Tips

The Complete Guide to Scout’s tips and advice for Double Gameweek 26

Strap yourselves in for the biggest Double Gameweek 26 of the season, with 17 matches and 14 teams playing twice. The next six days promise to be another rollercoaster ride of unrelenting (Fantasy) Premier League action.

With potentially season-defining decisions to be made ahead of today’s 11:00 GMT deadline, the feeling among the Fantasy Community is that we are spoilt for choice.

The roll call of potential armband candidates ranges from the reassuringly expensive to enticing differentials. And for those with a selection of chips at their disposal the choice is made even trickier.

A Double Gameweek is the perfect time to deploy one of our four power-ups with the points ceiling raised for Bench Boost, Triple Captain, Free Hit and Wildcard thanks to the extra fixtures.

Indecision is final.

– Alan Hansen

Famous words from the king of pundits and decorated centre-half Alan Hansen. Although, strangely, the former Liverpool captain wasn’t referring to his Fantasy football team. Given the furore surrounding Aston Villa and their players this week you could be forgiven for thinking otherwise.

But we’re not about to hesitate at the crucial moment when it comes to FPL decision-making. And you can’t fault the effort, attitude and commitment of our very own pundits and experts. 

Divisive Kane

The captain poll favourite heading into the bumper round of fixtures is Harry Kane (£11.1m). A vote that left David and Joe somewhat perplexed. Never ones to dilly-dally when presented with an opportunity, the pair aren’t convinced of Kane’s credentials, despite the support among Community members.

The fixtures on paper do look nice but both Burnley and Fulham are very capable these days of chucking everyone behind the ball knowing full well that Spurs are having problems breaking people down … Both of these teams will take a point against Spurs, so they’re not going to overstretch themselves to go and win the game.

Over the last four matches, Burnley have the third-best expected goals conceded in the league, 3.18, the only two teams better than that are Chelsea and Man City. Fulham are in the top five, 3.23 goals they should have conceded, and they’ve only actually conceded the one goal. Their defence is doing much better as well and they’ve both got fantastic goalkeepers too … These are teams that can frustrate Spurs.

– David, Captaincy Video

Alan Hansen once said that for Tottenham to be a successful side they will need to get away from the philosophy of ‘pretty football’. Well, with Jose Mourinho in charge they’ve arguably done just that. Except without the success.

But what does Alan Hansen know about Fantasy football? We need a real expert, a man with three top 10,000 finishes and a best-ever rank of 817. Step forward Az

According to the FPL Black Box co-host, Harry Kane is the best captaincy pick. The handsome and dashing Az backs up his opinion with some impressive stats: citing Twitter user FPL_Swede he pointed out that in 10 games against the bottom eight teams, Kane has delivered an attacking return in every one, averaging 9.2 points a match. 

And the trio of wise Pro Pundits appearing on the latest episode of the FPL Wire, Zophar, Lateriser and Tom Freeman, all have the armband placed on the top-points-scoring forward in FPL this season. 

More heavyweight backing for the Spurs striker came from FFScout founder Mark Sutherns. Perhaps not that much of a surprise given that “Mark loves Kane”, to quote AZ, but Mark was worried he was being blinded by his own bias.

The best person to help us understand the flaws in our thinking is Pro Pundit and behavioural economics graduate, Simon March.

Expected Yakult

Stats are probiotics for gut feelings, reasoned the former FPL winner is his latest offering. 

Instinct may help you see opportunities that other managers don’t, or avoid the traps that others will fall into, but it may also create such traps if followed without sufficient interrogation. This is why it is important to sense-check decisions with some form of objective data or a second-opinion.

– Simon March

Jan Sienkiewicz noted in his Captain Sensible article that the form stats don’t favour Kane and co:

Both [Kane’s] and Spurs’ attacking statistics have been somewhat underwhelming in recent weeks. Only Crystal Palace have recorded fewer shots inside the box than Jose Mourinho’s team in their last six matches.

– Jan Sienkiewicz

So was Mark able to find a healthy dollop of Bifidobacterium Statisticalus to support his gut instinct?

The expected data is a problem, but with expected data, you’ve got to bear this in mind – that Kane and Son are just complete outliers … Son and Kane are the top two players in the Premier League [for xG Delta], they have exceeded their expected data by the biggest margins for goal involvement … they don’t need a lot of good quality chances to score goals.

