Less than 24 hours after the previous round of fixtures came to a close, we’ve already launched our new Captain Poll to canvass your views on the best armband options for Gameweek 15.
As we witnessed only last night, rest and rotation are already beginning to bite hard as the winter schedule kicks into overdrive.
Assessing the teamsheets and looking for likely weekend starters is just as important at this point when considering our preferred captains.
Chelsea pair Eden Hazard (10.7) and Alvaro Morata (10.7) dominated our Gameweek 14 Captain Poll with 27% and 23% of the vote respectively, only to return a single point apiece at home to Swansea.
But Antonio Conte’s teamsheet tinkering in the 1-0 win looks set to boost the Belgian’s potential at home to Newcastle United.
A nine-minute cameo off the bench last night means that Hazard now seems very likely to be unleashed from the start at home to a Magpies outfit with a single clean sheet in ten Gameweeks.
Three goals, two assists and 40 FPL points in his last four starts, as well as spot-kick duties, heightens his appeal.
Having played the full 90 minutes against the Swans, there’s perhaps less certainty over Morata’s pitch-time for the Magpies’ encounter.
However, with two sets of double-digits in front of his own fans, the summer signing cannot be written off – despite failing to score in Gameweek 14, he was joint-top for shots (six) and efforts on target (four).
Harry Kane (12.8) will again challenge for the summit as Spurs visit a Watford side that have conceded a league-high 15 goals at home.
The 10-goal striker has netted seven of his efforts on the road and, away from home, he is the top-ranked player for shots (33), efforts in the box (22) and attempts on target (12).
Watford’s porous defence offers hope that Dele Alli (9.2) and Christian Eriksen (9.4) can rediscover their form.
The England midfielder has just a goal and three assists in his last 10 league outings, while the Dane’s effort at home to Bournemouth in Gameweek 8 represents his only points in eight appearances.
The Hornets’ winger Richarlison (6.6), who fired off four shots against Man United on Tuesday, could profit at home to a Spurs defence with a single clean sheet in six.
A source of consistency, the Brazilian has earned attacking returns in all but two of his last nine run-outs.
Mohammed Salah (9.8) looks another strong challenger for Liverpool’s trip to Brighton.
Like Hazard, the Egyptian was also utilised as a midweek sub yet still found the time to score twice in just 23 minutes away to Stoke, becoming the first player in FPL to break the 100-point barrier this season.
Salah looks very likely to be handed a role on the teamsheet once again and has already been acquired by over 100,000 managers since Tuesday’s deadline passed.
Rotation is a constant threat to Manchester City’s attacking assets, given the wealth of talent across their squad. But Raheem Sterling (8.2)’s form is so strong that voters may overlook this concern. Sterling has started the last six matches in all competitions but, arguably, he’s Pep Guardiola’s most vital player right now.
The winger’s 96th minute winner against Southampton last night – his 13th of the season in all competitions – has persuaded over 125,000 to snap up his services at home to a West Ham side that have conceded more goals on the road (19) than any other.
Sterling has averaged 9.6 FPL points per match (ppm) in front of his own supporters.
Leroy Sane (9.0), who missed out last night through illness, has four sets of double-digits in his last five home appearances.
However, the German is already on four yellows and a booking against the Hammers would rule him out of the Gameweek 16 Manchester derby. With that in mind, will Guardiola risk him on Sunday afternoon?
If Sane misses out again, this could mean Sergio Aguero (11.7) and Gabriel Jesus (10.4) both earn starts. The Argentine has nine goals and three assists this season, while Jesus will be looking for his fifth attacking return in succession.
Manchester United’s Emirates Stadium encounter with Arsenal looks hard to call and may temper interest in their players. Jose Mourinho may well decide to “park the bus” against a top-four rival, as he did so effectively in the Red Devils away 0-0 draw with Liverpool in Gameweek 8.
But given that the hosts last failed to score in Gameweek 5 and the visitors have scored nine in their last three, this could also be among this weekend’s highest scoring encounters.
Last night’s emphatic 5-0 home victory against Huddersfield Town served a timely reminder of Alexis Sanchez’s (11.8) potential.
The top scoring player in FPL last season, the Chilean has scored in each of the last three Gameweeks yet is owned by a mere 2.9%. He is expected to shrug off a minor hamstring complaint in time to entertain United.
Oliver Giroud (8.2), who scored a brace off the bench against the Terriers and sits in 1.1% of teams, could be another strong differential option as fellow striker Alexandre Lacazette is set to miss out with a groin injury.
For the visitors, Romelu Lukaku (11.4)’s stock has plummeted over a recent run that has seen him score just once in his last seven league matches to lose a further 69,000+ managers this week.
This could see Paul Pogba (8.0) emerge as the most popular Red Devils asset, given that he has delivered attacking returns in all but two of his seven starts.
And Wayne Rooney (7.2) is now back in the mix following a hat-trick in Everton’s 4-0 thrashing of West Ham United.
In what’s likely to be Sam Allardyce’s first home match in charge, the Toffees entertain a Huddersfield Town side that have conceded 12 goals in their last three away matches.
The poll is now live in the middle column on your homepage on desktop, or via the slide-in menu on mobile and tablet under recent comments.
Remember, we are looking for your vote for the player you think will be most effective, regardless of whether you own them or not.
We will be back to check in on progress in the poll later ahead of the Gameweek 15 deadline when we deliver our “Captain Sensible” article offering an analysis of the results and the statistics behind the leading contenders.
