Captain Sensible

Who is the best FPL captain for Gameweek 31?

Fantasy Premier League managers may have to look past this season’s most reliable assets for the Gameweek 31 captaincy.

Son-Heung min (£9.4m), Harry Kane (£11.7m)and Bruno Fernandes (£11.6m) have been among the most reliable skippers in 2020/21 but Sunday afternoon’s meeting between Spurs and Manchester United has blown the latest debate wide open.

A number of alternative options have emerged including Diogo Jota (£6.9m)and Mohamed Salah (£12.4m)who starred in Liverpool’s 3-0 win at Arsenal and face Aston Villa on Saturday afternoon.

Meanwhile, all eyes will be on Manchester City’s starting XI for their lunch-time meeting with Leeds. While this is a favourable fixture for Pep Guardiola’s men, it is sandwiched between two key UEFA Champions League ties with Borussia Dortmund.

As always, the Captain Sensible article is here to help you with this week’s captaincy conundrum. Given that this text includes plenty of analysis backed up by the extensive data from the Fantasy Football Scout Premium Members Area, only those with a valid subscription can access it in full.

CAPTAIN POLL

As shown above, Salah is the leader of this week’s Captain Poll, having gained 27.4% of total votes so far. The Egyptian scored in his last two appearances for the club (against Arsenal and Real Madrid) and looks to be getting back to his goalscoring best, just in time for the final stretch in the Premier League Golden Boot race.

Just behind him in the poll sits Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne (£11.9m) with 17.7% of votes from our users. The Belgian was unlucky to come out without any returns against Leicester City in Gameweek 30, but played a crucial part in his team’s win over Borussia Dortmund midweek, opening the scoreline in the first half and providing a crucial pass in the build-up for the late winner. The match-up against Leeds United could be a great opportunity for a big haul, although there is heavy uncertainty over the likelihood of him starting.

This season’s top goal-scorer, as well as the top assist provider, Kane has gained 9.0% of total votes. The England international has been in outstanding form in this campaign, often winning games for his team single-handedly. 

That said, in Gameweek 31, Kane will face a tough opponent in Manchester United. He may have scored 16 points in the reverse fixture but the chances of another double-digit haul are not too strong considering the Red Devils have improved significantly since their 6-1 thrashing at Old Trafford.

The top-five list is closed by the aforementioned Jota (8.6% of votes) and Raheem Sterling (£11.3m, 5.2%), who could turn out to be a shrewd one Gameweek captaincy punt.

KEY MATCHES

Liverpool v Aston Villa

Jota continues relentless form as Klopp manages Salah's minutes
1,428 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    One week punt on Jesus(C)?

    1. Crunchie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Not for me

    2. In a Rush
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      What about aguero pep,will he play?

    3. Lionac
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I’ll punt on Sterling. Easier to switch for Son for DGW

    4. HashAttack
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I'm looking forwards to the melt down on here when Pep starts with Delap

    5. Pompey5
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Not for me. He might not play

    6. Mane Mane Mane
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      That’s what I’m doing, got to take a gamble now and then

  2. Tshelby
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Martinez,
    Shaw, Dias, Coufal, Dallas, Veltman
    Son, Lingard, Jota, Fernandes, Gundogan
    Kane, Antonio, Bamford

    1ft - 4.7 itb

    Just Bamford to Vardy this week?

  3. Lignja
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Probably my final wc, will play bb gw32 probably, any sugestions? Bench order for this week good or should i swap something

    Mendy
    Coady, Philips, Holding
    Salah, Son, Fernandes, Gundogan, Jota
    Kane, Dcl

    Forster, Ihenacho, Rudiger, Shaw

    1. Thomas Magnum
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Imo I like how it looks as is mate. Who will you captain?

      1. Lignja
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Kane

  4. Thomas Magnum
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    after a little tinkering what do we think?

    Mendy Forster
    TAA Dias Rudiger Veltman Phillips
    Salah Son Bruno Lingard Raphinha
    Kane Iheanacho Vydra
    0.0itb
    Any thoughts... has it become too template?

