Captains

Captain Sensible – Aguero favourite but alternatives appeal in Gameweek 5

The captaincy discussion for Gameweek 5 of Fantasy Premier League probably isn’t quite as clear-cut as our recent poll indicates.

While Manchester City’s number one striker has run away with it, there are strong cases for alternative options.

We’ve weighed up the results of the vote, compare individual and team statistics and analyse what the Rate My Team tool says to ascertain the best captain for this weekend.

The Captain Poll

A home clash with Fulham has led to Sergio Aguero (£11.3m) amassing a huge lead in the captain poll ahead of Gameweek 5. The Manchester City striker has, at time of writing, a massive 58% of the vote.

Aguero’s three goals and two assists thus far have convinced Fantasy managers that he can deliver another big haul. In fact, he has even overtaken Mohamed Salah (£13.0m) as the most fashionable player in FPL, with 51.6% ownership.

Salah’s popularity continues to fall as shown by the fact that he currently sits fourth in our poll with just under 5% of the vote. Captaincy interest in Liverpool’s trip to Spurs on Saturday lunch-time is low, with Harry Kane (£12.5m) and Sadio Mané (£10.0m) backed by under 3% of our voters. That’s despite the latter averaging 9.75 points per match so far, Salah at 6.75 and Kane 5.0.

Joining Aguero in the top three are Chelsea pair Eden Hazard (£10.7m) and Marcos Alonso (£6.8m) who are expected to do very well against Cardiff. Both players have registered returns in every single match so far combining for three goals and seven assists.

Hazard is the more popular for the captaincy out of the two, by some distance. At the time of writing the Belgian has 19% of the vote while Alonso is only just ahead of Salah with his 4.5% share. Perhaps understandable given the differences in classification and price.

Outside the top six are some interesting differential candidates, all of whom look capable of delivering points in Gameweek 5. Benjamin Mendy (£6.4m) has 1.15% backing after registering four assists in his first four league matches and adding another international duty.

Just behind him is Arsenal frontman Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£10.9m) who scored his first goal of the season against Cardiff last week. The Gabonese forward has a trip to Newcastle this time around and continues to prove more popular than colleague Alexandre Lacazette (£9.4m). The Frenchman has outscored him so far but is backed by just 0.68% in this week’s captain poll.

Danny Ings (£5.6m), Jamie Vardy (£8.9m) and Romelu Lukaku (£11.0m) complete the top 10 with, at time of writing, 0.84%, 0.77% and 0.73% backing respectively.

Ings has two goals in his last three starts and hosts a travel sick Brighton outfit on Monday night.

Meanwhile, Lukaku is currently second among strikers for shots in the penalty area and efforts on target ahead of a trip to Watford.

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1,457 Comments Post a Comment
  1. McSlu
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 6 months ago

    Still some issues on my WC. Witch combo do you prefer?

    a) Hennesy, fraser, laca, pedro
    b) hamer, dilva, vady, maddison

    rest of the lads are
    Pat, X
    mendy, alonso, shaw, AWB, Bennet
    Haz, mane, høybjerg, X, X
    Kun, wilson, X

    1. Fpl Old Guard
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      Option C for me, hope this helps!

  2. JJO
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 6 months ago

    So people with Zaha,Wally and Mkhi what should we do?
    Save transfer and hope subs will help us if needed?

    1. Doolittle
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      I'm unsure, if I had a strong bench I'd definitely hold this week, but I only have 1 playing sub.

      1. JJO
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 6 months ago

        I have Billing,VVD and AWB so think im ok
        What transfer will you do?

    2. Going Home
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      I'd be looking to ship Wally, of those three. Can see Mkhi coming back in and Zaha will start if 80% fit, given Palace are awful without him

      1. JJO
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 6 months ago

        I just dont want to ship him now if he is 'in contention' for this good fixture
        Just hope I wont see 3 cameo appearences from those 3

    3. Silecro
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      Have all three and my plan is to ship mkhi out next week, given he is least guaranteed to start of all three when fit

      1. JJO
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 6 months ago

        yeah mine too
        But Im interested in this gw

        1. Silecro
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 6 months ago

          If you have someone useful in sub, then save, if dont, ship mkhi

          1. JJO
            • 11 Years
            5 years, 6 months ago

            thanks man

    4. Fpl Old Guard
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      8 point hit required

  3. Brasil82
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 6 months ago

    Please rate my wildcard team. Feels a bit meh:

    Begovic Mccarthy
    Wan-Bissaka Shaw Mendy Alonso Doherty
    Pedro Mane Hazard Billing Stephens
    Aguero Ings Lukaku

    0.2 itb.

