Gameweek Guide

The Complete Guide to Scout’s tips and advice for Blank Gameweek 36

Blank Gameweek 36 thrusts the likes of Leeds United and Manchester City into contention for our Fantasy Premier League teams, while Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£7.6m) is rivaling Harry Kane (£11.8m) and Mohamed Salah (£12.7m) for the captain’s armband.

And Fantasy managers are wondering what to do with their Manchester United assets. Following their three matches in Gameweek 35, Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s men are one of four sides without a fixture in Gameweek 36 along with Arsenal and FA Cup finalists Chelsea and Leicester City.

There are only three rounds to go and after a Friday deadline of 18:30 BST, a heads up that Gameweek 37 kicks off on Tuesday afternoon.

Sensible Salah

Top of the captain poll and with attacking returns in each of his last five starts, Mohamed Salah would appear the sensible option for the captaincy. A motivated Liverpool side, chasing a top-four spot for a place in next season’s Champions League, face an already-relegated West Brom. 

In addition, Salah has personal motivation as he tussles with Harry Kane for the Golden Boot, the pair currently tied on 21 goals apiece. 

Salah and Kane, unsurprisingly, claim the top two spots in Jan’s Captain Sensible article and with our four Scout Picks selectors. Of that quintet, only Neale has opted for Kane ahead of Salah.

There is, however, some difference of opinion over who might be the best alternative captain for those looking to take a risk and claw back lost ground in the rankings.

Both Jan and Neale favour a Man City player, with Riyad Mahrez (£8.0m) and Phil Foden (£6.0m) their preferred options in the absence of Kevin De Bruyne, while David, Tom and Andy all back Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Although David questioned the explosive potential of Calvert-Lewin on this week’s Captaincy Video with Joe, pointing out that only three times this season has the Everton striker produced more than one attacking return – a key consideration for our armband holders.

While Andy, despite picking Calvert-Lewin in third, promoted the credentials of Foden and Mahrez:

Both [Foden and Mahrez] look like great explosive options but Mahrez would be ahead for me, given that he averages 5.4 points per match this season and has great underlying numbers.

Mahrez has more than double the expected goal involvement of Foden over their last six matches (2.72 vs 1.34) and could be on penalty duties. 

When backing the Algerian as his top differential captain, Jan pointed to a weakness in the Newcastle defence that could bode well for his attacking prospects:

Another reason why a Mahrez captaincy could turn out to be successful is Newcastle’s inability to defend the left side of the pitch. Three of their last five goals conceded came from the area Mahrez usually excels in.

– Jan

Time to let Iheanach-go?

A blank followed by a trip to Chelsea and the final day visit of Tottenham Hotspur is leading many to consider selling the in-form Kelechi Iheanacho (£6.3m). The Foxes forward has scored or assisted in eight of the past nine Gameweeks, albeit against generally easier opposition.

Looking to cement her position in the top 50k, Sam has made her mind up:

Selling… Kelechi Iheanacho is a more painful decision. The Nigerian international has been the height of consistency so far, returning in his last five Premier League matches. However, Blank Gameweek 36, followed by the league’s best defence in Chelsea in Gameweek 37 means he has to make way.

The Spurs fan plans to bring in Calvert-Lewin as her replacement, but for fellow Pro Pundit Andy, Everton’s matches after their enticing home encounter with Sheffield United mean he is looking elsewhere. The Toffees face Wolves and Man City to close the season.

Similarly priced to Iheanacho, Patrick Bamford (£6.4m) and Michail Antonio (£6.5m) were the two candidates he considered. But with both Leeds and West Ham playing Southampton and West Brom in Gameweeks 37 and 38, Andy feels that Bamford has the better fixture in this round. West Ham’s opponents Brighton have been defensively sound and are unlikely to be pushovers despite the loss of Lewis Dunk to suspension.

But fixtures aren’t the only reason behind Andy’s decision:

Antonio’s injury record, which may mean another transfer before the season’s end, and Bamford being on penalties.

