Podcast

Scoutcast: Best Wildcard picks for FPL Gameweek 7

Joe and Andy are here to help Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers prepare for Gameweek 7.

Many FPL managers are looking to Wildcard this week, as Chelsea begin their kind run of games and the current template looks in need of a shake-up.

The Scoutcast community team, which the crew are managing on behalf of a top 100 manager who has to dip out of the game this year for health reasons, is in particular need of an autumn refresh.

Our Scoutcast duo use this as an opportunity to frame their chat around the best options to bring in this week and to tackle the key issues Wildcarders and non-Wildcarders alike are facing.

Attacking defenders top the bill in this chat. Should FPL managers double up on Manchester City’s rearguard or Chelsea’s backline? And what of the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.6m), who may miss this weekend’s clash between Liverpool and Pep Guardiola’s troops?

Midfield and forward options are also considered, as is the best formation to opt for into October and beyond.

Key to this is whether to opt for Chelsea’s Romelu Lukaku (£11.7m) now or stick with Red Devil Cristiano Ronaldo (£12.7m) for another Gameweek or two.

Maverick managers looking to think outside of the Twittersphere may be intrigued by Joe’s ‘unfashionable picks’ table, which makes its first appearance of the season.

There are also fixtures to frisk, differentials to consider, teams to reveal and captaincy issues to ponder.

This show also features an intriguing bandwidth tussle between Andy’s internet and the rest of his family’s decision to watch Channel 4’s Bake Off. Joe is left to cook up some tasty stats and chew on the community’s questions on his own at a couple of points while Andy grabs a pasty and reconnects his West Country broadband.

This week’s episode was aired live via YouTube on Tuesday 28 September. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to get notified of future live episodes. It is also available as a podcast.

J0E Podcaster and writer. Tweets stats and stuff via @FFScout_Joe Follow them on Twitter

483 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Jdpz
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Is Son good option?

    1. Oliver Tockman
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Too many other options right now
      Save and invest elsewhere

    2. waltzingmatildas
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Always a good option. Think there are better ones right now though.

    3. Arteta
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Always has been a good option but Spurs at the moment simply look so inspired it's insane. Who knows what's going on behind the scenes.

      Check this: https://twitter.com/TranSPURS/status/1442513341457448961

      He's more important than Kane for them.

  2. ace3.1415
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Is rodrigo a good 1 week punt?

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

      Not for me but he is a really good player, just not mega reliable FPL wise

  3. jay01
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Firmino not picked for Brazil squad? Would be significant in decision making of Jota

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

      Yes this means that Jota play respectively 30 or 60 minutes against City:) Liverpool must demonstrate that Firmino is unable to play full match:)

  4. waltzingmatildas
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    TAA and Bamford to Christensen and Lukaku for a -4 looks decent right?

    Sanchez
    TAA Shaw Ayling White Livra
    Salah Raph Sarr Benrahma Gilmour
    Ronaldo Antonio Bamford

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

      Yes

    2. Del Griffith
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Prefer Alonso, also depends if Shaw is out otherwise you could be looking at shipping him out as well

    3. The Polymath
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Don't lose TAA, you'll regret it.

      1. Eze Really?
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        Not so sure if you keep the funds to bring back provided you need a player for this GW. i have moved Shaw and took a minus 4 to get Kaku for Ron. Early tfrs saved some transfer money but I might have held on if I had the TAA news. I have Tierney on the bench so i might consider myself Fortunate and can keep TAA at this stage. I want cancello next GW so a slight spanner in the works

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

    Reece James’ injury has really hampered my post-wildcard team, along with the other blasted yellow flags. Really don’t want to spend a transfer on him to another Chelsea defender but might have to…

    Jota to Smith Rowe this week then Williams to Cancelo next?

    2FT 0.0ITB
    Sanchez
    TAA* James* Marcal
    Salah Jota Raphinha Gray Gallagher
    Lukaku Ronaldo

    Steele Williams Livramento Street

    Cheers!

    1. waltzingmatildas
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      I think you need a defender transfer, probably James out

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

        Rudiger or Alonso I guess?

