Our pre-Gameweek members article which focuses on the main captaincy contenders arrives once again this afternoon. 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
There’s no surprise to see that Tottenham’s man of the moment Harry Kane is the runaway favourite ahead of a double Gameweek for Mauricio Pochettino’s side. With 12 goals in his last 11 appearances, the 6.2-priced striker – selected by over 64% – has blanked just twice and registered five sets of 10+ points hauls over that period ahead of showdowns with Swansea and QPR.
Sergio Aguero earns second spot as City welcome Leicester to the Etihad. The Argentine has now earned points in each of the last five Gameweeks and bearing in mind the Foxes have conceded at least twice in nine of their last ten away matches, he looks likely to deliver for his 12% backers.
Christian Eriksen earns 5% of the votes for Tottenham’s double. The Dane has now drawn blanks in each of his last three but has already served up a 13-point haul against visitors Swansea earlier in the season, whilst the R’s dire defensive displays – 45 goals against is joint worst along with Burnley – certainly bode well as he looks to add to his nine-goal tally. Romelu Lukaku also earns 5% of the votes cast despite scoring once since Gameweek 14.
Charlie Austin has served up a goal and assist in his last three matches and is boosted by back-to-back home clashes with Arsenal and Spurs. The R’s frontman has proven somewhat fixture-proof, though, and has netted against four of the top six (Chelsea, City, Arsenal and Southampton) already – when on the pitch, he’s played a part in 61% of QPR’s home goals this season.
Southampton’s Sadio Mane is the only other player with more than 1% of the votes cast. He plays host to a Palace side with one shut-out in seven under Alan Pardew and was handed a brief role up front against West Brom last weekend before a switch of formation by Ronald Koeman. David Silva has five goals and an assist in his last six home matches as Leicester come calling, including hauls of 16 and 17 points, whilst Wayne Rooney is also in contention for United’s trip to Newcastle after a move up front helped him bag a brace against Sunderland on Saturday.
