Captain Sensible

Who are the best FPL captain candidates for Gameweek 18?

Fantasy Premier League managers are set for perhaps the trickiest captaincy debate of the 2019/20 season so far.

Gameweek 18 features a blank for Liverpool while Manchester City and Leicester go head-to-head at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday evening.

That has all but ruled out most of the usual candidates for the captaincy, forcing Fantasy managers to look elsewhere for the armband.

With a whole host of options mentioned this week, the Captain Sensible article is here to help you work out who you should be backing.

We’ll be assessing the statistical form of Premier League players over their last four matches and will compare them against the defensive numbers posted by their upcoming opponents.

As this article uses data from the Fantasy Football Scout Members Area, only those who are signed up either through a monthly or season-long package will be able to access it in full.

Captain Poll

After weeks of domination by Jamie Vardy (£10.1m), the captain poll is topped by Marcus Rashford (£9.1m) for Gameweek 18, although it’s not a particularly large lead for him.

The Manchester United forward has earned backing from 18.1% of the voters ahead of a trip to Watford on Sunday afternoon.

Despite a blank against Everton last time out, Rashford has attacking returns in five of his last six Premier League outings, amassing a total of five goals and two assists in that time, helped, of course, by his role in Manchester United penalties.

Watford may have shown some defensive improvement against Liverpool, in their first match with Nigel Pearson at the helm, but they have still struggled against the so-called top-six this season.

In six matches against such opposition in 2019/20, the Hornets have conceded at least twice on five occasions, including most recently at Anfield in Gameweek 17.

Not far behind Rashford is Son Heung-min (£10.1m) ahead of Spurs’ meeting with Chelsea on Sunday afternoon.

Despite blanking at Manchester United and Wolves in his last two away trips, the South Korean has attacking returns in every home match under Jose Mourinho so far.

He registered two assists when Bournemouth came to north London in Gameweek 14 and got himself a goal and assist in the Gameweek 16 crushing of Burnley.

Chelsea make the short journey north in Gameweek 18 still without a clean sheet on the road this season. In fact, they have conceded 17 times on the road, only Everton (18), Watford (19) and Aston Villa (19) have let in more goals on their travels so far.

Kevin de Bruyne‘s (£10.3m) incredible 19-point haul against Arsenal means he is the only asset from Saturday evening’s hard to call clash between Manchester City and Leicester receiving much consideration for the Gameweek 18 captaincy.

13.6% of our voters have declared the Belgian the best candidate for the armband this week in spite of the Foxes’ defensive record.

Brendan Rodgers’ men will come to Manchester having still conceded the fewest goals this season (11) and the highest number of clean sheets (seven), three of which were secured in their last four away trips.

Raúl Jiménez (£7.5m) heads up the chasing pack as Wolves travel to Norwich. The Canaries have the second-worst defensive record this season, having conceded 35 goals in the first 17 matches of the campaign.

That said, Daniel Farke’s men did manage to restrict Leicester to a 1-1 draw last time out. Either way, Jiménez, backed by 7.9% of the voters, has attacking returns in eight of his last 10 Premier League outings, a fairly impressive level of consistency.

Richarlison (£7.9m) is not far off the Wolves man, with the support of 7.6% ahead of Arsenal’s visit to Goodison Park. The Gunners remain defensively poor while the Everton man has goals in four of his last six.

Jack Grealish (£6.2m) has certainly not alienated Fantasy managers after missing a penalty at Sheffield United last week. 5.4% of our voters have backed him for the Gameweek 18 captaincy as Southampton, without a clean sheet since Gameweek 5, come to Villa Park. The midfielder has four attacking returns in his last three home starts.

4.5% is where we find Vardy ahead of the clash with Manchester City. It is possible that the forward has been somewhat unfairly overlooked by voters this time around.

Vardy has attacking returns in each of his last nine outings while Manchester City have kept just one clean sheet at home since Gameweek 8, Wolves, Southampton, Chelsea and Manchester United all finding the net at the Etihad Stadium between then and now.

