Scout Picks

Double Gameweek 26 Scout Picks built on Man City and Everton assets

Players from Manchester City and Everton form the spine of our Double Gameweek 26 Scout Picks XI.

In a side chosen by David, Neale, Tom and Andy, we have included two players from both clubs ahead of a bumper round of fixtures.

We line up a in a 3-4-3 formation again, which comes in bang on our budget of £83.0m.

GOALKEEPER

Gameweek 21 Scout Picks features another Man City triple-up

Fulham’s Alphonse Areola (£4.5m) regains his place in goal for the Scout Picks XI. Fulham face-off against two of the worst attacks in the league on recent form, with Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur at the bottom of the expected goals (xG) table for the last six games. Fulham’s defence has also improved in recent weeks, with the Cottagers only conceding five goals in their last six games.

DEFENDERS

Ruben Dias (£6.1m) is the Manchester City defender most immune to Pep Guardiola’s rotation, so he makes the Scout Picks. The Portuguese international has been at the heart of City’s defensive improvements, with them only conceding 15 goals in 25 games. Their recent numbers are just as impressive, with only two big chances conceded in their last six games.

Full-back Lucas Digne (£6.1m) makes his return to the Scout Picks ahead of a juicy Double Gameweek for Everton. Only Aaron Cresswell (£5.8m) has created more goals than Digne this season, and has had nine more starts. The Toffees also face off against West Brom, who have conceded the most goals this season, and Southampton, with no recognised first team right-back available.

Budget player Ahmed El Mohamady (£4.3m) takes up the final spot in defence. Due to an injury to Matty Cash (£5.0m), Aston Villa manager Dean Smith confirmed El Mohamady will be getting a run of games at right-back. At a rock-bottom price and with his place assured in the team, El Mohamady should bring in a decent haul from games against Southampton and Leeds.

MIDFIELDERS

Mohamed Salah (£12.6m) continues to produce some of the best attacking numbers in the league, despite Liverpool’s slide down the table. The Egyptian has had the most big chances of all midfielders in the last six games, scoring four goals in that time. With two fixtures in Double Gameweek 26 including one against bottom of the league Sheffield United, Salah looks set to add more attacking returns to his impressive tally.

A staple in the team of nearly every Fantasy manager, Bruno Fernandes (£11.6m) retains his place in the Scout Picks. Fantasy Premier League’s highest scoring player has the most assists of any midfielder in the league, and Salah is the only midfielder to score more goals. Manchester United’s second game sees them travel to Palace, who have the worst expected goals conceded (xGC) rating of all Premier League teams in the last six matches.

The in-form Harvey Barnes (£6.9m) takes up the third slot in our midfield. Barnes has taken his game to another level this season, scoring an impressive nine goals from midfield. Salah and Sadio Mané (£11.8m) are the only midfielders to have had more shots in the box than Barnes this season, so we’re backing the Leicester star to continue the form which has seen him deliver double-digit hauls in his last two games.

Ilkay Gundogan (£6.1m) takes up the final slot in our midfield. The German still offers incredible value in midfield, getting on the end of six big chances in his last six games, as well as having the highest xG and expected goal involvement (xGI) of all midfielders over that time period.

FORWARDS

Harry Kane (£11.1m) returns to lead the line for the Scout Picks in what could be a make or break Gameweek for Spurs’ season. Even after missing several games through injury, Kane is still joint-top goalscorer for forwards and has also had the most attempts on goal. Since returning from injury, the England international has also had the most shots in the box in the last three games.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin‘s (£7.7m) return to fitness sees him take up a spot in the Scout Picks. Calvert-Lewin has two plum fixtures against the league’s worst defence in West Brom, and against a Southampton side who have conceded 19 goals in six games. The England international had scored in consecutive games before his injury and will be a strong captaincy option for some.

With an ownership of just 0.5%, West Brom striker Mbaye Diagne (£6.0m) is a cracking differential option for Double Gameweek 26. Strong early displays have seen Diagne get on the end of five big chances in five games, and he has the highest xG rating of all forwards from the last four Gameweeks. If Diagne can start converting his impressive numbers into more goals against Brighton and a leaky Everton defence, then he will prove to be a powerful differential.

