Welcome to our FPL GW22 Scout Picks blog! The Premier League is back, following a short break for FA cup and league cup games, so don’t forget to manage your team before this weekend’s round of fixtures. The festive period is officially over (in my humble opinion), and we’re now well into the second half of the 25/26 season – time really flies!
Despite scoring a decent 65 points in FPL GW21, we fell to another defeat against the Official Scout Picks team which returned a huge 76 points. We remain ahead of the Official Picks by 1 point.
AAFPL Scout Picks 11 – 10 Official Scout Picks
| GW1 | GW2 | GW3 | GW4 | GW5 | GW6 | GW7 | GW8 | GW9 | GW10 | GW11 | GW12 | GW13 | GW14 | GW15 | GW16 | GW17 | GW18 | GW19 | GW20 | GW21 | |
| AAFPL Team | 62 | 58 | 57 | 68 | 34 | 60 | 77 | 67 | 58 | 73 | 39 | 52 | 59 | 82 | 58 | 82 | 77 | 40 | 32 | 49 | 65 |
| Official FPL Team | 56 | 50 | 57 | 90 | 43 | 57 | 67 | 63 | 41 | 78 | 54 | 52 | 41 | 66 | 67 | 80 | 92 | 35 | 46 | 57 | 76 |
As always, our Scout Picks will be based on the eye test, stats, and analysis. But before we discuss player picks, let’s take a look at the fixtures for FPL GW22.
Link to all our FPL GW22 blogs including scout picks, players to target, buy, hold, sell analysis, differentials, captaincy metrics, best forwards, and more. Completely free to access as well!
FPL GW22 Fixtures
Teams to Target in FPL GW22
- Liverpool
- Arsenal
- Villa
FPL GW22 Scout Picks
FPL GW22 Scout Picks – Goalkeeper
Raya (5.9m) comes back into the AAFPL Scout Picks team as Arsenal face Nottingham Forest away from home this weekend. Arsenal continue to impress with their rock solid defensive numbers; the gunners have conceded just 17.65xGA and 14 goals so far this season, with Raya keeping 10 clean sheets in 21 games. Arteta’s side struggled to break down a defiant Liverpool side in FPL GW21, but remained steadfast in their own defending throughout. A 0-0 draw against the champions was their first clean sheet in 4 matches.
Arsenal’s opponents for this week, Forest, continue to flirt with the idea of relegation, and sit just 7 points from safety at this stage. Their win against relegation rivals West Ham was their first victory in 5 games. In their last 5 matches, Forest have failed to accumulate 1xG+ on 3 occasions and have scored 1+ goals only once (failing to score in 2 of their last 5). Due to Forest’s poor attacking numbers, we think it reasonable to double up on Arsenal defenders this week, and as Raya’s minutes are secure, we think he’s a decent option.
Further Read: AK’s FPL GW22 Team Reveal & Transfer Plans | 3x Top 5K Finishes
FPL GW21 Scout Picks – Defenders
Gabriel (6.7m), Cash (4.8m), Frimpong (5.7m) and Van de Ven (4.6m) make up our back 4 for FPL GW22…
We’re switching it up this week with a change in formation. We’ve gone full-Amorim in deciding to ditch the back three for a back four… Jokes aside, we think there are a number of good defensive options for this round of fixtures, so a back four suits us better. Some defenders that were considered but ultimately didn’t make the cut include Newcastle’s Lewi Hall, Van Dijk, O’Reilly, amongst others…
Gabriel retains his spot in the back line and joins Raya in the defense to complete the Arsenal double up. The Brazilian played a full 90′ against Chelsea in the league cup, but will almost certainly also start this match on saturday afternoon. Gabriel is FPL’s highest scoring defender thus far, having accumulated a huge 112 points (7.75 points per game) so far this campaign. The CB is such a versatile asset and has proved himself to be the best Arsenal defensive asset due to his minutes security, goal threat and his scoring of bonus points and defcon. It’s worth the double up considering the fixture, but if you can only pick one, it has to be Gabriel.