    1. HashAttack
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Are you planning 4 at the back ... I'm going with 3 at the back and haven't even considered any MCI defenders

      I've gone for Schmeichel / Forster as my GK combo

      1. Thomas Magnum
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Yes most likely a weekly 4-4-2 or 4-5-1

  5. HashAttack
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    On a WC with Nacho first sub

    Any Mid, up to 9.6m, worth an one week punt, or just get Son and save FT next week?
    (Other 4 mids are Salah, Jota, Bruno and Lingard)

    1. Thomas Magnum
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Probably just Son, he did well in the reverse fixture I believe. Would be good if we had an idea if say Mahrez would start but too much of a risk imo

      1. HashAttack
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks - 18 points in the reverse - currently on Mahrez so I can save 0.1 on Son if he drops tonight

        Could see Mahrez racking up points in just 30 minutes against Leeds - if he doesn't play at all then Nacho against WHU without RIce isn't too bad. Also not to fussed about getting to gw32 with 2 FTs as I shouldn't need to do any

    2. Lionac
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Ferran Torres

      1. HashAttack
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Very high risk and not really any history to suggest he's punt-worthy - Would prefer to go with Son

  6. bigdip
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bench 2 defenders:
    A)Shaw TOT (A)
    B) Rudiger CRY (A)
    C) Phillips AVL (H)
    D) Coady FUL (A)
    E) Fofana WHU (A)

    1. Thomas Magnum
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Defs A then between E or D imo. Probably E, especially if you have say Lingard in your side

      1. bigdip
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        tx

  7. Eleven Hag
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bench one from each set plz

    A) Coady
    B) Shaw

    1) Nacho
    2) Lingard
    3) Neto

    1. Thomas Magnum
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B 3

  8. Angelic upstart
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Who to play Holding or Vydra?

  9. Coaly
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    On WC, 1.9m itb. Where can I spend it to improve this?

    Mendy
    Dias Rudiger Coady
    KDB Fernandes Son Lingard
    Kane DCL Iheanacho

    Forster, Coufal, N Phillips, Smith-Rowe

  10. Botman and Robben
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    All the best ladies & gents. This is how I will go in...

    Lloris
    Rudiger Phillips Dias
    Bruno Jota Lingard Son Salah(C)
    Kane Nacho

    Martinez Watkins Shaw Mitchell

  11. George James
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Good afternoon all

    Best move for this lot?
    1FT 4.2m ITB

    Ederson
    Lowton / Dunk / Shaw
    Son / Gundo / Bruno / Lingard / Raph
    Kane / DCL

    Areola / Bamford / Targett / Dallas

    A) Bamford >> Jesus / Vardy

    B) Raphina >> Jota

    C) something else

    1. Catastrophe
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Probably B as no other LIV coverage.

  12. T88MYE
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Should I save my WC.. where should I focus my attention? (1FT, happy for -4/-8 anything more I’ll WC)

    Martinez, Forster
    Dias, Shaw, Azp, Stones, Dallas
    Salah, Son, Bruno, Mount, Gundo
    Watkins, Richarlison, Bamford

    New front three for a -8 (Watkins, Rich, Bam > Kane, Iheanacho, Davis)

  13. Catastrophe
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Not sure whether to do KDB -> Salah or Raphinha -> Lingard this week. Which scores more?

    A) Salah Captain (AVL), Raphinha (mci), Salah (lee)
    B) KDB Captain (LEE), Lingard (LEI), Lingard (new)

    Leaning towards A for a safe captain pick this week!

    Cheers

  14. Starskyb
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Don't know if this is right thread to post in really... But on WC and panicking!

    Currently on:
    Mendy, Forster
    TAA, Phillips, Rudiger, Coady, Shaw
    Son (or will be tomorrow), Salah, Lingard, Bruno, Neto,
    Nacho, Wood, Kane.

    Probably going to BB in 32, am I G2G or is it worth trying to squeeze in another spurs?

    Could maybe turn Rudiger or Coady to Tanganga but feels weak....

    1. Catastrophe
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Looking good. I'd probably settle with 2 Spurs, unless you have the cash and want to punt on Moura over Neto.

    2. NETFLIX & CHILWELL
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I think two Spurs is enough.

      I don't think it's worth putting in someone like Tanganga - it'll only weaken your team in other Gameweeks.

  15. bigdip
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Fill WC blanks please (doing Gundo to Son in GW 32)

    Mendy, Forster
    Shaw, Rudiger, Phillips, Coady, Fofana
    Fernandes, Gundogan, Salah, _____, Lingard
    Kane, ______ Iheanacho

    A) Jota & Vydra
    B) Neto & Wood

    1. Catastrophe
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

    2. cravencottage
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

      1. bigdip
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        thanks gents

    3. Starskyb
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A I think

  16. Weasel Boy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Not 100% sure about WCing but how does this look?

    Mendy Forster
    Dias Phillips Rudi Shaw Veltman
    Bruno Salah Jota Lingard Gundo
    Kane Nacho Vydra

    Gundo will become Son next week.

    Thanks in advance

  17. cravencottage
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Which looks best?

