Missed the Fantasy EFL Gameweek 1 deadline? Don’t panic! While the first match at Kenilworth Road is now in the history books, there are 23 more games to look forward to this weekend.
You can still get your squad ready for the action.
The good news is that hundreds of players are still available, so there’s plenty of opportunity to build a competitive team even if you missed the initial deadline and our Scout Picks.
Our experts have identified some of the top replacements for Josh Keeley (G), Mads Andersen (D) and Luton Town, broken down by position, from the Scout squad selections.
Additionally, we’ll also take a look at Sunday’s top options in case you also miss the Saturday deadlines.
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GOALKEEPERSSam Tickle – Wigan Athletic
Wigan’s number one picked up 18 clean sheets (+90) in 46 matches, conceding just 42 goals – the fourth-lowest in League One. He also made 129 saves, helping him to 226 overall points – the second-most in the game.
The Latics take on Northampton Town (H) in Gameweek 1, who scored just 24 goals in 23 away matches. Backed by 39%, Tickle is the highest-owned keeper by over 20%.
Luke Southwood – Bristol Rovers
Picking up two votes from managers, the Northern Ireland international moved from Bolton to Memorial Stadium for an undisclosed fee this summer.
Despite their recent relegation, the Gas are expected to contend for a League Two play-off spot next season. He kept three clean sheets and made 40 saves in 20 appearances for Bolton last season.
Their upcoming opponents, Harrogate Town (H), are known for struggling on the road, scoring only 17 goals away from home – the joint-second-lowest in the division.
DEFENDERSSam Stubbs – Shrewsbury Town
The centre-back has made the move from Bradford City in League One to Shrewsbury Town, who were relegated. He was at Cheltenham Town, where he was a standout Fantasy option, scoring 282 points—the third-highest total in League Two.
Despite only keeping eight shutouts in 41 games, his defensive stats were exceptional. He recorded 423 clearances, the second-most across both League One and League Two, and also contributed with four goals.
As Salop prepares to face Bromley (H), a team with a strong away record, a clean sheet might not be a sure thing. However, his high volume of defensive actions makes him a lock for points. With a current ownership of just 3%, he’s a strong differential pick.
Chey Dunkley – Chesterfield
At 0.9%, the 33-year-old is a top differential into an impressive defence, which lost just three of 23 home matches.
Last season, a neck injury limited him to just nine appearances. Despite the limited playing time, he was a standout performer for the Spireites, averaging 4.8 points per game—more than any other player on the team.
Now at full fitness and finding the back of the net in the pre-season, he’s a threat at both ends for points. Paul Cook’s side take on Barrow (H), who only scored 18 goals on the road last season, which was the third-lowest total in League Two.
CLUB PICKS
In an impressive show of support, Wigan Athletic received the third-most votes, securing three in total. The majority of experts, pairing their votes for Sam Tickle (G) and a scout pick for Jason Kerr (D), anticipate Ryan Lowe’s side will continue their strong form.
After an eight-game unbeaten streak to end the season, they’re expected to perform well against an offensively weak Northampton side. While a goal-fest might not be on the cards at The Brick Community Stadium, a clean sheet seems highly likely.
Elsewhere, Chesterfield and Cambridge United each received two votes. The U’s face Cheltenham Town (H), who lost 11 of their 23 away games last season.
SUNDAY OPTIONS
On Sunday, two League One powerhouses, Stockport County and Bolton Wanderers, are set to clash at Edgeley Park.
Stockport County are coming off an impressive season, though they were ultimately defeated in the semi-finals of the play-offs. Their manager, Dave Challinor, has an incredible track record, having never finished lower than a play-off spot in his 14 seasons as a manager.
Meanwhile, Bolton Wanderers faced a challenging end to their previous season. After manager Ian Evatt was sacked, his replacement, Steven Schumacher, struggled to find a consistent rhythm with the squad. The team finished eighth, 10 points shy of the play-offs, losing four of their final six matches. However, with new recruits joining the team, there’s renewed optimism that the Trotters will be back in the fight for a play-off spot this season.
We favour the home side for this one. Stockport had a fantastic record at Edgeley Park last season, winning 16 of 23. With new key additions like Malik Mothersille (F), they look up for the challenge once again.
Oliver Norwood (M) – Stockport County
On all set-pieces, the 34-year-old scored 221 points in 44 matches, picking up 10 goal contributions and 40 interceptions. Backed by over 5%, the midfielder is nailed for minutes in Chanillor’s side, and opened his account in pre-season.
Ethan Pye (D) – Stockport County
The highest-scorer with 252 points, the centre-back helped them to 15 shutouts in 44, and picked up points at both ends, including 204 clearances and five goal returns. Backed by just over 1%, he’s a strong differential into a good defence.
Malik Mothersille (F) – Stockport County
The club’s record-signing, the 21-year-old picked up 21 goal contributions in 45 for Peterborough United last season, and comes in as a lead attacker. The Jamaica international also took 40 shots on target for Posh and will benefit from the new rule changes.
Keep an eye on two other players: Bolton’s Ethan Erhahon (M) and Stockport’s loanee Nathan Lowe (F). Erhahon had an impressive season with Lincoln City, picking up 56 interceptions in 31 games and scoring 169 points. Meanwhile, Lowe tore up League Two with Walsall but saw no game time after being recalled to Stoke in January. He could be a great option if given a chance, though he’s expected to start on the bench in Gameweek 1.
