Captains
21 December 2018 1232 comments
DavidMunday815 DavidMunday815
Share:

There is such a wide range of options for the Fantasy Premier League captaincy in Gameweek 18.

Not only do Manchester City have a favourable fixture against Crystal Palace, Arsenal host Burnley and Spurs travel to Everton.

Meanwhile, Mohamed Salah and Eden Hazard have been offering some impressive individual statistics.

We’ve compared the most popular options in our poll against the player, team and opposition statistics to try and come up with the best option this weekend.

Captain Poll

Raheem Sterling (£11.6m) is set to be the poll winner for Gameweek 18 ahead of Crystal Palace’s visit to the Etihad Stadium, with 27% of the vote. The Manchester City midfielder’s popularity probably stems from the fact that he is fairly likely to start this weekend after missing out on the last two line-ups, his minutes managed by Pep Guardiola against Everton and Leicester. In Sterling’s last six Premier League starts he has five goals and five assists, making him a strong candidate for Gameweek 18.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.5m) comes in with just under 19% backing this weekend and is the closest challenger to a poll leader for some weeks. The Arsenal man has been unfortunate not to find the net more often recently, now without a goal since his Gameweek 14 brace against Tottenham. However, a home match against an out-of-form Burnley could be the tonic Aubameyang and his colleagues need after their defeat at Southampton, and his owners seem confident he will deliver.

Leroy Sané (£9.7m) has been backed as an alternative Manchester City option this week, with the German international coming in at third place in the poll. 12% of voters are planning on giving him the captaincy, presumably because of his slightly greater chance of starting the match than Sterling. Sané has been named in the Manchester City line-up in six of the last seven Gameweeks and has considerably less competition for his place while Benjamin Mendy is injured.

Hot on Sané’s tails in the vote is Chelsea man Eden Hazard (£11.0m), backed by 11% at the time of writing. He has been remarkably consistent recently, with a goal and five assists in his last four outings for the Blues. With Leicester City the next to visit Stamford Bridge, Hazard owners will be confident of further returns in Gameweek 18, with a number of them looking to captain him.

Mohamed Salah (£13.1m) leads the chasing pack this weekend, with just under 8% believing he is the ideal captain candidate ahead of Liverpool’s trip to Wolves on Friday night. He is just ahead of Harry Kane (£12.6m) who will travel to Everton on Sunday afternoon, backed by 6% of the poll voters.

Another big name far down the list of popularity is Sergio Aguero (£11.2m) who is fit again and had some minutes in the League Cup midweek. 3.7% believe he is the best option for Gameweek 18, keeping him just ahead of the most popular defender: Matt Doherty (£5.2m). The Wolves man has the support of 1.7% of our voters.

Become a Member and access our data

Memberships for the 2018/19 campaign are now available for the price of just £15.

Join now to get the following:

  • Plot your transfer strategies using the fully interactive Season Ticker.
  • Get projections for every Premier League player provided by the Rate My Team statistical model.
  • Use Rate My Team throughout the season to guide your selections and transfers.
  • Get access to over 130+ exclusive members articles over the season.
  • Analyse our OPTA-powered statistic tables specifically tailored for Fantasy Football Managers.
  • Use our exclusive tool to build custom stats tables from over 100 OPTA player and team stats.
  • View heatmaps and expected goals data for every player.
  • Use our powerful comparison tool to analyse players head-to-head.

CLICK HERE TO BECOME A FANTASY FOOTBALL SCOUT MEMBER

  1. DavidKent
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    Would you rather:
    A) Wilson
    B) Rashford
    C) Too early to say, wait until Man U have had one game under OGS

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      A - great fixture for Bournemouth this GW

    2. Pukki Party
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      A, next week Bmouth fixtures turn short term though!

    3. Amey
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      A + C

    4. DavidKent
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      Thanks guys, that was my thinking

  2. My heart goes Salalalalah
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    Best team for clean sheets over the next 4 gameweeks? Chelsea? ManU?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      Spurs perhaps - someone at home GW19/20

    2. Amey
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      Chelsea

    3. AuFeld
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      Chelsea. MAN have a tough road ahead even with their kind fixtures.

