Captain Sensible

Who is the best captain for FPL Gameweek 7?

The Fantasy Premier League captaincy debate for Gameweek 7 continues to be wide open with a number of candidates all vying to be crowned the best option.

Manchester City and Liverpool both face fixtures that managers are finding hard to predict while Chelsea host Brighton and Spurs go up against a Southampton side with an unreliable defensive unit.

With so many options to consider, the Captain Sensible article is perhaps as important as its ever been.

As we do every single Gameweek, we have assessed the form of the leading candidates and the state of their upcoming opponents’ defences to see which ones tick the most boxes for captain success.

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

Captain Poll

Mohamed Salah (£12.5m) has returned to the summit of the Fantasy Football Scout Captain Poll but for Gameweek 7, his majority is not a particularly sizeable one. This season, the most popular skipper each week has typically pulled in the support of roughly 40% but this weekend, Liverpool’s Egyptian star has just 26.1% of the votes at the time of writing.

He is not in bad form, of course, his assist against Chelsea last time out his seventh attacking return of the campaign after just six matches. Salah has score four goals in total, that assist at Stamford Bridge his seventh of the campaign.

Perhaps what is stopping him from enjoying a true domination of the Captain Poll is the venue of his next match. Preparing for a trip to face Sheffield United, Salah remains goalless on the road this season, all four of his Premier League strikes coming at Anfield in 2019/20 so far.

Furthermore, the Blades may have only kept one clean sheet at Bramall Lane since promotion but they are yet to be thrashed as a Premier League side. Their 3-5-2 system has proved hard to break down on more than one occasion in the last six matches, so it will always be hard for Fantasy managers to predict a goal glut against them.

Looking likely to secure second place in the poll is Chelsea forward Tammy Abraham (£7.5m), who has pulled clear of the chasing pack in the last few days.

Ahead of Brighton’s visit to Stamford Bridge, the centre-forward has been selected as the best captain option by 15.9% of voters in the poll.

That’s not surprising based on Abraham’s form considering that he has scored seven goals in his last four matches, including a hat-trick against Wolves in Gameweek 5.

Next opponents Brighton have had a mixed bag of away fixtures this season, so far keeping clean sheets at goal-shy Watford and Newcastle. However, their only road trip at a top-six side so far resulted in a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester City, which arguably could have been a heavier defeat.

Support for Abraham has grown in recent days, perhaps influenced by his absence from midweek action and Raheem Sterling’s (£12.1m) involvement against Preston. On Tuesday, the two Englishman were tied on 12%, but the Chelsea man has pulled clear by 3% since then.

The Manchester City midfielder remains in a similar position, with 11.8% of the votes ahead of a trip to Everton.

Sterling did miss last week’s 8-0 demolition of Watford, and scored at Deepdale in the EFL Cup third round, but neither of those things should count against him for Gameweek 7.

The rest in Gameweek 6 means he is arguably one of the most likely starters at Goodison Park on Saturday afternoon and so far this season, he has blanked away from home just once.

Sterling scored a hat-trick at West Ham on the opening weekend and also found the net in the Gameweek 3 trip to Bournemouth. He was also unfortunate not to get any attacking returns when Manchester City lost to Norwich as his header cannoned back off the post and Nicolas Otamendi (£5.5m) was close to converting a late cross.

Meanwhile, Everton have not kept a clean sheet since Gameweek 2 when they hosted a struggling Watford side. Since then they have conceded at least twice in every match home and away.

It is surprising then that both Sergio Aguero (£12.2m) and Kevin de Bruyne (£9.9m) are both backed by fewer than 10% in our latest captain poll.

Perhaps Fantasy managers are concerned about rotation ahead of next week’s Champions League hosting of Dinamo Zagreb but it seems unlikely that either of them will be benched given that neither played against Preston on Tuesday night.

Aguero is still yet to blank this season, scoring eight goals in six matches and providing two assists too but just 7.6% of the voters in our poll believe he is the best captain for Gameweek 7.

Meanwhile, de Bruyne has the support of just 4.6% after averaging nine points per game so far this season.

Completing the top five options in the poll is Tottenham’s Son Heung-min (£9.7m) who has the backing of 10.3%.

This weekend he faces a home match against Southampton having registered three attacking returns in his last two league outings.

Harry Kane (£11.0m) has also been considered for this match, but only 5.3% of the voters.

Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.1m) and Sadio Mané (£11.6m) have the backing of 3.1% and 2.9% ahead of the trip to Sheffield United.

Finally, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.0m), Jamie Vardy (£8.9m), Roberto Firmino (£9.5m) and Mason Mount (£6.6m) are the only other candidates with more than 1% of the vote.

Player statistics – Last four Matches

Lessons learned from Gameweek 6:

1,570 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Killitzer
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Afternoon all

    Debating a WC or just a simple swap of KWP for a £4.8m defender.

    Current team
    Pope Button
    VVD Kelly KWP Lundstram Dunk
    Sterling Salah KDB Cantwell Dond
    Aguero Pukki Greenwood

    WC
    Pope Button
    Otamendi Rico Tomori Lundstram Aurier
    Salah KDB Son Cantwell Guendouzi
    Aguero Pukki Abraham

    Can’t see how to get TAA in!

    1. Hiddenpaw
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      only way for TAA is to lose Son, not sure who is better at the moment, im in the same boat. Leaning towards TAA over Son at the moment. I would WC if I were you ...

      1. FPL_Crisis
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        for 2.5m less surely TAA is better value than Son?

    2. Mac 1234
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Yeah I'd much prefer TAA & Mount instead of Son & and Tomori/Rico

  2. KLOPPS AND ROBBERS... the s…
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    AWB > Ota for free a no brainer right?