– Mark Sutherns.

So convinced is Mark that he’s using his Triple Captain chip on Harry Kane.

But, as ever, other options are available. 

Mohamed Salah (£12.6m), a player who’s perhaps been slightly overlooked by the masses, is Jan’s top pick. The leading goalscorer in the Premier League with 15 goals, Salah boasts impressive underlying stats: second only to team-mate Sadio Mané (£11.8m) for shots in the penalty box over the last six matches.

In the first of their two fixtures Liverpool take on a Sheffield United side down to the bare bones in defence. Their three first-choice centre-backs that helped them reach dizzying heights last season, John Egan (£4.7m), Jack O’Connell (£4.7m) and Chris Basham (£4.6m), are all ruled out for Chris Wilder.

But it’s their second fixture against Chelsea that, along with Liverpool’s poor form, is putting many off the Egyptian. However, Jan did unearth some encouraging news for Salah captainers:

Klopp holds an impressive head-to-head record against Thomas Tuchel. Out of the 14 meetings between the Germans, Klopp came out victorious on nine occasions. Additionally, those matches have produced as many as 43 goals, which makes it over three goals per game on average.

– Jan Sienkiewicz

Meanwhile, city rivals Everton are top of the fixture ticker when looking at Gameweek 26 in isolation: the Toffees host Southampton before a midweek trip to West Brom. Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£7.7m) therefore comes into contention.

And once again the stats make impressive reading. The forward has been particularly threatening on the road in recent times, accumulating 4.32 xG in his last six away matches – more than any other forward in the Premier League.

But the list of armband contenders goes on. Let’s not forget the Manchester teams with the in-form Bruno Fernandes (£11.6m), İlkay Gündoğan (£6.2m), Raheem Sterling (£11.6m), and the returning Kevin De Bruyne (£11.8m).

If only we could fit them all in.

It’s Mo Sacrifice

Karam, Tom, and Zophar are all using their Wildcards and face several tricky selection dilemmas. 

On the Scoutcast Karam was given a hard time by Joe and David over his omission of Mohamed Salah.

Joe argued that it was easier to run from Salah than it was to run to him, explaining that because of Salah’s lofty price tag, downgrading to the likes of Son or De Bruyne is easy, whereas upgrading would be harder without sufficient funds in the reserve.

However, Tom Freeman is also sacrificing the most expensive FPL asset in order to benefit from a more balanced squad. A particular concern for Tom given that he plans to Bench Boost in Gameweek 27. 

One intriguing pick in his side is Jesse Lingard (£5.9m). West Ham take on Leeds United next Gameweek and Tom feels the direct running of the on-loan Manchester United midfielder could trouble Marcelo Biesla’s side. 

Ricardo Pereira (£5.9m) is another differential to catch the eye, featuring in both Tom’s and Karam’s Wildcard XV’s. 

Karam is going all-in on Leicester City – tripling up with Harvey Barnes (£6.9m) and Jamie Vardy (£10.2m) coming in alongside Pereira. He’s even trusting the evergreen Englishman with the armband.

Manchester City-fan Karam has decided to abandon his conservative approach and take a few calculated risks in the hope of surging up the ranks. Encouragingly, the Foxes are on a par with Man City when it comes to shots on target (21) over the last four Gameweeks. 

Another forward to consider is Mbaye Diagne (£6.0m). The Senegalese has been on the end of five big chances in his four and a half games since joining West Brom, and is included in the Scout Picks, Tom’s Wildcard team, and was talked up by Lateriser.

Interestingly, all three Wildcarders still have their Free Hit chip available but none have committed to using it in Blank Gameweek 29.

When planning ahead in his usual meticulous fashion, Zophar identified Gameweek 33 as a better round for the Free Hit. The League Cup Final takes place between Spurs and Man City, meaning they will blank along with their scheduled opponents Southampton and Fulham.

The six-time top 5,000 manager sees greater potential for a big score compared to the four-match Gameweek 29.

Finally, Neale frisked the upcoming fixtures. The Team News compiler included a look at Gameweek 30 and beyond for those considering “dead-ending” their squads in Gameweek 29 and Wildcarding straight after.