        1. waltzingmatildas
          • 13 Years
          2 years, 6 months ago

          Yeah. I'm going Christensen just for funds. Prefer Alonso out of the two

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

            Cool, thanks

    2. We Go Again
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Same position and I switched to Rudiger.

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

        Thanks

    3. Eze Really?
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Not helped but not the end of the world

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

        True!

  6. Shark Team
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Do we have any reece james news?

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

      Pain management but not too serious. Could be back after IB

  7. Oliver Tockman
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    A) Vardy, Gray, Tierney
    B) Jimenez, Greenwood, Dias

  8. How I met your Mata
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    On a wildcard would you keep TAA if you didn’t need to play him this week??

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

      I would but can understand those moving away from him

    2. The Polymath
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Yes

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

      no, if you can bring him back without changing team too much

  9. The Polymath
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    I could do so much with the Ronaldo money. Why did he have to come back to the Premier League?

    😀

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

      I'm regretting getting him if that helps 😆

    2. Cok3y5murf
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Never owned him, doing fine

  10. Timbomars
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Which of Alonso or Rudiger is the better pick? Do we think there’s any chance that Alonso will start sharing game time with Chilwell, or is he totally nailed for the foreseeable?

    1. ElliotJHP
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Alonso but yes

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

      Rudiger is the safest pick.

    3. Tic Tacs
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      I'm having the same dilemma, already have Rudiger but would like a double Chelsea defence for this good run of fixtures

  11. Arteta
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Setback after setback for Xhaka as he is confirmed out for 3 months at least.

    We either continue with Lokonga/Partey or Smith-Rowe/Partey/Ødegaard.

    1. Ze_Austin
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Ooomph

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

      Arsenal CS will be gone now

      1. Arteta
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        🙄

  12. Junks
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Little stuck this week, not sure what to do with this lot:
    2FT 0.4ITB
    Sanchez Steele
    TAA Shaw White Pereira TSI
    Salah Greenwwod Raph Saka Gilmour
    Antonio Ronaldo Toney

    A. Shaw & Pereira to Alonso & Semedo
    B. Same as A but with Greenwood to Grealish -4
    Any other suggestions very welcome.

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

      Chelsea's fixtures turn tasty.
      Look into getting a Chelsea defender.

  13. -GK22-
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Keep armband in Haller 14pts or move to ronaldo?

    1. Ze_Austin
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Villarreal should be a tough opponent for current Man U

      1. Ze_Austin
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        No Maguire, Wan-B and maybe Shaw. McFred midfield. Selfish attack

        There could be some Ronnie magic, but it's more of hope and pedigree than expectation tonight

  14. Forza Papac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Double City and/or Chelsea is very popular at the moment but I can't bring myself to go with either. It would mean ditching one of White or Livramento who I think offer great value, have great fixtures and are nailed for their teams. My third Chelsea asset (along with Rudi and Lukaku) will likely be Mount, who'll bring in for Sarr in GW8.

    Anyone else thinking along these lines?

    1. Forza Papac
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      defence*

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

      Yes, 1 from each is decent.

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

      Why not double City defense?

      A lineup of Dias Cancelo Rudiger White Livra is really good.

      TAA can come back in a few weeks if necessary but these next 3 are not great and with his injury risk, might be the play to go without for a little while.

      1. Forza Papac
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        Yes that's a possibility. I don't have a WC to play so i'm not sure I want to use a transfer shipping out TAA when I already have Rudi, Dias, White and Livramento in defence.

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

          Fine. Then bench him this week and hope he recovers.

          Your team is fine. If TAA is still out come GW8, you can swap to Cancelo then.

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

    I'm more or less ready to confirm:

    TAA, Jota, Bamford > Alonso, ESR/Klich, Lukaku -4

    One week punt... ESR (bha) or Klich (WAT)?

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

      I also have:

      Rudiger + Gallagher as an option.

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

        I like this option best

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

      Not klich

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

        Why not? He has Watford at home and he was getting chances against West Ham. He should have had a goal and assist. It's one week. Not like I'm stuck with him. Going to WC right after.

    3. Arteta
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      The Smith.

    4. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      McNeil?

