The start of the Second Chance league in Gameweek 21 allows managers in Fantasy Premier League another route to glory.
The Scout's squad, costing £99.9m, is affordable for both new managers and those playing their second Wildcard.
Matz Sels (Nottingham Forest) £4.9m
Four successive clean sheets have taken the Nottingham Forest star to the top of the goalkeeper standings on 94 points. Sels has produced a league-high nine clean sheets this season, with a further 13 points from saves and nine more from bonus underlining his many routes to returns.
Hakon Valdimarsson (Brentford) £3.9m
The Brentford back-up goalkeeper in one of the cheapest options between the posts and is a handy option for your bench.
Gabriel (Arsenal) £6.4m
Arsenal’s Brazilian boasts the greatest all-round potential of any defender in Fantasy and is an easy “set and forget” option for your backline, keeping the centre-back for the long term. Gabriel’s 14 headed shots from set-pieces are more than any other player in his position, while his total of three goals and two assists is already one assist MORE than his attacking output from all last season.
Lewis Hall (Newcastle) £4.9m
Newcastle United’s left-back has emerged as a must-have for Gameweek 21, with his 253,000+ transfers in more than TWICE any other defender. Hall has three home matches and a visit to Southampton over the next four Gameweeks to immediately reward that investment.
Daniel Munoz (Crystal Palace) £4.7m
His total of 20 shots in the box this season ranks second among defenders and highlight Munoz’s major goal threat. Crystal Palace’s very schedule only enhances their wing-back’s appeal - according to the Fixture Difficulty Ratings (FDR), four of the Eagles’ next six matches score only two.
Vitalii Mykolenko (Everton) £4.3m
Four home matches over the next six Gameweeks make Mykolenko a great rotation pick for your benches. Everton have kept three clean sheets across their last four matches at Goodison Park, suggesting the left-back can offer great value at a mere £4.3m.
Jacob Greaves (Ipswich) £3.9m
Ideally, your fifth defender will only appear off your bench in the most extreme of circumstances. Greaves has recently reclaimed his role in Ipswich’s first XI and is the cheapest starter in Fantasy right now – and that’s about the only box he really needs to tick.
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) £13.6m
In 19 matches under Arne Slot, Liverpool’s Egyptian has produced 18 goals and 13 assists – already one assist MORE than he managed all of last season. Salah has blanked just TWICE and his potential for huge hauls makes him a must-have for the remainder of 2024/25 Fantasy.
Cole Palmer (Chelsea) £11.4m
Although he trails Salah by 56 points at the top of the player standings, Chelsea’s playmaker has established himself as the best of the rest by amassing 153 points, at least 17 more than any other player. Palmer has outscored Salah in two of the last three Gameweeks, providing a reminder of his armband potential.
Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford) £7.8m
The Brentford star’s penalty duties and role up front against tougher opponents make him a fixture-proof pick for FPL midfields. Mbeumo’s total of 13 goals and three assists means he has already matched his 16 goal involvements from last season, when he produced nine goals and seven assists.
Anthony Gordon (Newcastle) £7.5m
His goal against Arsenal in the EFL Cup semi-final first leg on Tuesday evening shows why Gordon is a great double-up attacking option alongside Alexander Isak (£9.3m). The England international has now scored or assisted in each of Newcastle’s last seven matches across all competitions.
Ismaila Sarr (Crystal Palace) £5.9m
The Senegalese’s all-round attacking potential, combined with Palace’s kind upcoming schedule, makes him one of the most appealing midfielders in the sub-£6.0m bracket. Sarr has returned hauls of 17 and 13 points over the Eagles' last nine matches.
Alexander Isak (Newcastle) £9.3m
Along with Salah and Palmer, Isak is a must-have for any 2024/25 Fantasy squad. Isak has scored in seven successive league matches and, along with Palmer, is a very strong alternative to Salah for the captaincy in Gameweek 21. Newcastle are at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers and Chelsea entertain AFC Bournemouth, whereas Liverpool visit Nottingham Forest.
Joao Pedro (Brighton) £5.7m
Back-to-back nine-point hauls against Aston Villa and Arsenal show the Brazilian’s improving form. Joao Pedro’s potential for both goals and assists can make him the standout budget forward for many Gameweeks to come – according to the FDR, Brighton & Hove Albion’s total of 16 over their next six matches is the second most-favourable of any side. It is worth noting that Joao Pedro has emerged as an injury doubt after suffering an ankle injury in training.
Raul Jimenez (Fulham) £5.7m
The Mexican’s two converted penalties against Ipswich last weekend took him to eight goals for the campaign – his most prolific since 2019/20, when he scored 17 goals while at Wolves. Jimenez’s short-term schedule gives him every chance to add to that total, with Fulham facing three of the bottom eight sides over the next three Gameweeks.
Remember, the Gameweek 21 deadline is at 18:00 GMT on Tuesday 14 January.
