Fantasy Premier League

Climbing mini-leagues: What the FPL experts have learned

By The Scout 11 Oct 2020

The Scout’s panel offer advice for managers who are trailing after the opening four Gameweeks

The Scout’s panel of experts reveal their top tips for Fantasy Premier League managers who have endured a slow start to the 2020/21 campaign.

What the experts say

Utkarsh Dalmia (@zophar666)

It's too early to start thinking about differentials, but players returning from injury like Sergio Aguero (£10.4m) could initially be overlooked and therefore hugely impactful as a captain pick.

Going for the lesser-owned Raheem Sterling (£11.5m) rather than Kevin De Bruyne (£11.6m) can also bear fruit as the winger is capable of massive hauls.

Chuck Booth (@ChuckBoothSport)

The best way to climb is to stay the course. Don't chase every bandwagon. Trust your gut with your big decisions. Also, captain Mohamed Salah (£12.2m).

Sam Bonfield (@FPL Family)

Fixtures are normally pivotal in relation to FPL planning but, after some surprising results so far, following form seems to be the way to climb your mini-league. Don't be afraid of picking a player with a hard fixture on paper as, so far, form has trumped fixtures every time.

Pranil Sheth (@Lateriser1 2)

Treat the first four Gameweeks as an anomaly. Keep looking at the highlights and the statistics, and have faith in the process, not the results. We've only just begun.

Geoff Dance (@GeoffreyDance)

The best advice, particularly early in the season, is that there is no need to pick differentials just to be different. With a few good captaincy picks and solid overall play, you will steadily climb your mini-league.

Neal Thurman (@nealjthurman)

Lean into the early-season trends that seem to have staying power. Many managers will count on players like Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£7.6m) or Jarrod Bowen (£6.3m) "coming back to earth".

Going all-in when your opponents are approaching lesser-known names more cautiously gives you a chance to make up ground.

Ben McNair (@drbenmcnair)

Keep a cool head, stick to your principles and avoid reacting too much to recent Gameweeks. Hold on to your free transfers until late in the Gameweek, in case any of your squad pick up injuries.

If possible, holding your first Wildcard until Gameweek 16 could be beneficial, with a disrupted schedule following.

Paul Gee (@FPLPaulGee)

Stick to your game plan. Have a well-organised team with a good price structure, and a playing bench to account for any absences.

Holly Shand (@FFCommunity_)

Staying engaged will be the best way of climbing mini-leagues. Points and rankings are tightly clustered right now, so following trends will be important.