Scout Squad

The Scout Squad’s best FPL players for Gameweek 7

The best Fantasy Premier League (FPL) players for Gameweek 7 are debated by Fantasy Football Scout contributors Az, Sam, Neale and Tom.

For those new to this feature, it’s a weekly piece that always takes the form of a ‘Free Hit’-type selection for the upcoming Gameweek.

All of our panelists have put forward an 18-man long-list of Fantasy assets and will explain their notable inclusions and omissions below.

It also serves as a precursor to the Scout Picks, as the players listed will then be narrowed down to a squad of 15 (with the starting XI not exceeding a total cost of £83.0m) for final our weekly selection.

Each writer must meet the following requirements:

  • At least one goalkeeper costing £5.0m or less
  • At least one sub-£5.0m defender
  • At least one midfielder listed at £6.5m or below
  • At least one forward priced at £7.0m or lower
  • No more than three players from the same club

SCOUT SQUAD PICKS OF THE BEST FPL PLAYERS FOR GAMEWEEK 7

AzSamTomNeale
GKJose SaJose SaEdouard MendyEmiliano Martinez
Nick PopeNick PopeJose SaAaron Ramsdale
Karl DarlowKasper SchmeichelAaron RamsdaleEdouard Mendy
DEFAntonio RudigerAntonio RudigerMarcos AlonsoMarcos Alonso
Marcos AlonsoMarcos AlonsoNelson SemedoNelson Semedo
Nelson SemedoNelson SemedoLuke ShawMatthew Lowton
Aaron CreswellKieran TierneyMatthew LowtonLuke Shaw
Takehiro TomiyasuVladimir CoufalKieran TierneyShane Duffy
MIDSon Heung-minSaid BenrahmaSon Heung-minRaphinha
Buakyo SakaEmile Smith-RoweMohamed SalahIsmaila Sarr
RaphinhaLucas MouraRaphinhaConor Gallagher
Ismalia SarrBryan MbeumoIsmaila SarrJack Grealish
Mason GreenwoodMohamed SalahWilfried ZahaBryan Mbeumo
FWDRomelu LukakuRomelu LukakuCristiano RonaldoMichail Antonio
Michail AntonioRaul JimenezRomelu LukakuRomelu Lukaku
Ivan ToneyMichail AntonioMichail AntonioChris Wood
Cristiano RonaldoTeemu PukkiRaul JimenezRaul Jimenez
Raul JimenezCristiano RonaldoChris WoodOllie Watkins


Most popular picks: Marcos Alonso, Nelson Semedo, Michail Antonio, Romelu Lukaku, Raul Jimenez (four), Jose Sa, Ismaila Sarr, Raphinha, Cristiano Ronaldo (three)

AZ SAID

Learning from ‘The Great and The Good’ FPL managers – Gameweek 5 1

I’ve been hoping that a standout Chelsea midfielder would emerge from the plethora of options available to the Blues but with both Kai Havertz and Mason Mount failing their auditions, I strongly believe a defensive double-up paired with Romelu Lukaku is the way to go for anyone looking to tap into their kind run.

Aside from Chelsea v Southampton and potentially West Ham v Brentford, I’m struggling to see any games that scream “goals, goals, goals” to me, and even the showdown at Stamford Bridge could see a stubborn Southampton side frustrate Thomas Tuchel’s men.

Wolves v Newcastle looks a good bet for a home win, but I still wonder if they have enough to really blow a team away, or whether we might see another 1-0 or low-scoring game. Still, with Nelson Semedo looking lively and Raul Jimenez scoring after his lengthy injury lay-off, selecting these two players looks fairly assured.

In midfield, I’ve ignored the many options at Liverpool and City where I think we might see a tight game and instead favoured more budget options such as the impressive Bukayo Saka, Raphinha and Ismaila Sarr. Mason Greenwood also makes the cut after a positive showing against Villa where he was unlucky to come away with nothing.

