Scout Network

The best differential midfielders to consider for FPL Gameweeks 27 and 28

Fantasy Premier League managers are eyeing up changes in midfield ahead of the upcoming Gameweeks – are you?

With a number of premium assets failing to deliver in their first Double Gameweek 26 matches, and others suffering injuries options such as Gareth Bale (£9.3m), Jesse Lingard (£5.9m) and Pedro Neto (£5.7m) are on the radar.

We asked members of the Scout Network what plans they had in midfield ahead of Gameweeks 27 and 28.

FPL Nymfria

Can Jesse Lingard follow up on his West Ham debut FPL haul

In five Gameweeks since joining the Hammers, Lingard has produced three goals and two assists . In Gameweek 27, he faces a Leeds team that will leave space for him to exploit and, although he can’t play against his parent club Manchester United in Gameweek 28, he does play in Blank Gameweek 29.

With another fixture still to be rearranged for Aston Villa, Bertrand Traore (£5.9m) is on my radar. With a goal and an assist in the last four Gameweeks he could be a nice differential and a good option given Aston Villa also play in Blank Gameweek 29.

FPL Nymfria

El Statto

 1

Even after his recent form, Bale is just 0.8% owned. With fixtures against Crystal Palace in Gameweek 27 and the north London derby in Gameweek 28, there are plenty of opportunities for a repeat of the Welshman’s haul against Burnley. While Bale might have his minutes managed, seeing how well Son Heung-min (£9.5m), Bale and Harry Kane (£11.1m) combined this week surely Jose Mourinho will use him more going forward.

Mason Mount (£6.8m) is just 6.7%-owned but with four goals and five assists so far this season, he seems to be the most secure of the Chelsea attacking options. A trip to Leeds in Gameweek 28 looks appealing considering how Marcelo Bielsa’s men operate.

El Statto

FF Titan

The Fantasy Forgotten Gameweek 7

John McGinn (£5.5m) is a regular starter at Aston Villa and had been playing a more subdued role this season. However, Jack Grealish‘s (£7.6m) absence afforded him a more box-to-box role against Leeds as Dean Smith switched to 4-3-3. At 0.9% ownership McGinn can offer differential potential. He also already has one goal and six assists to date.

FF Titan

FPL Experiment

Neto faces Aston Villa and Liverpool in Gameweeks 27 and 28 respectively. He has been involved in 10 goals this campaign (four goals and five assists), four more than any other Wolves asset, as well as scoring 24 points in the last five Gameweeks.

Despite being the highest scoring Chelsea player this season with 102 points, Mount is owned by just 6.7% of teams. The England international has been consistently delivering, with point returns in two of the last four matches. Mount is also in the top 10 midfielders for expected goal involvement (xGI) over the last four. With two porous defences up next (Everton and Leeds), Mount could be the best way into this dynamic Chelsea line-up.

FPL Experiment

Bendito Fantasy

Riyad Mahrez (£8.1m) has started three of the last four Manchester City and is only owned by just 3.3% of Fantasy managers. In the last four Gameweeks, he has returned one goal and two assists, as wells as ten bonus points and ten goals attempts. The Citizens play twice in Double Gameweek 27 and face Fulham in Gameweek 28.

Bendito Fantasy

Ted Talks FPL

Why I expect Aubameyang to reward loyal FPL bosses

At just 6.7% ownership, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.3m) looks like a great differential for Gameweeks 27 and 28. In the last six matches, he is top for goals and shots in the box per 90 among midfielders and second for big chances. Those are some exciting numbers ahead of a Gameweek 27 tie with Burnley, who just conceded four to Spurs.

Sadio Mané (£11.2m) has silently clocked up some impressive underlying numbers, with 25 small attempts to score or assist and seven of the big variety. He tends to be a purple-patch player so when he gets on the score sheet, get him in your team. With Fulham and Wolves up next for Liverpool, there is a strong possibility of attacking returns.

Ted Talks FPL

FPL Froggies

Since joining West Ham mid-season, Jesse Lingard (£5.9m) looks like a player who has something to prove. Owned by only 4.4%, he is a differential to consider for GW27 against a shaky Leeds defence which generally offers a lot of space to exploit, especially as he is currently averaging of 7.8 points per game,

Mount has clearly has cemented a starting place in the Chelsea starting XI. It is clear he is a player who can both create and convert chances and has now added penalties to his set-pieces arsenal

FPL Froggies

What’s happening in the Scout Network?