Dele Alli (£8.7m) and Harry Kane (£10.9m) are both backed by 3.8% ahead of facing Chelsea. The midfielder has proved more reliable under Mourinho, returning in all but one match, while Kane has blanked three times.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£10.8m) has four attacking returns across his last two away matches (Norwich and West Ham), which has encouraged 2.9% of our voters to back him for the captaincy when Arsenal travel to Everton.

Danny Ings (£6.4m) was arguably unfortunate not to get a hat-trick against West Ham so has been handed the backing of 2.9% in the poll for a meeting with Aston Villa, who have conceded more penalty box shots than any other side this season.

Raheem Sterling (£11.8m), John Lundstram (£5.2m), James Ward-Prowse (£5.9m) and Tammy Abraham (£8.0m) are the only other options with more than 1% support in the poll.

Player statistics – Last four matches

1,007 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Benditlike
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Current team with 2FT and 0 ITB:

    Pope
    Kelly, Chilwell, Lundstram, Rico
    Son, KDB, Mount
    Rashford, Vardy, Ings

    Bench: Button, TAA, Mane, Cantwell

    Should i just do Mount -> Grealish and save 1FT?

    1. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Yes and put money itb. I did the same thing with Pulisic

    2. JK 171
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I’d look at selling Trent for a couple of weeks and then get yourself a decent upgrade elsewhere.

  2. JELLYFISH
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Morning all, is this lot g2g?

    Pope
    Lundy Soy Kelly Rico
    Son KDB Alli
    Ings Vardy Rashford

    Not sure who the armband is on yet

    1. 11 smelly shirts
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I've a very similar team (Guita instead of Pope and Kane and Jiminez for Vardy and Ings/Rashford). Looks good to me. If you can afford it maybe consider Grealish as well with a couple of easy fixtures for Villa

      1. JELLYFISH
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Thanks mate, already taken a hit to bring in KDB so reluctant to do any more transfers.

  3. 11 smelly shirts
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Ings or Rashford for the next two GWs?

    Ings plays Villa and Chelsea, so two poor defences and is on a similar good run as Rashford who plays Watford and Newcastle

    1. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Rashman

    2. JELLYFISH
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Ings for me....ff bargain when he's fit (which he is currently)

    3. 11 smelly shirts
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      During most time of the week I was on Rash, but now my gut feeling speaks more for Ings, most likely both will score though

  4. footballcandy
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    KDB, Cantwell (Mane, Salah, Donkey)
    Vardy, Tammy, Ings

    2fts. So...

    a) Salah to Son (funds itb to get Salah back with 1 ft).
    b) Salah + Tammy to Son + Rashford (hit or save to get Salah back)

    Defence are all the template ones, so can start either 3 or 4 defenders.

    1. 11 smelly shirts
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      b, but would wait to get Salah back. Fixtures speak to keep Son for a few GWs (although, he's mainly scoring at home and not away), but likely to be better than Salah at Leicester

  5. iL PiStOlErO
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Bottomed.

    Still havent decide about the cpt yet, currently between Sonny and Kevin. Other then that I plan to roll the other transfer. Gtg?

    Pope
    Lund Guilbert Kelly
    KdB Son(C) Grealish Dendo
    Vardy Rash Mousse

    Bench: Soy (TAA, Salah)

    1.5 itb, 1 ft

    1. JK 171
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Son for me

  6. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Good article this week, btw. No stand-outs, but the stats are delved into very well.

  7. I Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Good to go?

    Pope
    Maguire, Lundstram, Kelly, Rico
    De Bruyne, Maddison, Martial (c)
    Vardy, Abraham, Ings

    Button; Dendoncker, Soyuncu, Mane.

    0 FT 4.8 ITB

    1. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Tony M for C? You sure?

