Captain Sensible – Gameweek 1

Next up this packed Friday afternoon is our first members’ article of the season as we focus on the armband dilemma for Gameweek 1.

With the season kick-off now just hours away, we look at the Captain Poll favourites, then assess the Opta numbers and check the Rate My Team ratings before suggesting a couple of differential options in light of the data analysis.

The Captain Poll

Claiming over 38% of the votes cast, Romelu Lukaku is the runaway leader of our maiden 2017/18 Captain Poll.

Owned by a massive 48% of Fantasy Premier League managers, Man United’s new recruit has netted three times over the summer and boasts a formidable record against the Hammers, scoring in nine of his last 10 appearances while at Everton.

Slaven Bilic’s side kept just two clean sheets on their travels last time out and have been far from resilient over the summer, shipping eight goals in their final three friendlies.

Harry Kane leads the chasing pack as Spurs head to Newcastle United on Sunday afternoon.

Despite claiming back-to-back Golden Boots, the Spurs frontman has convinced just 15% to hand him the armband at St James’ Park.

Kane has scored twice over the pre-season fixtures and faces a Magpies side that managed just eight clean sheets in 23 home matches in last season’s Championship.

Man City trio Kevin De Bruyne (9%), Gabriel Jesus (7%) and Sergio Aguero (4%) all claim a place in the top five for a trip to Brighton.

De Bruyne is the most popular player among Pep Guardiola’s charges and currently sits in over 31% of FPL squads. He also boasts the most impressive summer form after serving up four assists.

Yet Jesus and Aguero have the goal threat to emerge as major captaincy differentials.

Jesus produced points in seven of his eight starts last season, with an average of 6.7 points per match (ppm) second only to Kane.

Meanwhile, Aguero scored 15 of his 20 goals on the road last time out, bagging an away brace on five occasions.

Alexandre Lacazette is the only other player to be selected by more than 1% as Arsenal entertain Leicester City in tonight’s curtain raiser.

Just 3% favour the Gunners’ new boy, who arrives on the back of 28 goals for Lyon in 2016/17. Despite their upturn in results, the Foxes were far from resilient under Craig Shakespeare and conceded at least twice in four of his six away matches.

Liverpool’s Mo Salah and Sadio Mane earn just 1% of the votes for a trip to Watford.

The pair can’t be separated in terms of FPL ownership either, with both sitting in 22% of our squads.

While there’s no doubt that the Egyptian is the man in form, having struck four times over pre-season, it’s worth noting that Mane’s eye for goal helped him serve up 5.8 ppm last term – more than any team-mate.

Meanwhile, kind home matches for Chelsea and Crystal Palace could promote their main men.

Michy Batshuayi and Willian have netted five and four times respectively ahead of a visit from travel-sick Burnley.

And Wilfried Zaha and Christian Benteke both found the net over Palace’s final two friendlies as they prepare for a Selhurst Park clash with promoted Huddersfield Town.

Owned by over 26% of FPL managers, Zaha has supplied a goal and two assists in Frank De Boer’s new 3-4-3 formation.