Metrics

Fernandes haul raises the bar for top 10k’s most popular captain Salah

Bruno Fernandes‘ (£8.8m) blistering Gameweek 33+ display has put some early pressure on Fantasy managers who backed Mohamed Salah (£12.6m).

The Portuguese international came into the round as the second-most captained player inside the worldwide’s top 10,000, rewarding them with a 15-point haul, doubled up to 30, in Manchester United’s 5-2 win over Bournemouth.

In the end, it was 32.1% of managers at that level who handed him the armband for Gameweek 33+, raising expectations for Salah captainers.

As you can see from the image above, it was the Egyptian who earned the largest armband following for Gameweek 33+ ahead of a trip to Aston Villa.

Despite finishing second in the latest Fantasy Football Scout captain poll with 19.2% of the vote, just shy of 38% of the top 10k decided to captain Salah.

Such support for the Liverpool man from this season’s top-performing managers may encourage those who made the same decision, but the double-digit haul from Fernandes has certainly upped the ante.

Not least because of his effective ownership in the top 10k. Despite being pipped to the post by Salah for the most popular captain, fewer owners for the Egyptian at this level means Fernandes holds the largest sway.

His effective ownership in the top 10k for Gameweek 33+ stands at 120%, the highest of any player. Salah sits in second place on 97.8% effective ownership.

Anthony Martial (£8.2m) remains an exciting differential option for the armband, even at this lofty-level. Just 8.8% of managers in the top 10k captained Manchester United’s out-of-position FPL midfielder for the win over Bournemouth, yielding 28 points from that decision.

There was less traction for those who went with Marcus Rashford (£9.1m), however. The FPL forward, who operates on the flanks of the Red Devils’ attacking midfield, played well against Bournemouth, wrestling a penalty from Fernandes, but he managed only six points on Saturday afternoon.

Meanwhile, Sadio Mané (£12.5m) remains an extreme differential captain among the top 10k, earning just 4.7% backing for the armband at this level for Gameweek 33+.

As already mentioned, Salah still possesses plenty of potential to shake things up in the top 10k based on his ownership levels.

Kevin De Bruyne (£10.7m) and Fernandes are the overwhelming favourites in midfield, currently sat in 89.7% and 87.4% of top 10k squads respectively.

Accordingly, Salah is still playing third-fiddle to those two options with 58.6% ownership in the upper echelons of the worldwide Fantasy rankings.

The same is true of Martial to a similar extent. He now has double-digit hauls in each of his last two home matches since the Premier League restarted but less than half of the top 10k have him in their team. As the Gameweek 33+ deadline passed, the Frenchman was sat in 42.2% of teams at that level.

It is just Fantasy managers’ luck that the week which saw Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£5.5m) creep into the template of most-owned players in the top 10k was the one in which he conceded twice.

Just under a third of these managers decided to include the right-back in their Manchester United contingent, based on their recent defensive improvements. However, despite keeping clean sheets in every home match since Gameweek 25, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men let in two goals as they beat Bournemouth 5-2. It will be interesting to see what happens to Wan-Bissaka’s ownership at this level, especially with other Manchester United options such as Martial and Mason Greenwood (£4.4m) chalking up double-figure hauls this weekend.

There has been relatively little transfer activity in the forwards department among the top 10k. Raúl Jiménez (£8.3m), Rashford and Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£6.5m) were the three most-popular forwards for Gameweek 32+ at this level and, indeed for Gameweek 33+. That said, the Everton man’s ownership did drop off by 11.3 percentage points.

Wildcards continue to fall in the top 10k, with just shy of 10% left to use theirs before the end of the season.

7.6% of them overhauled their squads for Gameweek 33+ making the Wildcard the most used chip for the round.

However, there was still a smattering of Triple Captains, Free Hits and Bench Boosts.

2.4% went for the enhanced armband, Salah the choice for half of those managers – hardly a surprise ahead of a home match against Aston Villa.

With Manchester United and Liverpool both facing triple-up worthy fixtures in Gameweek 33+, it is no shock to see some traction for the Free Hit chip.

3.6% of managers in the top 10k went for temporary overhauled squads, very much with a view to covering the Red Devils and Jurgen Klopp’s men in key areas.

As you can see from the graphic above, the majority of these Free Hitters did so to include Salah in their squads.

Despite the Egyptian still only owned by roughly half of top 10k managers, he was the most popular choice on Free Hits at the same level, chosen by 85.4%.

