FPL

Keep or sell? The best options and replacements for Bamford’s FPL owners

Patrick Bamford (£8.0m) will miss Leeds United’s clash with West Ham United this weekend, with an ankle injury keeping him sidelined.

No timeframe has so far been put on the striker’s return but over 260,000 of his owners in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) have seen enough, selling him ahead of Saturday’s deadline.

Over two-thirds of the voters who took part in our on-site poll are also in favour of ditching Bamford:

We take a quick look at the options available to the managers who own the mid-price forward, focusing on alternatives at Bamford’s price point or cheaper. Owners could, of course, use the Leeds striker’s injury as a springboard for a team restructure and bring in Romelu Lukaku (£11.6m) for his favourable runs of games.

STRONG BENCH – KEEP BAMFORD?

Benitez clarifies Everton penalty situation plus DCL and Wilson injury latest 1

Providing you don’t have other fitness doubts such as Raphinha (£6.5m) causing you sleepless nights, then the chances are that you’ll have the option of bringing a bench fodder option into the fray this weekend and retaining Bamford’s services as a non-playing substitute.

Some of the more popular budget options, such as Valentino Livramento (£4.2m), Javier Manquillo (£4.0m), Allan (£4.6m) and Shane Duffy (£4.3m), have decent Gameweek 6 fixtures, although Kostas Tsimikas (£4.0m) is far from assured of game-time and Yves Bissouma (£4.5m) and Josh Brownhill (£4.5m) are carrying irksome yellow flags of their own.

With Bamford having already risen in price once after Gameweek 5, the likelihood is that many of his existing owners won’t be losing any sell value even if he drops by £0.1m over the coming days.

He and Leeds also have some excellent fixtures to come, starting with a Gameweek 7 clash with a Watford side who are yet to keep a clean sheet in 2021/22.

Even a longer absence of, say, three weeks could see him return in Gameweek 8, thanks to the respite offered by the October international break.

Keeping the striker until a more concrete update from Marcelo Bielsa arrives has its potential upsides, then, but the Leeds manager isn’t too forthcoming with exact timeframes these days (instead taking a Darwinian approach) and there is a chance that we get week-to-week press conference palm-offs from the Argentinean in lieu of a specific return date.

Given that there wasn’t any doubt from Bielsa whatsoever about his non-involvement against West Ham, there is always the worry that Bamford’s problem is not just a one-week affair.

GAMEWEEK 7/8 WILDCARDERS – A SHORT-TERM PUNT?

Above: Gameweek 6 and 7 fixtures ranked by difficulty on our Season Ticker

Those Fantasy managers with Wildcards to burn might be eyeing up Gameweeks 7 and 8 with keen interest, with fixture swings about to catapult the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea and Southampton up the Season Ticker.

A one or two-week punt on a Bamford replacement is one route for these managers, who can reassess the Leeds striker when their chip is activated and potentially even bring him back in providing he gets the medical all-clear.

Looking at our image above, Newcastle sit top of our ticker over the next two Gameweeks – and Allan Saint-Maximin (£6.7m) is certainly one option as a replacment. Four attacking returns in five matches sees the Frenchman sit fourth among FPL forwards for points, and, having been part of a strike partnership with Callum Wilson (£7.4m) at the start of 2021/22, he is now spearheading a 5-4-1. Saint-Maximin is overachieving his expected goal invovlement (xGI) output, it has to be said, and ranks only 14th for xGI among forwards this season.

Watford probably ought to be higher up the ticker given that Newcastle and Leeds are in such dire defensive shape, without a clean sheet between them this season. Joshua King (£5.5m) and Emmanuel Dennis (£5.3m) are low-cost short-term gambles for Gameweek 8 Wildcarders: the Hornets had lost their last three Premier League games without scoring before Gameweek 5 but racked up six big chances and three goals against Norwich, a reminder – if we ever needed it – of the importance of fixtures and how they often dictate form.

Everton have a tricky-looking Gameweek 7 match at Manchester United but for anyone looking for a one-week, Hail Mary gamble before hitting the Wildcard button, then Salomon Rondon (£6.0m) may fit the bill. He didn’t show anything to encourage investment in a rusty run-out at Aston Villa but faces Norwich this weekend, and everything we said about the Canaries in the above paragraph holds true for the Toffees this weekend.

LONGER-TERM BAMFORD REPLACEMENTS

There are a number of mid-price forwards who fit the dual requirements of positive short-term fixtures and a longer-term bright schedule.

Adam Armstrong (£6.0m) and Southampton sit top of our Season Ticker from Gameweeks 6-12, with only a trip to Chelsea before the October international break off-putting. Armstrong has already got two attacking returns to his name and also thought he’d won his side a penalty at Manchester City last weekend, only for it to be overturned after VAR intervention. Despite tricky opening fixtures, he ranks second aming forwards for shots (16), with 11 of those attempts arriving inside the box.