Scout Network: Thinking ahead to the blank and double Gameweek in 18 and 19

Last week FPL Family’s Sam was joined on Scout The Gameweek by Oscar from FPL Gents. You can listen here.

This week Sam will be joined by David from FPL In The Dugout to discuss Gameweek 26 and look ahead to Gameweek 27.

FPL Experiment

The FPL Experiment team is hovering close to the target of the top 50k. Their new podcast episodes are available every Thursday, this week you can expect lots of great insight, a brilliant FPL guest and arguments over captaincy!

Bendito Fantasy

Bendito Fantasy will be assessing chip and transfers plans this week while looking forward the Blank Gameweek 29. They have also established a new section Free Hit by Bendito Fantasy, which is a selection of the best players for the following Gameweek.

FF Titans

FF Titans have managed to speak to Henning, the man behind FPL Insider, the FPL bot which looks a the transfers made my players and staff at the Premier League clubs. They also created content surrounding Champions League Fantasy Match Day 8, starting with a preview.

El Statto

February saw amazing growth for visitors over on El Statto’s website jumpersforgoalposts.info as as result of having some new writers on board and more regular content. Ahead of Gameweek 26 El Statto reviewed Lucas Digne as an asset, picked his weekly differential XI and previewed the weeks game by looking back at past matchups. El Statto also redesign the homepage of the site with a new logo and dedicated Twitter account for site.

FPL Nymfria

FPL Nymfria released a Gameweek 25 Review and Gameweek 26 Preview video where she discussed whether to us her Wildcard or Triple Captain chip. Each video features her Trending Transfers series, that gives manages a look at which players are trendy and who isn’t ahead of the next Gameweek. These give managers a good indication of players who are likely to rise and/or drop in price.

Ted Talks FPL

Ted has continued to appear on Breakfast Club on Saturday mornings with Andy. He has also just completed his first new style video for Fantasy Football Scout reviewing the weekend games’ key numbers.

Sam FPLFamily <p>Fantasy Football Scout's General Manager. Half of the FPLFamily. Pundit on the FPL Pod, Fantasy Show and Sky Sports News&nbsp;</p> Follow them on Twitter

763 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Ha.
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Oh Pep

  2. tbos83
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    C'mon Wolves!

  3. faux_C
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Any Stones owners moaning about benching get zero sympathy.

    1. Rains of Castamere
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Not too fussed, just don't want Dias to get a 8-9 pointer

      1. The Suspended One
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        A CS will devastate me here, sold Cancelo went Digne over Dias

    2. The Senate
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      this, the jam in their last DGW :')

    3. TheBiffas
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Excuse me?

    4. Camino Aleatorio
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Nah Dogg, I demand sympathy!

      At least some, not zero!

    5. Kane and Ablett
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      None needed he’s already brought 10 points in and I can’t be greedy with my 4.8 defender....

  4. tbos83
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Who do we reckon will come on as subs?

    1. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Kun for one
      Zinchenko probably

      Gundog if 0-0 at 60 minutes

    2. Rains of Castamere
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Goater
      Lomas
      Horlock

  5. The Suspended One
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Kev on penos again

    1. Camino Aleatorio
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Unless Stereo wants to miss another.

      Prolly Dias gets to take them just to burn the Stones owners even more (i am a cancelo/stones guy)

  6. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Stones, Gundogan and Foden owner X)

    1. popey
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      yikes thats grim - i had cancelo and sterling in the first game, 3 main opponents all had Dias...

    2. tbos83
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Same. Commiserations- we will have our vengeance in gw27

      1. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        Really mate? I am not convinced ... Stones & Gundo here

    3. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Ok misery of today sorry for that, but what's your plan with them from here on is the real question ...

    4. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Foden & Gundogan here 🙁 Dias too

  7. mezza
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Time to get rid of Stones I think - he's only playing every 2nd game recently (in all competitions).

    Need the city slot for KDB.

    1. Free Hat
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      For his buying price not too bad. Rather thinking of getting rid of Cancelo. Can see him rested as much with every fb fit and way pricier.