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

        Maybe. But I feel like he's more likely to get random assists. He's also just not that good as a fantasy asset. Prefer ESR or Klich.

    5. Ze_Austin
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Prefer Klich if you're very sure it's a one week punt. That's a much worse defence than Brighton's, so it's the kind of "lucky" punt that works often enough

      And if Chilwell appears, you can also easily switch Alonso to Rudiger on the GW8 WC

      Works for me

    6. TheTinman
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Hi Camzy, I think our situations are not too dissimilar.

      Why do you prefer taking a -4 this week over just pushing the wildcard button?

      Is it mainly due to the international break or do you feel fixtures are playing into it too?

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

        I have 2 FTs. Plus the IB will throw random things at us that makes it a better time to WC.

        I also want to hold Benrahma, Coufal and not buy City players until GW8 (until the LIV fixture is out the way).

        I'm going to want City players - Cancelo, Grealish probably, maybe KDB/Foden. But not this week so next week I can buy them with no reservations.

        1. TheTinman
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 6 months ago

          Thanks for the response. It does feel risky to shoot the wildcard now. A couple of injuries in the IB and you could find yourself at no advantage to the players who have already used it.

          I'm swinging one way to the other atm!!

        2. TheTinman
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 6 months ago

          I can cover the double City defence which I would be wildcarding in with a double Brighton defence.

          It may sound a bit silly but bookies have Brighton CS odds as higher than city's this weekend...

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

            Double Brighton defense not for me. The fixtures are awful very soon. I like Duffy, Livra if you want to save money and go Ramsdale in goal.

  16. G Banger
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Team's in a bit of trouble, planning to play WC in WK8, so have 1FT and 0.2 ITB

    Sanchez
    White / Coufal / Shaw*
    Benrahma / Salah / Bruno / Sarr
    Antonio / Jiminez / Bamford*

    (Foster / Ayling* / TAA* / Gilmour)

    a) Bamford => Wood
    b) Bamford + TAA => Vardy + Marcal (-4)
    c) Better suggestion

    1. Monster Muppets
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Do bam to wood and then watch press about shaw, if out i would use -4 to get in a chelsea def. you'll want that in your WC anyways.

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

    Would you take a hit to bring in Lukaku?
    I plan on wc next gw.

    Sanchez
    Rudiger Veltman Manquillo
    Sarr Jota Salah Benrahma Raphinha
    Antonio Ronaldo

    Steele Dennis Ayling TAA

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

      No

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

        Thanks

  18. MysticMac17
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Start Mbuemo away to West Ham or Matip at home to City?

    1. The Mentaculus
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Mbeumo

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

      Mbuemo

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

      Mbeumo

  19. Atimis
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Possibly will have to play Duffy/Rudi/Ayling this week and could be Cancelo/Rudi/Duffy next week after I do Ayling to Cancelo for free.

    Would you keep TAA after all? Is it good enough without havibng to use WC?

    Sanchez
    TAA*/Rudi/Ayling
    Salah/Greenwood/Benrahma/Raph/Sarr
    Ronaldo(c)/Antonio

    Steele/Duffy/Tsim/Scarlet

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

    poor Granit, Arsenal are doomed again

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

      Not a complete disaster as they actually look good with Partey the sole holding mid with ESR & Odegaard on either side. Could bode well for their attackers

  21. Strchld
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Struggling to get 11 players out this week:

    Jota (probably benching)
    Shaw (change to play)
    TAA (injured)
    Torres (probably benched)
    Ayling (injured)

    White and Livramento coming off the bench.

    Have 1 FT, who have to go for one week punt? Torres/Jota > Sarr/Saka or even both for a -4? Dont like to take hits before WC

    Would you hit WC button? Really would like use it during IB.

    1. Eze Really?
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      WC a good option accepting to be patient with Pool/Citeh this week

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

      Ayling may be fit to play.
      Fingers crossed.

    3. TheTinman
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      I'm in the exact same situation. Starting to lean more to wildcard now, but it feels risky and could end up being wasted ahead of IB

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

        Thats what Im thinking. If I would be sure that Ayling and Shaw will be ok, then save WC this week.
        If both out, then sure have to activate WC.

