Scout Picks

Revised Gameweek 18 Scout Picks after Aston Villa v Burnley is postponed

It may be an exercise in futility but we have, again, chosen our best Fantasy Premier League (FPL) players for Gameweek 18 ahead of Saturday’s later-than-planned 16:00 GMT deadline.

The revision of the picks follows the earlier postponement of Aston Villa v Burnley.

It’s a 4-5-1 formation this week and, as ever, we are limited to an £83.0m budget for our starting XI.

Our four substitutes, meanwhile, are chosen from the budget/mid-price crop of players to give some potentially cost-effective alternatives to the big hitters who invariably make the initial cut.

With six postponements and injuries, suspensions and positive tests abounding even at clubs whose matches are unaffected, there’s a smaller pool of players to choose from than usual this time.

GOALKEEPER

Cornet and Smith Rowe 1

Which Leeds United will turn up against Arsenal on Saturday? The side that battled so valiantly in defeat at Stamford Bridge last weekend or the one that rolled over against Manchester City in midweek? It’ll be an understrength Leeds, either way, with at least eight of their already thin first-team squad missing out in Gameweek 18 – and that’s without any Covid outbreak. Aaron Ramsdale (£5.1m) gets the nod partly as a consequence of the opposition but, of course, also on his own merit: he has the highest points-per-match average (5.4) of any first-choice goalkeeper this season and, in this decimated Gameweek, remarkably only two starting shot-stoppers are cheaper than the Arsenal man despite his heroics.

DEFENDERS

FPL Gameweek 17 round-up: Thursday review, injury news and the things we learned
 

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The rest of this article is completely free to read but requires a Fantasy Football Scout user account for access – you can get yours at no cost here

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1,102 Comments Post a Comment
  1. PocketZola
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    11 for -4

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

      10 for free

  2. Skonto Rigga
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Leeds have a 15-year-old kid in their squad...

    1. Forza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      One of their players will be two ball boys in a really long coat.

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

        😆

      2. Skonto Rigga
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Haha

      3. DARE TO BISCAN
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Don't knock it. Crouchie made a career out if that.

    2. BrutalLogiC
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      i guess that would be the youngest player ever

    3. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      FFS... now the game might have to be postponed for different reasons if he's to be home by 7pm.

    4. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Is he wearing a hoodie?

    1. Yossi
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      WTF, just after the deadline?

  3. CoracAld2831
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Took a -12 and saved my Free Hit.

    Worried.

    1. Qui-Gon-Joe
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      I feel like hits are a -2 this week so splurge

      1. Qui-Gon-Joe
        • 2 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        If they are also medium term picks that is

  4. Differentiator
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Meslier clean sheet, penalty save, max baps

    Too much to ask for?

    1. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Yep - fraid so. You still might get them though!

    2. DARE TO BISCAN
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      You can ask

  5. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Nice to have Watkins in my team for a few hours 🙂

    1. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Same

    2. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      😆

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

    1 hit taken to finally replace Sanchez with Ramsdale.

    Fielding 11 players and 1 def as sub

  7. Gizzachance
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    if it hadn’t been for villa game, would of had 11, + 1 on bench for 1 trans

    Did a minus 5 minutes before game off , now I have 9 !
    Good luck all

  8. Rupert The Horse
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Banked a transfer 😎

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Mr Fancy.

    2. Tabasco
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      This sounds made up.

      1. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        😆 touché

    3. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Balls of steel!

    4. Radzio
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      I almost did it. Finally decided on Ronaldo+Gunn-> Ramsdale, Laka -4 but it was close...

  9. 420king
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    -4 to field 9. And another -4 to field 9 🙁

  10. Scholes Out For Summer
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Props to Bielsa and Benitez for never complaining about injuries, or at least I havent seen them do that once in this period of craziness

  11. PocketZola
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Time to shine lacaboom, you NEED that new contract

    1. Joey Jo-Jo Junior Shabadoo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      The number of people relying on Lacazette has got to be the funniest sub-plot of this week. Not sure how he's gonna disappoint us, but he will find a way.

      1. Toonmad
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Laca is my ride or die this gw

      2. Qui-Gon-Joe
        • 2 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        I know 😀 Cannot believe I've bought him in and even considered the vc

      3. Pep bites Kun
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Slim pickings in fairness

  12. Differentiator
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Scenes if Leno starts

    1. Paqueta Rice
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      This would really make my day

  13. Scots Gooner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Bet the Chelsea game is off. Hope Pool abd City games survive.

    1. Tango74
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Why u want games off ? Abs others on?

      1. Scots Gooner
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        I never said I wanted the Chelsea game off?

        Sites/twitter saying they're reporting more cases in the Chelsea squad. I wouldn't be surprised if its off.

        1. Tango74
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 4 months ago

          Apologise Scott, read wrong

          1. Tango74
            • 3 Years
            2 years, 4 months ago

            Scotts*

  14. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Will decide if this GW will be counted as a round of Last Man Standing by the number of games played and the safety score. A negative safety score will count as a bye week for example. Only 2 games played will probably count as a bye week unless they are 2 Sunday games.

    1. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      If you do count it, with all the hits taken, I can see a safety score of 0.