Thank you for the good times

It may seem a little harsh to discard Bruno Fernandes (£11.5m) after the most-popular player in FPL rewarded his owners with 19 points across his three appearances in Gameweek 35, but there’s no room for sentiment at this stage of the campaign. 

I think it is perfectly fine to ditch your Manchester United players now.

– Lateriser

Man United fans Lateriser and Andy agreed that there could be an advantage to be gained by selling.

Bruno Fernandes to Son Heung-min gives you pretty much three starts over the next three Gameweeks; Fernandes may only get one.

– Andy

As Lateriser pointed out, Manchester United play their Gameweek 38 fixture three days prior to the Europa League final, which could mean rests or at least limited minutes for their main protagonists.

A switch to Son Heung-min (£9.6m) could prove profitable. The South Korean has a goal in each of his last three matches and is included in the Scout Picks:

We fancy him to continue that run against Wolves given the weaknesses they have shown on their right-hand side of late. During the last six matches, Nuno Espirito Santo’s men have conceded 11 chances on their left, 14 through the middle and 21 down the right.

– Scout Picks

Flying Fullbacks

Blank Gameweek 36 Scout Picks features double-ups from four clubs

A trio of full-backs have been highlighted by our experts ahead of the deadline. 

Seamus Coleman (£4.9m) headlines Tom’s differential picks, with the Pro Pundit revealing how a recent formation change to 3-5-2 has given the Irishman license to get forward.

Over the last six Gameweeks Coleman’s 11 chances created is level with that of his colleague on the opposite flank, Lucas Digne (£6.2m), who impressed David against Aston Villa:

[Digne] laid on three key passes at Villa Park, more than any other player. 

And Duncan Young (aka Statto99) believes there’s only one option to consider among Leeds United’s backline

Even at his current price, [Stuart Dallas] represents great value with a points-per-match average (4.5) better than any defender not playing for a Champions League finalist.

Enjoy the run-in

Seb looked for the positives from a disappointing campaign as he shared his thoughts on how to play the final Gameweeks for those in a similar position:

Experiment with transfers, selections or captains you may not usually go for. See what works, what does not and what could be added to your repertoire for next time.

While for Sam, a rare points hit is on the cards:  

One thing is certain, fielding 11 players for me will be the right thing, even if that means taking only my second -4 of the season.

Community Competitions and Head-to-Head Fixtures

RedLightning has brought us his regular community competitions update and revealed the FFS cup winners:

The FFS Open Cup winner is Genovoze, who scored 133 without the aid of a chip and defeated Mince n Tatties by a single point after the latter scored a Bench Boosted 136(-4).

The third-place play-off was won by Jambo17 (aka Callum Croal), who won 112-106 against FPL Bielsa.

The FFS Members Cup winner is Mohd Rodzi, who beat EUG 132-121.

The third-place play-off was won by Rossaldinho, whose 122 points proved sufficient to defeat SUNFLOWER. The latter’s wildcard only returned a disappointing 100 points – normally an excellent Gameweek score, but not this time!

– RedLightning

The Head-to-Head fixtures for Gameweek 36 can be found below. 

The scores and tables update every 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

1,106 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Salah’s Sonnet
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    God I hate you Pep

  2. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Man City and Chelsea just rotation nightmares, well done to those who have avoided since GW33

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Mendy points still hurt every other week

      1. Revival
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Mendy the exception but Martinez outscored him in the DGW

  3. fusen
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    I don't understand people bringing in City players and then being shocked when Pep done random benchings.

    How many gameweeks does it have to happen before people will not be shocked?I played Dias as I only have 10 active players and I thought multiple times that realistically there's a good chance he'll be benched and I'll have 9

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Majority of them were on FH and it made sense, what's surprising me is they didn't put couple of bench players to cover any surprise benching.

      1. Mr. O'Connell
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Hey. I'm sure Mitchell and Keinan Davis will step up for me.

        1. Ginkapo FPL
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          How do you still have mitchell? Tekkers

      2. Guru Mediation
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Vestergard is first on my bench. Hoping that Mahrez comes on and I get a Southampton cleanie to cushion the blow

      3. Pipermaru
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Agreed, not that money is an issue this GW playing FH.

    2. OverTinker
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      This

    3. Ginkapo FPL
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      I brought in Foden and Aguero, not great but I did this knowing I have Konsa first sub. Gotta have a plan B

    4. EmreCan Hustle
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Ad long as they don't come on for 1 point cameos I'm ok.