The most common triple-up on Liverpool assets by these managers appears to involve the Egyptian, Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.8m) and Virgil van Dijk (£6.5m).

Meanwhile, four Manchester United players made the cut for most-owned players in top 10k Free Hits, specifically Fernandes (84.8%), Rashford (65.2%), Martial (56.7%) and Wan-Bissaka (46.1%).

Also interesting is that these managers have largely used this opportunity to make the most of De Bruyne’s 90 minutes on Thursday evening to invest in Riyad Mahrez (£8.5m) instead, who made a 32-minute substitute’s appearance against Liverpool and has attacking returns in every start since Project Restart kicked off last month.

Statistics taken from LiveFPL.net.

1,486 Comments Post a Comment
  1. aleksios
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Early thoughts on this lot?Chasing and so many options .
    1ft 2.7itb.

    --Nyland
    --TAA--Alonso--Doherty
    --Salah--Martial--KDB--Mount
    --Jota--Rash--Greenwood.

    --Leno--Saka--Egan--Lund.

    a) Lund to Laporte.
    b) Saka to Foden.
    c) Mount to Pullicic.
    d) Leno to Pope.
    e) Also can do Mount and Jota to Foden and Jesus for a hit.

    Thanks .

    1. fish&chips
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      E is best if chasing I reckon, but not without risk obviously as Jesus hasn't looked great so far

    2. Winston.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      B and C

    3. Abra Dubravka
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      C and maybe B

  2. drughi
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Need something special from my liverpool triple up today, TAA, VVD and Mane(C)

    1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      8 points coming up. That would be special 🙂

    2. fish&chips
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Replace mane with salah and I'm with you

    3. Amey
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Amen

  3. Bad Kompany
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Hello dz! Hope everyone is doing well and staying healthy.

    Thoughts on Garcia? Won’t play every game but when he does he’ll have a great chance of getting a cs. I have a good bench for when he doesn’t play.

    1. fish&chips
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Could come on for a cameo. Peps done that a few times

      1. Baby Bowen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        I have a revolutionary idea which prevents this flaw in the game 🙂

      2. Bad Kompany
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Forgot about that. Pep has subbed defenders on quite a few times so probably won’t get Garcia

    2. tucaoneo
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I think the main problem is you are not making the most out of a MCI spot. He played 2 out of 4 matches so far with a ceiling of 6. Some including me are looking to triple attack for 36 and 38.

      1. Bad Kompany
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Salah martial Bruno KDB foden

        This will be my midfield from next week on. Don’t want to sell any of them And don’t fancy Jesus so I won’t be tripling up on attack

      2. Amey
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Sh.t
        36 is Bournemouth home.
        Bloodbath

    3. Amey
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I'd rather have Ederson

  4. Baby Bowen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Morning, 42 from the main United 3 yesterday and I get a red arrow!

    1. fish&chips
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Must have a decent rank!! I got 46 from 5 and climbed from 747 to 673

      1. Baby Bowen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        I’ve just realised, it’s the 8 point hit I took.
        Even still, net 34 points yesterday and a red arrow, crazy

    2. Amey
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      45(-4) with 6 to go here.
      AWB & Doherty failed !

    3. Abra Dubravka
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Net 30 with 6 including (c) to play.

  5. Abra Dubravka
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    £1m itb. Roll FT?

    Pope
    TAA, Doh, Holgate (Lascelles, 3.9)
    Salah, KDB, Mahrez, Willian, Fernandes
    Jimenez, Rashford (Greenwood)

  6. Amey
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    I need Mane to Outscore Salah today. By a fair Margin too 😀
    Go Sadio Go !!

    (Just saw Klopp interview after last game. Funny is an understatement. Also Pep was at his brutal Freaking best 😀 )

    1. Bad Kompany
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Need the opposite. Switched captaincy from Bruno to salah so need him to score a hat trick

      1. Amey
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Or a no show 😉

  7. Don Kloppeone
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    With Greenwood sitting first on my bench, I realistically need 0mins from KDB or a haul bigger than Greenwood’s. Hmm

    Salah (C) needs to produce something special to dull the pain!

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Dial up 😀

      1. Don Kloppeone
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        You’ve lost me...

        1. Amey
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          🙂

          1. Don Kloppeone
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            No really? What part of it was I slow on? Lol. Totally lost.

            My own fault for choosing to bench Greenwood (thought he’d get reduced mins) over someone like Jimi!

            1. Amey
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Bro
              I'm a United fan. Even i doubted Greenwood minutes.
              But as i said. I have corrected myself now. Ay least you have a premium insurance on bench 🙂
              Be positive!