      1. I Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Not sure no but don't love any of my options.

        1. iL PiStOlErO
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Just asking out of curiosity. Cause I see you dont have any Spurs so wantes to know. Have Rash myself and dont know. I think Wat will be hard to brake.

          1. I Member
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Planning to do Ings to Kane next week. To be honest I don't really get the hype around the Spurs assets as captaincy picks this week. Think Lampard will switch to 4-3-3 which usually makes them much more solid.

  8. Gunners in Haaland
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Pope
    Rico Lund Aurier
    McGinn Zaha Son (A)lli
    Vardy Rashford Tammy

    Button Kelly Soy Mane

    Thinking of - 4 for Mane to
    1. Sterling
    2. KDB
    3. Do nothing

    Any advice?

    1. Jimbo-Jones
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Usually I’d say do it, but who would you bench?

      1. Gunners in Haaland
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Good question. Probably McGinn...

  9. UnitednationsXI
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Here is a tough one, best combo for next two gw's only. Plan to WC gw20

    A: Son + Tammy (will bring in for gw19 only) or
    B: Pulisic + Kane (will bring in for gw19 only)

    - will captain either Son or Kane in gw19 (BRI)
    - RMT favours A by a decent margin

    1. UnitednationsXI
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      - Already have Alli if that makes a diff

    2. JK 171
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B for me Really fancy Harry for the Xmas period.

  10. PocketZola
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    connolly to martinez?

  11. Smell the Lavender
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    A bit stuck this week. 0FT left (already brought in Aurier for Tomori). Janmaat is red flagged and the below (all 4.4 which is what I have to spend) are all certain starters in my opinion so I see it as a -2 hit. won't be wildcarding for a while so while I want someone to fill in this week, I'd also like a long-term option to rotate with.

    Guaita
    Lunstram - Soyuncu - Aurier - [JANMAAT]
    Alli - Tielemans - Hayden
    Vardy - Ings - Mousset

    Bench: Salah - Mane - TAA - Heaton

    [A] Janmaat --> Kelly (CP double up)
    [B] Janmaat --> Rico
    [C] Janmaat --> Webster
    [D] No transfer / Play with 10 men

    1. 11 smelly shirts
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      A
      Rico won't get a clean sheet vs Burnley, so it's only attacking returns you can hope for
      If not A, than rather D

      1. Smell the Lavender
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Thanks mate. I think you're right. Kelly is most likely to get a clean sheet, I reckon. Rico gets a few assists and Webster gets a few goals so it's a -2 punt on whether they get attacking returns. I'm not chasing but -2 doesn't seem like much to field a player that may pay dividends... tough one.

  12. Origi-nal
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Who would you start this GW

    A) Pereira
    B) Connolly

    1. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B

  13. Ronnies
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Is Tammy or Ings worth a -4 for Rashford ?

    My captain for this GW is Son.

    Thanks guys.

    1. claretparrot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Nope

    2. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Wait this week.

  14. Jimbo-Jones
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Bottomed.
    1-2 week punts before WC:

    1. Mané & VVD -> Sterling & Maguire/Aurier

    2. Mané, VVD, Tielemans -> Sterling, Son, 4.0 (-4)

    3. Mané, Tielemans -> Sterling, Grealish

    4. Mané, Tielemans -> Son, Alli

    Pope
    VVD Soyuncu Lundstram
    KDB Tielemans Mané Zaha
    Vardy Jimenez Abraham

    Kelly Dendoncker TAA

  15. Lionac
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Which combo is better?

    A) Kane & Martial
    B) Rashford & Alli

    1. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Atm B by far

    2. I Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I've gone for A as I'm chasing.

  16. The Ejiptian King
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Saw the tweets from Howe's presser, was anything else said about Rico? Are we assuming that he could be one of the 'very late calls' after someone here said he wasn't pictured training?

  17. MattyW
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    I've gone for Moura as my Spurs player and as a differential but haven't seen him in one side ... it's not a bad pick right?

