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. Salalalalah
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Son or Barnes?

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      I like Barnes

  2. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Salah will destroy Sheffield. TC sorted have up my mind 😉

    1. Muchentuchel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      We might even lose against them. Wouldn't do it.

      1. Says
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        both things can happen

    2. bring_on _the_fantasy
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Liverpools confidence is shot to pieces at the moment.

      1. Guru Mediation
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        They'll be playing for Allison tomorrow

  3. Jdpz
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Reguilon or Dier or Targett?

    1. 3 A
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Targett for me

  4. El_Gigante
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Is Phillips a run of games with Henderson out?

    1. El_Gigante
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      *getting

  5. The 12th Man
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    All set.
    Martinez
    Dias,Cancelo,Digne
    Fernandes,Gundogan,Son,Bale
    Kane(TC),DCL(TVC), Watkins

    Johnstone,Raphinia,Dallas,Coufal -4. 1.6m itb

    1. mr messi
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Bale?

  6. TheGrumpyManager
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Who to bench?
    Watkins or Raphina?

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Raphinha 100%

  7. jam
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Worth a hit for Lowton to Konsa? Better DGW and gives me another player for wk 29...

    1. Doylaz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      No

    2. wulfrunian
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      yes

  8. Davidwes
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Bruno and Bamford——> Barnes and Kane (TC) for a -4?

    1. Guru Mediation
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Getting rid of Bruno is mad

      1. Davidwes
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        Haha why though? His next 4 games are chelsea, palace, city and west ham. Before he got on this run of form for 4 games he had blanked like 5 in a row.

  9. HD7
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Anybody starting Mitchell?

    Have a dilemma between him and Mee

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Go Mitchell because of the Fulham game

    2. dogtanion
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      I am. Clean sheet v Fulham would work

  10. leeboy104
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Who to start:
    Cavani
    Raph
    Bamford

    Struggling between Cavani and Raph mainly.

    1. mr messi
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Raphinha

  11. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Thanks for all help and good discussions, GL in dgw, everyone!

  12. Gabbiadini
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Vardy or Salah TC?

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Salah

    2. ItsJonesy
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Mo

    3. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Salah

      1. Gabbiadini
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        very slim chance of a rest, yeh?

    4. Gabbiadini
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      That seems unanimous.

  13. aapoman
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    A. Digne and Burn
    or
    B. Pereira and C. Taylor

  14. Superflymonk
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Don't make any last-minute transfers and captain switches, don't make any last-minute transfers and captain switches, don't make any last-minute transfers and captain switches! Relax, breathe, it will all be over soon.

    1. 3 A
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Yeah. U are right.

  15. Pariße
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Should I buy Alonso for the laughs?

    Plays Liverpool and United.
    Those derbies always end up 0-0 anyway.

    1. DF
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      I am.

      1. Pariße
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        haha I did. That was fun.

  16. Jive Turkey
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Hi All. Which looks better?

    A) Barnes // Dias // Diagne DGW starts & a Raphina // Dallas // White bench for 29
    OR
    B) Son // Stones // Pereira (Brom) DGw starts & a Maja // Ayling // Burn bench for 29

    1. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Nah too soon

    2. fr3d
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Salah well deserved rest?

      1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        jota up front instead of firmino predicted by talksport

    3. Muchentuchel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Jota will go straight into my WC team.

    4. threeputt
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      doubt he'll start, 30 mins run out imo

  17. FPL Pillars
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Start one of each.

    1. Martinez
    2. Areola

    And

    A. Raph
    B. Bamford

  18. Xanthorpe
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Stones and Bruno -> Digne and KDB for a -8?

    1. Xanthorpe
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Or Salah instead of Bruno out

    2. _Ninja_
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Nah

    3. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Hold

    4. Bring the Cavalry
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      No for me, stones could easily start both games with a good chance of getting at least 12

    5. mr messi
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      No!

  19. Abaddon
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Play
    A) barnes -4
    B) raphinha

  20. Saosin
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    I'm chasing 18 point in friendly league. Opponent will TC Kane. I had Kane aswell but now thinking TC DCL. Was just about to go on with my day... What would you do?

    1. Ejaaz11
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Nah 18 points is nothing. You have so.many weeks left to cover that gap.
      Keep it on Kane unless you genuinely believe DCL will score more.

      1. JenkoJunko
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        This

    2. ILOVEBAPS
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      18 points is nothing.
      I would still TC DCL over Kane.
      And I have 🙂

    3. Iwantmorepointsthanks
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      18 points to be ignored. Play your own game

    4. HNI
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      18pts nothing. Example I am.some 90-100 pts from world 1 still think I have outside to chase it lol

    5. Saosin
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      First time not in the lead. Have me flippin. Stick to what's logic... Thnx lads!

  21. Mr Johnson
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Captain Bruno, Salah or Son??

  22. JenkoJunko
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Last min heeelp!!

    Foden or Gundo on WC?

    I'm chasing big time and 1st has Gundo??

    1. Saosin
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Foden short term could do wonders

      1. JenkoJunko
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        Thank you : - ) Foden it is

  23. Studs Up
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Chillwell out for a hit
    A) Pereira
    B) Konsa (+gwk 29)

  24. dsefton
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Play:
    A) Bamford
    B) Raphinha

    1. Studs Up
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      B

    2. Muchentuchel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      I'd say A) because my chasers have him.
      But on the other hand I'm really not sure. I mean he's on pens, ain't he?

  25. toxik
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Anyone else TC on DCL, switched it from Kane to him.

    1. ItsJonesy
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      I was all week but just changed to Salah.

    2. highsguy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Yep

  26. Weeb Kakashi
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Pick 2 on FH

    A B.Traore
    B M.Pereira
    C Stones

    Have Ederson

  27. CONNERS
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Bacon 'n' Eggs or Fish 'n' Chips?

    1. Party time
        3 years, 29 days ago

        Fish n chips

    2. FER FUSCH AKE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      why are people getting rid of Burnley def?

      1. g40steve
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        Kane

    3. S3
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Digne or Pereira?....everton hardly keep clean sheets...makes me tend towards pereira