      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Shouldn't be that bad unless Leeds beat Arsenal with a CS.

    2. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Fair enough.

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

      The show must go on

    4. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Will the FFS Open be void too?

      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        On the FPL site or the Cup here?

        1. Bobby Digital
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 4 months ago

          Here

          1. TorresMagic™
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 14 Years
            2 years, 4 months ago

            That will count.

    5. Brehmeren
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      How about cancelling last gw as well?? (Missed the cut by 1 point)

  15. Salah’s Sonnet
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Brought in Fuerney last minute! Watch him now not start, I torture myself with these things

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Fuerney lmao!

      TIERNEY*

  16. Weak Become Heros
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Tierney VC
    Foden C

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Nice! Hope Tierney starts!

      1. Qui-Gon-Joe
        • 2 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Same! This is the week to go balls out

        1. Salah’s Sonnet
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 4 months ago

          Certainly is, and all this is just favouring my propensity for lovely hits lmao

  17. thirddimension
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    I just had brain freeze and did nothing. After my plan of doing Ronaldo > Watkins, Allan > Saka and Steele > Ramsdale couldn’t happen because of Villa game cancelled.
    Didn’t like the idea of Laca…. Oh well lol

    1. DARE TO BISCAN
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Might end up being the best move. Never know

  18. have you seen cyan
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Had a bit of a benching headache this week, but got there in the end and even managed to save a ft. Feels good

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      I'd of sooooo used that FT lol

    2. jason_ni
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Whats your team? How is bench headache possible this gw?

  19. FER FUSCH AKE
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Laca it's your time to redeem yourself. Have never wanted him in my team.

  20. DannyDrinkVodka
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Watkins>Antonio to reverse the hit for next week? Lmfao

  21. Art Vandelay
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Beginning to think captaining Arsenal player might prove to have been the right move.

    Leeds team getting off the coach looks like a school trip.

  22. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    scenes if laca is rested

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      It's scenes anyway, everywhere

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Lol this

    2. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Another scene? Got enough ...

  23. jason_ni
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Rolled the dice on (C)ancelo.

    Vc moved from mo to laca incase the games tomorrow at pulled.

    1. Atimis
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Also (c) Cancelo, massive fail incoming

    2. NABIL - FPL otai
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Same here. Feeling quite confident actually

    3. Big Hands Barry
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Braver than me!

    4. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Bottled it last minute

  24. Goooo Rickie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Anyone else bring in Jesus or am I the only one?

    1. Ross Geller
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Bought him three weeks ago. Still asking myself why have i done that to myself… 🙂

    2. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Brought him in last week 😆

      He'll score on his birthday.

    3. @persecuted_by_mods
        2 years, 4 months ago

        I didn't even have 11 and was still tempted to take him out

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

        Decided Lacazette instead as he plays today

      • im1974
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Yep. Last weeks drunken gamble once CR7 wasn’t playing. I’m sure i’ll be rewarded appropriately by that choice!!

    4. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Fellow Lacazette cappers?

      1. Not again Shirley
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Yep here I am. At least the game should be on and he will start.

    5. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Sadiq Khan has called a major incident in London after over 10000 new Covid cases in a day. Surely the Spurs/Pool won't go ahead tomorrow in the interest of fans safety.

      1. Andy_Social
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Sounds likely

      2. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Don't allow fans to come?

        1. bitm2007
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 4 months ago

          Good point

      3. Art Vandelay
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Whether or not the game goes a ahead will have little to do with that.

      4. Qaiss
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Why are people still reacting to cases like they’re deaths? If all or nearly all fans in the stadium have had both jabs, why would they be extremely unsafe?

        1. jason_ni
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 4 months ago

          Are they not saying the booster really helps with omicron? Takes it up to 80% i read.

          1. Qaiss
            • 8 Years
            2 years, 4 months ago

            If so then great, hopefully that is the case. But people would have taken both jabs, taken the booster and you’ll still see people reacting to cases like they’re deaths. I’m not anti-vaxx but 46 million double jabbed in the UK and we are still being treated like animals, being threatened with more lockdowns and restrictions, which by the way have caused a lot of damage to plenty of things that aren’t Covid.

            1. @persecuted_by_mods
                2 years, 4 months ago

                https://mobile.twitter.com/bmay/status/1471485797530583046

                You know more than the chief scientific officer?

                1. Qaiss
                  • 8 Years
                  2 years, 4 months ago

                  Sorry mate but I think most people don’t take a word Whitty says seriously anymore. The guy was saying not to wear masks in March 2020 ffs. He has contradicted himself far too many times. Then you see him and his colleagues having secret parties without being vaccinated last year.

                  1. Ginkapo FPL
                    • 12 Years
                    2 years, 4 months ago

                    Whitty hasnt been having parties. He isnt a member of parliament

                  2. @persecuted_by_mods
                      2 years, 4 months ago

                      Sorry mate but that does make you a conspiracy loon and that is how science works especially in a flexible pandemic scenario- advice can change its not an AHA moment when they get something wrong, they're trying to keep us safe nobody is blindly following them

                      Now I know your next response will be well if they got things wrong before maybe they're getting X thing wrong, maybe, but again I'd rather trust an expert than man on fantasy football forum who consistently repeats points even once people correct him or explain

                      Do you not believe anything about space because science once got things wrong in the past?