    1. Origi-nal
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      It's an ok pick, if he starts.

    2. Ole.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Gd pick

  18. BananaMan
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Morning All,
    Looking to downgrade Abraham to a sub 6.4 striker as part of a move to get Salah in next week, opinions greatly appreciated.
    Most likely will be used as rotation with Cantwell depending upon fixtures.

    A) King - Great fixtures
    B) Ings
    C) Jota - Potential but patchy form
    D) Other??

    Merry Christmas!

  19. cheeky moses
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Need inspo. 2 FT, 3 mill ITB. Hit me:
    Schmeichel
    Rico, Aurier, Lund (Soy, Robbo*)
    Alli, Zaha, Puli, DD (Mane*)
    Vardy, Ings, Rash

    1. Origi-nal
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Donkey to Grealish ans ave 1ft

      1. Origi-nal
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        And save

    1. kennethrhcp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      going with Son over KDB... sound or stupid?

      1. Krafty Werks
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I slightly prefer Son anyway tbh 60/40 in his favour for the armband for me, it's Rashford that's causing me headache.

        1. kennethrhcp
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Thanks for the reply! might just go Son

  20. KUNingas
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    2FT and 0.3ITB
    Maddison ->
    A) Grealish
    B) Martial
    C) Burn FT

    Ryan
    Lund, Targett, Rico
    Son, KDB, Maddison, Cantwell
    Vardy, Abraham, Jimenez

    Button, Soyuncu, TAA, Mane

    1. JK 171
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      A for me.

  21. The Mighty Whites
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Captain Rashford or Jimenez?

    1. kennethrhcp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Im gambling Jim... but don't own Rash

    2. Krafty Werks
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      It's currently Rashford, Son, KDB, Jimenez for me in that order as an owner of all four.

  22. camarozz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Am I right in assuming Rico is okay??

    1. kennethrhcp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I didn't hear he wasn't ok?

    2. fclackless [Brazil Nuts]
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Not really, Howe has been talking him up and he's not been seen in training ... Rico owner btw

      1. camarozz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Yeah read the tweet but I guess there's something missing from what he actually said in presser??

  23. Von Lipwig
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Captain?
    A) Son
    B) Alli
    C) Richarlison

    I was on Son, but it seems the data doesn't back up my hunch

  24. Strchld
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Which combo?

    A) Kane and Alli
    B) Abraham and Son

    1. Phil's Stamps
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B

    2. I Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      A

  25. Abusive_Sgt_Daelrhos
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Kdb or Alli for captain, for the love of God?

    1. Kloppage Time
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      got both and going with KDB, hope Pep keeps him in the more advance role

  26. teki0s
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Alli is getting overlooked. Yes Son may be ahead in some statistics but historically Alli has done great against Chelsea and loves scoring against them, much more than Son. I will back him to do well again this time.

  27. dark91
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Probably a close call but which option is better (already have Son and Aurier from Spurs)

    1) Kane and Martial
    2) Alli and Rashford

    1. Arse Craic
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      2

    2. I Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I think it depends on what approach you want to take. 2 is template and safer. 1 has massive potential upside but is a bit risky.

      I'm chasing a big lead in my ML so I've gone for 1. Hoping Kane (c) can score a couple braces over Christmas to shoot me up the rankings. Rashford looks a better pick than Martial but Tony is cheaper and OOP.

      1. dark91
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        That is the thing. In isolation, I would definitely pick Rashford over Martial. But on the other hand I am very confident for some reason that Kane will come out good over Christmas. Also the fact he is safe from rotation and on penalties is very tempting

    3. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I don't think a Utd asset is a must have.

  28. Lazerball
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    When does the threat of a suspension for a fifth YC go away? Is it _before_ or _after_ GW19?

    1. dark91
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      After

  29. Karan14
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Mendy or Otamendi?

    Asking for a draft game

    1. fclackless [Brazil Nuts]
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Ota

      1. Karan14
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Cheers!