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. Thomas Shelby from Birmingh…
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Pick one
    A) Salah and Barnes
    B) Bruno and Son
    Currently on B but WC Team has no Salah in it

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

      B

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

      B. Bruno is a must

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

    I am all set to get kane,in order to get him I have to sell either Salah or son! who to sell? No fh is the key here.

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

      Sell Son, you need some Pool

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

        Thanks

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

      Kane is enough Spurs

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

        Thanks

    3. Sgt Frank Drebin
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Maybe don't do it? Going without Kane is risky but Salah is an good option too and I don't think Son isn't worse option than Kane and you will save the transfer

      1. Sgt Frank Drebin
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I don't think Son is worse option than Kane* sorry just woke up

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

        Sorry my mind set on kane..

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

    Is Reguilon likely to start both games?

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

      Sorry I can't help. Would really like to know the answer to this too!

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

      The issue is long term fixtures. Spurs play Sunday/Thursday for the next 3 our 4 weeks. Jose seems to like a full back rotation so I wouldn't bank on it

  4. LǝgleSs e|even
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Salah Cappers unite

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

      o/ TC

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

      My TC!!!

    3. mrodgers91
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      See below, everyone scores against their old club too right?

  5. mrodgers91
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone feel like talking me out of TC salah

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

      Stick! The Sheff Utd game alone is worth it considering they have no defence

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

    How have I ended up without Kane this week

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

      Same but i'm not even concerned as i have Diagne to cover

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

        😀

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

      With you there. To save a hit went Ings > Vardy. Felt OK when I did it, now I'm very very nervous.

    3. Hybrid.power
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Me too. I'm okay with it.

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

    Took -8, bring the DGW! Good luck all 😉

    Martinez
    Cancelo/Digne/Stones
    Salah/Bruno/Barnes/Gundo/Raph
    Kane/DCL(TC)

    Martin/Bamford/Dallas/Coufal

    1. KEN YA DIG IT
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      love that dcl captaincy gamble
      could pay off massively

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

    Keep McCarthy in the hope they get a clean sheet vs Shef Utd next week or sell for -4 (DGW keeper) on the basis that McCarthy has averaged 0.8 points over the past 8 games :-/

    1. Forever In Our Shadow
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I’ve got him in for bb in 27. Lumping a lot on that shu game. The alternatives for 27 are Areola (liv) or Johnstone (NEW). DGW swings it for me.

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

        Yeah that makes sense. My other keeper is Martinez so I’d play him at home to Wolves next GW.

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

    Lloris or Martinez until GW31?

    1. Forever In Our Shadow
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Emi

    2. Stinglikeabee
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Loris

  10. Forever In Our Shadow
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    My WC team

    Martinez
    Cancelo Shaw Targett
    KDB Gundo Son Bruno Barnes
    Kane (C) DCL

    McCarthy Watkins Dier Dawson (for goal threat against leeds in 27 over Coufal?) 0.1ITB

    FH TC left & BB in 27 (With a couple of minor changes maybe)

    A couple of questions for 27 BB?

    A Coufal
    B Dawson (for goal threat against leeds in 27)

    1 Bamford (whu)
    2 Watkins (WOL) plus possible dgw in 28.

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

    Play one and bench rest in order?

    A) Bamford
    B) Raphina
    C) Dunk
    D) Struijk

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

      Raph

      Dunk
      Bamford
      Struijk

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

        Sweet, thank you. That's my gut feeling and how I have it set up at the moment

  12. Ange Ball
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    currently stuck need advice.

    Who do I play

    A) Firmino
    B) Raphin

    Should I take out Justin to Castagne for minus for -4 in total be -8 for the week.

    Thanks to those who reply. Hope every has decent game week.

    1. Forever In Our Shadow
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Wow Firminho that is different. Differential Dgwer punt or form sgw player. Depends where you are or wise but I’d go firminho.

