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

    Am I crazy in thinking going Ederson + one of Cancelo/Dias instead of doubling on defenders due to rotation? Ederson pretty much nailed right?

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

      Nothing wrong with that

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

      Not crazy

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

    Which scores more this week

    A. Salah. Rudiger. Bamford +8
    B. Barnes. Digne. DCL

    First to five!

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

      A

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

        Ok thanks. Does it make a difference if you factor in Everton potential double in 28?

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

      A

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

    Screw it I’m flipping a coin.

    For losing Bam to DCL for a -8 (yes for one move, it needs funded) and for Kane(TC) or (C)

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

      Tails never fails

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

      I have both and am still going Kane.

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

        TC

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

    Is castagne a good fit for DWG 26? Can not use Pereira!

  5. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Feck it, he who dares wins. KDB in.

    Now, who to lose out of Cancelo or Dias is the question! Dias more nailed but Cancelo is a megahaul waiting to happen at all times

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

      Captain?

    2. NULL-X-VOID
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      thinking of having the same mentality and captain Digne

      1. NULL-X-VOID
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        and I'd go Dias. Cancelo has had just one haul, at the end its the results that matter, it was similar with Lamps at the begging of the season, took so many shots, but didn't get good consistent hauls.

    3. WE GO FOR IT
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Keep Dias

    4. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Cancelo

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

      Cancelo

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

      wow

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

        I'm on a wildcard btw

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

      for who?

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

      U seems like the maverick type...so keep Cancelo lol

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

        This is true

    9. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Going with Dias

      Already going big with KDB, need a relatively safe option with Dias

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

        Yeah Dias could potentially play all 4 games whereas Cancelo just won't

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

      keep Dias

      I've gone KDB Dias and Gundo. No son either.

      You got Salah?

  6. Dele
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Best 4.3 defensive option that could cover GW29? Will be benched this week.

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

      A brighton one

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

      Brighton has some cheap defenders who are playing in gw29.

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

      Veltman

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

        Is he nailed these days?

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

      El Mohamady

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

      El Mohamady

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

    Best option from these ??

    1. Play Tarko
    2. Play Dallas
    3. Tarko to any def for -4

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

      1

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

      1

    3. WE GO FOR IT
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Can you get Digne instead for Tarko? If yes, I'd do that.

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

        3 for Digne

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

    Captain:

    A) DCL
    B) KDB

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

      KDB if I had him

    2. WE GO FOR IT
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      DCL of those

  9. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Which defensive combo folks?
    A. DDG Konsa (-4)
    B. Martinez Lowton

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

      B

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

        B

  10. NULL-X-VOID
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    easy tip: if you're not 100% sure on your captain, don't TC lol

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

      In the end you always just pick one and hope. Doesn't matter if there are loads of good options or just one.

    2. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Wouldn’t use it all season then

  11. jammie26
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Just seen a comment about a watkins injury, anyone got more details?

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

      Ah not again

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

      I saw it yesterday, apparently it’s fake news from a fake sky sports Twitter account

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

    If there’s any time to take hits it’s a DGW, right?

    1. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Agreed.

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

      Absolutely! Full on casual whilst quantifying it to yourself as a -2. Works for me!

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

    Best Grealish replacement

    A) Barnes
    B) Lookman

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

      Barnes

  14. iL PiStOlErO
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Still have TC, BB and WC chips but thinking of doing -4/-8 and just get rid of that BB chip. And then in one of next gameweeks use my WC.

    Sterling+Antonio+Cavani+Justin to Barnes+Kane+DCL+Mings for -8?

    It gives me 10dgw* players+BB:

    Pope*
    Cancelo* Lowton* Konsa*
    Salah* Bruno* Barnes* Gundo*
    Kane(C)* Bamford DCL*

    McCharty Raphinha Dallas Coufal (BB)

    1. Keep Calm and Play On
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Very similar to my team below I'm tempted to BB just because I don't think I'll have a bench this good for the remainder of the season, I want to dead end my team into 29 and then WC out

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

      Yes don't like Mings though. FH33

      1. iL PiStOlErO
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Who do you recommend instead of Mings? Have 5.5 itb to spend.

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

          Shaw or if you need a GW29 player maybe punt on a Fulham defender? Frees up money for Dinge if he plays DGW 28

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

    Bench Mee or Dallas?

