Scout Picks
18 December 2021 1102 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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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
 

 1



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

 1

https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2021/12/16/covid-watch-club-by-club-latest/
  1. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Arsenal ro repeat what City did to Leeds last match?

    1. Scots Gooner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Hope so.

    2. NABIL - FPL otai
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Hopefully

    3. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Good luck, everyone, at least one game on this week!

    4. im1974
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      We have some footie to watch/swear at...finally

  2. NABIL - FPL otai
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Tierney VC let's gooooooo

  3. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    TBH would rather have Martinelli (vs. Drameh) than Saka (vs. Dallas) in this one, but couldn't tell if ESR would start or not!

    1. Free Hat
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      True

  4. Rainer
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Fortunately for those that got ESR in for a hit this GW it was only a -2.

    1. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Will come on so a -3

    2. Mike2795647
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      ????? - how so?

      1. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        It’s a topical joke.

    3. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Especially when he comes off the bench and scores again.

  5. Mr_Barbs
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Phew... Martinelli and Tierney!

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

      Tierney playing?

      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Certainly is! High 5!

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

          woohoo

      2. Mr_Barbs
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Yep. 2 points all around. Can't wait haha

  6. Ze_Austin
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Arsenal misspelling their own player's name is gonna go completely under the radar with all this madness

    But still makes me chuckle

    Partey after Party

  7. Cok3y5murf
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Imagine still owning ESR... expired bandwagon

    1. Mr. O'Connell
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      21 points in last 2 weeks

      1. Zimo
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        What?

        1. Mr. O'Connell
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Didn't feature 2 games ago so Gallagher subbed in with 15 points for me

          1. Zimo
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 1 month ago

            Oh ok. But 6 points for ESR. 21 for u.

          2. Cok3y5murf
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 1 month ago

            Wouldn't mention this jam in public

            1. Mr. O'Connell
              • 13 Years
              4 years, 1 month ago

              Just highlighting what a good pick ESR is

    2. fplgaruda
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      So salty

    3. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I sold him last week for Bilva. Didn't exactly work out 😆

    4. Botman and Robben
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Right now you should be happy you have a player on a bench. Better than one with no game at all.

    5. DycheDycheBaby
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Expired for you maybe, because you don't have him..

  8. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Game still updating?

    1. Cheshire Duck
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Fpl postponned too

    2. Ze_Austin
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Lots of transfers, chips and point hits to handle

    3. The Ilfordian
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Frustrating not being able to sort out the team that won’t be playing on Boxing Day

  9. Zilla
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    ESR against tired legs?

  10. Rupert The Horse
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Imagine all the games got rescheduled for midweek.

    1. Rainer
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Carabao block a lot & the 10 days yada yada.

  11. fplgaruda
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Wow, that Leeds bench

  12. lilmessipran
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Tierney owners in the mud

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

      Why?

      1. lilmessipran
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        My bad, read the lineup incorrectly

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

          phew. Had me worried then

    2. Ze_Austin
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Filthy points?

    3. NABIL - FPL otai
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Excuse me?

    4. DARE TO BISCAN
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Pigs in mud?

      1. Old Man
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Pigs on the wing!

        1. DARE TO BISCAN
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          I'm sick of these mf pigs on this mf plane!

  13. Salarrivederci
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    (VC) Saka, Ødegaard & Gelhardt let’s go! Make my -12 worth it 😉

    1. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Fingers crossed on Saka I've VC'd him as well (Salah Captain)

  14. Differentiator
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Congratulations Lacazette (-4) owners on the 45 minutes + YC !

    1. Paqueta Rice
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Ah now, there’s always one !

  15. Bobby Digital
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    White(vc) let's go!

    1. Mata of opinion
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Thought I was the only 1

  16. Londongeezaa
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    The Mayor of London has declared a "major incident" due to the rapid spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant in the capital.

    Can’t see how Spurs vs Liverpool can go ahead.

    1. Scots Gooner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Closed doors maybe.

    2. Ze_Austin
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Closed doors. TV event

      1. DBW - Slug's Mortgage …
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        If no more cases in Liverpool camp

    3. 'Broadsword Calling Da…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      The "Major Incident" was that someone in the government opened their mouth and the truth came out!

  17. Scots Gooner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Hurry up update.

    Not been this eager to see rival's teams before.

  18. MikeS
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Who's fielding 11 starters this week?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      ESR on the bench 🙁

      1. MikeS
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Same.. sure he will come on for 30 mins

    2. beric
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I have up to 7 (-4)

      1. xuwei
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Ditto. I think one of mine is Son lol

    3. Zimo
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I am on 11 currently. But could easily be less because 8 of them play tomorrow

    4. james 101
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Yep. One sub (dier)

      1. MikeS
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Had to start him! 2 points at best I'm expecting

    5. mr messi
      • 15 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I am. But one of them is Manquillo.

