Our analysis of the Gameweek captaincy contenders arrives once again this evening as Fantasy managers quickly turn their attentions to the weekend’s fixtures. As always, we take a three-part approach, which includes the weekly poll standings, the Opta statistics and our Rate My Team projections to help steer your thoughts on the armband conundrum.
The Captain Poll
After his midweek demolition of Sunderland, Sergio Aguero is head and shoulders above any other candidate as City prepare for the visit of Everton. Selected by 52% of voters so far, the Argentine – in spite of his superb season – has surprisingly blanked in three of his six home appearances and has managed only one double-figure haul at the Etihad to date. The Toffees roll up to Manchester in poor defensive form, though – without a clean sheet on their travels all season, Roberto Martinez’ side have conceded in five of the last six Gameweeks.
Chelsea duo Diego Costa and Eden Hazard are both fancied to deliver the goods away to Newcastle. Costa has delivered more yellow cards than goals on the road (five to four) and has notched just once in his last three away trips but having missed out due to suspension in midweek, he’ll be raring to go against the injury-hit Magpies. Hazard has yet to score on his travels this season – indeed, the Belgian has managed only two assists away from Stamford Bridge all season and has blanked in each of his last four appearances on the road.
Charlie Austin’s superb home form brings the QPR top scorer into consideration, with 7% of the votes cast. The budget striker has racked up four goals and two assists in his last four at Loftus Road and, up against a Burnley side with a single clean sheet on their travels, he’s looking for a third 10+ points haul in front of his own fans which would fire the R’s out of the drop zone.
After netting Villa’s winner at Palace on Tuesday evening, Christian Benteke is amongst the favourites for a plum home clash with Leicester. The Foxes arrive without suspended skipper Wes Morgan and look unlikely to improve a defensive record which has seen them keep out their opponents in just one of the last 10 Gameweeks.
Alexis Sanchez is also in contention as the Gunners roll up to Stoke. Unlike Chelsea’s Hazard, the Chilean has delivered on the road – four of his nine league goals have arrived outside of the Emirates, suggesting he could be a real differential against a Potters side with a single shut-out since Gameweek 3.
