Captain Sensible

Who is the best FPL captain for Gameweek 1?

Fantasy Premier League managers are considering captains from three different clubs ahead of the Gameweek 1 deadline.

Liverpool host Norwich on Friday night, Manchester City travel to West Ham on Saturday lunch-time and Spurs conclude that day’s action by hosting Aston Villa.

For the first Gameweek of the new season, the majority of the captain attention is on these three games.

We’ve analysed as much data as we can to assess the individual potential of the key players, as well as the quality of defences they are going up against.

As this uses data from the Fantasy Football Scout Members Area, only those who have signed up for the 2019/20 season can access the full article.

However, non-members can still enjoy our analysis of the results of our captain poll.

It is also worth clarifying for those used to Captain Sensible articles from recent seasons that we can only start to look at the last four (or so) Gameweeks once we have more data in the bank for 2019/20.

Captain Poll

The results of the captain poll as of Thursday night

The poll for Gameweek 1 is perhaps one of the most one-sided we’ve seen in quite some time.

Mohamed Salah (£12.5m) has absolutely run away with it, securing 62.8% of the vote at the time of writing.

That is not surprising at all considering the Egyptian has been the top-scoring FPL asset in both of his seasons at Liverpool.

He was especially deadly at Anfield last season too, scoring 13 of his 22 goals at home (59.1%).

Meanwhile, Norwich arrive in the Premier League with concerns over their defence.

They conceded 57 goals in 46 matches last season and recorded clean sheets in just 28% of those.

Furthermore, the Canaries’ defence has suffered injury problems during pre-season, Christoph Zimmerman (£4.5m), Timm Klose (£4.5m) and Grant Hanley (£4.0m) all missing various summer friendlies with knocks.

In his Thursday press conference, Daniel Farke revealed that only the latter of those three would be fit for Gameweek 1.

Kane is the most popular differential option this week

Way off in second place in the poll is Harry Kane (£11.0m) who starts the new season at home to newly-promoted Aston Villa.

They shipped a total of 61 goals during their promotion-winning campaign and recorded just 12 clean sheets, the tenth-best in the Championship.

That record has obviously handed optimism to those looking at Kane as a differential this weekend.

The Spurs forward has never scored in Gameweek 1 of a Premier League season though.

Sterling faces a trip to West Ham on Saturday lunch time

Raheem Sterling (£12.0m) sits even further down the ranking with the backing of just 6.4% in our poll at the time of writing.

He faces a West Ham defence that did not inspire confidence in 2018/19 and upon his last visit to the London Stadium, he came away with a goal and an assist.

Manchester City generally have a good record at West Ham too, scoring at least four times in each of their last four visits to the Hammers.

For that reason, if he starts, Sergio Aguero (£12.0m) could reward the 1.9% of managers who are handing him the captain’s armband for Gameweek 1.

However, it must be said that his late return to pre-season from the Copa America, and his lack of minutes in the Community Shield final could suggest he could take up only a substitute’s role.

It says a lot about Aguero’s Fantasy stock right now that both Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.0m) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.0m) won more support in the Captain Poll than him.

The Arsenal forward sits in fourth place in the poll with an admittedly small following of just 2.7%.

Arsenal are preparing for a trip to Newcastle, whose pre-season has been less than smooth sailing after Rafa Benitez left the club over the summer.

Meanwhile, Liverpool defender Alexander-Arnold currently has 2.3% support in the poll, his backers putting faith in his 14 attacking returns and Liverpool’s 21 clean sheets last season.

Sadio Mané (£11.5m), Callum Wilson (£8.0m), Virgil van Dijk (£6.5m) and Andrew Robertson (£7.0m) are the only other options backed by more than 1%.

MORE TEAM-BY-TEAM ANALYSIS CONTENT

Arsenal | Aston Villa (manager) | Aston Villa (defence) | Aston Villa (attack) | Bournemouth | Brighton | Burnley | Chelsea | Crystal Palace | Everton | Leicester | Liverpool | Man City | Man United | Newcastle | Norwich (manager) | Norwich (defence) | Norwich (attack) | Sheffield United (manager) | Sheffield United (defence) | Sheffield United (attack) | Southampton | Spurs | Watford | West Ham | Wolves

3,539 Comments Post a Comment
  1. aquavit
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Hey, where is the captain poll? The home page header GW1 Captain Poll contains no information or link, and there's no link in this article either. (I use Firefox as my browser, but Chrome doesn't even show the header.)

    1. Kuqi Monster
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Right hand toolbar, don't worry you've only been on FFS 10 years!

      1. aquavit
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        In my copy of Firefox, I can only see the Captain poll if I start the browser in Safe Mode, which isn't how it should be. Reported to FFS HQ.

    2. rainy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      It's embedded in the above article if you're logged in. Also available on mobile below the comments tab. On desktop it's got some display issues at narrower browser widths which I've just flagged to support and thanks for the notice 🙂

      1. Andy_Social
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        I can't see it but that's because I have a load of adblockers installed. Do you?

