1189
Captain Sensible August 4

Who is the best FPL captain for Gameweek 1?

1,189 Comments
Share

Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers are mainly looking to Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur for the Gameweek 1 captaincy, and for the first time this season, the Captain Sensible article is here to highlight which assets have the best chance of hauling.

First, we will assess the fallout of the captain poll, before then analysing the best options, Rate My Team (RMT) and the Premier Fantasy Tools ratings ahead of Friday’s 18:30 BST deadline.

THE CAPTAIN POLL

Mohamed Salah (£13.0m) is the clear winner of the captain poll, with just over 60% of total votes from users in the inaugural vote of the season. 

No other player has garnered more than 12% of votes at this stage, with Harry Kane (£11.5m) currently in second place.

Gabriel Jesus (£8.0m) occupies third place with just under 10% of votes, followed by Son Heung-min (£12.0m) and Erling Haaland (£11.5m), with 4.74% and 4.53% respectively. 

THE CANDIDATES

MOHAMED SALAH

Who are the best FPL captain options for Double Gameweek 36?

Mohamed Salah underlined his captaincy credentials by scoring 23 goals and providing 14 assists last season cementing his status as the highest point scorer (265) in Fantasy Premier League.

The Egyptian started in an empathetic fashion, and temporarily ended the captaincy conversation, by registering six double-digit hauls in his first nine matches. 

Early-season verve was replaced by late-season lethargy as the performances of Salah slumped below his gold standard levels. 

Following Double Gameweek 26, Salah blanked in six of his 11 Premier League matches, registering a solitary double-digit haul. 

Despite the peaks and troughs, Mohamed Salah produced division-leading underlying numbers, ranking first for non-penalty expected goal involvement (26.40) last season.  

Salah produced his vintage best against defensive-juggernaut Manchester City in the Community Shield, providing an assist before expertly dispatching from the spot. 

A visit to newly-promoted Fulham provides the perfect opportunity for Salah to continue an opening day goal-scoring record which dates back to 2017. 

Fulham boasted the third-best defensive record in the Championship last season, registering a respectable 17 clean sheets, and allowed the least open-play expected goals conceded (xGC).

But in terms of playstyle, the Cottagers ranked best in the division for build-up attacks and produced the second-most goals scored from high turnovers. 

Should Fulham stay true to their football philosophy and try to outplay Liverpool then expect goals, and a Mohamed Salah haul.

HARRY KANE

Auto Draft 32

Who played the most minutes over the March international break?

Hibbo Author of Captain Sensible. I write Fantasy Premier League articles, focusing on stats and strategy. Four top 10k finishes. 22/23 Rank - 6123.  Follow them on Twitter

1,189 Comments Post a Comment
  1. PapaLloyd
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    A) VVD + 1m itb
    B) Robbo + 0.5m itb
    C) TAA no money itb

    Thanks

    Open Controls
    1. pundit of punts
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      C

      Open Controls
    2. AnyoneButLiverpool
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      B

      Open Controls
    3. agueroooooney
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      C

      Open Controls
  2. pundit of punts
    • 11 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    A. Sterling + Walker

    Or

    B. Mount + Cancelo

    Open Controls
    1. AnyoneButLiverpool
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      B

      Open Controls
    2. Markanmies
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Easy B

      Open Controls
    3. Kane5
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      B

      Open Controls
    4. agueroooooney
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      B

      Open Controls
    5. pundit of punts
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Cheers all

      Open Controls
  3. AD105
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    G2G?

    Ederson
    TAA Robbo Trent Cancelo Perisic
    Salah Martinelli Bailey
    Kane Jesus

    Ward Pereira DaSilva Archer

    Open Controls
    1. Dynamic Duos
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Needs more Neto and Rashford lol

      Open Controls
      1. AD105
        • 7 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Neto is the biggest trap I’ve ever seen lol

        Open Controls
        1. Dynamic Duos
          • 10 Years
          1 year, 8 months ago

          Nah, Wolves are prolific

          Open Controls
    2. