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. Fulchester's New Centr…
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Konsa (TC) for minus 24?

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

      No brainer.

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

      Stupid question,big yes

  2. Jordan.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    BB and captain sir harry of kane,now feed him well mr bale...

    1. Tango74
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Done same as you.

      TC another Kane week

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

      Think bale will be starting? I am considering him as a massive punt

  3. Poetry in motion
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    OK, PL, you can announce the Everton Villa fixture in GW28 now

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Think they'll just slip them in to the update without mentioning it just for the lulz

  4. CONNERS
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Let the anti-climax commence!

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

      This

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

    Any Gundo (C) here?

    Shocked he was being overlooked

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

      Shocked? Really? Rotation so very likely

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

        Nope. Pep said he will play 100% if he's fit which he is now.

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

          Well, good luck to you... I'm not convinced!

    2. AC Yew
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      If KDB wasnt back would have TC

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

      Yes me

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

      I will TC him but you know Pep's rotations

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

        When?

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

      I went with him. Have been hanging around the 30K-60K mark for 10 weeks now - time to try a differential and boost up or take the knock and then have enough weeks to try and claw back.

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

      Are you serious?

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

    Ended up kicking Bruno out to accomodate Kane. What have I done? I need a massive couch this gw...

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

      Good luck

    2. Rolls-Royce
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Shocking.

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

      Could work with Spurs having Palace and United having City next week though. But that’s a proper FOMO move.

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

        He maybe not playing if jose prioritize europe league

    4. Konstaapeli
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      RIP

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

      Crazy

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

      Might end up well ... Which is very unlikely

    7. Steve Chance
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      That is funny!

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

      Effectively I got rid of Salah to set up bb in 27. You aren’t the only one off to DFS before kickoff.

  7. nolard
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Who tripled captained the mouth-breather then?

    I went with no Spurs.

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

      The mouth breather is my TC

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

        Thoughts and prayers!

    2. JOELIO8701
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Mouth-breather?

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

    Did you just see THAT news

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

      yea, horrible

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

      yeah, really bad!

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

      Shocking

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

      Yes omg. I'm so happy Lady Gaga's bulldogs were finally found.

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Who’s collecting the 500k reward!

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

      What news?

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

        Shocking news

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

          This

  9. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    The guy who tweeted the City snippets has 463 followers so he knows zilch. His info was all pretty predictable, Sterling was gash midweek, Stones was rested and Gundo and KDB are nailed. Just trying to make a name for himself.

  10. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    PANTS DOWN!!

    Good luck all XX

    1. Rolls-Royce
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Kinky.

    2. Philosopher's Stones
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Been down all day

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        It’s Saturday after all 🙂

  11. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Wonder how many hours it will be to update!

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

      2 hours

    2. Tango74
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Hi sun

      Went with BB in end and TC KANE another week

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

    Bus team was Salah c Bruno vc
    with all the tinkering during the week the only change was making Salah tc

    1. Hulk Smash
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      That's usually a good sign.

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

        ta, good luck hulk

  13. The Train Driver
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    When and where can I see EO of players?

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

      Livefpl but not until after the update of course.

    2. Ejaaz11
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      livefpl.net after the game has updated

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

      On fpl live but wait some time,game needs to be updated

    4. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      As soon as it updates on livefpl

  14. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    TC Salah or Kane?

    Last desision

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

      bit early for gw27, isn't it?

    2. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Diagne

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

      On GW27? I will go with City because they have 2 games

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

      Deadline has passed.

  15. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Disappointed I didn't get Digne 🙁

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Disappointed in myself that I did

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

        Phew! Glad you exist Fulch

      2. Konstaapeli
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        You've both let me down.

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

      I did, mostly cause I'd be wondering "What If" for a weeks. That's no fun!

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

        (Albeit so is scoring less having taken a hit!)

  16. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Sterling starts

    Gundogan benched!

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

      Where did you get the info?

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

        A West Ham account lol.

    2. Lord of Ings
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Source?

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

      what about Kdb and cancelo ?

    4. The Seagulls and the Trawle…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Says who?

  17. Hulk Smash
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Will this be the most important, season-defining gameweek of the campaign?

    Yes
    No

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

      I feel GW19 may turn out to be bigger looking back due to the crazy Stones and Dias hauls.

      1. Brimble82
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I just brought Stones back in.
        Was assuming he hauls like that every DGW! 😉

    2. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Maybe

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

      No

    4. Steve Chance
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      One week can't define a 38 week competition.

  18. GreennRed
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Best of luck lads. Some great punditry from Conor Moore to while away the updating 🙂

    https://youtu.be/2YBLpLsJNpE

    1. Rolls-Royce
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      The guy's a legend. Have watched all his PL impressions.

  19. Tango74
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I wonder what decisions we are regretting already ?

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Should have taken the red pill

    2. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I bought vegan chorizo sausages last week and just had them. Utter dog suite

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

        Amazing comment

  20. how now brown cow
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Good luck everyone.

    COME ON LEEDS!!

  21. jackoasean
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I’ve triple captained DCL

    Hit or Bust

    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Big bust, just how I like it. Motorbooooooat

    2. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Or more likely somewhere in the middle

      1. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Hist?

  22. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Don't know when to use my FH

    Could get 7 players for gw29 which is all right but my plan is now to downgrade my bench so fh might best option

    Wheh are you using yours ?

    1. Brimble82
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      33

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

      FH 29 for me. I've used my WC so better to focus my transfers on 27,28 and 30+. I don't want to be stuck with a team built for gw29. Also good opportunity to make up a bit of ground in 29.

  23. PogChamp
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Richarlison(TC). Wish me luck!

    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      GL

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

        Thanks jarvis

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

      Ballsy.

  24. ZimZalabim
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    any other Bale owners ?

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

      Wentworth GC

  25. Says
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    This might be the most interesting GW ever, and I've been playing a long time.

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

      You Say...

  26. ⭐ ABHISHEK - THE CURIOUS …
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Mane the differential this week 🙂

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

      Every week

  27. CONNERS
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    A solitary goal in each fixture is all I'm asking for Harry. I'm sure you can manage that.

    Please don't do a Sane on me.

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Or a Mane or an himself from a couple of years ago

  28. DAZZ
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    No Sterling is a kick in the teeth for owners.

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

      Rupert at it again?

      1. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Who?

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

          That horse fella, that hangs around here...

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

      Not confirmed yet.

    3. Party time
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Or a San pedro cactus in the arse for owners

    4. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      lol

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

      Good luck everyone. There were some massive decisions this week, don't feel bad if things don't play out the way you want.

      1. Steve Chance
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        This is nice. Good luck to you!

      2. Free Hat
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        True. GL as well!