My top pick for this week, Son Heung-min, continues to tick over despite poor Spurs performances. With Harry Kane still looking out of sorts, the team will surely be looking to Son to drive them to a much-needed victory.

Up front, Romelu Lukaku picks himself and I’ve gone for both Said Antonio and Ivan Toney in what could be a real ding-dong of a match. This means that Cristiano Ronaldo falls to fourth in my top picks of the week and I’ll likely be selling him this week as I always planned.

SAM SAID

Sarr underlines differential potential as Chelsea earn another clean sheet 9

The Chelsea fixture swing starts now and so it makes sense to triple up on them. Even with blanks in each of his last two I expect Romelu Lukaku to do well this Gameweek. The Blues’ midfield is a minefield though and so my other two Chelsea picks come in defence. With Reece James out, I’m playing it safe with Antonio Rudiger and taking a slight risk with Marcos Alonso, whose attacking threat is unparalleled among Thomas Tuchel’s backline.

Wolves have a nice fixture against a Newcastle side still missing Callum Wilson and in Nelson Semedo they have a defender who has the potential for both a shut-out and attacking returns in Gameweek 7. Vladimir Coufal and Kieran Tierney also offer offensive threat and clean sheet potential this weekend.

Said Benrahma has returned 42 points so far this season including three double-digit hauls. We saw that the Brentford defence can be breached in Gameweek 6 and so I suspect he and Michail Antonio will be good picks this weekend.

Lucas Moura is a slightly rogue pick for Gameweek 7 given that he is playing in a Spurs team that have lost their last three matches. However, in the north London derby, Moura was the more threatening and most committed Spurs player. The Lilywhites really need a bounce back against Villa, so Moura could be the spur for that.

Of course, Mohamed Salah makes my picks regardless of the fixture!

TOM SAID…

Salah on target as Liverpool assets prosper at Leeds 5

Aside from Chelsea, clean sheets look quite hard to call this week. Even Manchester United’s home tie against an Everton side missing Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison is far from straightforward, but despite that, I’m happy enough to back Luke Shaw again for his attacking threat, providing he is fit of course. The Toffees’ have often looked weak defending set-pieces this season, and have also allowed plenty of crosses from wide areas.

I’m also backing Wolverhampton Wanderers’ defence, via Jose Sa and Nelson Semedo. Bruno Lage’s side gave up 18 shots at Southampton on Sunday, but were largely untroubled. Semedo also looked as lively as ever, especially in the first half when he forced Alex McCarthy into an early save. His -0.97 xGI delta suggests that an attacking return is imminent, too. 

Thomas Tuchel’s Champions League teamsheet tonight will shape my final Chelsea picks, but for now, Edouard Mendy and Marcos Alonso get the nod, while they’re joined at the back by Arsenal duo Aaron Ramsdale and Kieran Tierney, plus Matthew Lowton.

Further forward, Son Heung-min and Mohamed Salah are included in midfield, though I do prefer the premium strikers – Cristiano Ronaldo and Romelu Lukaku – this week. Ronaldo struggled against Aston Villa in Gameweek 6 but remains one of the top captain picks, while the way in which Raul Jimenez shrugged off Southampton’s backline for his goal last weekend suggests that Lukaku could get more joy on Saturday afternoon.

Elsewhere, Raphinha is an excellent option this week if passed fit, which I expect he will be. The Brazilian was electric against West Ham United last weekend, netting his third goal of the campaign, while only the post denied him a second. I see Marcelo Bielsa’s side controlling the game, with Raphinha key to breaking Watford down. However, Ismaila Sarr could also do well at the other end of the pitch. The Whites have conceded more chances from their left flank than any other side in recent weeks, with the prospect of Sarr v Junior Firpo an exciting one for his owners.

The offensive list is completed by Wilfried Zaha and Michail Antonio.

NEALE SAID

Zaha and Maupay on target as Brighton earn late draw 4

There’s nothing like a fixture swing to whip Fantasy managers up into a frenzy and it’s important to sometimes take a step back and pause for breath to assess just what the pros and cons are of investing heavily in a team ahead of a favourable run.