Teemu Pukki (£5.9m) is also riding high with Norwich in the above image. On penalties, the Finn sits above all other sub-£7.0m forwards in our six-Gameweek FPL points projections – although Josh Sargent (£5.4m) does pose a possible threat to his place.

There’s little wrong with Raul Jimenez‘s (£7.5m) fixtures or underlying stats, with Wolves continuing their favourable run of matches from Gameweeks 6-14 and the Mexican among the top five forwards for both chances created and efforts on goal. The fact that just one of his 15 shots has landed on target and none have found the back of the net, however, does mean that we’re overlooking a current wasteful touch and gambling on him rediscovering past glories.

There is one name we haven’t yet discussed: Michail Antonio (£7.9m). Still well clear at the top of the FPL forwards’ points table despite a red card in Gameweek 4 and an enforced no-show last weekend, he is first among players in his position for goals scored, attempts, shots in the box, efforts on target, big chances (BCT, below) and penalty box touches.

A Leeds backline missing four centre-halves looks like a juicy match-up for Antonio in Gameweek 6, and while West Ham’s fixtures are so-so thereafter, they don’t meet any of last season’s top six until November.

WHAT THE FFSCOUT COMMUNITY SAY

326 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Jones Kusi
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    What would you do here?
    Tough Gw.
    Ayling, Raphinha doubts. Toney playing Liverpool.
    Wc still available.
    1 FT 0.0 ITB

    Sanchez Ward
    Taa Shaw Ayling Livramento Semedo
    Rapinha Salah Jota Greenwood Bissouma
    Toney Antonio Ronaldo

    1. Bggz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Save

      1. Jones Kusi
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        You don’t think I should play my WC GW7/8?

    2. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      You will be ok.

    3. xHaTr
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Only move I would consider is Raphinha to Sarr if you dont feel confident Raph starts but your bench looks ok so you could even roll

  2. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Potential to score more this GW:

    A) White vs Spurs
    B) Gilmour vs Everton

    1. Bggz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      A

    2. Il Capitano
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      A

    3. Jimbo-Jones
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Probably White. Spurs are off the boil and have a few injuries, and Arsenal have back-to-back CS.
      Gilmour you'd think is getting best case 5 points, with his set-pieces (I'm assuming no bonus as think Everton will have a couple of goalscorers).
      Not a huge amount in it though. Probably 2 each.

    4. Gunners in Haaland
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      B

  3. No_Mo_Salah?
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Keep Raph or ft to Sarr? Gilmour first on bench followed by Ayling and White. Planning WC gwk 8. Thanks.

    1. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      go for it

    2. Jimbo-Jones
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      If you're definitely WC in GW8, then not a bad idea to take a 2-week punt, then get Raph back in.
      Sarr, Gray, Doucoure all good options (everton particularly this week obviously)

      1. No_Mo_Salah?
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        Thanks. Also gives me funds to get in a Alonso next week for Southampton which is a plus.

    3. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      I did, means one more definitive starter

  4. Abusive_Sgt_Daelrhos
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Clueless what to do here lads, got 2 FT, 0.5 itb, opinions? Thanks

    Sanchez,4.0
    TAA,Shaw,Tsimikas,Veltman,Ayling*
    Salah,Greenwood,Raphinha*,Benny,Sisoko
    Bamford*, Ronaldo, Antonio

    1. Jimbo-Jones
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Think I'd do Bamford and Greenwood/Benny and get Lukaku - you'll want him from next week anyway.
      No Everton v NOR too.
      Despite the article, I think even 2-3 weeks is too long to have an £8m striker on the bench.

  5. highsguy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Bottomed

    A) Bruno and Bamford to Sarr and Ron(C) -4

    Or

    B) Bamford to Jiminez/A.A.

    WC in GW8

  6. Miguel Sanchez
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Have Reece James (MCI) in my team and Tsimikas (bre) and Ayling (WHU)

    Do you think I can save my transfer this GW or should I do Ayling to White (TOT) to have a bit more bench coverage for a James no show?

  7. FlockofSeagulls
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    My double Chelsea defence experiment starts this gw with the triple up earmarked for next gw lol.

    It's exciting to take some chances!! Who's with me?!!! 🙂

    If one of my Chelsea defenders don't play who should be my back up?

    A) Ben White
    B) Livermento

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      B

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      I’m on Lukaku and James and probably adding Rudiger to the mix next week

      1. Make United Great Again
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        Not Alonso?

        1. Miguel Sanchez
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 6 months ago

          Think he starts midweek vs Juventus and then things start getting messy with Chilwell potentially getting the Southampton game

          1. Make United Great Again
            • 11 Years
            2 years, 6 months ago

            Think the same goes with James. Azpi can easily play RWB with Christiansen Thaigo Rudiger as the 3 CB’s

            All a bit risky

            1. FlockofSeagulls
              • 6 Years
              2 years, 6 months ago

              Fwiw I'm triple upping with Christianson, Rudiger and Silva.