    Cheers

    1. Going Home
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      Not many/10

      Downgrade one keeper and accept playing the other every week. Downgrade one of Kun and Lukaku and use the change to upgrade one of Stephens and Billing

    2. Peter Ouch
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      Why meh, strong defence and more investment on attack rather than midfield.

      Gtg

  4. RVP20
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 6 months ago

    Should I hold my transfer this week to assess it better next week?

    Fabianski
    Alonso - Mendy - Robertson - *Shaw*
    Salah - Mane - B.Silva - Walcott
    Aguero - Arnautovic
    (Foster - Wan-Bissaka - Stephens - Kamara)
    1FT - 0.0ITB - Current rank: 8K

  5. Rash
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 6 months ago

    I have a feeling Mané will outscore hazard over the next 4..

    1. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      No chance. Haz is mercurial and will flourish under Sarri. The Belgian maestro easily

      1. Rash
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 6 months ago

        This week I think haz has the edge but then Mané hosts his old team and liv vs city will be goals galore.

      2. TOLV TUMS
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 6 months ago

        "Mercurial" does mean wild up/down swings, or also streaky... 🙂

        1. IRBOX ⚽
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 6 months ago

          Yep and he will go on one of his ‘streaks’ over the next 4. Ride the wave whilst it’s high

    2. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      I have a feeling that he won't.
      Wow, check out our groundbreaking advanced FPL thought processes.

    3. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      Bookmarked

      1. Rash
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 6 months ago

        Saves me a job

  6. Doolittle
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 6 months ago

    Able to save a FT here, or is my squad too down to the bare bones?

    Patricio
    Mendy/Alonso/Robertson
    Salah/Mane/Mkhi/Walcott
    Aguero/Zaha/Ings

    Bench: Hamer/Wan-B/Peltier/Cairney

    1FT, 0.2 ITB

    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      OH, MY, GOD.

      1. Doolittle
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 6 months ago

        OH HI RUPERT

        1. Rupert The Horse
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 6 months ago

          You look so sexy Lisa.
          I think you can get away with saving.

          1. Doolittle
            • 11 Years
            5 years, 6 months ago

            How was the Room screening? Cheers, I'm leaning towards saving but I'm not confident this week at all.

            1. Rupert The Horse
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              5 years, 6 months ago

              Going on Sunday.
              I have a couple of issues too but I’m saving.

    2. Bumbaclot
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      Your team is very similar to mine only alonso different. I’m thinking save for this week and pray

    3. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      How are you doing mate?
      Mkhi/Wally to pedro/Lingrad as if one of them + zaha not feature you will be in trouble

      1. Bumbaclot
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 6 months ago

        Maddison another option?

        1. Doolittle
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 6 months ago

          Mkhitaryan to Maddison was my immediate thought, but Maddison's stats don't scream "haul incoming". That mid-bracket midfield is a tough one.

      2. Doolittle
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 6 months ago

        I'm well thanks bud, yourself? Yeah that's my conundrum; the concern I have is that none of the alternatives are looking too great to me. I'd hate to switch to, say, Pedro and he didn't start again but, as you say, I'm in danger of not fielding 11.

  7. Tabbara
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 6 months ago

    Thoughts anyone
    Alonso Robertson Mendy (Bednark) (Wan bissaka)
    Salah Mane Walcott Jota (Stephens)
    Aguero Mitro King

    0.3 ITB Save FT?
    Thx

    1. TOLV TUMS
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      Definitely get at least one keeper

      1. Tabbara
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 6 months ago

        Hahaha forgot to write it down

    2. Doolittle
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      Save

  8. Pringle
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 6 months ago

    What do you prefer?

    A. Bilva --> Pedro
    B. Save

    1. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      B

    2. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      save

  9. Ibralicious
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 6 months ago

    Which combination is better for my WC:

    A) Gray + Begovic/McCarthy/Alternate 4.5
    B) Schurrle + Hamer
    C) Fraser + Bettinelli

    (Rui is 1st keeper)

    Cheers!

    1. Bunk Moreland
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      In B and C the GK is not nailed. In A, the outfield player is perhaps not nailed? So I don't dig either option.

      1. Ibralicious
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 6 months ago

        Guess A is the better short-term option as Schurrle and Fraser aren't nailed either anyway then :/

  10. Contegious
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 6 months ago

    Patricio
    Mendy Alonso Robbo
    Mkhi Mane Haz Pedro
    Ings Kun Zaha

    Fabianski Gray(Lei) Cook AWB
    Who to start out of Mkhi, Cook and Gray?

    1. kalmoffit
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      Gray

  11. KneejerkJoe
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 6 months ago

    Did the pressers say anything about Walcott and Fraser?

    1. Brasil82
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      Fraser defo not nailed

  12. I Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 6 months ago

    lmao @ this article trying to say Gabriel Jesus is a captaincy alternative to Aguero.