The downside with Chelsea, surely the most-discussed most team of the week, is rotation. Edouard Mendy, Antonio Rudiger, Cesar Azpilicueta and Romelu Lukaku would appear to represent the safest routes into the Blues’ starting XI but even they will likely not be immune to the odd benching in the coming weeks (hopefully not days…), if Thomas Tuchel’s first eight months in the job are anything to go by. Marcos Alonso is an altogether riskier selection and Chelsea’s midweek teamsheet against Juventus may dictate our Scout Picks but, up against a Southampton side that is goalless in three matches and conceding high-quality chances in Alonso-at-the-back-post territory, I too have been caught up in the Marcos momentum.

The face-off between Liverpool and Manchester City takes many of the usual Scout Squad staples either out of the equation altogether or off their top spots and brings it home how often we rely on these players, as I was struggling to see where the clean sheets in particular would come from this week.

Burnley are without a shut-out themselves but I’ve gone with Matthew Lowton as my third defensive pick, with Daniel Farke yet to strike a successful balance between goal threat and solidity at the back. The Canaries have scored on fewer occasions than any other team this season and the arrival of Brandon Williams hasn’t done anything to make Norwich’s left flank look more secure, arguably making it worse based on the eye-witness accounts of the Carrow Road faithful. Only Leeds have allowed more chances to be created from their left since the United loanee made his debut for Farke’s troops, while Lowton trails only Dwight McNeil for key passes among the Burnley squad.

Speaking of a potential defensive weakness, I’m persevering with Luke Shaw – if fit – as the usually excellent Ben Godfrey has struggled to recapture his 2020/21 form. Godfrey has also been deployed at right-back in the last two matches, the side of the pitch where Everton have conceded a whopping 29 of their 38 crosses from. With Shaw fond of a delivery or two himself and the Toffees struggling to create much against even Norwich without their two first-choice forwards, I’ll give the United left-back one more crack at the whip providing he’s given a clean bill of health for Saturday.

An advantageous match-up could also be on the cards for Conor Gallagher, who will be making his trademark bursts into the Leicester box and facing one of Jannik Vestergaard or Caglar Soyuncu – both of whom have been very poor this season – as the porous Foxes’ left-sided centre-half. As widely discussed, only Liverpool’s premium midfield duo have a better expected goals (xG) tally than Gallagher in 2021/22.

Newcastle are actually not too shabby going forward but it’d still be foolish to overlook Nelson Semedo given his goal threat and Wolves’ decent defensive displays in most of their games so far, while two of the better backlines outside of City/Chelsea meet at the Amex – hence the Aaron Ramsdale and Shane Duffy selections. Arsenal have unsurprisingly tightened up considerably thanks to a clean bill of health at the rear and a favourable fixture run, although Duffy could still get a sniff as the Gunners have continued to give up headed chances even during their upturn in form.

Aston Villa have been mightily impressive in a 3-5-2 over the past three weeks, even bossing Chelsea at times in Gameweek 4 and following that display up with wins to nil against Everton and Manchester United. Emiliano Martinez is benefiting from that added security of a third centre-half, while Ollie Watkins has outshot Danny Ings by eight attempts to two since the pair were first paired in west London. They’ll be up against a Spurs side who have struggled to create much all season and who are rocking from three successive defeats, all of which have seen the Lilywhites concede three goals.

James Milner’s impressive showing at right-back against Porto now makes me less confident about my selection of Jack Grealish as the one and only representative from the Liverpool v City fixture but the England playmaker is top or joint-top among his teammates for chances created, shots in the box, efforts on target, big chances, penalty box touches and expected goal involvement (xGI) and the City press will be an altogether tougher prospect for the veteran tea-rationer.