    5. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      I jus read the last page. Looks like people are upset their players aren't starting. I don't see much wrong with that

    6. potatoace
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Nobody is shocked . You're allowed to be annoyed.

  4. Free Hat
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Have to admit I was tempted to bring in Mahrez.
    But felt like this gw crucial to go with certainties with no bench.

  5. Luton_Fan
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Anyone want to talk? Im a trained fantasy counsellor

    1. OverTinker
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      I had only Cancelo who has started - how to control my emotions doc?

    2. Pep bites Kun
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Harry here ... 😉

  6. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    setting my bus team absolutely excited for it. kane captain will be imo

  7. ZimZalabim
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Should have listened to AZ he said im not touching city I dropped them on WC and just staying away.

    Should have listened

  8. jason_ni
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Loving it, rival fh, and has ederson, mahrez and foden.

    1. Overated Mou
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Imagine how hes feeling right now mate

  9. Mr Arsenal
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    On the plus side, Mahrez and Foden might get a run-out against Brighton.

    Until they get subbed off at half time

  10. Mika-eel
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Shout out to Siggymetimber who said Mahrez not in the starting lineup. Logged in at 7:29, and changed to Ings.

    Just hope the transfers went through successfully!!

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Complete guess

      1. Mika-eel
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        That worked in my favour! Good luck for the gameweek.

    2. Utopsis
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      How did you change a midfielder to a striker?

      1. Mika-eel
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Playing FH this week.

        1. Utopsis
          • 4 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          No I mean, which midfielder did you get instead, and which striker did you lose?

          1. Mika-eel
            • 6 Years
            2 years, 10 months ago

            Ah, apologies. Mahrez and Antonio out for Ings and Lingard.

        2. Utopsis
          • 4 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          Ah you mean from my bench. Jesus, my blinding anger at Pep has made me thick

          1. Mika-eel
            • 6 Years
            2 years, 10 months ago

            ML rival played FH this week. Brought in Ederson, Foden and Mahrez captain. You can only imagine his anger.

            1. Utopsis
              • 4 Years
              2 years, 10 months ago

              Yikes

              1. Mika-eel
                • 6 Years
                2 years, 10 months ago

                Good luck with the Kane captain. Wanted to be choice but protecting a lead. Hope he scored well for you.

                1. Utopsis
                  • 4 Years
                  2 years, 10 months ago

                  And you - I'll still be rooting for Salah!

  11. Luton_Fan
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    I capped salah mainly cos my rival dont have him and he goes and buys and caps him to protect his lead the $^$%$$%@

    1. Boly Would
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      There's a trained counsellor offering services above if you need to talk

      1. Overated Mou
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Its him lol

    2. 272MK
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Same. I was hoping he would not. But at least I dont have to hide behind any couch

  12. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Was so tempted by getting aguero gw38, still think it's a good idea ?

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Better to avoid imo, unnecessary risk. Unless you just want to get that last feeling of having Kun in team.

    2. 272MK
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Dont we usually get the final lineup before deadline since the matches all start at the same time? If so maybe.

      1. Fintroy
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        defo, if nothing else - a Man City player garenteed to start (and that hasn't happend this season!)

      2. djman102
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Probably not. Last year's fiasco is what led to a 90 minute deadline instead of a 60. We'll get rumors, but nothing definite I imagine.

    3. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Thanks all 🙂

    4. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Is he injured again or did he piss off Pep so badly his City career is done?

    5. Kane and Ablett
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      I was until that penalty, a shameful moment but obvs still a legend

  13. Scholes Out For Summer
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    God i hope Sterling and Jesus shows their usual selves this season and shows how useless they are and Pep has to bring on Mahrez and Foden on

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Same

  14. shirtless
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Glad I stayed on Mane for Bruno and didn’t get swayed to Mahrez. My jammy daughter still has Cancelo & Gundogan!

