Captain Sensible

Who are the best captain options for FPL Gameweek 31+?

Fantasy Premier League managers are faced with a perplexing captaincy decision for Gameweek 31+.

With Manchester City playing Chelsea, and Liverpool preparing for the mean defence of Crystal Palace, there is no standout candidate.

But this is the sort of Gameweek that Fantasy Football Scout readers relish. The lack of a comfortably popular captain provides Fantasy managers with an excellent opportunity to capitalise on how widely spread the armbands will be in Gameweek 31+.

To identify the best options to do this, we have looked at every key option’s recent form as well as the weaknesses (or not) of their upcoming opponents.

As this article uses data from the Fantasy Football Scout Members Area, only those with a valid subscription can access it in full.

Captain Poll

The dilemma of the Gameweek 31+ captaincy is reflected perfectly in the results of our latest poll.

As you can see from the image above, no option has streaked ahead of the rest of the pack, indicating the massive opportunity Fantasy managers have to make real ground on their opponents.

Bruno Fernandes (£8.7m) is the man who tops the pile but not by much. 19.7% of the voters handed their support to the Manchester United midfielder, who continued his pre-lockdown form in the Gameweek 30+ draw with Spurs, scoring a second-half penalty.

Since joining the Red Devils, Fernandes has been involved in six of his team’s nine goals, averaging 7.8 points per game.

Throw penalties into the mix, plus a Sheffield United defence short of key personnel, and things look good for Fernandes. Dean Henderson (£5.3m) is ineligible to face his parent club, John Egan (£4.6m) is suspended following his Double Gameweek 30+ red card and Jack O’Connell (£4.6m) still a fitness doubt.

Despite the potential low-hanging fruit from this game, the interest in captaining Marcus Rashford (£8.9m) is comparatively low, just 4.9% backing the Manchester United forward for the armband in Gameweek 31+.

Despite missing out on Double Gameweek 30+ entirely, Mohamed Salah (£12.7m) sits second in the captain poll for the upcoming round of action.

15.3% have handed their backing to the Egyptian as Crystal Palace head to Anfield. His home form was certainly in fine fettle when lockdown struck the Premier League. Salah found the net in five of his last six Anfield outings, scoring six times, assisting once and averaging 8.7 points per game in that run.

However, Liverpool’s attacking assets will have to compete with a stubborn Crystal Palace defence midweek. The Eagles have now kept four clean sheets in a row. There may be some hope for Salah owners behind that statistic though. Those clean sheets kept by Roy Hodgson’s men between Gameweeks 27 and 30+ were recorded against Newcastle (home), Brighton (away), Watford (home) and Bournemouth (away) – hardly the same level of quality on offer at Liverpool. 

Raúl Jiménez (£8.2m) is fortunate enough to be the next forward to face Bournemouth, who looked exceptionally poor in their Double Gameweek 30+ defeat to Crystal Palace.

Their defence has been in poor shape both before and after lockdown, conceding at least twice in five of their last six and with just one clean sheet on the road since Gameweek 11.

By contrast, Jiménez has been the right kind of consistent. The Mexican’s goal at West Ham was his third in the last four Gameweeks, and sixth in the last eight.

Meanwhile, the Wolves forward has become increasingly reliable against the lesser sides in 2019/20. 12 of his 20 attacking returns this season have come against those outside the traditional ‘big six’.

Son Heung-min (£9.7m) heads up the differential options with 8.7% backing in the captaincy poll. 

The South Korean was in an excellent scoring groove before his Gameweek 26 injury, netting four times in the three matches before then.

Of course, he was occupying the centre-forward role vacated by the now-fit Harry Kane (£10.8m) at the time, but facing West Ham in Gameweek 31+ is certainly a favourable fixture. David Moyes men have kept just one clean sheet since Gameweek 21, conceding at least twice in six of their last eight. Furthermore, even though the Hammers are well-known for upping their game against their local rivals, they have conceded 1.8 goals per match against London opposition this season, more than their overall average for the entire season (1.7 goals conceded per game).

8.2% of our voters must have been pleased with what they saw of Jamie Vardy (£9.7m) against Watford, as they have picked him out as the best captain candidate for Gameweek 31+. The midweek round of action pits him against the Brighton defence, that has kept just one clean sheet on the road since Gameweek 7. But the question remains over whether Vardy can recapture his earlier season form. His two goals against Aston Villa in Gameweek 29, remain his only strikes since Gameweek 19.

Sadio Mané (£12.5m) remains a part of the discussion with his 6.2% backing and relatively decent form since return from injury pre-lockdown. While he could not carve out anything for his Double Gameweek 30+ owners, the Senegalese international still averages 6.2 points per game since returning to action in Gameweek 26. But, like Salah, he still has to contest with Hodgson’s well-organised Palace defence midweek.

Kevin De Bruyne‘s (£10.6m) Double Gameweek 30+ double-figure haul is enough to convince 6.1% of our voters to captain him despite a tricky (on paper anyway) meeting with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. But no FPL midfielder has more attacking returns against ‘big-six’ opposition than De Bruyne, his total of eight coming from four goals and four assists in seven matches.

Harvey Barnes (£6.2m), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.0m), Richarlison (£8.3m), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£6.5m) and Sergio Aguero (£11.8m) are the only other options with more than 1% backing for Gameweek 31+.