    1. Rash
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      Made me chuckle as well

      1. JJO
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 6 months ago

        and now watch him score 2 and Aguero blanks 🙂

    2. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      Glad I didn't read it

    3. Geoff
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      I mean on Aguero having his minutes managed it does say:

      'Obviously a lot of that is speculation and until we have any hard evidence that he won’t start or play the full match he has every right to remain the favourite option.'

  13. French Gooner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 6 months ago

    Bottomed

    Can’t access FFS through Firefox or Chrome - I cleared cookies and cache and page still doesn’t load

    1. Geoff
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      This happening for anyone else?

      1. Forza Papac
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 6 months ago

        Ok on chrome for me

      2. Going Home
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 6 months ago

        I'm fine on Chrome

        1. Ha.
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 6 months ago

          This

      3. French Gooner
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 6 months ago

        Any ideas Geoff?

        1. Geoff
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 6 months ago

          What error comes up?

          Try logging into Members first maybe? Try in incognito?

    2. MTPockets
        5 years, 6 months ago

        I'm on firefox now so not the site.

    3. Prison Mike
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      Best move?

      A) Mkhi -> Pedro (Bench Mitrovic)

      B) Play Mitrovic (Save FT)

    4. Going Home
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      Afternoon all, shameless repost after no comments two pages back...

      Currently on

      Patricio (Hamer)
      Mendy Cook AWB (Peltier* Coleman*)
      Mane Mkhi Bilva Pedro (Cairney*)
      Firmino (K)un Auba

      Coleman to
      a) Tarkowski (now Burnley are out of Europe)
      b) Shaw (risky with injury)
      c) another?

      Had wanted Bobby to Zaha this week; but with doubts on Wilfred and no bench to speak of, I think this is more pressing.

      IF I went with Tarkowski, would you start him or Cook? Cheers

      1. Geoff
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 6 months ago

        Try over in the RMT article 🙂

    5. RMT reminder
      Geoff
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      Hi all,

      A reminder that RMTs won't get as many answers on the main pages as in this collection that we designed for RMTs in the International Break:

      https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2018/09/12/rmt-collection-international-break-wc-gregor/

      Please share your teams in the article linked above, instead!

      Answer a few while you're there, as well as reading other teams, and that page will flourish.

      Let's try to keep the main pages for direct question, without your whole team being posted 🙂

      1. Going Home
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 6 months ago

        *doh*

        It's just a who to bring in for Coleman question - sorry for posting my whole squad

      2. Geoff
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 6 months ago

        And another reminder when doing an RMT on the RMT article: include whether you are on WC or not, money in the bank (itb) and how many transfers you have left

      3. Sgt Frank Drebin
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 6 months ago

        Maybe more people would post there if this article was visible when you open the FFS? It's very difficult to find in my opinion.

        1. Geoff
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 6 months ago

          It is! I can't see there not being changes made in the summer for the lead up to next season. I don't want to rush something through for it not to work properly, but I'm looking at different ways to make it more useful

          1. Sgt Frank Drebin
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 6 months ago

            No worries, just wanted to help. I also think a separate place for RMTs is a good idea,

            1. Geoff
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 11 Years
              5 years, 6 months ago

              I do too 🙂

      4. fedolefan
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 6 months ago

        I would think a "Post your Team" link at the top of the page in the bar that contains links to the injuries page, team news, set pieces should be good enough and fairly visible.

      5. Tampan Sakti
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 6 months ago

        On wildcard, suggestion please:
        Ederson Homer
        Alonso Mendy Shaw Holebas AWB
        Hazard Mane Moura Pogba Billing
        Aguero Mitrovic Wilson

        Thanks.

    6. Dušan Citizen
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      So it's pretty much Fraser out for the weekend, right?

      1. jtreble
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 6 months ago

        It’s a hammy so I think so.

    7. rnrd
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      Arsenal fans, Is ramsey rather nailed or at risk?

      1. French Gooner
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 6 months ago

        Risk

      2. stat
          5 years, 6 months ago

          Still somewhat of a risk but I expect him to play a lot

        • Forza Papac
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 6 months ago

          Nobody's really nailed for Arsenal other than Auba I'd say. Emery likes the press. Ramsey better than Ozil, Mkhi, Iwobi, Laca at implementing it. For that reason I think he's the safest bet in that arsenal side (other than Auba).

        • Sz21
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 6 months ago

          If he starts this GW he is nailed for me and likely coming in for Bilva..

          1. Hotdogs for Tea
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 6 months ago

            If he starts this GW he is nailed ? 😉

        • Eden Wizard
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 6 months ago

          Is anyone nailed in Arsenal outside Auba? Nope.

      3. stat
          5 years, 6 months ago

          Any Saints fans around? Elyounoussi a good punt for this GW?