  15. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Crazy to think City’s highest scoring fpl player is Sterling with 147, and there’s 13 players who have scored more points than that!

    1. TomSaints
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Pep has ruined fantasy football

      1. Fintroy
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        He ruined it around 15 game weeks ago !!!

    2. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Sterling is in 147? wow

  16. Gharvey
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    The missus just asked me why I’m suddenly in a bad mood. I told her I’m upset with some guy named Pep. Got Mahrez, Foden and Dias.

    1. OverTinker
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Tell her how bad he is

  17. MIGHTY JOE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Pep roulette even got OR1 this time!

    1. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Yup, no bench to cover.

      1. MIGHTY JOE
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        So many in my ML on that Dias-trap without cover also. Things you love to see.

  18. My heart goes Salalalalah
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Bus team benching headache

  19. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Ok lads this is my bust team for next GW. What do you think?

    Henderson
    TAA Digne Dallas
    Salah (vc) Jota Son Lingard Raphinha
    Kane (c) DCL
    bench: Rudiger Watkins Weltman

    0.5 itb.

    The plan is Watkins to Antonio and bench Jota who will be benched probably anyway.

    Bench is good? Plan is good?

    Please don't say it is too early i absolutely adore setting up a bus team and tinkering

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      *bus team not bust

    2. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Too early 😉

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        lol 🙂

        1. My heart goes Salalalalah
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          Look up. Already did it 😆

  20. Guru Mediation
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    I got burned on my freehit. I gotta say I think it's funny more than anything else. Worst things in the world to worry about

  21. Fintroy
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Can't work out the 'pep uproar' - you all know the risks. There is only Man City pick worth it for the rest of this season. AUGERO, last day - will defo start and if City get a pen he will take it !!!

    1. EmreCan Hustle
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Yeah, but he benched every option.
      I can understand one or two being benched

  22. FPL ElasticO
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Why City players need so much rest?
    Are they train so hard that they gets tired on the match day?

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      If you've watched football this season you'll notice how indescribably crap it seemed to go somewhere around January as teams became exhausted ; especially those in cups and Europe. City have played something like 18 games more than a team like Leeds (not including internationals). City are Champions, Crap Cup winners, FA Cup Semi-Finalists and CL Finalists because they can do this and no one else can.

    2. Kane and Ablett
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Excellent points BW, and when you compare them to Liverpool’s injury record who didn’t rotate you’ll understand why

  23. No Kane No Gain
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Was nick pope confirmed out or still 50/50?!

  24. TomSaints
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    First game seeing in a pub with friends.

    Collectively we made 9 city transfers and none of us have any players in the game..

    1. Ginkapo FPL
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      In a pib or outside a pub?

    2. JohnnyRev7
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Drink beer, drink beer and enjoy your friends' company for the first time in a long time.

      Reality is always more important than fantasy. 😉

  25. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    I took a hit to bring in Aguero, Mahrez and Foden with no playing bench

    1. Rassi
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Pep is pure evil

      1. 272MK
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Probably laughing at all the clmments here

    2. Overated Mou
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Bad luck buddy. Should hv stayd clear of city till last gw prolly

  26. Bushwhacker
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Who else has Carson (c)?

  27. Bury94
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Nice start to the GW there with Dias benched, already down to 10 men now

  28. FPL ElasticO
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    I have gone without any Man City assets on my WC & have done decent progress. My rank has risen from
    163k >> 52k....

  29. MightyGar
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Pep on FPL website:

    Sort Player List by Transfers In (round) ; Mahrez, Foden, Stones. "Lads, feet up, you're benched!"

    Sort Player List by Teams Selected By % ; Scroll to the bottom; Carson, Ake, Garcia. "Scotty! Do you still have your gloves? Don't worry, I think Harty left his when he went to Spurs."

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      he doesn't care about fpl

    2. Overated Mou
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Lol
      Nice one mate

  30. Essan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    The one consolation with having taken a 4pt hit to bring in Foden is that my rivals have taken a 4pt hit to bring in Mahrez - so we're balanced out ....