Cash also keeps his place in the team following his 6 point haul against Palace in FPL GW21. That makes it 5+ points in back to back GWs for the polish defender – can he make it three in a row? We’re certainly hoping so, as we’re backing him as Villa welcome Everton to Birmingham in FPL GW22. As with Gabriel, Cash is a very versatile asset and offers multiple avenues to point scoring in FPL…
Cash’s 3 goals, 2 assists and 6 clean sheets demonstrate both his versatility and consistency. The last time Villa conceded more than 1 goal in a game in which Matty Cash started was on 14th December against West Ham which is 4 games ago (5 including the City game which Cash did not play); they are a solid defense. Villa have conceded the joint 5th fewest goals in the league in spite of a poor run at the start of the season. Their opponents this week are Everton, a side that is struggling across the park with injuries, suspensions and absences, forcing them to put out a much weakened side for this fixture.
Frimpong comes back into the team for FPL GW22 for a number of reasons. Firstly, Bradley’s injury makes Frimpong starting this one all the more likely. Frimpong started the Arsenal match at RW, then started the following match in the league cup at RB, with Gomez (a player who could possibly start at RB) playing at RCB. In my opinion it’s almost certain that Frimpong starts this match and plays 60+ minutes and it’s more than likely that he starts at RW as opposed to RB. Slot clearly has favourites (I’m looking at you Gakpo), and I think Frimpong is starting to become one. With Chiesa still out of favor and Frimpong having put in a solid performance in that position against Arsenal, I could see him starting in that same position against Burnley.
STAT: Frimpong is averaging 7.37 FPL points per 90 so far this season
Regardless of his nominal position, Frimpong offers exceptional attacking output, and demonstrated this by scoring a goal against Barnsley in midweek (despite playing as a RB). In the league, Frimpong has 3 assists in his last 5 games and has helped to deliver 2 clean sheets in that time too. Liverpool’s defense as a whole has improved in recent weeks, and they would have come away from the Barnsley game with another CS, which would’ve made it two in two, had it not been for Szoboszlai’s inexplicable mistake. Liverpool defenders should be on our radars considering their recent uptick in form, and Frimpong is certainly one to keep an eye on.
Finally we have Spurs’ Van de Ven. While Spurs are struggling under new manager Frank, their fixture against West Ham this weekend is too good to ignore, so we’re banking on Van de Ven to deliver some clean sheets (and perhaps an attacking return) against the Hammers. Spurs have actually conceded the joint 8th fewest goals in the league and have the 4th best xGA. These stats may come as a surprise to many, but those who have watched Tottenham this season cannot deny that Frank’s side may lack lots of things, but they certainly do not lack defensive stability.
STAT: In their last 5 games, the Hammers have failed to score on 3 occasions
Van de Ven himself is Spurs’ highest scoring player in FPL, having delivered a huge 89 points thus far. That fact perhaps tells you more about Spurs’ lack of attacking threat than it does about their defensive ability but nonetheless, it’s important to note. VDV ranks third highest among Spurs’ defenders for CBIT (125), but beats his defensive teammates when it comes to attacking stats. West Ham, Spurs’ opponents for this weekend, have the joint 4th fewest goals and the 4th lowest xGA in the league, highlighting their lack of attacking threat.
Further Read: FPL GW22 Wildcard Team – Tips, Players to Target and Best Drafts
FPL GW21 Scout Picks – Midfielders
Rogers (7.7m), Bruno G (7.2m), Rice (7.3m) and Wirtz (8.2m) form our midfield quartet…
Rogers has been pretty ever-present in our teams for a while now, and while his FPL returns have dipped, his form has not. Rogers picked up an assist against Forest in GW20 and then created 2 chances, 1 big chance and took 3 shots against Palace only to come away empty handed. Don’t let his FPL points fool you, he is still in a rich vein of form!
With Everton at home this weekend, this could be the GW where Rogers explodes again. Everton are lacking bodies in midfield and in defense due to injury and suspension, meaning that they will likely put out a pretty weak XI to face Villa. If Rogers puts in a performance against Everton like he did against Palace, he will no doubt come away with a double digit haul.
Bruno G comes into the team for Newcastle’s attractive fixture away against Wolves. The Brazilian has been in fine form of late, producing back-to-back-to-back 10+ point hauls in FPL. Bruno is no stranger to double digit hauls in FPL however, as he has already produced 7 so far this campaign. He is comfortably Newcastle’s highest scoring player in FPL and is a fairly diverse point scorer too; scoring goals (8), producing assists (3), as well as delivering both defcons and bonus points. He is a true all-rounder. This weekend Newcastle face bottom of the table Wolves who, despite their recent uptick in form, remain the team to target.
