FPL Gameweek 17 Scout picks: Man City triple-up

Following Marc, Sam, Tom F and Neale’s Scout Squad entries, we’ve rounded up our Scout Picks for Gameweek 17 of Fantasy Premier League (FPL).

As always, we are limited by certain limitations.

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 SCOUT PICKS

KEELER

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Between the poles, Kevin Kelleher (£4.5m) has won the vote among our Scout Picks panellists for Brentford’s trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers. Yes, the Bees have only kept two clean sheets this season: one at home to then-struggling Aston Villa in Gameweek 2, another at West Ham United in Gameweek 8. However, they now face the worst team in the Premier League, both overall and in terms of most underlying attacking metrics. The Old Gold have finally scored in back-to-back games, but can they do it for a third time in a row? We’re not convinced, even taking Brentford’s own questionable away form into account. Kelleher also collects save points quite regularly and has even saved a penalty this season, so a big score could be on the line at Molineux if the Irish goalkeeper can secure another shutout.

DEFENDERS

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Mark Senesi (£4.9m) is largely down to the Bournemouth game this week and not the Cherries’ recent defensive record, which admittedly has often left a lot to be desired. Gameweek 17 opponents Burnley were dismal on the road, winning once and losing the remaining seven games, while Bournemouth lost just once in the Vitality all season and kept four clean sheets – the in second place in the Premier League – on home soil. As for Senesi himself: the Argentinian is a nailed starter. remains the king of defensive contribution (DefCon). and also has some threat going forward, as evidenced by his three FPL assists this season.

For our defensive representative of Manchester City at home against West Ham we have chosen Nico O’Reilly (£5.3 million). The absence of the Hammers’ first-choice wing-backs due to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) could necessitate a back five for Nuno Espirito Santo’s men at the Etihad, which we believe O’Reilly’s standout goal threat in and around the box may be the key to unlocking it. The young Englishman is having a breakthrough season and should remain relatively assured of his starting spot due to his own form and AFCON’s absences from City’s own squad.

Also seen the kink Jan Paul van Hecke (£4.6m) ahead of Brighton and Hove Albion’s home game with Sunderland. The Black Cats are the most affected team when it comes to AFCON departures, with six members of their squad – including five starters from last weekend’s Wear-Tyne derby win – called up, and they have already struggled to score goals on the road, doing so less often (four in eight games) than any team bar Wolves. That raises hopes of a final shut-out for the Seagulls, who have kept three clean sheets in their last seven games, while Van Hecke has earned DefCon points no fewer than five times this season. The ever-prevalent Dutchman is also in strong attacking form, with three goals and an assist in his last ten appearances, plus seven shots on target ranked second among all FPL defenders in 2025/26.

Rounding out our four-man backline is Arsenal’s Piero Hincapie (£5.5 million). A trip to Everton may not seem like a gimme at first, but the Toffees have already lost an influential duo to the AFCON and will also be without Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (£5.1m) due to injury. With goals for the home side not exactly at the top of the charts, the Gunners will have high hopes for a ninth Premier League clean sheet of the season, and Hincapie should still play a crucial role in those efforts. The Bayer Leverkusen loanee, who has performed confidently due to injuries elsewhere in Mikel Arteta’s backline, has secured DefCon points in three straight games. Hincapie’s teammate, Jurrien Timber (£6.5m), has the added bonus of attacking threat from his favored right-back position, but budget constraints have seen us opt for the Ecuadorian in our Picks this time.