    1. jimbo90
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Yes

    2. Hiddenpaw
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      yes

  3. LABILLETHEGOAT
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    assuming I have salah/mane, which one is better to get, TAA or Son?

    1. Sterling Malory
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Personally, I'd pick one of Salah/Mane and then you can have both Son and TAA

      1. Hiddenpaw
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        I think it means Salah or Mane + TAA or Son?

        1. Sterling Malory
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Oh okay, I don't know why it makes a difference that he has Salah/Mane.

          TAA is more essential than Son.

          I would suggest both are recommended. Son offers a good differential.

    2. Hiddenpaw
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      ha just asked a similar question below. At the moment Im thinking TAA over Son ... but not convinced.

  4. Berna1985
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    How about this WC Team?

    Pope Heaton
    Otamendi Aurier Diop Soy Lundstram
    Salah KDB Mount Lamela Cantwell
    Kun Abraham Pukki

    Now 0.0 ITB

    1. Hiddenpaw
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I like it, are you worried about no Son? Thats my fear at the moment. rest looks strong

      1. Berna1985
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        I would like to get TAA or Son and maybe in few weeks Auba for Kun but now i can't see how to get them. Very expensive, I have no money. Any advices?

        1. Hiddenpaw
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Not sure how you get TAA in that team ... maybe Lamela to a 4.5, Diop to a 4.0, heaton to a 4.0 and then Aurier to TAA, does work with your budget??? Tricky, no point ruining your team to get him in, maybe just ride it out

  5. Hiddenpaw
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    On wildcard, is Son essential? Basically, I can fit Son in without TAA or have TAA and spread extra money around if I dont have Son.
    A) Son and 4.5ish defender
    B) TAA and 7ish Midfielder
    Thanks,

    1. Hassan88
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      TAA and Madisson. Leicester easy fixture and Madisson looks great. I'm not convinced by Spurs at all.

      1. have you seen cyan
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Maddison is out this week isnt he?

  6. finnish92
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    A) Salah + Yarmolenko
    B) Mane + Mount
    ?

    1. Sterling Malory
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      B looks better

    2. Hassan88
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      B 100%

  7. Efan Ekoku Pops
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Which of these lucky players deserves the final slot in my dreadful team?

    A) Cantwell
    B) Rico
    C) Lundstram

    1. Hiddenpaw
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      A

    2. AllINeedIsCoffee
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      A if you're playing him.

    3. FPL Mentor
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      A

  8. CHARLIE HULL
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    2FT and 0 ITB. Currently looking at Digne/Barnes to Tomori/Abraham?

    1. Hassan88
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      definitely

    2. FPL Mentor
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Yup

  9. lets talk about 6
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Start Martin Kelly or mason greenwood this week?

  10. Hassan88
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    In conclusion, this article confused me more and I now really don't know if I should captain Abraham, Aguero, KDB or Salah. Thanks 🙂

  11. CHARLIE HULL
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Ryan to Pope worth a -4 over the next few?

  12. andrinho
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    a Pereira, VVD and Otamendi

    b TAA, Digne & Soyuncu

    c Soyuncu, VVD and Otamendi with £1.7M itb to upgrade Cantwell next week

    Leaning towards a

  13. The Overthinker
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Hello

    1. TheDragon
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      From the other side

  14. andrinho
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Which one?
    a Pereira, VVD and Otamendi

    b Soyuncu, TAA AND Digne

    c Soyuncu, VVD and Otamendi with £1.7M itb to upgrade Cantwell next week

    Leaning towards a

    1. FPL Mentor
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      B without Digne.

  15. FPL Mentor
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    RMT

    Pope
    TAA Otamendi Tomori Söyuncu
    Salah(C) Sterling Son(vc)
    Abraham Wilson Pukki

    Button / Cantwell / Nakamba / Lundstram

  16. Alli
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    GTG?

    Heaton
    VVD - Otamendi - Diop
    Salah(c) - Sterling(vc) - KDB - Mount - Cantwell
    Tammy - Pukki

    Ryan - Greenwood - Digne - Dunk

  17. TheDragon
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Salah vs Sterling vs KDB

    HELP

    Pros and cons of each?
    - Sheff Utd v good defensively only 6 conceded all season. Salah away form ok but not that impressive this season so far

    - Everton are v good against top 6 sides but in a poor moment. They’ll want to bounce back from last week. Sterling is a sight risk of managed minutes

    I just don’t know. Aaggghhhhhh

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

    Choosing a Captain is a head scratcher today as a non salah owner

    Tammy v (BHA)
    Son v (SON)
    Sterling / kdb v (eve)
    Vardy v (new)

    Got a sneaky feeling vardy going under the radar

  19. CroatianHammer
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    I really don't want to go digging for my comments from earlier this week, but Vardy (C) is looking freaking inspired right now! Salah, Mané, Aguero, Kane (let's be honest), Son, all of the usual suspects have not picked up the sort of haul to warrant the armband. Abraham blanks too.

    KdB maybe, Sterling still has a half to go, but right now if the Leicester front man bags a brace I'm ahead.

    1. Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Love it mate. I'd have gone him if I had him. Didn't like any of the 'usual' this week so went KDB. Was close to sticking it on Mount tbh

      1. CroatianHammer
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Yeah, KdB looks like he'll be on 9 after bonuses, so that's my target to beat... Did I get it right? If you told me KdB would get 9 before the deadline, I'd have been nailing that armband onto Vardy for sure.

  20. andrinho
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Pope Heaton
    Otamendi VVD Lundsteam (Soyuncu) (Aurier)
    Salah KDB MOUNT CANTWELL (D. Luiz)
    Abraham Pukki Aguero

    What should I do?
    a) Upgrade D. LUIZ TO Yarmolenko / McGinn
    b) Transfer out KDB for Mane/Mahrez
    C) Other

    Thanks