    4. diesel001
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      Chelsea - decent rest time and least travel

  3. Eze Really?
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    Kane playing Sunday
    Son next game
    Kane next game
    and so on

    1. Hy liverpool
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      ??

    2. Jontharon
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      Kane will play league games if fit

    3. Sharkytect
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      Kane has had his one rest

  4. MTPockets
      6 years, 11 months ago

      Who would you lose next gw to get Hazard?

      Fabianski
      Alonso Holebas Doherty
      Salah Sterling Sane Anderson
      Kane Jimenez Wilson

      Guaita Gibbs-White Yoshida AWB

      1. The Legend Squad
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 11 months ago

        So tough - do you need Haz? Team looks great as it is

        1. MTPockets
            6 years, 11 months ago

            Just like their fixtures. Would prefer Pedro at 6.3m (anderson/gibbs-white to snodgrass/pedro), but always the rotation concern.

        2. Amey
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 11 months ago

          One from below who fail to impress you
          Alonso
          Kane
          Salah

          1. MTPockets
              6 years, 11 months ago

              Yeah can't decide - pros/cons for each

        3. The Legend Squad
          • 11 Years
          6 years, 11 months ago

          Am I GTG?

          Patricio
          Alonso Robertson Bennett
          Hazard Sterling Mane F.Anderson Hoejberg
          Kane Mitrovic

          Hamer Success WanBis Kelly

          1. MTPockets
              6 years, 11 months ago

              yep

          2. NUFCAndrew
            • 9 Years
            6 years, 11 months ago

            Play 1:

            Digne (TOT)
            Doherty (LIV)
            Hojbjerg (hud)

            1. Hy liverpool
              • 12 Years
              6 years, 11 months ago

              I'm starting Digne but i'm being biased

            2. Amey
              • 7 Years
              6 years, 11 months ago

              Digne

            3. Jontharon
              • 7 Years
              6 years, 11 months ago

              Digne

            4. cheeky moses
              • 10 Years
              6 years, 11 months ago

              Digne

          3. cheeky moses
            • 10 Years
            6 years, 11 months ago

            Eriksen > Sané (for free) and roll one FT?
            Would see me double up on Sterling and Sané

            1. FISSH
              • 12 Years
              6 years, 11 months ago

              yes

          4. Nightf0x
            • 10 Years
            6 years, 11 months ago

            Doherty peryera -4 to martial jonny? Y or n

            1. cheeky moses
              • 10 Years
              6 years, 11 months ago

              no way

            2. FISSH
              • 12 Years
              6 years, 11 months ago

              Why sell Doherty??

              1. Nightf0x
                • 10 Years
                6 years, 11 months ago

                Money

            3. POLSKA GOLA
              • 12 Years
              6 years, 11 months ago

              No

          5. FISSH
            • 12 Years
            6 years, 11 months ago

            My rival has Sterling, I have Sterling and Sane.. Who would you captain? I'm honestly 50/50

            1. Miguel Sanchez
              • 9 Years
              6 years, 11 months ago

              Too early to worry about that. FWIW I have both and am capping Sterling

            2. POLSKA GOLA
              • 12 Years
              6 years, 11 months ago

              I’d captain Sterling unless you’re chasing

            3. Amey
              • 7 Years
              6 years, 11 months ago

              Sterling

            4. cheeky moses
              • 10 Years
              6 years, 11 months ago

              Sterling probably. But so tight

            5. Hy liverpool
              • 12 Years
              6 years, 11 months ago

              Leroy

            6. DAZZ
              • 11 Years
              6 years, 11 months ago

              I have both, im on Sterling. Both will score well.

          6. alexh87
            • 14 Years
            6 years, 11 months ago

            GTG?

            Kepa
            Alonso Laporte Kola
            Fraser Anderson Martial Sane
            Ings Kane Auba

            Subs: Pat Rich Balbuena Doherty

            Who to captain? Really struggling!

            Thanks

          7. Miguel Sanchez
            • 9 Years
            6 years, 11 months ago

            Am now benching Mitrovic (new) over Richarlison (TOT) - pretty sure Mitro will either score or get sent off

            1. AuFeld
              • 9 Years
              6 years, 11 months ago

              Richarilson.

              1. Miguel Sanchez
                • 9 Years
                6 years, 11 months ago

                bench or play?

