We’ve put together an early version of our Scout Picks for Gameweek 17 of Fantasy Premier League (FPL).
We’ll finalize our weekly selection closer to Saturday’s deadline.
The upcoming Scout Squad nominations, as well as the midweek matches and pre-match press conferences, will help shape our final Scout Picks.
But this ‘bus team’ at least offers insight into the players and teams that qualify.
There are, as always, certain limitations for our team:
- A budget of £83.0 million for our starting XI
- A total selection cap of £100.0 million
- No more than three players per team
GAME WEEK 17 PROGRAM
Above: The Gameweek 17 matches sorted by difficulty (easiest left, hardest right) on our Fixture sticker.
THE PROBABLY BOYS
Gameweek 17 is mainly about Bournemouth and Manchester City, both of whom have attractive matches in mind.
Andoni Iraola’s men are in complete freefall at home against Burnley, after losing seven games in a row.
Man City, meanwhile, are entertaining a West Ham United team who are not nearly as bad, but have failed to keep a clean sheet in 11 attempts since Nuno Espirito Santo took over as manager.
You can bet on the in-form Phil Foden (£8.8m) and Erling Haaland (£15.0m) is in the Scout Picks.
Since Gameweek 13, Foden has scored 55 points – that’s at least 13 more than any other player has managed in that time. As for Haaland, he has plundered a whopping nine goals at home.
Antoine Semenyo (£7.5m) is also likely to make its way into our weekly picks.
Semenyo’s performances slowly looked more promising before Monday’s trip to Old Trafford, and he was rewarded with a goal in Gameweek 16.
A defensive representation of Bournemouth and City also seems likely – but who?
Mark Senesi (£5.3 million) or Adrian Truffert (£4.5m)? Matheus Nunes (£5.3 million) or Nico O’Reilly (£5.3m)?
Man City’s opponents West Ham will be without full-backs Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£4.2m) and El Hadji Malick Diouf (£4.1m) due to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). They will likely switch to a back five as a result, in which case O’Reilly’s goal threat in/around the penalty area could be crucial.
IN CONTENT
Rayan Cherki (£6.5m) is another option at Man City. He has provided seven assists in as many Gameweeks, and his playing time will likely be safer if he does so Jeremy Doku (£6.6 million) is not forthcoming. The only real obstacle for Cherki to find his way into our weekly squad is the form of Foden and Haaland.
With Sunderland being the most affected team when it comes to AFCON departures, with six members of their squad, including five starters from Sunday’s match against Newcastle United, being called up, it raises questions about how this will affect them in the coming weeks.
Even with Noah Sadiki (£5.0m) and co available, Sunderland are ranked 17th for StatsBomb’s expected goals conceded (xGC) on the road (see image below), increasing the appeal of Yankuba Minteh (£6.2 million), George Rutte (£5.6 million) and Danny Welbeck (£6.5 million).
A backline option for Brighton and Hove Albion will certainly also be taken into consideration. We have chosen Jan Paul van Hecke (£4.5m) in our ‘bus team’ – the Dutch centre-back has already scored four attacking goals this season.
Other defenses in the mix this week include Arsenal (Eve), Brentford (Wol), Crystal Palace (Lee) and Fulham (NFO).
Everton will be without Iliman Ndiaye (£6.4m) and Idrissa Gana Gueye (£5.4m) for the visit of Arsenal. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (£5.1m) and Jack Grealish (£6.5m) are also currently under the banner, so representation from Mikel Arteta’s backline feels important despite the recent lack of clean sheets. These significant absences can also reduce the appeal of Bukayo Saka (£10.3 million) and Declan Rice (£7.1 million).
Meanwhile, the only concern for Palace players is the fixture list, with Oliver Glasner’s troops facing a series of three games in six days from Thursday and Tuesday, which will put further pressure on an already thin squad.
Moving on, Wolverhampton Wanderers’ lack of clean sheets will be interesting Kevin Damage (£7.0 million) and Igor Thiago (£7.2m), while Tottenham Hotspur’s recent problems could play into their hands Hugo Ekitike (£8.6 million). The Liverpool striker is averaging a goal every 127.1 minutes in the 2025/2026 season, one of the highest figures in the top flight.
Above: Players sorted by minutes per goal in 2025/26 (minimum 500 minutes played)
Elsewhere, Harry Wilson (£5.5m) is in fine form having scored seven attacking goals in his last four appearances. And while there is certainly an element of overachievement in his recent performances (+4.0 xGI delta over the last four Gameweeks), with his minutes secured and a home game against Nottingham Forest on the horizon, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he delivers again.
THE LONGER SHOTS
Aston Villa have won 10 of their last 11 games in all competitions and are particularly strong on home turf. Bruno Fernandes (£9.3m) is likely a gamble this week despite his purple patch, especially with Foden, Haaland and Semenyo enjoying such attractive home fixtures.
Newcastle United’s match against Chelsea means their assets are likely to find it difficult to get a look.
It would be hard to make a case for the in-form Jarrod Bowen (£7.5m) or Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£5.6 million), also considering the opposition.
As for Virgil van Dijk (£5.9m), Liverpool have shown improvement in the diamond formation, but even with Tottenham Hotspur’s home form there appear to be better options available.
GAME WEEK 17 EARLY SCOUT PICKS
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