FPL GW18 Scout Picks Based on Stats, Analysis, and Matchups

Welcome to our FPL GW18 Scout Picks blog. Our fantastic scout @FPLDaggaFC (Do follow him on Twitter) is back with his Scout picks for Gameweek 18, as always our Scout picks are backed up by eye test, stats, and analysis.

Last season our scout picks won 21.5 vs 15.5 against the Official FPL Scout picks. This season the score is 8.5-8.5 lead heading into GW18.

Scout Picks	GW1	GW2	GW3	GW4	GW5	GW6	GW7	GW8	GW9	GW10	GW11	GW12	GW13	GW14	GW15	GW16	GW17	Overall
AllAboutFPL Scout Picks	78	62	59	79	42	58	51	60	95	68	41	82	39	62	31	46	47	8.5
Official FPL Scout Picks	76	46	48	95	33	68	88	57	102	43	33	80	49	86	48	46	48	8.5

Link to all our FPL GW18 blogs including Buy, Hold, Sell analysis, Differentials, Captaincy metrics, Scout picks, Wildcard Drafts, Tips, and more. Completely free to access as well!

FPL GW18 Scout Picks

FPL GW18 Scout Picks – Goalkeeper

Emi Martinez is the keeper in our FPL GW18 scout picks with the Argentinian World Cup winner facing Sheffield United at home. In the last six games, he’s the 3rd highest-scoring GK(29 pts) and is top for bonus points during the period(6 bonus points).

Aston Villa are a strong home side and have the highest odds of a clean sheet this week(56%), Sheffield United have meanwhile only scored 4 goals in 8 away games which is the lowest in the league. Their xG of 4.83 in away games is also comfortably the lowest in the league.

Further Read: FPL Gameweek 18 Transfer Tips: Two Players to Buy, Hold & Sell

FPL GW18 Scout Picks – Defenders

Trippier has not been in great form recently however he has good fixtures coming up. Newcastle have also had the likes of Burn and Botman return from injuries boosting the defence. He is top for xGI amongst defenders this season as seen below and his 45 chances created is the 2nd highest amongst all players with only Bruno creating more chances than Trippier!

He has a great matchup vs Luton Town who are 5th for most chances conceded(61) and crosses conceded in the right flank(170) in the League. Luton are also 2nd in the league for set play xGC(7.0) and 3rd for goal attempts from set play conceded(78).

Trippier set play stats amongst defenders:

• Crosses – 127 (1st amongst defenders)
• Successful crosses – 41 (1st amongst defenders)
• Successful cross percentage – 32% (1st amongst defenders)
• Corners taken – 65 (1st amongst defenders)
• Set piece into box – 74 (1st amongst defenders)
• Freekicks taken – 24 (1st amongst defenders)

Pedro Porro should be one of the most exciting defenders to own in FPL. Even though there is less clean sheet potential due to the Spurs style of play, there is always attack and bonus points potential for Porro. As seen above, Porro is 2nd for xGI among Defenders this season, but if you filter the metrics from GW7 Porro is Top among Defenders for most attacking metrics. Porro is also on set pieces! At 5.5 million, he can be your set and forget defender irrespective of the fixtures.

Pedro Porro Rank among Defenders since GW7:

• xGI- 1st
• Shots inside the Box- 1st
• Shots- 1st
• Bonus Points System score- 2nd

Trent Alexander Arnold rounds up the defense for our FPL GW18 Scout Picks team. Even with a tough fixture vs Arsenal, TAA is worth a shout due to the attacking threat he offers every week. TAA is the highest scoring player in the game(53 points) over the last 6 matches despite keeping just 3 clean sheets- Thanks to 2 goals, 2 assists and 12 Bonus Points during this time. With people having money in the bank(Haaland money), it is worth investing in Trent.

Further Read: FPL GW18 Transfer Targets & Watchlist Based on Eye Test & Stats

FPL GW18 Scout Picks – Midfielders

Salah is the Top midfield pick for yet another week despite the tough fixture vs Arsenal. Salah has blanked only 4 times in 16 games this season. Salah has scored 11 goals, 7 assists and leads the overall FPL Points tally with 130 points. Salah tops the xG and Big Chances stats among midfielders and his assist potential is also highlighted as he is Top for Big chances created(13) in the entire league.

Salah’s phenomenal home record:

Mo Salah’s blank against Man Utd was his first home match without a return since Gameweek 21 last season. In this 16-match run at Anfield he registered: 17 goals, 4 assists, 7 double-digit hauls and 153 points. Salah’s record against Arsenal is also good- 9 goals, 4 assists in 13 games vs Arsenal.

