Captain Sensible – Gameweek 36

With the clock counting down to this evening’s 7pm deadline, we roll out our usual pre-Gameweek members’ article, which focuses on the captaincy dilemma.

First up, we check on the main contenders in this week’s Captain Poll, then assess the Opta numbers and current Rate My Team rankings, before offering up a differential or two to help solve the armband conundrum.

The Captain Poll

Despite a woeful run of one goal in his last six appearances, Alexis Sanchez is the runaway leader in this week’s poll ahead of Arsenal’s Double Gameweek 36.

Over 47% of voters are backing the Chilean, who remains the top scoring player in Fantasy Premier League, to deliver the goods as the Gunners host Man United before travelling to Southampton in midweek.

The former fixture could prove the most troublesome – the Red Devils arrive at the Emirates boasting the league’s most resilient away record, conceding just 13 times on their travels. Having netted 13 of his 19 goals away from home, expectations of Sanchez will perhaps be higher for the St Mary’s meeting against a defence that has shipped at least two goals in four of their last eight at home.

Sanchez aside, the recent raft of underwhelming double Gameweeks has deterred many voters from relying on players with a pair of fixtures.

Indeed, a trio of single Gameweek options claim the three places behind Arsenal’s top scorer.

Backed by 13% for a trip to West Ham, Harry Kane has seven goals and three assists in his last five starts. Spurs will drop in at the London Stadium looking to reduce Chelsea’s gap at the summit on Friday evening and Kane has previous against the Hammers, producing a 13-point haul back in Gameweek 12.

His team-mates, Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen, hover around the 1% mark.

With a goal or assist in eight of his last nine, Alli has become increasingly influential as Spurs give chase at the summit, while Eriksen remains the more explosive option – he’s served up 10 lots of double-digits this season, bagging 10+ points in each of his last two road trips.

Eden Hazard has convinced 7% to hand him the armband for Chelsea’s Monday evening meet with Middlesbrough.

Like Alli, the Belgian has been highly reliable in recent weeks, with a goal or assist in seven of his last eight appearances. Furthermore, Hazard produced more home goals (11) than any FPL midfielder, and has delivered double-digits on six occasions at Stamford Bridge.

Five blanks in seven means that Diego Costa only earns 2% of the votes against a defence that has conceded four to Hull City and Bournemouth in their last two road trips.

Four goals in as many league starts has persuaded 6% to consider Gabriel Jesus as Manchester City welcome Crystal Palace to the Etihad.

The most bought player in the Gameweek, the fit-again Brazilian returned to the teamsheet with a goal away to Middlesbrough last week and with Sergio Aguero ruled out, the onus is on the new boy to help seal a top four finish.

Having produced 13 points in his only home start (against Swansea City in Gameweek 24), he’ll fancy his chances against a patched-up rearguard with one clean sheet in seven on the road.

Bagging two goals and as many assists in six, Mesut Ozil could emerge as a double Gameweek differential along with the Saints’ Manolo Gabbiadini – they are backed by just 3% and 4% respectively.

Claude Puel’s decision to replace the latter before the hour-mark at home to Hull City last Saturday has hardly helped, though Gabbiadini has still managed a decent 4.7 points per match since arriving in January.

Josh King and Jamie Vardy are the only other players to earn more than 1% of the votes cast.

Both approach Gameweek 36 in excellent form. King has netted nine times in ten and is likely to lead the line in the absence of Benik Afobe. Bournemouth host a Stoke City side with one clean sheet in their last ten on the road.

Vardy, meanwhile, has scored or assisted in eight of his nine appearances under Craig Shakespeare ahead of Leicester’s home clash with Watford.

The Foxes frontman has racked up 34 points in his last four at the King Power and faces a defence that’s conceded in 11 successive away outings.