                1. AuFeld
                  • 9 Years
                  6 years, 11 months ago

                  Play.

          8. Royal5
            • 14 Years
            6 years, 11 months ago

            Mount Rashford anyone?

            1. Hy liverpool
              • 12 Years
              6 years, 11 months ago

              o/

            2. yakirh
              • 9 Years
              6 years, 11 months ago

              Y

            3. POLSKA GOLA
              • 12 Years
              6 years, 11 months ago

              Looks good option for next two, which forward are you taking out? I’ve got Lingard as 4th mid, it was hard to find a slot for a forward

              1. Royal5
                • 14 Years
                6 years, 11 months ago

                Can't afford Jimenez > Rash. The other option is Chicharito, but I think I want to keep him :/

          9. The Yorkshire Pirlo
            • 9 Years
            6 years, 11 months ago

            Worth going A to B?

            A) Aubameyang + Kenedy
            B) Kamara + Hazard

            1. cuervos
              • 8 Years
              6 years, 11 months ago

              b

          10. cuervos
            • 8 Years
            6 years, 11 months ago

            Is there really anyone worth selling TAA for? I only have 5.2 ITB.

            1. AuFeld
              • 9 Years
              6 years, 11 months ago

              I'm holding.

              1. Royal5
                • 14 Years
                6 years, 11 months ago

                Wouldn't recomend Holding. Not nailed.

                1. GoonerSteve
                  • 16 Years
                  6 years, 11 months ago

                  Lol

            2. Phil's Stamps
              • 14 Years
              6 years, 11 months ago

              Hold.

          11. PrettyDick
            • 8 Years
            6 years, 11 months ago

            Headache choice: Who to transfer in? Hazard or Sterling?

            1. Jontharon
              • 7 Years
              6 years, 11 months ago

              Both, Sterling for this and Haz next gw?

              1. PrettyDick
                • 8 Years
                6 years, 11 months ago

                Difficult, but I might do that. It's just that they both have the better fixture this GW (rather than next) Cheers for the reply

            2. cuervos
              • 8 Years
              6 years, 11 months ago

              I'd say Hazard, as there is less rotation risk.

              1. PrettyDick
                • 8 Years
                6 years, 11 months ago

                Thanks for the reply. Leaning the same way, it's just that Sterling at home v CP that's luring me really,..

          12. yakirh
            • 9 Years
            6 years, 11 months ago

            Which defender to get? (For 4-5 GWs)
            A. Lovren
            B. Holebas
            C. Shaw

            1. MTPockets
                6 years, 11 months ago

                Lovren probably most sensible, but picked Holebas for the G/A upside potential (and yc/conceding downside)

              • Amey
                • 7 Years
                6 years, 11 months ago

                C
                I'm bit biased though.
                Not said A because has difficult fixtures

            2. diesel001
              • 9 Years
              6 years, 11 months ago

              There are only two all PL ties in the FA Cup Third Round - Bournemouth vs Brighton and Wolves vs Liverpool. Most teams would have at least 10 days rest between GW21 and GW22 if they put out their second string in the FA Cup. They could use their first team players between now and GW21 with a 'winter break' for first teamers after GW21.

              1. POLSKA GOLA
                • 12 Years
                6 years, 11 months ago

                Yes, they usually send their 1st teams to Dubai around that time, shame I always go to Dubai last week of January just after the PL players are back to England

            3. Nice to Finally Michu
              • 12 Years
              6 years, 11 months ago

              Bring in Sterling (C) for Salah and then bring Salah (C) back in before my WC in two GWS for the Newcastle match
              Or
              Keep Salah, Save FT, Captain Rashford

              1. PrettyDick
                • 8 Years
                6 years, 11 months ago

                First option

            4. Sz21
              • 14 Years
              6 years, 11 months ago

              1. Save the FT and re-assess next GW.
              2. Move for Hazard now. (-4). Gibbs-White + Auba -> Hazard + Ings. (Exact cash if I do this now too). Means I would bench Rich this GW and is there really a guarantee that Haz + Ings will outscore Rich + Auba (-4) this GW?

