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

    5 goals in 5 games for Ronaldo since rejoining Utd . Decent!

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

      Even I can score against Newcastle

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

        Two gifts them ones.

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

    JLingz wagon!

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

      3 wheeled wagon

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

    Man Utd (1.34) 2-1 (2.76) Villarreal

    😆

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

      Wasn’t Jota’s xG at the weekend like 10 lol

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

    Ronaldo doing trick shots - always getting his goals by going in off the keeper...

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

    Lingard might actually be United’s best player

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

      He's changed so many games coming on already, Young Boys too but still...

      Ronaldo actually went wide to let him roam centrally, can't be by mistake. He has an instinct, probably should be starting soon.

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

        You could see Lingard knows how to play with Ronaldo, they connected a few times in the 5 minutes he was on the pitch.

    2. El Presidente
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      He should definitely start

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

    Greenwood will be benched now

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

      McT Fred
      JLingz Bruno Pogba
      Ronaldo

      ?

      He might be benched but I don't think he'd be benched for Sancho, JLingz pushing for a start though..

  7. camarozz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Ollie survives another game

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

      His subs changed the game.

      Fred cross, Lingard touch... Genius!

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

    Does he have to take his shirt off every fooking time?

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

      Yes yes he does

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

      Did it set you off??

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

      Yes he’s sexy

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

    I would like to see Ronaldo and Cavani start together more in future.

    The two of them together would be a real handful for any team.

  10. El Presidente
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Ronaldo (c) > Antonio (c) cancelled

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

    I'm bit worried of a Alonso benching.

    Shall I go James and Jota to Rudiger and Saka with 1.6 itb? Then after the IB I have the option of Marcal to

    A) Dias
    B) Alonso
    C) James back if fit
    D) Azpi

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

      Dias

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

      Yes and "A".

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

      Looks good.

  12. Warby84
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    United got a chance In the group of death now, haha

  13. AD105
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Shaw to Rudi a safe bet for this week?

    1. Cornholi0
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Think so

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

      Easy

    3. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Is Shaw injured for the weekend?

  14. Geriatric Unathletic
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Whats the chances of Traore starting this weekend?
    Do we think he will be dropped, rested again or other????
    I will be struggling without but don't want to take another -4, too many hits already and after a crap WC too. :(.

    1. El Presidente
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Keep him surely NEW at home a great fixture for him even coming off the bench?....

  15. Gunneryank
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Haven't been able to watch. Ronnie did a thing? So Lingard will pass to him but Greeny won't i take it?

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

      Lingard knows how to feed Ronaldo...give it to him in the 6 yard box and duck out of the way.

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

        Considering that Greenwood didn't even bother to pass the ball to CR7, I wouldn't be surprised if Lingard starts next one.

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

          Yes hope the put Greenwood in som youthteam where he fits. Ego player losing last game by not passing

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

    I haven't watched Burnley this year. Is there any chance that Brownhill gets attacking return? Is he on any set-pieces?

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

      That's what I thought

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

      I saw him take a few further out.

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

      I mean do you want to play a 4.4 mid? then you have problems in the 11

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

        He is first sub,If I cant play him vs NOR then he is gone on WC next week

  17. Walter White (WW)
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Interesting

  18. Baps hunter
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    TAA injury and Alonso situation means that I can't pick now my planned defense on WC:
    TAA, Cancelo, Alonso, Rudiger, Livra

    Alonso to Dias is a transfer I don't love, but is Christensen the second best option? TAA and his calf is a problem also, he could be benched for one week, but downgrading him would allow ASM to Vardy. TAA vs Watford is tempting though, but so is having Vardy when TAA has mixed fixtures.

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      decisions decisions 🙂

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

        Yes, just thinking loud. Sometimes writing helps to see if there has been obvious brain fart. But this situation looks like that I'll end up opening MS Excel and find myself trying to calculate expected pts without enough data 🙁

        1. Riverside Red
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 4 Years
          2 years, 6 months ago

          Get a life

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

      Will Christensen play v sou ?

  19. Stupendous
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Has Rudiger missed a single minute outside of league/fa cups?

    SURELY after tonight he is the one due a rest?

    Silva a candidate too

    The rest who knows???

    1. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Can't be after losing games back to back and IB afterwards

  20. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    the commentators saying chelsea have more strenght in depth than juve and they bring barkley hudson odoi and loftus cheek....

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

      Lol

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

    Greenwood so bad hope he get removed for lingard

  22. EffPeeEll
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Greenwood or Torres>>>Raphina (provided he his fit for the weekend)?

    thanks

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

      I'm holding Torres til after IB. If he doesn't start against Burnley he's gone

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

        thx

        Greenwood disappeared under ronnie cloud.

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

        Same

  23. demob
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Transfer James for
    A) azpi
    B) alonso
    C) rudiger
    D) Chilwell

    D is a punt and a half I know

  24. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Enjoying Black Box.
    Is Mark related to Jarvis Cocker?_ I can just envisage his hip swiggle to Common People.

  25. Eman47
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Keep taa or sell to rudiger for -4?

  26. samansong19
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Ronaldo or Lukaku?
    Wood or Antonio? I can see Wood hitting another hatty like he did against Wolves (or Jimenez??)
    Zaha or Benrhama? Kinda uneasy about doubling up on West Ham for some reason...
    HELP!