Community Competitions and Head-to-Head Fixtures

This is the last chance for Premium Members to enter the FFS Members Cup with qualifying for the first round taking place in Gameweek 26. Click here for details on how to enter.

The draw for the first round of the Fantasy Football Scout Cup has thrown up a real ‘David vs Goliath’ clash with the highest-ranked team, The Fighting Cock (273rd overall), taking on the lowest-ranked manager in the competition, Ahmed Eid, who is not far off the five-million mark.

A total of £300 in prizes is available across the two tournaments.

Elsewhere, RedLightning rounded-up the rest of the Community mini-leagues and competitions. And the Head-to-Head fixtures for Gameweek 26 can be found below. 

The scores and tables update each night on the Head-to-Head Leagues main page, so you can keep track of the action as the Gameweek unfolds. 

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

3,547 Comments Post a Comment
  1. DangerFC
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Yes or no
    Alli could be worth a punt for a differential?

    1. The Tinkerman
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      No

    2. The Senate
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      no for me

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

      Bale more likely to start IMO but much more expensive. Neither are options unless FHing and then still a big punt IMO.

  2. The Tinkerman
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    BB this week, fingers crossed! (No FH for 29)

    Martinez, Sanchez
    Dias, Cancelo, Reguilon, Shaw, El Mo
    Salah (V), Bruno, Barnes, Gundo, Raph
    Kane (C), Watkins, Bamford

    1. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Nice squad

      1. The Tinkerman
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers, GL this week

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

      Very nice. Good luck!

      1. The Tinkerman
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        You too!

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

    Martinez
    Dias - Stones - Shaw
    Salah - Bruno - Rashford - Gundogan - Raphinha
    Kane (TC) - Bamford

    (Pope) (Dallas - Antonio - Bednarek)

    Anything need changing or GTG?

    1. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Gtg

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

    Plzzzz Help
    Which is the best to have and B with Whom ??
    A- Burno + Watkins
    B- Foden / Traoré / Pererira + Vardy

    1. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Foden is either 3 or 20 points

  5. Ian Davis
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Areola the best GK option under 5.0?

    1. asdf_1
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      pickford, but may not start.

  6. Buck The Trent
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    looking for 4.5 GK for BB in GW 28 or 30. Options are:

    McCarthy vs BRI BUR
    Johnstone vs cpl che
    Sanchez vs sou mun
    Areola vs MCI avl

    Has to be McCarthy, right ?

  7. Pap Boomez
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Can I play both my WC and BB in single game week?

    1. The Tinkerman
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Nope

    2. The Senate
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      no

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

      As in use both in this game week

    4. You've got red on you.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Noop

    5. Pap Boomez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Ah ok thanks

    6. The Hunt
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      No.

    7. Taegugk Warrior
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Nope, this is why last week FA messed up most off fpl manager plan

  8. You've got red on you.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bottomed

    Start one:

    1. Grealish (for the Sheff. game)
    2. Raphina (Villa)
    3. R. James (Man Utd, L'Pool)

    1. The Tinkerman
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      2

    2. Bench-Life
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      2 -Raphina due a haul with a little better luck

  9. theoldgit
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Currently have KDB(C) but have a sneaky feeling Bale could make Kane a better choice.

    1. The Hunt
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I wouldn't be capping KDB myself. He might possibly have restricted minutes and let's be honest, he's not the fantasy asset he was last season.

  10. Taegugk Warrior
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Is areola really best pair for martinez this week..? Why there is so much love for him... Fulham 18th at the table, and he will facing kane & son.

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

      And also will play against cp

    2. asdf_1
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I am thinking of pickford, but there is that small chance that he is benched thats stopping me.

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

    Play
    1. Dallas or Mitchell
    2. Mitchell to Target and play him instead

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

      2. Would be -8

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

      Play Dallas?
      I’m in similar boat. Dallas has potential to score / assist plus clean sheet

  12. SHOWSTOPPERRR
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    And its the typical question oly with no no answers time as deadline approaches..

  13. No Totti No Party
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Wc team

    Ederson sanchez
    Digne stones dallas targett aina
    Salah barnes bruno gundo traore
    Dcl kane banford
    Any thoughts ?