              Fabianski.
              Kola, Digne, Lowe.
              Rich, Sane (vc), Sterling (c), Felipe.
              Mitro, Auba, Kane.
              Hamer, Doherty, AWB, Gibbs- White.
              1ft, 0.9m

              1. Nice to Finally Michu
                • 12 Years
                6 years, 11 months ago

                1

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

              Morning! My team is doing me head in.

              Hennessey, button
              AWB - Kolasinac - Doherty - Alonso - Balbuena
              F. Anderson - Sané - Alli - Siggy - Camarasa
              Mitro - Kane - Auba

              Who need to go? I feel like Alli is doing nothing, Siggy and mitro the same. Hennessey is injures so is Kolasinac, is Alonso worth the money, he’s barely doing nothing

              Please help me, I don’t know what to do?!

              1. POLSKA GOLA
                • 12 Years
                6 years, 11 months ago

                Maybe Mitro to Rashford for a cheeky punt?

            6. Hulk Smash
              • 10 Years
              6 years, 11 months ago

              Any moves needed this week? 1FT, 0.8m

              Fabianski
              Alonso Robertson Doherty
              Sterling Richarlison Anderson Fraser
              Kane Aubameyang Wilson
              (4.0, Bennett, AWB, Stephens)

              1. POLSKA GOLA
                • 12 Years
                6 years, 11 months ago

                Looks gtg although I’m looking at benching Doherty and Rich

                1. Hulk Smash
                  • 10 Years
                  6 years, 11 months ago

                  Cheers. Personally I never bench defenders with goal threat but I can understand it given Liverpool are solid at the back as well as going forward.

            7. GW18 breakout players
              Geoff
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 13 Years
              6 years, 11 months ago

              Fantasy Football Scout Daily Hot Topic

              Who do you think will find form and step up in GW18 to score big, and why?

              Do you think it will be an already-established name in many of our sides or someone who is a major differential?

              Have you seen something in a someone's play or in their stats to make you think they could be ready for a breakout GW?

              1. yakirh
                • 9 Years
                6 years, 11 months ago

                Rashford

              2. Bellerinmondo
                • 11 Years
                6 years, 11 months ago

                Just filtered defence stats by 'last 4 home games' - Newcastle have given away the most big chances, most headed attempts, and 4rd most shots in the box of all teams . Mitrovic to get a big score against his old club.

                1. Pieterke30
                  • 9 Years
                  6 years, 11 months ago

                  Fulham are really really poor though

                  1. Bellerinmondo
                    • 11 Years
                    6 years, 11 months ago

                    they've been creating chances, just have a terrible defence, 4-4 is fine 🙂

                2. JammySprat
                  • 7 Years
                  6 years, 11 months ago

                  Fits the narrative too, gunno bet on nitro brace

                  1. Bird Raymond
                    • 14 Years
                    6 years, 11 months ago

                    Of yellow cards?

                3. GENERATION X
                  • 12 Years
                  6 years, 11 months ago

                  Kamara then

              3. Amey
                • 7 Years
                6 years, 11 months ago

                Sterling haul would be nice for me.
                One player i was impressed previously was Callum Chambers.
                Has insane stats.
                But unfortunately play's for Fulham. I just think he can nick in with his first goal this gw after having such wonderful stats for last 5-6 gws

              4. MTPockets
                  6 years, 11 months ago

                  Auba/Laca

                • Hy liverpool
                  • 12 Years
                  6 years, 11 months ago

                  Bobby

                  1. torshov_bulls
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 8 Years
                    6 years, 11 months ago

                    This. Bobby to score big this Christmas

                • AuFeld
                  • 9 Years
                  6 years, 11 months ago

                  A lot of distrust in Auba recently even though his stats are impressive. Keeping faith may reward the bold.

                • g40steve
                  • 7 Years
                  6 years, 11 months ago

                  Think Snoddy is just starting to show his potential, Alonso due a haul to quiten the crowd.

                • Pieterke30
                  • 9 Years
                  6 years, 11 months ago

                  Very scared of an Alonso haul

                  Same with Salah

                • THE SHEEP HUNTERS
                  • 8 Years
                  6 years, 11 months ago

                  Luk. being out should leave the way clear for Martial to shine, I can see Ole getting the best out of their attack with the usual new manager bounce.

                  Young looks like a defender who should get more attacking returns if used. Even playing for Maureen he looked promising to me.