        1. TheTinman
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 6 months ago

          I'm pretty sure Shaw will be fine. It sounded precautionary

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

      Yeah it looks rough.

      I would be tempted to do it now in your shoes. I have 2 FTs so I can just about manage to squeak past this week, but you have some glaring issues.

      I think Shaw and Ayling will likely play so you can leave those if you insist on not WC'ing and then use your FTs to ditch TAA and Torres for a -4 this week if you insist on not hitting the button now.

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

        Dont like hits before WCing, but I think that -4 would be better than use WC now. During IB we can easily have bigger issues.

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

          I agree. It's what I'm doing. Taking a -4 and captaining Lukaku. I hope that'll make up the points immediately and steady the ship for the week.

  22. TheTinman
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Is Bissouma back for the weekend?

  23. The Polymath
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    How about this team? Worth aiming for?

    Ramsdale
    TAA, Alonso, Rudiger, Cancelo, Dias
    Salah, Raphina, Benrahma
    Antonio, Lukaku

    Steele, Gallagher, Alan, A Armstrong

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

      I like it

  24. Nate(U)dog(ie)
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Seen a good few more people on Twitter this morning saying they can't login to their team or that it has flat out been deleted, an article reminding everyone to change their passwords might be a good idea if possible since it seems like FPL aren't going to do much about the hack.

    1. TheTinman
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Best to just have a 100k+ rank buffer to those at the top to prevent hacking

      1. Nate(U)dog(ie)
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        I can do that fivefold!

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

      Got a notification on my Mac regarding some password leak & ignored it. Will change password now though cheers

  25. JariL
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Having used my FT this week and saving WC for later, it feels crazy to think that I won't probably make another transfer until around October 15th. What the hell am I gonna do?!

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

      Bask in the glory of your patience

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

        Gotta delete fplstatistics from my bookmarks

  26. Oliver Tockman
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    A) Vardy, Gray, Tierney
    B) Jimenez, Greenwood, Dias

    Cheers

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

      Go back to the drawing board mate

  27. Louis99
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Sanchez
    TAA - Marcal - White
    Salah - Raph - Gray - Benhrama
    CR7 - Lukaku - Antonio

    (Livra - Omobamidele - Gilmour)

    1FT and 0.2ITB.

    First post in a while, but got a tricky one on my hands. I like the team a lot, but TAA's injury is exposing a weak bench and means livra would come in with a horrible fixture.

    What do we think? Use the FT or hold out and roll it?

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

      TAA to Rudiger covers you

      1. Louis99
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        It does... the 2 week break inclines me to hold onto TAA in the hope of recovery, but perhaps i'm being a wee bit too stubborn.

    2. JariL
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Tough one but I'd save. The extra FT will be more valuable down the line than bringing in someone like Manquillo for Omobambidele who'll probably end up scoring similarly to Livra anyway.

  28. FOO FIGHTER
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    It is becoming clear you need a semi decent bench in current times. It will avoid hits and getting rid of players you want back as soon as they return from injury etc.

    The ideal bench for me in no particular order would be

    Galagher Duffy Livra.

    1. Ze_Austin
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      That combination knocks out 1+ defender from this group: Pool, City, Chelsea, Arsenal/Wolves/Brentford. Each of which has been rather predictable for points from their easy games so far this season

      Different ways to play the game though

      1. FOO FIGHTER
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        Gallager worth the extra mil or so over having to be stuck with Bissouma when your starting eleven is buggered with flags.

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

      I agree. But I'm looking at:

      4-4-2, 4-3-3 hybrid.

      Bench will be Livra, Brownhill. And then I'll rotate: Toney, ESR, 5.5m defender for one slot. With injuries and Pep, I think I'll need that first sub most weeks anyway.

  29. Lord of Ings
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Would you rather have Alonso or rudiger?

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

      Rudiger for me because more nailed. That being said, he has played all games until now & wouldn't be surprised with a benching soon. As soon as that's out of the way he's safe again. Can't be said about Alonso with Chilwell breathing down his neck

  30. SKENG
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Greenwood > Son -4 for 1 GW only? I feel confident in a Greenwood blank.

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

      Not confident about a hit tho