                      1. Ginkapo FPL
                        • 12 Years
                        2 years, 4 months ago

                        Pluto aint a planet mate

                        1. @persecuted_by_mods
                            2 years, 4 months ago

                            Flat earth confirmed

                            1. Bollard
                              • 11 Years
                              2 years, 4 months ago

                              People all around the planet agree

              • Ginkapo FPL
                • 12 Years
                2 years, 4 months ago

                Look at hospitalisations in London. They are accelerating. NHS is also struggling with the numbers off with covid along with all the emergency services. Its not about covid deaths

                1. @persecuted_by_mods
                    2 years, 4 months ago

                    He will ignore this comment and spend the next few weeks making the same point he just made, it's inexplicable it's like he's unable to take in new information once he's made his mind up

                  • WVA
                    • 7 Years
                    2 years, 4 months ago

                    NHS and emergency services are struggling with the number of people off isolating not the number of people off with covid, isolation rules are a big problem.

                2. @persecuted_by_mods
                    2 years, 4 months ago

                    You have this weird way of consistently ignoring information to make the same laboured points, you did the exact same thing with the whole Glazers are bad owners thing when all you kept repeating was their overall spend

                    Now you're doing the same thing with only look at covid deaths instead of hospitalisation and serious cases that don't lead to death, on top of that obviously not everyone is double jabbed and premier league players seem to be a demographic with a lower rate of double jabs than the general population

                    1. Ginkapo FPL
                      • 12 Years
                      2 years, 4 months ago

                      Premierleague players are jabbed at the same rate as 20-30 year old men

                    2. Qaiss
                      • 8 Years
                      2 years, 4 months ago

                      I didn’t mention PL footballers, I said the supporters going into the stadium. Nearly three quarters of the UK have had two jabs and yet it’s like we’re still at the beginning of the pandemic.

                      This new variant apparently spreads more easily but is less deadly to ones health. If cases are reacted to like they are deaths, then this will never end. And by the way, people died before Covid came along, 30k died in Winter 2018 from pneumonia.

                      1. @persecuted_by_mods
                          2 years, 4 months ago

                          Why did you ignore the point about hospitalisation being the key issue? At least you're consistent

                          The logic you are using here seems to be akin to an umbrella not keeping you totally dry, so you think the solution is to throw it away

                        • Ginkapo FPL
                          • 12 Years
                          2 years, 4 months ago

                          If we were reacting to cases alone then we wouldnt have record numbers

                  • HashAttack
                    • 7 Years
                    2 years, 4 months ago

                    Cancelling football would have zero effect ... the whole Omicron thing is the result of a few vaccinated travellers who were tested and isolated on arrival, and yet here we are

                    1. Andy_Social
                      • 11 Years
                      2 years, 4 months ago

                      Here's weird - most of the league games today have been called off (in England) but tons of FA Trophy matches are in progress. How are they healthy in non-league?

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

                        People who have to work for a living make sure they’re vaccinated

                        1. Ginkapo FPL
                          • 12 Years
                          2 years, 4 months ago

                          They havent cuddled each other in the changing room

                  • MagicMessi
                    • 11 Years
                    2 years, 4 months ago

                    Thank god iam not from UK !!! Il

                    1. MagicMessi
                      • 11 Years
                      2 years, 4 months ago

                      Because listening to this stupid government is something beyond logic 😀

                3. DLLM
                  • 2 Years
                  2 years, 4 months ago

                  Gonna quit game soon

                  1. Ajax Hamsterdam
                    • 9 Years
                    2 years, 4 months ago

                    Think the game will quit first 🙂

                  2. DARE TO BISCAN
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 5 Years
                    2 years, 4 months ago

                    Are we talking minutes, or can I go and make a brew first?

                4. Corona is not good 4 U
                  • 3 Years
                  2 years, 4 months ago

                  I am a real unlucky person or a fool.

                  First I did the Vardy -> Watkins transfer. I should have waited until the last minute to see the Aston Villa vs. Burnley game being canceled.

                  Then I made the Gilmour -> Raphinha transfer and later realized that I can not change him for one of my three strikers (Watkins, Antonio and Dennis).

                  This game is a real nightmare and two transfers are thrown out the window. It is no fun like that!

                  1. RogDog_jimmy
                    • 3 Years
                    2 years, 4 months ago

                    Oh that second one sucks. Almost fell into that trap myself.

                    First one is just garbage luck. Sometimes you go to make the decision at a certain with the info you had then.

                5. RogDog_jimmy
                  • 3 Years
                  2 years, 4 months ago

                  Ended up here on a -4

                  Ramsdale
                  TAA, Cancelo, James, Alonso, Gabriel(vc)
                  Salah(c), Jota, Foden, Gundogan

                  Foster, Watkins, Antonio, Gallagher, Dennis
                  0.4itb for later.

                  Hoping for an Arsenal defensive game. 1-0 Gabriel header from a corner.

                  What a weird one this has been.