    6. Snevitz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I have 11 players with a game at the moment.
      ESR not starting isn't ideal but hopefully he'll get 20 mins.

    7. Utopsis
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      10 no hits, but ESR on bench

  19. DBW - Slug's Mortgage …
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Can’t remember if I vaccine Ramsdale or SmithRowe

    Fearing the worst

    1. DBW - Slug's Mortgage …
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      captain and vaccine autocorrect

      How ironic

      1. MikeS
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Lol vaccine on the brain

      2. dark91
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        2 shots so far. You have one more 'booster' shot to try and write it correctly 😀

    2. 420king
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Team doctor?

  20. DycheDycheBaby
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    I don't get why ESR is benched again...

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Winning team etc.

    2. Lord of Ings
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Arteta doesn’t change a winning combo
      He’ll come off the bench anyway

    3. Cok3y5murf
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Actually a poor choice from Arteta to go with a tired team that played 3 days ago vs Leeds. They will choke this game

    4. Utopsis
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Don't get it either - he was on form before his injury, and returned with a goal.

  21. el polako
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Dennis or King ?

    1. Mike2795647
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Neither at moment

    2. james 101
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      D

    3. NABIL - FPL otai
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Play or bench Livra?

    4. fplgaruda
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Gelhardt

  22. Botman and Robben
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    ESR will score after coming on in the 78th min. Owners need not worry.

    1. MikeS
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      As usual

  23. dshv
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Esr benched 🙁

  24. For Fuchs Sake
    • 16 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    6 players in this game, may watch it now 🙂

    1. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Wow!

  25. bitm2007
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Loads of us are likely to end up with an Arsenal player as our captain. God help us, I hadn't even considered captaining or placing my VC on an Arsenal player this season before Omicron.

    1. bench boost for every gamew…
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      And i probably end up with Ramsdale, As i thought Esr was not sure to start. White scoring is like dreaming for that sort of Christmas in Miami..

  26. fusen
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    the FPL site is taking a long time to process all of these hits

  27. Bobby Digital
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    First GW of the season FPL updated in like 15 minutes...thought they got new servers. How wrong was I.

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      !?

    2. Top 210 Club
      • 15 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Haha yes I thought the same

    3. diesel001
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      It is all the deadline changes. FPL may also be affected by Covid absentees too.

    4. TRIPOS TOPPER
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      they've gone back to the Commodore Amiga

    5. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      They are adding the free wildcard for everyone in

      1. Andy_Social
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Joking I know, but I'd be gutted if they did that. My current squad would be my WC squad. Took a lot of hits to get here.

    6. Utopsis
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      It's unlikely FPL own the servers they use

      1. TRIPOS TOPPER
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        all the more reason they should be good if they are on the cloud!

    7. BrutalLogiC
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      already regretting not bringing in Laca

  28. Top 210 Club
    • 15 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Arteta such a tit, really hope leeds win!

    1. DARE TO BISCAN
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      What's he done now?

      1. Top 210 Club
        • 15 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        ESR benched again. Everytime he scores he gets or remains dropped.

        1. DARE TO BISCAN
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          So, you're saying he scores as a sub and is a sub?

          1. Top 210 Club
            • 15 Years
            4 years, 1 month ago

            Saying he refuses to play his best players even during a hectic schedule when it's logical to rotate. Glorified PE coach

            1. DARE TO BISCAN
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 1 month ago

              Jon. Do you own ESR, Jon?

  29. The Final Boss
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Esr benching was almost there. But we couldn't transfer the few players who are playing this gw.

    1. Utopsis
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Would've been the 1st for the chop, before all hell broke loose

  30. fantasist
    • 15 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Leeds XI: Meslier, Drameh, Ayling, Koch, Klich, Dallas, Forshaw, Raphinha, Roberts, Harrison, Gelhardt

    Subs: Klaesson, Bate, Summerville, Greenwood, McCarron, Jenkins, Moore, Kenneh, Gray

    Arsenal XI: Ramsdale, Tomiyasu,White, Gabriel, Tierney, Saka,Partey, Xhaka, Odegaard, Lacazette

    Subs: Leno, Smith Rowe, Holding, Soares, Pepe, Nuno Tavares, Chambers, Elneny, Nketiah

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Holding White Koch

      1. fantasist
        • 15 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Greenwood

    2. BrutalLogiC
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Andy Gray's son on the bench

    3. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I know Covid is hitting hard, but why are Arsenal only playing with 10 men?