  8. Superflymonk
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    I hate myself for not trusting my gut instinct and giving into fear of high ownership. I had been very tempted by Mahrez and he was doing alright before this gw but I had been punished so many times for not going with Gundogan that I couldn't take another 18-19 pts haul, considering some even captained him. He was an anomaly that has been the highlight of this season. Defensive midfielders scoring like strikers week in week out. Mahrez plays two games in a row before benching. That was how I read the situation but it's suicide trying to predict City's XI. But I'm sure had I not picked Gundogan the fpl gods would've punished me yet again. So had to shield myself from that.

    1. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      That would have been a stupid pick

      1. Superflymonk
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        I should mention I'm on free hit. So it was about who got the most points just for this week.

        1. The Suspended One
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 26 days ago

          Still...

    2. Sgt Frank Drebin
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Be harsh on yourself for bad decisions, not bad outcomes

    3. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      I'm on Gundogan, Mahrez and Cancelo for now.

      Looking at KDB next.

    4. aborg
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      I feel your exact same pain as was in your same situation and still am. Had not even owned Gundo when he had hauled twice and others even captained him.
      The second time I had brought in Sterling to try and reverse the situation from the points I had lost to my opponents but I ended up digging a deeper hole !!
      Now I brought him in just out of fear and he has done F*** all, so I’ve lost points again. Would have been first in all my ML’s by now if it were not for Gundogan anomaly !

      1. Superflymonk
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        I know, bruh, weird season.

  9. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Stones and Gundogan. Screw you Pep, screw you.

    1. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Lots in that boat. Need a Wolves masterclass

  10. Flynny
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    As a gundog owner, while he is rested tonight, surely this makes him a good captaincy shout for gw27???

    1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Indeed

    2. Camino Aleatorio
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Nope...KDB is the golden boy. Gundo has to go back the basement.

      Even though Gundo is better!

      1. Threat Level Midnight
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        Stop

    3. Free Hat
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Cant be trusted for 2gws I think. Will play man utd probably but thats not the best of fixt

      1. Free Hat
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        *games not gws

      2. Stranger Mings
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        So we look elsewhere for a captain ?

        1. Flynny
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 26 days ago

          Don't see gundog being rested 2 out of the next 3 games.

          Think I'm confident enough to captain him in 27

        2. Free Hat
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 26 days ago

          Difficult decision next week.
          Id pick Kdb if I owned him, now probably Kane or Salah.

          1. Stranger Mings
            • 3 Years
            3 years, 26 days ago

            Yeh agree, I am torn between gundo or Kane

    4. estheblessed
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      KDB surely the way forward?

      1. Flynny
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        Kdb starts his 3rd ge in a row today (I think )

        Hebwill start very united - and then he must be in line for a rest

  11. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Just want CS wipe so Dias owners don’t smack it, and a Cancelo attacking return then.

    1. aborg
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      This

  12. EffPeeEll
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    John Stones, just 5.2 mil, started cheaper and fourth joint top points scorer for a defender and yet people whinging because he's benched despite its inevitability.

    get a grip eh!

  13. Mr. O'Connell
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    We expecting Lamptey haul tonight?

  14. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    The same disappointment every time I think my players will play 22 games over a DGW. I wonder when I’ll learn.

  15. Free Hat
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Stones and Gundo owner.
    Have to say Im not suprised. To be expected. Cancelo has to do.

    Only Dias I consider 99% fix proof.

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Dias Ederson KDB? Will I go there, I don't know ...

      1. Free Hat
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        Ederson maybe too pricey when I have Martinez doing better for 4.5.

        KDB wait and see, when gundo for 5.5 offers pretty good attacking positions and plays most of the time.

        1. Magic Zico
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 26 days ago

          Otherwise live with the roulette, that's the point

    2. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      This should have been a great game to rest Dias. Don’t think he fancies stones and Laporte as a partnership

      1. Free Hat
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        I just think he very highly rates Dias. New leader, Kompany.
        I dont see him getting rested when fit.
        Laporte and Stones equally good so keeping them both happy.

        1. The Suspended One
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 26 days ago

          Don’t disagree

  16. aborg
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Gundogan has been the biggest troll to me since Hazard of Chelsea.
    Double digit hauls whenever I did not even own him and blanks in GW 25 and in 26 and now noticed he is not even starting in the second game of this DGW !

    I’ve lost over 50 points due to not owning him and owning him now when I should have played another instead.

  17. Party time
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Fork yew pep

    • Aster
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Grazie Guardiola (or this is Italian?)

