Captain Sensible – Gameweek 2

Next up, we assess the chief captaincy contenders for the upcoming round of fixtures in our regular pre-Gameweek members’ article.

We delve into the Opta numbers and also check up on the Rate My Team ratings before suggesting a differential or two to consider.

With only one Gameweek of data, we are waiting until after this weekend’s matches before adding the usual Player and Team data tables to the analysis.

The Captain Poll

Romelu Lukaku is the runaway leader of our Captain Poll for the second Gameweek in succession.

The Mancheter United frontman earns 46% of the votes cast after bagging a brace on his debut against West Ham last Sunday.

Now owned by over 52% of Fantasy Premier League managers, Lukaku faces a Swansea City side that conceded 34 times in front of their own fans last term – the second-worst record in the top-flight.

Liverpool supply three of the top five players this week ahead of a plum home clash with Crystal Palace.

Mo Salah (8%) and Robert Firmino (7%) lead the way after both supplied a goal and an assist in the 3-3 draw against Watford, with spot-kicks boosting Firmino’s appeal.

Sadio Mane also notched at Vicarage Road but claims just 5% of the votes against a defence that shipped three goals at home to Huddersfield Town.

Only 6% are willing to place their faith in Harry Kane as Spurs welcome Chelsea to Wembley.

Sold by more FPL managers than any other forward in the Gameweek after failing to net at Newcastle United, the England man scored more goals at home than any player last season.

He also fired more shots and efforts inside the box than any frontman in the opening round of fixtures.

There’s no stand-out contender for Manchester City’s home encounter with Everton, with armband differentials Gabriel Jesus,(3%) Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne (both 2%) all earning similar backing.

Pep Guardiola’s new 3-3-2-2 set-up means that Jesus and Aguero are likely to lead the line again on Monday night.

Impressively, Jesus produced returns in all four of his home starts last term, totalling four goals and two assists in those fixtures.

Although Aguero scored just five of his 20 goals at home last season, an average of 16.9 minutes per shot was quicker than any forward in front of their own fans.

City’s most popular player, playmaker De Bruyne sits in 28% of squads on the back of last year’s 21 assists – the Belgian created more big chances at home than any player in 2016/17.

Jamie Vardy and Steve Mounie both scored twice on their travels last weekend and now entertain promoted Brighton and Newcastle respectively.

Only 3% have opted for the Leicester City frontman, who has been quick to maintain the form that saw him average 7.0 points per match under Craig Shakespeare last time out.

Subject to more transfers-in than any forward this week, Vardy scored or assisted in six of the Foxes’ seven home matches after their mid-season change of manager.

Mounie, meanwhile, has emerged as the first budget bandwagon up front for the visit of Newcastle’s injury-ravaged rearguard.

Arriving on the back of 14 goals and three assists for Montpellier last term, the Huddersfield target man has hit the ground running with a brace in last week’s mauling of Crystal Palace.