STAT: Bruno G ranks third for points scored among Midfielders in FPL
Rice returns to the team for Arsenal’s trip to Nottingham. The englishman did pay 82′ minutes in Arsenal’s league cup victory over Chelsea, but he is undoubtedly one of Arteta’s most trusted players and his importance to this side cannot be overstated. FPL’s highest scoring midfielder (so far) has produced 4 double digit hauls this campaign and is averaging over 6 points per match. With rotation likely in Arsenal’s forward line we think it’s safer to go for the minutes security of Rice, even if he is a less exciting option.
Fun Fact: If Rice continued at his current rate of point scoring until the end of the season he would finish on around 226 points, that’s 118 points fewer than Mo Salah (the highest scoring FPL asset last season) managed in 24/25.
Finally we have Liverpool’s Wirtz. The German only came on for 30′ minute cameo against Barnsley, but in that time managed to bag both a goal and an assist. That makes it 5 goal involvements in his last 6 games in all competitions. Wirtz is quickly becoming essential to how this Liverpool team creates chances, and his partnership with Ekitike is becoming a nightmare for opposition defenders!
Burnley rank joint 19th for goals against and bottom for expected goals against, so a Liverpool attacker is a must have for FPL managers looking to target this fixture. Gakpo is another decent option for managers looking to punt on Liverpool, but in the medium-long term his minutes become more of a risk. Wirtz himself is of course a bit of a minutes risk, but having been rested in mid-week, he will more than likely start this one either on the left or in midfield. Wirtz and Gakpo are both predicted to score 5+ points by Fantasy Football Hub’s points prediction tool but they’re not the highest scoring Liverpool player on this model… Can you guess who is?
Further Read: FPL Gameweek 22 Transfer Tips: Two Players to Buy, Hold, & Sell
FPL GW21 Scout Picks – Forwards
Haaland (15.1m) and Ekitike (8.9m) complete the team for FPL GW22…
Haaland keeps his spot and the captaincy for City’s trip across town to face Manchester United. Derby games are always tough to call, but due to the upheaval and chaos at United at the moment I can only see this game going one way. Semenyo’s introduction into the team has been seamless, and while Haaland continues to struggle somewhat, his underlying numbers remain promising.
In his last 4 fixtures he has accumulated 2.71xG but scored just 1 goal – the chances have been there, but luck has not been on his side. City will be hoping to translate their cup form into the league, having scored 12 goals in their 2 cup fixtures since GW21 and conceding just 1…
Ekitike is indeed the Liverpool player with the highest expected points for FPL GW22 according to Fantasy Football Hub’s predicted points tool. The frenchman also came on with 30 minutes to go in the cup and, like Wirtz, produced both a goal and an assist to help his side to victory.
STAT: Ekitike ranks 4th for goals per 90 in the league and 3rd for non-penalty xG (all players/positions)
With Isak injured and Gakpo struggling as a number 9, Ekitike will certainly slot right back into that position and his minutes will likely be secure for the foreseeable. Burnley are arguably the worst defense in the league, so doubling up on Liverpool attackers is a decent bet, with Ekitike representing the best attacking asset the reds have to offer.
Further Read: FPL GW22 Transfer Targets & Watchlist Based on Stats & Eye Test
FPL GW22 Scout Picks
Further Reads from ALLABOUTFPL Ahead of FPL GW22
Upcoming FPL Double/Blank Gameweeks | 25/26 FPL Season
FPL GW22 Scout Picks based on Stats and Matchups
Top FPL Gameweek 22 Captain Picks Based on Analysis & Metrics
Best FPL GW22 Differential Picks(<10% TSB)
AK’s FPL GW22 Team Reveal and Transfer Plans
FPL GW22 Transfer Targets & Watchlist Based on Stats & Eye Test
FPL GW22 Wildcard Team – Tips, Players to Target and Best Drafts
FPL Gameweek 22 Transfer Tips: Two Players to Buy, Hold, & Sell
Best FPL Budget Enablers to Target – Position-wise from GW22 Onwards
FPL GW22 Ultimate Guide: Tips, Differentials, Captaincy & More
Link to all our FPL GW22 blogs, including buy, hold, sell analysis, differentials, captaincy metrics, transfer targets, and more. Completely free to access as well!
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