          1. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
            • 14 Years
            5 years, 6 months ago

            He's looking more dangerous as the games go on. I've thought about him but now Wally looks likely to play I'll not bother

            1. stat
                5 years, 6 months ago

                Thanks. I got him in as I'm on a WC and Walcott isn't 100% certain to start

          2. All about the galacticos
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 6 months ago

            Have mkhi. Should i
            A) get rid for -4 ?
            B) keep, play mkhi with awb 1st on bench
            C) keep, play awb with mkhi 1st on bench

            1. ryacoo
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 8 Years
              5 years, 6 months ago

              Probably B

          3. ryacoo
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 6 months ago

            Which one would you sell with 1 FT:

            A) Walcott (back in training today but not certain to start?)
            B) Mkhi (benched last week)

            1. kalmoffit
              • 10 Years
              5 years, 6 months ago

              B if either

            2. Hotdogs for Tea
              • 8 Years
              5 years, 6 months ago

              I would save it

          4. Net Gains
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 6 months ago

            Walcott fit to play!!!

            1. TOLV TUMS
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 9 Years
              5 years, 6 months ago

              and there was much rejoicing 😉

            2. Fpl Richie
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 8 Years
              5 years, 6 months ago

              And to get 2 points!

          5. French Gooner
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            5 years, 6 months ago

            The alternatives to Fraser are so meh
            A) Gray
            B) Ghezzal
            C) hold

            Rest of the team is
            Fab
            Alonso / Mendy / WB
            Salah / Haz / Mkhi* / Fraser*
            Kun / King / Tosun

            1. TAA 2. Stephens 3. Bednarek

            1. TOLV TUMS
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 9 Years
              5 years, 6 months ago

              Maddison? Was lots of love for him around here a bit ago, seems to have faded though

              1. French Gooner
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 11 Years
                5 years, 6 months ago

                Only have 6.2 available

                1. TOLV TUMS
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 9 Years
                  5 years, 6 months ago

                  ah - schurrle?

          6. Sz21
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            5 years, 6 months ago

            Now that I'm intent on saving the ft..
            Which one if these would u bench?
            1. Walcott.
            2. Bilva.
            3. AWB.

            Surely Wan- Bissaka?

            1. Hotdogs for Tea
              • 8 Years
              5 years, 6 months ago

              The defender that gets carded a lot ?

          7. EgyptianKing
            • 5 Years
            5 years, 6 months ago

            Hi Guys

            Would you please rate my WC team?

            Patricio
            Alonso; Roberston; Mendy
            Mane; Hazard; Pedro; Moura; D. Silva
            Kun; Wilson

            Hamer; Holebas; Bissaka; Kamara

            Chhers all

            1. Hotdogs for Tea
              • 8 Years
              5 years, 6 months ago

              OMG that bench 🙁

          8. Balotellitubbies
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 6 months ago

            Have Fraser and AWB in my starting XI, with A. smith - Masuaku - Kamara as subs. Got 1FT.

            A) Kamara -> Wilson for free
            B) Save and decide on who to get out of Wilson/Mitro next week

            (Gonna do Bilva -> Rich next week so got the spare cash for Mitro next week if I want)

          9. FPL ZB
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 6 months ago

            Have Wally, Mkhi and Zaha

            AWB and Dendoncker on the bench. Still considering Robbo to Alonso as my FT though?

            Or should I just get pedro in for one of those?

            1. Ibralicious
              • 9 Years
              5 years, 6 months ago

              Robbo to Alonso looks good with the fixtures in mind. Give Mikhi and Wally another week.

            2. Doolittle
              • 11 Years
              5 years, 6 months ago

              Pedro seems like a real rotation headache to me.

          10. St. Joseph
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 6 months ago

            Last spot, play 1
            A) Wan Bissaka (hud)
            B) Bennett (BUR)

          11. pressdpm
            • 11 Years
            5 years, 6 months ago

            Robertson > Alonso. Sound good?

            Hennessy
            Robertson - Mendy - Wan Bissaka
            Salah - Mane - Walcott - Mhikitaryan
            Zaha - Aguero - Arnautovic

            Stekelenburg - Peltier - Cairney - Kabasele

          12. Lecky Legs FC
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 6 months ago

            The final piece in my WC team I need your help though peeps who do I bring in?

            A) Pedro Sterling

            B) Hazard Moura

            Hennessy
            Alonso Holebas Mendy
            Ghezzal XXX XXX Salah
            Aguero Deeney Mitro

            Subs: Ryan, Bennett & AWB

            0.5 ITB

            1. Ibralicious
              • 9 Years
              5 years, 6 months ago

              B easily

            2. jtreble
              • 7 Years
              5 years, 6 months ago

              B for me.

            3. caldracula
              • 8 Years
              5 years, 6 months ago

              A