Substitutes

  • Sam Johnstone (£4.5m)
  • Luke Shaw (£5.1m)
  • Ola Aina (£4.5m)
  • Pedro Neto (£5.7m)

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 Double Gameweek 26:

1,587 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Chief Break-Everything
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    A) Digne -4
    B) Play Dallas

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

      B

    2. JohnnyRev7
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B. You'll need him for BGW29.

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

      A

    4. Inter Family Special
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B in preparation for blank 29.

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

      Haha amazing avatar & name. I asked the same question on previous article without answers so thanks for attracting all the legends to your post.

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

    1) Start Mee
    2) get Shaw for hit

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

      start mee

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

      1

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

      2

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

      1

  3. R.C
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Who to get?

    1. Targett
    2. Pereira

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

      Pereira

    2. Chief Break-Everything
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I'd Target Pereira

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

      2 if you have Martinez also

  4. LanMi
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Brought Digne for Tarkowski, Kane for Antonio for -8

    Previously had 2 FT so brought in Barnes for Maddison and Rashford for Grealish as well

    Martinez-

    Digne-Stones-Shaw

    Bruno-Rashford-Barnes-Gundo-Son

    Kane-Watkins

    Worth it?

  5. Rupert The Horse
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Phew, glad I hadn’t made any early transfers.

    1. Kindness
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Watkins?

        1. Rupert The Horse
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Apparently. Shame if true as I’ve been a good boy and saved.

      • SHOWSTOPPERRR
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        What happened now? Any injury news?

      • wulfrunian
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        What happened?

        1. Rupert The Horse
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Just seems like one injury after another. Hope the Watkins thing is BS.

      • Party time
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Time to sniff the missus fart for a better relief

          1. Rupert The Horse
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            I don’t want to get hooked.

            1. Party time
                3 years, 1 month ago

                Let me help you then 😉

          2. The Suspended One
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            The follow up rumors (to the big rumors that prove correct) are Never accurate

        • Karan14
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Thoughts on this WC team?

          Martinez
          Cancelo Dias Digne
          Salah Bruno Son Barnes Gündo
          Kane DCL

          (3.9 Burn Struijk Brewster)
          0.0m

          Any changes you'd suggest here?

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

            Depends if you need them to play in 29?

        • Scots Gooner
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Dammit, that paragraph on Salah has me seriously questioning dropping him on WC

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

            dont be swayed now. stick with gut

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

            Imagine TC Salah in a DGW being a differential

        • Inter Family Special
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          My final dilemma seems to be the GK for BB. Input appreciated.

          1) McCarthy v Eve
          2) Johnstone -4 v Bri & Eve

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

            To partner Areola presumably as you've not listed him.

            A I think.

          2. Inter Family Special
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Yes, sorry, Areola is my other GK. No other Southampton or WBA defenders.

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

          Wonder why Diagne is picked over Watkins 🙂

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

            Cost?

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

              It's 0.5 I'm not having any of that

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

                you think the FFS lads have inside scoup...

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

                  Not saying that.. But surely Watkins deserves to be there vs Leeds and Sheffield

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

                    Im surprised Martinez isnt there

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

            No grealish

        • richarlison2348
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Watkins out?

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

            rumours have it

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

              Legit rumours? Or some comment snowballing on here?

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

                I've zero idea! going by what i read here

            2. richarlison2348
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 3 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              If I just brought him in, worth still starting him over raphinha?

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

                I brought him in earlier in the week... I'm starting (over Dallas only tho)

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

              Tweet unavailable

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

                It was just him calling Dean Smith a liar after having been told by 3 sources Watkins is out

          2. Bonus magnet
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            what are you talking about

        • FPL ElasticO
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Which transfer is worth doing?

          A. Pope >> Areola
          B. Mee >> Aina

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

            A

        • cuppatea78
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          For those with TC left and not playing it this week when are you looking to use it?

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

            will depend on cups/dgws later

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

            Spurs v Southamptom DGW likely

        • SHOWSTOPPERRR
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Guys would like to get more suggestions on this

          Would like to bb with this team for -4.

          Martinez * areola*
          Digne* dais* cancelo* lowton* dallas
          Son* bruno* gundo* Barnes* raph
          Kane* dcl* bam

          Big decision here is to whether transfer out son or salah to get Kane in and I have no fh so need to build towards 29. What's your opinion guys son or Salah to keep?