The Reds’ previous match, against Brentford, has influenced my decision to select Bryan Mbeumo, meanwhile. Ivan Toney v Kurt Zouma will be a clash of the titans based on the Bees striker’s dominance of Virgil van Dijk and I can see Mbeumo picking up the loose balls against the Hammers’ back four, who still only have two clean sheets in their last 17 league games.

Let us know what would your squad of the best FPL players for Gameweek 7 look like in the comments below!

631 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Dannyb
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    I'm so done with Ole now, absolute shambles.

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

      Potter?

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

      sack him then

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

        Pls no

  2. Agent J
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    In the article " forwards for wildcard in GW7"

    No mention of
    Vardy : who is second best till date. Who's only difficult fixture would be Chelsea at home in Gw12.

    Aubameyang : who's FDR for next GW's is second only to Lukaku.

    If a decent team can be created with Three-ium. Substituting one of them with 1 of the 2 above, a better team can be created.

    I think we are just focussing on template and hiding behind ownership and group thinking.

    Disclaimer: Vardy and Aubameyang owner

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

      People who write the articles want to keep the best stuff for their "patreons"

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

      You can’t get ahead being part of the crowd!

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

      Currently have Lukaku + Jimenez on my WC.
      Could have Aubameyang + Vardy.....hmmmmmm

    4. TheBiffas
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      I've got vardy

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

    Silva and Chris looking off the pace a bit. Has to be Rudiger in.

  4. drughi
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Werent Chelsea supposed to put on a "clinic" against juve lol

  5. Millie7
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Shaw potentially going down .1 tonight.
    Alonso or Rudiger?

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Alonso!

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

      Alonso

    3. Snooze ya lose
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Rudi

    4. caldracula
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Rudi no doubt.

    5. Maeki2
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Rudi, alonso rested next games

  6. Dynamic Duos
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Why was Alonso subbed tonight and what do you think it means for weekend?

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Tactical. Could mean anything . .

    2. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Brought off and rested ready for weekend

    3. thegaffer82
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      I’d be worried slightly if I were an Alonso owner.
      Rudi or Azpi will emerge as the safest picks in the coming weeks

    4. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      On a yellow card. Chelsea could not afford to go down to 10 men

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

    Baby Face Assassinated

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      He's like a Chinese construction company ; needs a $1bn bailout to stand a chance.

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

    Alonso a non-option now

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Lol what?

  9. Fish up a tree
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Double up of the two Romnies gone bandy?

  10. Isco Disco
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    And then some people said that La Liga is a joke and finished etc....HAHAHAHAHAH
    Say what you can fools but even top teams from EPL like Man Utd with world's best striker can't beat mid table teams from La Liga like Villareal.

    1. el polako
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      They also couldn't beat bunch of young boys, don't cream your pants.

      1. Isco Disco
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        True

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

      Go play La liga fantasy then you melt lol

    3. OverTinker
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      they talk about competitiveness of the league

      1. Isco Disco
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        LOL
        Don't tell me EPL is more competitive. LA Liga is as competitive or more competitive as EPL. May be the pace of EPL games is more than La Liga. But just coz newly promoted teams can beat/draw with top 4 teams from EPL doesn't make EPL more competitive

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

          Real Madrid just lost to a tinpot club from Moldova. Barca are currently losing to Benfica. United aren’t a good team. They’ve been exposed in nearly every prem game so far. They literally just lost 1-0 to Villa

    4. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      It's a farmers league, which is why they can't raise money from TV rights. Emery is a much better coach than Ole however.

    5. Carefree Crew
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Have a look at who Chelsea beat on the way to winning the CL.

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

      Real Madrid lost to the worst team in CL history yesterday. Barcelona losing today. Not great timing for your post, mate.

    7. Isco Disco
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      If you all watched the game then you would know how good FC Sheriff were. They scored 2 top quality goals on the counter and have been unbeaten since June 2021. Real were without their first choice full backs and midfield hence suffered on counters.
      YEa it's disappointing to lose against some unknown team in CL but it's just the same as losing/drawing against newly promoted/bottom table teams like Brentford, Southampton etc

  11. lilmessipran
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    What's the latest on Shaw injury?