        1. rainy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Only Ghostery sometimes. It plays nice with FFS.

  2. FPLtfs
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Pope (4.0)
    TAA, van Dijk, Digne, Zinchenko (Lundstram)
    Salah (c), Sigurdsson, Perez (Dendoncker, Hayden)
    Kane, Vardy, King

    Praying that Sterling and Auba stays quiet for the first couple of weeks. Can it work, or do I have to bring in City attacker?

    Thanks

    1. juho
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      i like everything abt ur team except King

      1. FPLtfs
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Penalty taker for an attacking Bournemouth side at 6.5? Whats not to like?

    2. Chelsea91
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I have Kane and King on top

    3. tucaoneo
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I would at least hedge it by turning Siggy into B. Silva.

    4. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      You can do fine without them. Like your team.

  3. Cojiro
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Last decision, and yes, it's the most sexy. Best 4.0 defender?

    A) Rico
    B) Kelly
    C) Lundstram

    1. Kiwivillan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      None looking nailed. Maybe Kelly could play couple of games before Sakho fit or not at all

    2. Chelsea91
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Lundstram

    3. FPLtfs
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Currently on Lundstram

    4. Cojiro
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Thanks all

  4. dee_top
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Choose one:
    A) Siggy + VVD
    B) TAA + Jota

    1. Chelsea91
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A

      1. FPLtfs
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        A easy

    2. drgilbertsfakeear
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A

  5. SpaceCadet
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Better option - wood or Barkley?

    1. Chelsea91
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Wood

    2. drgilbertsfakeear
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Wood

  6. Fantasydreamer
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    How’s this looking?

    Pope

    VVD, digne, KWP, Zouma (Rico rotate with Zouma and KWP first two)

    Salah, sterling, Barkley, dendonker, drinkwater

    Kane, jota, Wilson

    Jota over josh king/Pérez in mid the best shout?

  7. JCrosbie
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Who's KWP?
    🙁

    1. Shaw must go on
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Kyle Walker-pieters from spurs

    2. El Matador
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Karol Winston Potters

    3. JCrosbie
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Thanks guys

  8. SPorting
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Anything happening around these parts?

    Any new news?

  9. Kaptenen
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Why is nobody picking Laporte? Expected fit for gw1?

    1. Chelsea91
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Waiting on the press from Pep.

    2. Fpl Richie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      It means redoing your draft and being stressed so most are looking away

  10. Brian Boitano
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Someone tell me why I shouldn’t triple captain Salah

    1. Little fekirs
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Save for DGW.

    2. Kiwivillan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      He got 2pts in some easy games last season

  11. john25
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Hey guys, can’t decide between Heaton and Pope. Which do you think is the better pick and why? Is one of them more nailed on than another?

    Thank you

    1. Kiwivillan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Heaton is 10000000% nailed

      1. FPLtfs
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Pope, as Heaton is probably facing a lot of your players early doors

        1. Kiwivillan
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          CS points

  12. This is the year
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Happy with this could be talked out of deulafeo.
    Ederson, button
    Robertson, van dike, Walker-Pieters, Zinchenko, Rico
    Salah (C) , Sterling, Fraser, Perez , Stephens
    Wilson, deulafeo, Greenwood.
    GTG?
    Good luck people

  13. zizoo10
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    A) Sterling + Siggy + Wilson
    B) KDB + Moura + Aubameyang

    1. Kizza_10
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A

    2. drgilbertsfakeear
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A

  14. Barns
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Been tinkering non stop with defence, I have TAA plus one 4m for sure, can’t decide on:

    A) zink + 5m (KWP/AMN/sok) + 4.5

    B) digne + 4.5 + 4.5

    C) VVD + 4.5 + 4

    I’m already planning an early wildcard and option c would mean I most definitely do, but feel with Liverpool’s fixtures it could be worth it.

  15. Net Gains
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Who rotates with TAA in the Liverpool squad? Meaning, who threatens his minutes?

    1. Chelsea91
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Gomez

    2. Kizza_10
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Gomez & Milner

    3. Leeds2116
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Gomez

    4. Kiwi Don
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Gomez

    5. Steve Stiffler
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      just made up my mind on TAA or Robbo thanks, Robbo it is

  16. Kizza_10
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Any advice on how to improve this team is welcome.

    Ederson
    Coleman VVD Robertson Zouma
    Fraser Salah Sterling Tielemans
    Jota Wilson

    Subs: Button, Lundstram, Dendoncker, Greenwood

    1. Leeds2116
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Pretty nice

    2. Fpl Richie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Well balanced - walk away

  17. Steve Stiffler
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Whats the story with Wesley for Villa? is he worth the punt, his fixtures are very good he is bound to do something in them run of fixtures haha? or should i try strech to get a 6.5 like Wood?