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

      D

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

    Keane going to score and to get at least one cleanie!

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

    Anyone know of any strategies for playing chips when you still have them all ... any help appreciated, kinda need a plan from here on in

    1. Rains of Castamere
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      What's your current 15?

    2. WE GO FOR IT
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      If you have a decent 15, BB this GW. TC Everton/Villa/Spurs assets in one of the future smaller GWs.
      WC post GW 30/31. You cna see which teams are at the beach and which teams are playing for something.
      FH in in the smaller DGW where you don't TC.

  18. Keep Calm and Play On
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Evening all, would you...

    1) (Y/N) Take -8 to bring in Kane and Areola for Pope and Cavani

    2) BB Dallas/Mitchell/Coufal, Bamford, Raphinha, Martinez/Areola
    or
    3) TC DCL or Kane (if i do 1)

    Cheers all

    1. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      1. Y
      Flip a coin between 2 and 3

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

      2)

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

        1 Yes TC Kane, why else would you get him in?

    3. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      2

  19. Rains of Castamere
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Would you play Areola or Martinez?

    No other AVL/FUL defence.

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

      Marty

    2. Keep Calm and Play On
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Martinez

    3. Rains of Castamere
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Thanks... scout picks threw me a little

    4. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I think Fulham have the better def but Marty gets the saves and bonus potential is more. It’s a close one! I have both and am on Martinez but I think it’s a coin toss

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

    Regiulion or Castagne for DGW??

    1. NULL-X-VOID
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Castagne

  21. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Can I just check, as I can't remember - is KDB still on pens these days?

    1. Rains of Castamere
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Most likely

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

      Think he missed his last one so who knows it may actually be Ederson!

  22. Simon69
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    G2G? Sliiiightly concerned with Spurs form of late so a bit shaky on my TC pick

    Martinez

    Cancelo, Stones, Maguire

    Salah, Fernandes, Foden, Raphinha

    Kane (TC), DCL

    Subs: Pope, Mee, Mitchell, Soucek

  23. S.Kuqi
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Is Rashford -> Barnes worth -4?

    1. Simon69
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Noooooooo

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

      No

    3. S.Kuqi
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Cheers

    4. Saka Punch
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Nope

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

    Triple Captain?

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

    Ben Johnson likely to get any games for WHU? Bringing in a max 4.1defender, would be nice for gw29

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

      Have you flipped that coin yet?

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

        Yep. Doing the opposite of what it told me

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

          Ha good call

  26. CoracAld2831
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Pick one for GW26:

    A: Diagne (scout choice)
    B: Rodriguez (Bur)
    C: Watkins

    DCL and Bamford are my other forwards.

  27. Maddi Son
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    For balance in my squad I've got to go without either Barnes or DCL. Getting Barnes means I lose Raph, and obviously with DCL I lose Bamford. I'm swinging towards DCL but that Bamford hatty against Villa aint helping.

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

    Is it worth loosing Grealish for Lookman or play Raphinha and keep Jack for GW28/29 instead?

  29. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    https://twitter.com/robguesty/status/1365301647526793219?s=21

    Look it’s probably bs and might not be in the double but this does really worry me C him I think I’ll switch to Bruno.

    1. Rains of Castamere
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      That means he'll get more 10 minute cameos.

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

    Bottomed

    Really struggling here, first to three wins...

    Martinez
    Cancelo Stones Robertson
    Salah Fernandes Gundogan Raphinha
    Bamford DCL Kane

    Pope Soucek Coufal Ferguson

    1FT, 0.8itb

    1. Ferguson >> Konsa [10DGWs] (play Bamford, bench Raphinha)
    2. Robertson >> Digne [9DGWs] (play Bamford and Raphinha)
    3. Save FT

    Thanks

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

      Not 3, probably 2 for me

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

        Gosh. Just seems daft bringing in a doubler for a doubler

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

          Daft is good sometimes in FPL: release fund, Digne GW26-28 fixtures are good, potential DGW28. Could that backfire, of course.

    2. The Gambler.
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I think opt 2.

      Care to help me below?

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

      3 for me

    4. Ian J
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      1. Replacing a none playing SGW with a playing DGW player
      Why not others - why swap a DGW player for another - sideways move with no gain
      I’d also play Raphinha over Bamford- he was unplayable in his last game

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

      3

      But would play Raphinha over Bamford either way