    A) Vardy, Mount
    B) Wood, Sterling

    1. Catastrophe
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B for this week, A longer term.

  18. Lionac
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Which Chelsea defender to brong on WC

    A) James
    B) Rudinger

    Which of these two
    1) Coady
    2) Castagne

    1. Catastrophe
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B1

    2. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Dinger
      Coady

    3. Whazza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A2 for attacking returns

    4. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B2

  19. Pukki Blinders
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    A. Holding + DCL
    B. Shaw + Wood

    1. Catastrophe
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Close, B for me.

    2. cravencottage
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B has more upside

  20. lets talk about 6
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Which looks best?

    A) Vardy, N Philips, Smith Rowe
    B) TAA Lingard Vydra

    1. cravencottage
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A just

  21. The Red Devil
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Not quite sure who all to start in my backline
    Martinez/Sanchez
    Phillips/Shaw/rudiger/stones/dunk

  22. pingissimus
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone fancy looking at a slightly old-fashioned non WC team? Here's where I stand

    Ederson
    Stones Shaw TAA Cresswell
    Bruno Jota Lingard Son
    Kane Watkins

    Martinez Raph Bamford Konsa 1 mill itb and no FT

    A. Bamford to Iheanacho for a minus 4 (if so bench who - Stones might start after all 🙂 )
    B. Play Raph over Son (form points only one way really)

    1. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B

      1. pingissimus
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Ty

        You wouldn't bother with Iheanacho this week. Had meant to hold off for a week anyway but distracted by no Antonio and what that may mean for WH.

    2. Whazza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Brain is full of WC tinker but will try!

      A. I like it, but maybe for free next gw when Lei amazing fixtures start? City-Leeds could be a goalfest, not only for City 🙂

      B. Form points only one way but Son is the big hitter. I know I would start Son, especially if I decided to start Bamford already. Or actually both and bench Bamford.

      1. pingissimus
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Ty

        Just for once I suspect I'll hold off an unnecessary move - though Nacho tempts me mightily.

        At the back of my mind is the thought of starting both Leeds attackers against Liverpool next week as a Salah counter 🙂

        1. Whazza
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Hope it works out for you!

    3. Kane and Ablett
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I’d play Nacho, Raphi and Son over Watkins tbh and I’m reluctant to take hits in this final stretch

      1. pingissimus
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Nacho would be a hit though - have him programmed in either 32 or 33 depending on how many Leeds attackers I choose to play against Liverpool next time.

        Quite happy to play Watkins this week. Don't really rate that Liverpool defence and can see a return there.

  23. Pep bites Kun
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Is Lingard without Antonio a swallow short of a summer? 😉

    If choosing Jota AND Iheanacho, is it a bridge too far? If so, what's the indicator that tells us to jump off to a more nailed-on premium? Can't be gw mins as rotation will mask the reason and then we are caught between potential returns vs diminishing gws. Are we selling ourselves short for short-term gains or lining up for the kill?

  24. bigdip
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    RMWCT

    Mendy, Forster
    Shaw, Rudiger, Phillips, Coady, Fofana
    Fernandes, Gundogan, Salah (c), Jota, Lingard
    Kane, Vydra, Iheanacho

    (3.7mn itb for Gundo to Son in GW 32)

    1. lets talk about 6
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      same as mine but i have TAA and holding over philips and shaw

  25. lets talk about 6
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Which looks best?

    A) Vardy, N Philips,
    B) TAA Lingard

    1. Kane and Ablett
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B for me

    2. Starskyb
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B I reckon

    3. Il Capitano
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B

    4. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B

  26. jimbobmij
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Auba or Havertz for my draft league?

  27. nkhoughton
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I can afford any midfielder to fit into my team

    Bruno, Raphina, lingard, Rashford

    I need a 5th, I'm thinking either Jota/Salah or maybe KDB

    Thoughts?

    1. Pompey5
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Salah

  28. Arteta
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Smith-Rowe Ødegaard Saka
    Martinelli

    That would be pure FPL dream right now. Budget gems all around. Would also probably perform better than current starters...

  29. Kane and Ablett
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Is no one else tempted by Lacazette (c) this weekend?

    1. Arteta
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Wait for today's line-up.

    2. HashAttack
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      My VC - Only 6% owned, so any points are a good differential as is (Salah C)

  30. Il Capitano
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Will more than likely shift Raph > Jota with my FT giving me:

    0FT - 5.2m ITB - Only TC remaining

    Martinez
    Stones Digne Azpi
    Bruno Gundogan Lingard ESR Jota
    Kane DCL

    Fabri - Bamford Cresswell Targett

    Starting XI and bench order about right? No clue who I'm going to end up captaining, on Gundo atm.