With just a couple of hours left until Friday’s 7pm deadline, it’s time for our pre-Gameweek members article, offering insight on the armband conundrum for the upcoming round of fixtures.
First up, we assess the main players in this week’s Captain Poll. After that, we turn to the Opta numbers and check up on the Rate My Team ratings before considering a couple of differential options in light of the data analysis.
The Captain Poll
Man City’s relentless attack understandably dominates our Gameweek 9 Captain Poll as Burnley make their way to the Etihad.
Gabriel Jesus sits at the summit for the first time this season on the back of six goals and an assist in his previous five league fixtures.
Over 22% are backing the Brazilian to maintain that form after he also netted against Napoli in midweek.
Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero also find a spot in our top four.
Sterling (11%) is the most bought player in the Gameweek (260,00+) after serving up six goals and two assists in his last six league appearances.
He also scored in midweek but, unlike Jesus, was subbed off midway through the second-half, which perhaps strengthens his chances of pitch time against the Clarets.
Aguero (9%), meanwhile, has warmed the City bench in back-to-back matches since recovering from injury.
He needs just one goal to equal the club’s all-time goal scoring record and looks very likely to return to the teamsheet at home to Sean Dyche’s troops.
Romelu Lukaku claims the runners-up spot with 21% backing as Man United travel to a Huddersfield Town side that conceded four against Spurs in their last home fixture.
The Red Devils’ striker is immune to rotation right now and has found the net in three of his four away appearances.
Lukaku is likely to be the number one choice by Fantasy Premier League managers, too – he was the top pick in the first seven Gameweeks and second last time out.
But Spurs’ head-to-head with Liverpool at Wembley means that Harry Kane earns only 8% backing.
Blanks in all four league fixtures at Wembley have hardly helped his cause, though he’s up against a defence that’s conceded 11 times on their travels – no side has shipped more.
Chelsea pair Alvaro Morata and Eden Hazard and are shaping up as differentials with just 5% of the votes cast.
Back in contention against Roma on Wednesday, Morata has six goals and two assists in seven and has hit double-digits in two of his four home appearances.
Hazard – who notched twice against the Italians in midweek – scored more goals at home (12) than any FPL midfielder in the previous campaign.
They face a defence that has been breached 10 times in the last four Gameweeks.