              The reasoning is I'm likely to get at least 2 of the 3 playing each match bar the odd occasion and sometimes all 3 might play.

              I'd love to go for the wing backs but I'm worried more about rotation with those guys once the fixtures get more intense.

              1. Make United Great Again
                • 11 Years
                2 years, 6 months ago

                It’s the safer route, but not exciting 😉

                I’m going Alonso with Gallagher as a midfield bench option

                1. FlockofSeagulls
                  • 6 Years
                  2 years, 6 months ago

                  I've got Odegaard as first sub so hopefully he kicks on. Gallagher is another great choice. Getting into some nice forward areas. 😉

    3. Pep bites Kun
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      B

  8. jai1212
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Looking like this right now...

    Sanchez
    TAA Shaw White
    Salah Traore Mount Raphinha
    CR7 Antonio Dennis

    Gilmour - Tsimikas - Webster

    Used my FT to do Bamford >> Dennis as probably WC-ing in GW8, but does it make sense to do:
    Webster >> Pereira (-4)? Will play him over White

    1. Rinseboy
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      dont think it's worth a -4

    2. Rochdale_Cowboy
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Where's all your money?

      1. jai1212
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        Got 3.5 in the bank. Mainly Bamford to Dennis got me this much surplus

        1. Rochdale_Cowboy
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 6 months ago

          Are right, thought it looked short of value

  9. Rinseboy
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Team gtg this week?
    Bit of benching dilemma with Marcal and Sissoko

    Sanchez
    TAA Tierney James Livra
    Sarr Gray Salah Jota
    Ronaldo (c) Lukaku
    Steer Sissoko Marcal 4.5

    1. FantasyClub
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Bench James play Marcal?

      1. Rinseboy
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        could do but my experience of benching attacking defs in big games normally ends bad!

        1. Rochdale_Cowboy
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 6 months ago

          Always play attacking prem defenders, otherwise what's the point in having them

    2. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      I'd do the same. Marcal first sub.

  10. Sho-kun
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Mount --> Sarr

    next week

    Shaw --> Alonso
    Ronaldo --> Lukaku

    1. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Yes

  11. cigan
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Got Gundogan & Torres in my team and at least 1 has to go - probably Gundogan as he's flagged now as well. Who's the best replacement (possibly long term; already have Sarr) with Raphinha a doubt?

    I liked what I saw from Doucoure and Gray so far. Greenwood too, but concerned about his minutes and position now. Gallagher looks like a popular pick but haven't seen Palace play yet. Not that keen on Benrahma cos I've already got Antonio

  12. OptimusBlack
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Any news on Raphina ?

    1. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      50/50 to play

    2. Stranger Mings
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Desperately looking on internet but still can’t see anything - good if someone knew a link to training photos of today’s?

  13. Petes Sake
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    I'm eyeing up Bamford>Rodrigo. Those Leeds' fixtures look so appealing. Anyone have any thoughts?

  14. Philosopher's Stones
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Repost with a few clarifications to help you make better choices.

    A: Raphinha -> Sarr
    B: Toney -> under 6.5
    C: Roll FT

    will WC in GW8.
    Will bring back Raphinha if I do A.
    will bring back Toney in GW10 if I do B or C.
    If I roll, will do Jota + Greenwood + Toney -> Sarr + under 6.9 + Lukaku in GW7. Thanks.

  15. Super John McGinn-
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Still got Wildcard which will most likely be used GW8, any thoughts?

    Sanchez, Foster
    TAA, Shaw, Coady, Ayling, Livramento,
    Salah, Bruno, Jota, Raphinia, Gilmour
    Bamford, Antonio, 4.5

    0 FT 2.5 ITB

    A) Bamford > Jimenez
    B) Bamford + Bruno > Sarr + Lukaku (-4) (upgrade Ayling to Rudiger next week)
    C) Ayling > Rudiger
    D) Jota + Bamford > Sarr + Lukaku (-4)
    E) Bruno + 4.5 > Sarr + Lukaku (-4) (upgrade Ayling to Rudiger next week)

  16. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Any more pressers today?

    1. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Sorry, seen them, tweet wouldn’t load

  17. FantasyClub
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Should I get rid of Trincao -4 ?

    1. Simon69
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Not a chance.

    2. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Not enough info

      1. FantasyClub
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        I’m thinking I could get rid of him for the likes of Callagher, Wolves aren’t filling me with confidence and I don’t think they can haul.

