The Scout is helping Fantasy Premier League managers to build their 15-man squads ahead of Gameweek 1 with some ready-made solutions.
Planning ahead with a strong bench
While managers typically invest as much of their funds as possible in their starting XI, the kind pricing in this season’s player list lends weight to the idea of building a competitive squad with a strong bench and playing the fixtures.
Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze and Aston Villa’s Moussa Diaby (both £6.5m) have the form to offer outstanding value in midfield, while Brentford forward Yoane Wissa (£6.0m) can profit from an extended run of favourable opponents.
In defence, meanwhile, this squad allows managers to bench Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell (£5.5m) before bringing him into their line-up in Gameweek 3.
According to the Fixture Difficulty Ratings (FDR), five of the Blues’ six matches from that point score only two.
This is particularly significant as it coincides with a tough run of opponents for Brighton & Hove Albion’s Pervis Estupinan (£5.0m), the most-owned defender in the game, from Gameweek 4.
Managers can pick Estupinan for his opening two matches against Luton Town and Wolverhampton Wanderers, while benching Chilwell against Liverpool and West Ham United, before switching them for Gameweek 3 and beyond.
Goalkeeper
Jordan Pickford (£4.5m) is a secure starter in the budget bracket in an Everton side who can offer strong value in defence in Fantasy in their first full season under Sean Dyche.
Their early schedule gives Pickford the chance to enjoy a strong start to the campaign, with three of the Toffees’ first four matches scoring only two in the FDR.
Alphonse Areola (£4.0m) has started each of West Ham’s last two pre-season matches since returning to action. If he retains his spot in the Hammers’ XI, the Spaniard would be the cheapest starting ‘keeper in 2023/24 Fantasy.
Defenders
Chilwell and Estupinan are joined by Arsenal’s Gabriel and Manchester City’s Nathan Ake (both £5.0m), along with Newcastle United’s Sven Botman (£4.5m) in a solid defence.
Both Gabriel and Ake provide a strong goal threat from set-pieces and have kind early schedules to secure their roles in managers’ XIs.
In the first six Gameweeks, Arsenal have four home fixtures while Man City face four of the six sides who have been promoted to the Premier League in the last two seasons.
Botman can sit on managers’ benches and be called upon in emergencies before his schedule turns kinder in Gameweek 6.
Midfielders
Bukayo Saka (£8.5m) and Marcus Rashford (£9.0m) are the most-owned midfielders in Fantasy, found in 54 and 42 per cent of squads respectively.
There is every likelihood they can justify that popularity from the very start of the campaign, too.
In the opening three Gameweeks, Arsenal’s Saka has home matches against Nottingham Forest and Fulham, while Manchester United’s Rashford has home fixtures against Wolves and Nott’m Forest.
Diogo Jota (£8.0m), meanwhile, offers a saving of £4.5m over Salah as a route into Liverpool’s attack.
The Portuguese has three goals and two assists in pre-season and has a very favourable home fixture against Bournemouth in Gameweek 2.
Eze and Diaby could be rotated over the opening two Gameweeks to profit from their fixtures.
See: Eze the pick of mid-priced midfielders?
In Gameweek 1, Eze looks the better pick - he faces promoted Sheffield United when Diaby takes on Newcastle.
But in Gameweek 2, Diaby is the more appealing of the pair - he has a home fixture against Everton while Eze faces Arsenal.
Forwards
Alongside Erling Haaland (£14.0m), Brentford’s Wissa has the schedule to prove excellent value for many Gameweeks at a cost of just £6.0m.
According to the FDR, five of the Bees' first seven matches score just two.
Crucially, Wissa looks set to start as the lone forward with Ivan Toney (£8.0m) suspended for the opening months.
Meanwhile, Gabriel Jesus (£8.0m) provides a double-up route into the Arsenal attack alongside Saka.
The Brazilian is the second most-owned forward in Fantasy, found in more than 31 per cent of squads.
Crucially, Jesus’ price point makes it easy for managers can move to in-form replacements such as Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins (£8.0m), Chelsea’s Christopher Nkunku or Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez (both £7.5m).
Also in this series
Part 1: Haaland, Alexander-Arnold and a 3-5-2
Part 2: The No Haaland draft
Part 3: Haaland, Salah AND Alexander-Arnold