              1. Don Kloppeone
                • 6 Years
                3 years, 8 months ago

                Haha yeh it could all work out in the jammiest of ways! Anyway, see you on the new article 😉

    2. bench boost for every gamew…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      If kdb stays on bench, if he is on the bench from start that is, will actually have a lot to say overall as People will get very different scores from subs. Mine is 13 pointer, and IT is my own damn fault so Only myself to blame, and very Lucky if i get him in.

      1. Don Kloppeone
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Yeh for sure. I decided to bring in Pulisic as 5th mid and benched Greenwood because I thought he’d have reduced minutes. Hindsight’s a fine thing. Obv should’ve benched Jimi

        1. bench boost for every gamew…
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          mine is considerably worse as i chose to play Jota. Actually he was in the game much closer to return anything than Jimi but no excuse for my bad decision. usually i´m pretty good at anticipating games and patterns but this time i forgot have much better Arsenal has been and Wolves are good but does not score that often, and Greenwood won´t play vs that bad defense again this year-). In the end i did not thrust Martinez, and wanted a slice from the wolves pie got greedy and sit her green in my face staring at that 13 pointer from a 4.4 attacker-)

    3. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      If KDB stays on the bench I get 10 Saka points.

      1. Don Kloppeone
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Lovely/ jammy. It’s not often I have such a haul staring at me from the bench. V annoying but my own stupid decision making

  8. The 12th Man
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Thinking about Rashford,Jimenez >> Greenwood, Kane -4 this week.

    Then
    Wk 35+ Kane > Vardy v Bournemouth
    Wk 36+ Saka > Foden v Bournemouth
    Wk 37+ Vardy > Ings v Bournemouth
    Wk 38+ Pulisic > Richarlison v Bournemouth or Mahez/Sterling v Norwich

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I did similar

      1. The 12th Man
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Kane just for next week for you?

        1. Amey
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Got him now
          Might keep him till the end
          He's a good v© option IMO

          1. The 12th Man
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Not interested in Vardy v Bournemouth?

            1. Amey
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Don't like Leicester as a whole right now. Something is really wrong there.

              1. The 12th Man
                • 10 Years
                3 years, 8 months ago

                Ok

    2. bench boost for every gamew…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      No point in planning that much and specific, and while i think that hit has something in it taking Kane out just after one game loses a little bit of the point. That said, targetting bou defence could be good.

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

    New post in the house boys !

  10. Easy Cheesy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Wish we could just skip to the bits where I find out what my total points for the day are....

  11. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Son + Rash > Martial + Kane for -4?

    Essentially a move to block my closest rival in ML.

    1. bench boost for every gamew…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      how much are you ahead? I´m not sure i would advice to do that, even as block move but it kind of an assurance to have same players as rival behind, because those tiny differences could mean huge points swings.

  12. Winston.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    On WC...

    A. Digne, Pulisic, Mahrez or
    B. Holgate, Foden, Salah ?

  13. Babit1967
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Everyone is going Jimmy to Kane but I think I would prefer Vardy for the run in, I get Kane has the easier fixture this week but Leicester have the top four to play for

    1. Zimo
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Could do kane this week and then vardy next for both to play Bournemouth

      1. Babit1967
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Yeah could work

  14. wantsharptv
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Would you sell Martial and keep rashford to get Greenwood (also have bruno) because there is a shortage of decent strikers??

    1. thegaffer82
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Gosh no.

      I sold Rash for Martial coming into this week (along with Nketiah in and Saka out with my 2FT)

      Well happy with my decision. I'd say Martial is a better asset than Rashford at this moment.

  15. thegaffer82
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Need a blank from Salah today, and a big score from Mane.

    My mini-league is extremely tight, with me about 9 points behind my rival. And, we have almost the same team with only a few variations.

    We are basically:

    Mane v Salah
    Son v Rashford (I play 3-5-2)

    Going to be an interesting finish to the season to see how we diverge. Captaincy will of course be key, and I'm hoping that my FH chip will propel me past him on the last day of the season if I haven't already passed him by then.

    Anyone else having a ding-dong battle in their ML?

  16. Muscout
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    What’s the benefit of FH in the last GW?

    1. thepuntmaster
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I guess people know which teams have a lot to play for and whether to punt big or play conservative in mini leagues

  17. thepuntmaster
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Grealish >

    A) Antonio
    B) Pulisic

    Cheers!

    1. Niho992
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      B