      1. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        It is

      2. Camino Aleatorio
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        Gracias in Spanish but Guardiola prolly claims Catalan as his language

        So Gracies in Catalan

    • Sgt Frank Drebin
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Are there many people here with TC left? I guess there will be 2 options to use it, Man City double GW next week and Spurs' DGW later on? Are you using it now? I'm tempted to triple captain KDB but there is always a fear of benching in one of the games with Pep.

      1. The Suspended One
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        Yes and I’m holding for now

      2. Sgt Frank Drebin
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        And United is playing for 0-0 in away games vs top4 just like Mourinho. It doesn't look like a goalfest, but yet again, City is in a great form

      3. Christina.
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        I have it. not sure what the plan is tbh. Maybe Martinez in a villa dgw.

      4. Free Hat
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        Waiting for spurs I think.
        2x 90min from Kane means a lot for tc. Rather that than hoping kdb starts.

      5. Utopsis
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        I will vehemently resist the urge to TC a City player - Pep is too ruthless

    • Saka_me_sideways
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Seriously considering Dias as captain next week.
      United will play for a 0-0 and saints can muster a decent shot against Everton!

      1. Saka_me_sideways
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        Can’t muster*

      2. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        Ederson [C] and you'll be fine

        1. Saka_me_sideways
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 26 days ago

          All the cool kids have Martinez 😎

          1. The Suspended One
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 26 days ago

            Cooler kids have Areloas

          2. Magic Zico
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 26 days ago

            Boring

      3. AIRMILES
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        I might join you in this.

      4. Bushwhacker
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        Rival (C) him this week . . very smart.

      5. Kane and Ablett
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        I’ve captained him a few times, he’s never let me down but there was that week when I wished I’d captained stones

    • OLD Rafiki
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      pep roulette keeps punching my squad to blanks, clearly nowhere to hide today for sure.

    • Salan
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      It's time to get rid of all Man City players. I am serious.

      No matter how good they are, it's meaningless for owning them but they don't on pitch or have enough game time.

      1. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        I said this pages ago

      2. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        Go for it

        1. Salan
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 26 days ago

          I will. It's logical.

      3. gooberman
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        Im thinking the same. I really wanted to keep my wildcard but I feel like my squad needs a number of changes. Cancelo and Stones need to go. Just too many benchings of late.

      4. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        They've got 7 of the top 24 scoring players in all positions except forwards.

    • estheblessed
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Time to ship Gundo?

      1. The Suspended One
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        Time for you to

    • fusen
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      I don't get all this tossing and turning.

      Apart from Ederson there is unlikely to be a single City player who plays 90 minutes every single game. Surely we are all used to this by now?

      1. Wild Rover
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        Exactly, you buy your ticket and take your chance

      2. Dthinger
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        Agreed! I was planning on each of mine playing 3 out of 4 matches in 26 and 27, so this feel fine to me.

      3. Cantona's Kung Fu Kick
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        He's the only City player I have. Only guaranteed starter, almost sure 6 points

      4. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        Indeed, the beauty of the dgw is they all get an outing.

        But always its more, more, more the crowd demands!

      5. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        Get a decent bench. If on BB like me live with it

    • aleksios
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Is it worth to do
      Barnes+Digne+Mee to Son+Lewis+Targett?
      3 players in for 29gwk.
      Need Son.

    • Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Ouch

      Cancelo, Stones and Gundogan owner.

      1. DycheDycheBaby
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        Cancelo starts?

        1. Rupert The Horse
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 26 days ago

          Yes Cancelo does start.

      2. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        Same

        1. Gudjohnsen
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 26 days ago

          1/3 aint good.

          1. Magic Zico
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 26 days ago

            Nay, upsetting

      3. OLD Rafiki
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        rodri for gundo, fingers crossed

      4. FPL_Crisis
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        I get the feeling 2x city assets on gw31 wildcard will be the real winner

    • AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      ...

      Being herded by a horse.

      I thought it was the pigs in charge on the farm?

    • FPL_Crisis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Some decent differentials above

      Although someone might want to double check the maths...4+5=10

      Neto faces Aston Villa and Liverpool in Gameweeks 27 and 28 respectively. He has been involved in 10 goals this campaign (four goals and five assists), four more than any other Wolves asset, as well as scoring 24 points in the last five Gameweeks.