      1. Ange Ball
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        cheers

  13. Blens
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    One more try guys - your votes will decide..

    Mee to Digne yay or nay

    (other defenders Saiss, TAA, Cancelo, Targett)

    2.3 ITB and a free

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

    Worth a hit to get Barnes in for Grealish? Obviously short term it should be but would mean benching Rüdiger.

    Longer term I've got no free hit so looking ahead to 29, if he's back and Villa have a double in 28 as well then he's probably one of the best players in the game to own and I can afford to bench him, rest of my attack is Bruno, Salah, Gundogan, Raphina, Kane, DCL and Watkins and have 5 playing defenders. For it to be worth it Barnes has to outscored Rüdiger by 8 this week probably to account for the transfer to bring Jack back

    1. Sgt Frank Drebin
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I was having the same dilemma. If you're not playing bench boost then maybe you afford to bench him? From what I read you should have enough double GWers

  15. Big W
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Anguissa > Barnes for -8? otherwise, I'm playing Raphina with a single game week

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

      I would save the -4 and trust in Raph's form and fixture

  16. Arteta
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Pope Martinez
    Dias Digne Stones Dallas Mitchell
    Salah Fernandes Barnes Gundogan Raphinha
    Kane Calvert-Lewin Bamford

    Would you WC this team?

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

      No

  17. King Kohli
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    WC team GTG?
    FH left. Giving myself the option not to be forced to use it in gw 29 with 6 players already.

    Martinez
    Digne Dias Cancelo
    Salah Bruno Barnes Gundo
    Kane DCL Watkins
    3.9 Raphinha White Struijk

  18. Nerdlinger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    No hits.

    Dallas ahead of Mee
    Raph ahead of Maddison
    Meslier in goal.

    Saving TC, WC and BB.

    Some method in the madness but well aware this has potential to backfire! Good luck all!

    1. LǝgleSs e|even
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Same in saving chips

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

    Southhampton is without Minamino, Walcott and Romeu for the Everton game. Huge chance for Everton def to get a CS plus potential attacking returns

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

      Same was said when they played Newcastle

  20. Pommie22
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Just a quickie guys
    Martinez or Pope
    Any thoughts appreciated

    1. seanie3
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Martinez

      1. seanie3
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        don't think pop has an chance of a cleanie, normally when pope keeps a cleanie, he is guranteed bonus points, mops them up.

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

        Meant Martinez !

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

      No

      1. seanie3
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        ??????????????

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

          Meant Martinez over pope
          I have pope on bench

          1. Pommie22
            • 3 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Thank you gentlemen

  21. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Reece James...shall I get rid of him or will he play? Don't know what to do with him

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

      get rid

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

    Can this BB team give me A green arrow, even after -12 to prepare for BGW 29?

    Martinez, DDG
    Stones, Dias; Digne, Dallas, Targett
    Salah, Bruno, Barnes, Gundogan Raphina
    Watkins, DCL (VC), Kane (c)

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

      It can give

  23. Futureform
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    What's the love for DCL for TC?

    Isn't he just barely back from an injury?

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

      fixtures

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

      No. Tactical move by Carlo. Played last 30 mins of Derby. Blues had more than a week off for the first time in ages and Monday Night KO against weaker than ever Saints. Then WBA away.

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

      Ooh. This is tempting then.

      @LIMBO what do you mean by it being a 'tactical' move by Carlo though?

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

    Which Spurs defender is most nailed?

    1. mrodgers91
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Probably reguilon this week, had a rest

  25. Thomas Jerome Newton
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Best non City defender in 6.0 for GW26. Have Targett.

    1. Over Midwicket
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Pereira or Digne.

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

      Digne

  26. Over Midwicket
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Why are people overlooking Gundogan(c)?

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

      Played m week ?

  27. Klopp's Kids
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Which one?

    1) TC - Kane
    2) TC - Barnes
    3) BB - Non player keeper, Raphina, Bamford, Dallas

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

      1

  28. Johan Queef
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    TC Bruno or Salah?

    Yay

    Or

    Nay

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

      Nay

  29. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Watkins fit or inuured?

    Already on -4 and cant have non starters in bench boost

  30. Salarrivederci
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Salah (C) lets go!