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

      Hasn't even been in training...

  12. CRO KLOPP
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Ziyech looks lost

  13. OverTinker
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    3meium threemium what was that?
    no one is talking anymore

  14. Isco Disco
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    EPL is a joke now. All English teams failing in the UCL

    1. Not again Shirley
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Excluding Liverpool

    2. @persecuted_by_mods
        2 years, 6 months ago

        I've come to the conclusion that every league is a farmer's league

      • Isco Disco
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        Good to see all these over hyped English teams getting screwed in UCL.

        1. DBW - Slug's Mortgage …
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 6 months ago

          Go to bed troll.

      • Fulchester's New Centr…
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        Yep, all got so bad in the last 5 months

      • Revival
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        timing 🙂

      • Carefree Crew
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        How did Real get on last night versus that European powerhouse?

        1. Isco Disco
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 6 months ago

          They scored 2 top quality goals (1 was a screamer) on counter. Real were without their first choice full backs and midfield.
          Madrid will bounce back

      • Carefree Crew
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        Ha! Ha! Ha! You make a sweeping inaccurate generalisation about our entire league calling people "fools" (which is the most watched & followed worldwide) after only the second CL matchday, when you've just lost at home to a team no one has ever heard of & Barca lose tonight!

        Chelsea knocked out both Madrid teams last season on the way to winning the Champions League... versus another English team in the final.

        So the evidence contradicts everything you're saying!

        But don't let that the truth get in the way of your bitter narrative, yes everyone else is fools not you!

        Ha! Ha Ha! Thanks for the entertainment Isco Disco. 🙂

    3. CRO KLOPP
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Azpi rest

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

      What a goal!

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

      Telles scores 🙂

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

      Lovely goal

      Ole has turned it around!!!

      1. dark91
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        Yes favourites to win the league now

      2. Bushwhacker
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        Give him another $1bn and they may win something!

    7. el polako
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      You can Telles they practiced this Dalot.

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

        Shaw did

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

        Oh christ, how long has that one been in the chamber haha

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

        Bruno they did!

      4. Captain Berbarossa - arrrrr…
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        So well practiced, it was auto-Matic. Seriously, these puns are so bad you have to ask what's the Mata with you

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

        Now they just need to Martial themselves for the final quarter.

    8. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Telles essential

    9. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Tuchel playing . . . uh . . .roulette?

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

        Tuchel Tombola

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

      Loftus-Cheek, CHE formation change or still same?

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

      Need to move on either Trent or Reece James this week unless I play livramento v Chelsea and dont want to! Which one should I sell? (WC already gone) Thanks!

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

        Lukaku is not doing much tbh.

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

          Maybe, but can't see Chelsea not scoring against saints

      2. European Bob
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        Got the same dilemma. Currently thinking to just play Liv and then see what happens over the international break

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

          Interesting...i dont want to sell either of them either but tempted to switch Reece to another chelsea def or trent to cancelo who i want in next week anyway

    12. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      I see Bruno got me an assist 🙂

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

        Those who own no Utd players are sitting pretty.

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

      I wonder if Ole knows he has 5 subs he can use

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

        Waiting for Fergie to tell him which ones.

    14. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Greenwood like jota... Might be benched at the weekend

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

        Have you seen Sancho play this season? Just team one move involving him will explain why Pogba has had to start on the wing instead

    15. Tommy Tynans Left Shin Pad
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      How is this WC team? Need to catch the price swings - GW8 may be too late:

      Ramsdale - Foster
      Cancelo - Alonso - Rudi - Marcal - Livra
      Salah - Raph - Saka - Gray - Luiz
      Lukaku - Vardy - Antonio

      Will leave 0.4itb. Thoughts?

      1. Snooze ya lose
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        Nice

        1. Tommy Tynans Left Shin Pad
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 6 months ago

          Thanks mate. Feels 'right' tbh

    16. Fred the Red
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Sell Reece James and Trent?