  14. Sandy Ravage
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Is Maddison > Barnes (-4) worth a hit?

    1. The Hunt
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I suppose it's effectively just a -2 this week so yeah.

  15. Hitthewall
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Pope to Lloris or Martinez until GW31 WC?

    Already got Targett.

  16. thom830g
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Is doing 4m GK + Coufal -> Lloris + Digne good idea for -4?

    Then bench boosting this lot:

    Pope
    Digne - Dias - Shaw - Robertson
    Salah - Bruno - Gundo - Foden
    Bamford - DCL
    (lloris - antonio - dallas - Raphina)

    1. thom830g
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Still have TC also...

  17. The Senate
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Right:
    (A) Keane
    (B) Luke Thomas
    (C) Soy boy

    1. The Hunt
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Definitely Keane.

  18. aapoman
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bottomd. Thoughts? Love having them big hitters.

    Martinez Fabri
    Cancelo Konsa Rüdiger (two defenders max 9.1m)
    Salah Bruno KDB Gundo Lookman
    Kane DCL Brewster

  19. Munny Man
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    In order to get Kane I have to sell either Salah or Bruno! Is it worth doing? If so, who to sell?

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

      Personally I think you will regret not having him but I wouldn’t want to sell either of those and, if taking a hit, would be madness. Bruno if you must.

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

    would you take a -8 to remove 2 dgw players(ddg,mee) to get in 2 bench single gw players(burn & fabri) ??

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

      Huh? Of course not.

    2. The Senate
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      if it's necessary to fund another move, maybe... but I am using my BB this week so personally wouldn't

    3. Nedvěd11
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Whaaat...

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

      some "expert" did that,not me

  21. Red Red Robins
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Team is set except for 1
    Lawton or Stones?
    Lawton will play twice, but Stones once - buuuuut Stones more likely to get a clean sheet in his 1 fixture

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

      i would say stones..i´m between lowton & bamford

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

        West Ham could snatch a goal, leaving me with only 2pts
        Burnley got Leicester who have just played in Europe, so thinking they could be tired
        Lawton over Bam tbh

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

    Lads, would you BenchBoost this lot? would get that team for a -4..

    martinez pope
    dias cancelo dallas targett taylor
    bruno salah gundo son raphinha
    dcl bamford watkins

  23. GoonerSteve
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Morning all,

    Would you rather have:

    a) Areola, Aina and De Bruyne.
    b) Martinez, Aina and Son
    c) Martinez, Targett and Son.

    On a wildcard. Current team is:

    Martinez (3.9)
    Targett, Cancelo, Stones (Coufal, Struik)
    Bruno, Gundo, Barnes, Salah, Son
    DCL, Kane (c), Brewster.

    1. Nedvěd11
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      C

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

        Cool, that's what I'm on currently. Bit concerned about the Villa double up in defence.

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

      *(Brewster)

  24. Nedvěd11
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Should I bring Watkins in for Bamford for -4?

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

      Honestly I wouldn't. Watkins hasn't been great of late and no grealish to provide .

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

      No

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

      Coin flip for me. I did.

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

      I’m doing the same

  25. Cruz88
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Seriously considering Salah > Son as part of a -8 this week (also including Coufal > Digne and Forster > Schmeichel for a BB), waddya reckon? Would give me:

    Martinez
    Dias Stones Reguilon
    Bruno Rashford Son Gundo Ralphina
    DCL Kane

    Bench Boost: Schmeichel, Bamford, Dallas, Digne

  26. Mike82
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Should I triple captain;
    1 - DCL
    2 - Son
    3 - Bruno
    4 - Gundagon
    5 - Salah

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

      3

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

      1, 3 or 5 - go with your gut though.

  27. reeceon
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Coufal > dier -4 (on BB)

  28. GROBARI
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bench two
    A) Mee
    B) Lowton
    C) Bamford
    D) Dallas

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

      B,D

    2. Mike82
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Despite the doubles for Burnley id play the Leeds pair

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

    Play Raph or bench for Keane -4?

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

      Play

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

        Cheers. That is what I am doing (to the extent I have decided between bb and tc...)

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

    Don't own Kane, if I'd only knew that Dias will start both games he'd be my TC.

    Guess have to settle for DCL.