        • The Red Devil
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Lowton to stones
          Or
          Dallas to Dias
          Dias maybe more nailed than stones, but Dallas might continue OOP & faces a grealish-less villa

        • bring back diop
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Which would be best for the double GW also needed for blank 29.
          All three will play, as I am bench boosting.
          A) Pereria, Dier, Maja (-4)
          B) Aina, Mitchell, DCL
          C) Pereria, Digne, Brewster

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

            B) because of DCL

        • Tcheco
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          A. Targett + Lookman

          B. El Mohamady + Pereira(WBA)

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

            B)

        • FCRS1991
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Current team

          Martinez McCarthy
          Stones Shaw Dallas Coufal Lowton
          Bruno Gundo Sterling Maddison Son
          Ings Bamford Watkins

          2.2M ITB, 1FT

          One way I can afford Kane and replace Maddison is:
          Ings, Maddison, Cofal > Kane, Barnes, Aina

          Worth a -8 hit?

          1. Couch Potato
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Yes

        • The Suspended One
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          If Kane is only about 30% owned, it probably makes sense to C Bruno so both players allow rank increase, rather than going all in on Kane and allowing any points Bruno scores to be canceled out for gw rank purposes

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

            That was the argument for captaining Bamford over Raphinha last week.....

            1. The Suspended One
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              Not like that didn’t work out; even though he outscored Bam, the result wasn’t too bad, owning him was enough. If the opposite happened, there would be nowhere to hide for Raph cappers

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

            if you're a poker fan... Scotty Nguyen time: All in baby 🙂

            1. The Suspended One
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              I am, and Scotty is awesome baby

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

          wihch one:

          A) play mee
          B) Mee to Targett -4
          C) Bench mee and play SGW Raph

        • Brimble82
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          ElMo at £3.8m!!!
          That’d be glorious!

        • JabariParkersEyelid
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Martinez Pope
          Cancelo Dias Shaw Dallas

          Last defender for bench boost up to 4.8

          A. Konsa
          B. Aina
          C. Maitland Niles
          D. Holgate

          Thoughts?

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

          Already taken -4 for Kane. Ten DGW'ers.

          A Save
          B Grealish to Barnes -4 (gives 11 DGW'ers)

          Martinez
          Cancelo, Dias, Digne, Taylor
          Salah, Bruno, Gund
          DCL, Kane, Bamford
          (Fabri, Raphina, Coufal, Grealish)

        • Jealous Viper
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          What's the latest on Watkins

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

          A) Kane
          B) DCL
          C) captain no one cause it's doing my head in

        • Pedaso Pirates
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Any chance Mitchell will get two games for Palace?

          1. The Suspended One
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            50% at best

        • Party time
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Rest well Grealish.

            Welcome to my team in gw 29 buddy

            1. The Suspended One
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              He’ll be in Ibiza by then

          • JONALDINHO
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            I was about to pull the trigger on Bamford to Watkins(-4) when something inside me told me to check this forum. I check and see rumours he’s out. Something going on

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

              I would hold. Also no Grealish so that makes double doubt. Also Bam against a bit struggling Villa and you might want Bam for 29.

            2. The Suspended One
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              Just keep anyway

          • sentz05
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            2FTs and 2.9m itb

            Ederson
            Coufal Cancelo Mee
            Salah (TC) Bruno Rashford Gundogan Grealish
            Watkins Bamford

            Forster Brewster Dallas Bednerak

            Would you bring in Son and Targett for Coufal and Grealish?

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

              Yes, very good transfers

          • Captain_Shirokov
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            If you were wildcarding this week, would you have Salah in your midfield?

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

            Elmo is not 3.8 as the article suggests, annoyingly for my WC.

            1. The Suspended One
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              It says 4.3

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

                They have now updated it.

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

              says 4.3?

            3. DavidMunday815
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              A little error slipping through - thanks for spotting! Corrected now!

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

                Thanks David, reputation restored for me :).

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

              Now I look a fibber lol.

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

                Dry your eyes mate

                *sorry... like you've not had that before!

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

                  Haha, the classics are the best.

                  Lets push things forward now eh.

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

                I don't think people will disbelieve you that there was an error on a FFS article.