Son Heung Min needs no introduction. He has 10 goals, 4 assists from 17 games this season. More importantly, he has 6 Double Digit hauls from the last 14 games which is an excellent number. Son’s xGI of 8.9 since GW4 is the second highest among Midfielders- Only behind Salah. Son also scored the penalty in GW16 which confirms that he is on penalties for Spurs right now. With the attacking intent and style of play from Spurs, more goals will be flowing in for Spurs in the coming weeks and also more returns for Son!

Palmer gave his owners a massive delight with a 14 point haul(1 goal, 1 assist, 3 bonus) in GW17. Since Palmer’s full debut Palmer has 6 goals, 4 assists. For context, Haaland also has 6 goals, 4 assists during time

Palmer’s Stats since his full debut in GW7(Rank among Midfielders):

• Shots- 28(2nd)
• Big Chances- 8(Joint 2nd)
• xG- 5.07(2nd)
• Goals- 6(Joint 2nd)
• xGI- 8.0(2nd)
• Big Chances created- 6(Joint 3rd)
• xA- 2.89(3rd)
• FPL Points- 69(3rd)

Chelsea’s upcoming fixture run also looks really good. Over the next 7 games, They have only one game with a Fixture Difficulty rating of 4. All the other games are with a FDR of 2. It is still not too late to get him in your teams.

Bailey has registered an attacking return(2G 2A) in each of his last 4 appearances. In fact, since FPL GW9, he has blanked only twice, getting 3 goals and 4 assists in the process. No other Villa player has had more attacking returns in this period, including Watkins, who also has had 7 goal involvements. Read more about Bailey in our FPL GW18 Differentials article.

Further Read: FPL Gameweek 18 Transfer Tips: Two Players to Buy, Hold & Sell

FPL GW18 Scout Picks – Forwards

Ollie Watkins has been breathing fire this season- 9 goals, 9 assists from 17 appearances. He has 108 points with only Haaland having more points than him among Forwards. His underlying numbers are also really good- 47 Shots inside the box(2nd highest), xGI- 10.3(3rd among Forwards) and 21 Big Chance involvements. Villa have been brilliant at home winning their last 15/15 games.

Villa attack numbers at home this season:

• Goals/90- 3.12(1st)
• xG/90- 2.25(3rd)

Matchup alert: Sheffield United have conceded 69 chances down the center this season- 3rd highest among all the teams in the league. Sheffield United are also ranked 20th in the league for xGC, Big Chances Conceded and Goals conceded.

Watkins also takes up the arm band in our FPL GW18 Scout Selection as he comes out on Joint top in our Captaincy Metrics for this week.

Solanke owners were unlucky not to get points in GW17 due to the match being abandoned. However his underlying numbers and stats were excellent in the 5 Gameweeks before that. His upcoming fixtures- Forest(A), Fulham(H), Spurs(A) also look really promising.

Solanke Stats(Rank among all players from GW12-GW16):

• Shots- 19(1st)
• Shots inside the Box- 18(1st)
• Big Chances- 8(2nd)
• xG- 4.1(2nd)
• Goals- 4(Joint 1st)

Wilson completes the GW18 Scout Picks as a Differential option against Luton Town. He did score a good goal vs Chelsea in the midweek cup game and looks for another start with Isak’s fitness still being a question mark. Luton Town have conceded 20 Big chances over the last 6 matches which is the Highest in the league. Wilson should enjoy this matchup as well!

Full FPL GW18 Scout Picks Team

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Further reads from ALLABOUTFPL ahead of FPL GW18

Premier League Players who will miss PL due to AFCON
FPL GW18 Scout Selection- Top Picks based on Stats and Matchups
Top FPL Gameweek 18 Captain Picks Based on Analysis & Metrics
Top FPL GW18 Differential Picks(<10% TSB)
FPL GW18 Free Hit Guide- Best Drafts and Players to Target
FPL GW18 Transfer Targets & Watchlist Based on Eye Test & Stats
FPL Gameweek 18 Transfer Tips: Two Players to Buy, Hold & Sell
What is FPL CUP? What are the rules? | 2023/24 FPL Cup Guide
FPL GW18 Ultimate Guide: Tips, Differentials, Captaincy & More

Link to all our FPL GW18 blogs including buy, hold, sell analysis, differentials, captaincy metrics, transfer targets, and more. Completely free to access as well!

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