    1. Stokelona
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I’ve gone for him although benching gameweeks one. He drops deep a bit and hasn’t been mega prolific in the past. However he should be integral to villas attack, appears to have pens, is cheap and has the fixtures

  18. Leeds2116
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Best 4 Mil defender?

    Barkley or trossard?

    1. JELLYFISH
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Barkley and Trossard are mids

      1. Leeds2116
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        No was two questions haha

    2. Chelsea91
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Lundstram , trossard

    3. Kiwivillan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      No 4m nailed to start

  19. danlynch13
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Bottomed!

    My biggest worry is my bench and lack of it.. can someone tell me who to change and why? I’d be most likely to change Moura/Zinchenko

    Pope
    Robbo/Digne/Zinchenko
    Salah/Perez/Sterling/Moura/Fraser
    Wilson/Jota

    Button/Lundstrom/Greenwood/Rico

    Thanks!

    1. Kiwivillan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Entire bench probably doesn't start

      1. Jambot
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Gulibert

    2. KickIt
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Would swap Zinchenko out for rotating 4.5 defenders, will add to your bench and also save you 0.5. Per below doing the same once I work out the best pair. Looking at WHM/BUR probably

    3. FPLtfs
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      If you're stressed about the benck; switch to 4-4-2. There are viable 4.5 starters in midfield.

  20. KickIt
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Best 4.5 defender rotation for the first weeks?

    1. Chelsea91
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Taylor,guilbert

      1. KickIt
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Is Taylor starting?

    2. JELLYFISH
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Depends on your keeper pics really. I like Mings & Sucuacu (Leicester Turkish fella)

      1. KickIt
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Ryan/Button combi

  21. Duffy Dunk
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Explosive but sometimes subbed off Deulofeu, or not explosive but on penalties Deeney?

    1. Red Devil Swede
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Deeney

    2. tikka mo'salah
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I got Deeney for a couple of weeks.

  22. Blanka
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Coleman or Zinchenko?

    Or any other 5.5 better?

    1. Kiwi Don
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Maguire. AWB other options

    2. Chelsea91
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Coleman for GW1 and change to AWB GW2

      1. Blanka
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Is AWB really a decent pick still?

  23. Sponge-worthy
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Drinkwater kind of interesting now, huh?

  24. Niadu
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Would someone kindly RMT... Thanks!

    Lloris
    Robertson / Gomez / Zinchenko
    Salah / Sterling / B. Silva / Lucas
    Deulofeu / Jota / King

    Bench: Cathcart / Lundstram / Dendoncker

    1. Dutchy
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Very solid. Strikers fairly weak but could pay off

      1. Niadu
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Yea, I've thought about that. Will just take the risk and hope those forwards come good. I'm expecting the goals to come from my midfield. Will probably upgrade one forward after a couple of GWs and switch to 4-4-2, depending on how things go.

    2. ean013
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Too thin on top imo.

  25. Dutchy
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Is Gomez at 5.5 a knee jerk for tonight? At the moment only have Robertson as Pool defender

  26. ean013
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    KDB+Kane vs Sterling+Wilson?

    1. Red Devil Swede
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      KDB+Kane

      1. Red Devil Swede
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        KDB+Kane ~ 200 + 210 = 410 pts over the season
        Sterling+Wilson ~ 220 + 150 = 380 pts over the season

        1. Red Devil Swede
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Sterling+Wilson 370 pts total, sorry

    2. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Sterling and Wilson........based on fact......Kane and KDB have never passed the 200 mark, where as Sterling has and Wilson passed the 150 twice.

  27. FPL_Crisis
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    7m mid suggestions??
    Will rotate with mainly 3 at the back most weeks

    Pope Heaton
    VVD Digne Zouma Dunk Gibson
    Salah Kdb [XXX] Perez McGinn
    Kane Jota King

    1. FPL_Crisis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      any thoughts before i auto pick 🙂

  28. Red Devil Swede
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Jimenez vs Jota in EL qualifiers summary. Make what you want of this 🙂

    Jimenez 4 goals total
    Jota 1 goal 4 assists total

    Game time: both pretty similar game time, Jim back from injury on July 25th and subbed on in 2nd half. Otherwise both Jim and Jota were subbed early in last two games due to Wolves being in the lead comfortably.

    Aug 8th: Pyunik - Wolves 0-4
    Jimenez 2 goals
    Jota 3 assists

    Aug 1st: Crusaders-Wolves 1-4
    Jimenez 2 goals
    Jota 1 assist

    July 25th: Wolves - Crusaders 2-0
    Jota 1 goal

  29. JCrosbie
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Am I the only one using 5-4-1 formation with Kane upfront?

    I havnt seen any drafts on here

    1. Cojiro
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Stick with your gut

  30. Shaw must go on
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Morning lads...1st of all good luck to everyone in advance.. 🙂

    I know everyone is busy today ,but can someone tell some of the best 2 4.5 defenders for a rotation?? i have ryan as a keeper..

    Thanks for any feedback....

    1. Stokelona
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Targett, sweet left foot should get assists