        My team is

        DDG - Begovic
        Shaw - Rüdiger - TAA - Duffy - Liv
        Havertz - Sarr - Jota - Trincao - Mendy
        Ronaldo - Lukaku - Antonio

        0.7 itb

      2. FantasyClub
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        Or should I get rid of Havertz -4 to double up on CHE defence?

  18. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    I seem to remember Newcastle being even worse without lacelles, sarr could run Riot

    1. tokara
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Shhhhh

  19. And nothing else Mata'…
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    I have a tricky benching situation. Who would you bench (pick two):

    A) Pepe (TOT)
    B) Galagher (BHA)
    C) Jota (Bre)
    D) L-Kaku (MCI)
    E) James(MCI)

    1. Simon69
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      A and E

    2. FC Hakkebøf
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Why you even consider benching Lukaku and Jota is beyond me

      1. And nothing else Mata'…
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        No returns vs LIV and TOT and his numbers are not so great, also vs the best defense in the league for Lukaku.
        Jota looks good but just won't get in, also BRE has a better defense than TOT and BRE.

        1. And nothing else Mata'…
          • 11 Years
          2 years, 6 months ago

          *BHA

    3. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      What have you done to yourself there?

      1. Miguel Sanchez
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        B and E I guess it sort your squad structure out soon

  20. FC Hakkebøf
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Bench one:

    A) White (TOT)
    B) Duffy (cry)
    C) Toney (LIV)

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      B

      1. FC Hakkebøf
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        You think Arsenal more likely than Palace to keep a CS?

        1. Miguel Sanchez
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 6 months ago

          Yeah

  21. krishgorwani
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Sanchez
    Taa shaw digne*
    Salah jota raphina* doucoure
    Antonio cr7(c) Bamford**

    Steele livramento white brown hill

    A) Bamford to jiminez and use 0.4 next week to go digne to alonso
    B) raphina to sarr and use 0.4 next week to go digne to alonso
    C) save FT and next week do Bamford jota digne to lukaku Gilmour marcal/dier for -4
    D) any other suggestions?

    Ps already got burnt last week for doing benrama Toney to Bamford doucoure last week just to get bamford , 19 point swing

  22. circusmonkey
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    I am thinking of wildcarding in week 7, so this week just a vanity transfer that also gives me more playing players. With Tsimikas, ESR and Mount as selection doubts, I think Mount to Said Benrahma (said Benrahma) has the most upside. Got 0.5 ITB. What do you think?

  23. SADIO SANÉ
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Sarr (c) is actually quite tempting, would feel like a right idiot if it backfired though

    1. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      I'd also be hoping Ronaldo, who I have, would blank - which isn't much fun

  24. Simon69
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    I'm playing this game long enough to know not to make early transfers. Bamford > Antonio worth a -4 or rely on the bench for cover? Antonio could run riot, might even consider giving him the armband...

    Sanchez

    TAA, Coady, Duffy

    Salah, Jota, Sarr, Traore

    Ronaldo, Jimenez, Bamford

    Subs: McGovern, Christensen, Dier, Mendy

  25. abaalan
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Got ayling, raph, bamford and brownhill.... Also own Torres, Greenwood, Tsimi

    Prime chance to use WC?
    Or just Bamford -> ASM?

    1. artvandelay316
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      I'd WC that in a heartbeat.

    2. FC Hakkebøf
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      I think Greenwood and Torres Will see minutes. But yes WC.

  26. Miguel Sanchez
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    If in doubt, do nowt?

  27. artvandelay316
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Is Sanchez the best option for cheap keeper? Don't want to keep changing, would prefer a set-and-forget.

    Cheers.

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Sanchez with Steele is a true set and forget but I think a better 4.5 GK will eventually emerge in one of Guaita, Ramsdale or Raya

  28. sgc
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Sanchez - Bachmann ( injured)
    TAA- Livarmento- Caufal - Ayling (injured) - Digne(injured)
    Torres- Fernandes- Jota- Dele Ali- Raphina(Injured)
    Antonio - Aubamenyang- Jimenez
    1FT, 0m in bank.
    please suggest WC or 1 FT for whom

    1. artvandelay316
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      You need to lose at least 10 players from that team. WC!

      1. sgc
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        thanks.

  29. Rotation's Alter Ego
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    New Community Article

    https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2021/09/24/five-players-primed-to-haul/

    Quinnie211's first Community Article picks out 5 players currently overlooked who may be worth consideration. Well thought, well-reasoned piece - definitely worth a read and I'm sure they'd love to hear your opinions below on it!

  30. Paddyburns
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Best Chelsea mid option?

    1. Dogs Of War
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Mount

      1. Paddyburns
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        Do you think he will start?

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      None really and I’m a Chelsea fan