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

    No DCL, should I be worried?

    Martinez
    Cancelo Stones Shaw
    Salah Bruno Gundogan Son Raph
    Kane Bamford

    Pope Antonio Dallas Coufal

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

      Yes.. Bamford out
      you have enough coverage for Leeds

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

        would be -8

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

          Unless you're keen on cup/head to head, -8 only matters if your transfers in score less than 3 more than the players they replaced

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

          i feel that a minus 8 is worth it as he play 2 matches

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

      can't have everyone

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

      I'd get him if you can

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

      I don't have Kane. You can't have everyone.

    5. Jam0sh
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I wouldn't be worried. Nice looking team

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

      I don’t have him either, game is about strength of squad 🙂

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

    Schmeichel
    TAA/Stones/Regullion/Digne
    Salah/KDB/Barnes
    Kane/Calvert/Diagne

    WC GTG ?
    only playable defender is Mitchelll

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

      good team, don't know what you mean by only playable defender is mitchell

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

        my only playable substitute

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

          then that's tricky. downgrade regullion perhaps and upgrade some of your other players to at least bench fodder who starts but get 2 pts

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

    Stones > Digne for -4?

    yay or nay (own dias)

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

      not for me

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

        ok cool, think i'm g2g then, would you play Dier over any of Stones/Dias/Shaw?

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

      If selling DGW defender sure, but not for Stones. Stones could very well get 2 CSs.

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

      Nay... Unless there is some logic there I don't know about

  4. fr3d
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Any truth to the rumor that everyone in here will break a 100 points this GW?

    1. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yes, A 105 score will be a serious red arrow.

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

      Thats a red arrow for me. Aiming for 200 points

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

      Any less than 226 and I'll be disappointed.

    4. Thomas Magnum
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Only the casuals I heard

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

    If You C or TC DCL rise your hand

    1. Thomas Magnum
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Most likely just C and save TC for later on

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

      o/

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

      DCL TC here, fixtures so good!

      1. Toe-Knee Yeboah
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Same. Riss worth taking

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

          🙂

  6. Thomas Magnum
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Anybody here catch the end of that Melbourne Victory Western United match?!

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

      3-4 with red card to the away team...football is really round

      1. Thomas Magnum
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Incredible match that, thought Western were finished after the red. Diamanti is still class even in his advanced years. A league has been great this season

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

    Captain Kane or Bruno
    Kane or Bruno
    Kane or Bruno

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

      Bruno

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

      Bruno

    3. Dirty Harry
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      If Bruno wasn't against Chelsea would be Bruno no brainer.

      Going Kane and go gets crossed

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

      you got 35 mins

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

      Kane

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

    Sterling to KDB for a -4?

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

      No

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

    One popular captains between bruno,kane and dcl is gonna dissapoint alot of guys this week
    Just have to predict who

    1. Dirty Harry
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Own that threesome so happy endings regardless

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

    Is Lowton > Holgate worth -4?

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

      No

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

      no

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

    -4 team. 3m ITB.
    G2G? Cheers 🙂

    Pope
    Dias, Cancelo, Digne
    Son, Bruno, Gündo, Raphina
    Kane(TC), DCL, Bamford
    (McCarthy, Dallas, Coufal, Soucek)

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

      Beautiful

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

        😀 cheers boss. Best of luck !

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

    GTG? BB activated.

    Martinez Areola
    Dias Stones Digne AWB Dallas
    Salah(C) Bruno Son Gundo Barnes
    Watkins DCL Bamford

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

      Strong.

  13. aleksios
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    1) BB Johnstone--Raphinia--Dallas--Cresswell.

    2) TC Kane.

    Thanks .

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

      1

  14. john25
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Hey guys, do you think Mitchell has a chance to start both of the DGW games? Or more likely one? If only one, which one?

    Cheers

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

      reckon he starts against fulham today so very likely he could get a cleanie 0-0 written all over that one... then if he gets the second game a bonus..

  15. GCM0803
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Ederson
    Cancelo konsa rudiger
    Barnes gundo bruno son salah
    Dcl Watkins

    1) Who to captain?
    2) Do I TC?

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

      TC Salah.

  16. Muzzy87
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Pope & Adams > Pickford & Watkins (-8)

    Worth the hit considering extra game, easier fixtures, ditching Adams, Watkins plays in 29 and maybe also dgw28?

  17. The class of 92
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Which options best for the BB?

    A) C Taylor
    B) Konsa (-4)
    C) Targett (-4)

  18. Jdpz
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Ings to DCL/Richarlison for a hit?

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

      Yes

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

      yes

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

      Yes

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

      Yes

    5. Superflymonk
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Would be funny if Ings scored the gw you sold him

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

    Pick one (have Martinez + Areola)

    A) Aina

    B) El Mohamady

    1. The class of 92
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

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

      A

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

      A

  20. SomeoneKnows
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    A) Play Bamford (Grealish 1st Sub)
    B) Grealish > Barnes (-4 hit)

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

      B, think Barnes could be great

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

      Barnes

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

    Is there a nailed Spurs defender?

    Can’t bring in Lloris so would you go for:
    A) Reguilon
    B) Dier

    Thanks

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

      Reguilon

  22. brentmeister
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Final decision:
    Bruno and Watkins
    Or
    Son and DCL
    Thanks

    1. The class of 92
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      The one with Bruno

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

    Dier on my bench seems wrong with those fixtures, would you play Dier over any of these?

    1. Raphina
    2. Stones
    3. Dias
    4. Shaw

    1. The class of 92
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Probably not as I'm not sure he'll play both

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

      Over Raphinha I would

  24. AW127
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Play Pope or Johnstone?

  25. Enes_Sahini1
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Son worth the TC?

    dont have kane

    1. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      No Kane here and I'm going DCL TC.

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

      I'd he blanks you'll kick yourself. 1 goal in last 8, against 2 good defences.

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

    Surprisingly I'm pretty happy with my team. I only hope KDB doesn't run riot this GW (and I will regret not bringing him in). Also would be nice if Kane doesn't get more than 10 points. Anything less I think I can take.

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

      Think lack of minutes will mean most city assets underwhelm.

      There'll be a couple of double figures from the likes of Ederson/Mahrez/Foden/Silva but I think all the highly owned players will rotate

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

        I think most of them will, but KDB should be pretty safe, no? I can't say I am very confident about it though.

  27. Weeb Kakashi
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Pick one to start both in 26

    A Stones
    B Cancelo
    C Gundo

    Leaning towards A

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

      Ouch. Tough call. Gundo probably

  28. bitm2007
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    BB this GW

    McCarthy, Sturijk, White, Raphinha.

    or wait until GW30 when I've got Alonso

    McCarthy (BUR), Sturijk (SHU), Alonso (WBA) Raphinha (SHU)

    It's a no brainer to wait, right ?

  29. Sheffield Wednesday
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bench Bamford or Mee?

    (I'm starting Mee, with Raphina my only sgw player in a 4-5-1 formation atm)

  30. Bobby_Baggio
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    What's with the Salah love for (C)?

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

      Sheffield united away

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

        Hmmm think Kane and Bruno are better