                • Gregor
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • Has Moderation Rights
                  • 16 Years
                  6 years, 11 months ago

                  Bobby Firmino seems to be returning to a bit of form, could be a good one for him. Maybe Pedro too.

                • Pukki Party
                  • 8 Years
                  6 years, 11 months ago

                  Kiko F

                • Mysterion
                  • 7 Years
                  6 years, 11 months ago

                  Callum W

                • Js31
                  • 10 Years
                  6 years, 11 months ago

                  Rashford. Pogba

                • Deulofail
                  • 9 Years
                  6 years, 11 months ago

                  Random Name's been quiet recently. Expecting him to make his presence known on Saturday.

                • GENERATION X
                  • 12 Years
                  6 years, 11 months ago

                  Actually think the guy to be on is Ramsey

                1. tokara
                  • 11 Years
                  6 years, 11 months ago

                  CHeers bud

                2. Ha.
                  • 10 Years
                  6 years, 11 months ago

                  Juhuuuu

                3. Stef rocks
                  • 8 Years
                  6 years, 11 months ago

                  So Wilson captain 🙂

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

                On rate my team what's your total points?

                Mines 372 but don't know if thats good.. wondering how high people can get it.

                1. MTPockets
                    6 years, 11 months ago

                    370. 360ish is a decent forecast

                  • KDF
                    • 9 Years
                    6 years, 11 months ago

                    Mine is 362, I tend to look at it when I'm really struggling with who to bench and take the headache away, let RMT decide.

                2. Fpl Richie
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 10 Years
                  6 years, 11 months ago

                  Are we expecting Rashford or Martial to play up top for the foreseeable?
                  Looking at a cheeky punt now.

                  1. Pieterke30
                    • 9 Years
                    6 years, 11 months ago

                    One will play up top and the other on the left of the attack. Take your pick.

                  2. NotsoSpursy
                    • 8 Years
                    6 years, 11 months ago

                    Rashford probably better option

                3. GoonerSteve
                  • 16 Years
                  6 years, 11 months ago

                  Merry Christmas all!

                  Current team has zero City:

                  Fab, Hamer
                  Alonso, Robertson, Kola, Doherty, WanB
                  Salah, Rich, Hazard, FAnderson, Fraser
                  Auba, Jiminez, Success

                  Should I try to get Sterling or Sane? Likely id have to sell Auba (Rashford?) or maybe Alonso.

                  Difficult might risk it another week but I fancy Sterling to haul.

                4. YoungPretender
                  • 11 Years
                  6 years, 11 months ago

                  Kolasinac > Digne or Lovren? (For free)

                  1. tokara
                    • 11 Years
                    6 years, 11 months ago

                    Lov for me

                  2. Amey
                    • 7 Years
                    6 years, 11 months ago

                    Keep Kola

                  3. JammySprat
                    • 7 Years
                    6 years, 11 months ago

                    Keep and improve elsewhere

                5. Tsssst
                  • 14 Years
                  6 years, 11 months ago

                  Maddison, Auba, Wilson
                  to
                  Hazard, Ings, Rashford

                  worth an 4 point hit?

                6. DavidKent
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 7 Years
                  6 years, 11 months ago

                  How likely is Bednarek to play each game? Apparently rly had a great game against Arsenal and he’s only 3.9...

                  1. Royal5
                    • 14 Years
                    6 years, 11 months ago

                    I got burned in the beginning of the season 🙁

                  2. MTPockets
                      6 years, 11 months ago

                      Don't know but problem is if you rely on him starting and he doesn't then left snookered with 3.9m options

                    • DavidKent
                      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                      • 7 Years
                      6 years, 11 months ago

                      Good point about being snookered

                  3. NotsoSpursy
                    • 8 Years
                    6 years, 11 months ago

                    Morning!

                    Who is the best Arsenal defender for next 2 games?

                    Or should I double up with a city or Chelsea defender ?

                    Festive thanks !

                    1. kennethrhcp
                      • 15 Years
                      6 years, 11 months ago

                      Double up as Arsenal all in sh*t at the back

                    2. JammySprat
                      • 7 Years
                      6 years, 11 months ago

                      Trippier or Young good differential