Player statistics – Last four matches

2,965 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Mike82
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Free hit team GTG?
    Schmeichel
    Robertson, AwB, Doherty
    Salah (C), B.Fernandes, Son, Barnes
    Jiminez, Rashford, DCL

    Button, Lacelles, Guendouzi, J.Robinson

  2. DARE TO BISCAN
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    How much are people trusting ManU defence?
    a) De Gea
    b) Pope & 0.4

    1. MGD
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I'm on DDG & Nyland

  3. MGD
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Any playing DEF's for 4.2 or below?

    1. DARE TO BISCAN
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Kiko at Watford

  4. Jay Jay Okocha
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    On WC:

    A) Foster, Salah, Maguire, Martial
    B) Patricio, Mane, Lascelles/Cathcart rotation, Rashford

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

      B

  5. Fantasyamateur
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Soo.. Son or KdB for this week only on FH? Tough choice..

    1. Zladan
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      On a FH surely both!

      Fill in the blanks on a FH:

      TAA Doherty
      Son KDB Bruno
      Jimmy Rashford

      Easy peasy.

      1. Fantasyamateur
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        DDG
        Doherty - Ritchie - TAA
        KDB - Mane - Bruno - Traore
        Jimenez - DCL - Rashford

        This. is my current squad..

  6. GuillermoDickero
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Anyone thinking about picking up Saint Maxin on a wildcard? Or do we think Saka or Foden might offer more as a 5th mid?

    1. jimbo_smells
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Yes, in my WC team as a good short-term differential option for the next 2/3

  7. barcaa7
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    on WC
    a-Doherty , Martial , alli
    b-Saiss , Martial , Son
    c-Doherty , Sarr , Son

  8. burkeyoa
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Last Minute Wildcard Tinkering. Pretty much set on the below players but what is the better option for the remaining team?

    XXX/3.9
    XXX/Doherthy/Ritche/Holgate/4.0
    Salah/Bruno/Son/XXX/Saka
    Jimminez/DCL/XXX

    A) Foster, TAA, Saint-Max, Vardy
    B) Martinez, VVD, Richarlison, Rashford

    1. Scooby75
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I’d go Martinez option

    2. -GK22-
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      A

  9. MGD
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Any love for this WC team for the run-in?

    DDG
    TAA - Doherty - Aurier
    Salah(c) - KDB - Fernandes - Mount
    Rashford - Jimenez - DCL

    Nyland - Lascelles - Kiko - Guendozi

    0.0 ITB

    1. -GK22-
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Looks good to me

  10. wildnothing
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    What do you guys think about this wc draft? 1.0 itb

    Patricio Martinez
    Doherty TAA Maguire Ritchie Kiko
    KDB Son Fernandes Sarr Cantwell
    Vardy Rashford Jimenez

  11. stu92
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Is Harvey Barnes an injury/rotation risk?

  12. QUEN
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    A) lloris Holgate
    B) pope aurier

  13. It's his Job.
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Set for this GW G2G?

    Ederson
    TAA Saiss Lascelles
    Mane Grealish KDB Bruno(V.c)
    DCL Jota Rashy(C)

    Reina/Lund/Saka/Egan

  14. The Count of Monte Cristo
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Is Sarr really worth 1.0m over Saint-Maximin for the next few GWs?

  15. clarkey
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    WC team g2g?

    Foster Martinez
    TAA AWB Aurier Saiss Holgate
    Salah KDB Bruno Sarr (Saka)
    Jim Rash DCL
    0.4 itb

  16. reo19uk
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Which is better to have?

    A) Salah
    B) Mane

    1. BobbyDoesNotLook
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Still have both 😀

      1. BobbyDoesNotLook
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        But I fear Bruno's ownership and really eager to swap either for Bruno

  17. BobbyDoesNotLook
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Cap?

    A) Salah
    B) Vardy
    C) Jimmy

  18. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Pope
    TAA Doherty Gomez
    Salah KDB Fernandes Sarr
    Jimenez Jota DCL
    Leno* Saka Alonso Ngakia

    A) Leno + Jota => Martinez + Rashford for a -4 (exact cash)
    B) Save FT and hope triple Wolves pay off at home vs. BOU

    Thanks and good luck all!

  19. popey
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    a) TAA Alli
    b) Saiss Salah

    Have Son, Doherty and no other Pool

    ??

  20. BobbyDoesNotLook
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    What probability for Salah to be in starting XI?

  21. BobbyDoesNotLook
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    What would you do? 1ft, wc

    A) Save ft
    B) Egan > C Taylor 4.3 (Burnley)
    C) Salah/Mane> Bruno

    Hendo Nyland
    Taa Boly Lascelles (Stephens, Egan)
    Salah Mane Kdb Saka (D Luiz)
    Vardy Ings Jimmy

  22. Tempestic
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Calvert Lewin captain it is... 😮

  23. Hoof It and Hope
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Salah will be saved for the Man City game the week after.
    And the data in the RMT tool is so out of date that it is dangerous to even look at it.

    1. JJO
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Yeah he wont play before next CL final,other games are not worth it

    2. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Highly doubt it but also doubt he will get 90, certainly not if game is wrapped up by 70. No football yet and it will be hot tonight.