarkowski and sterling -4
    C) Barnes or DCL to someone else?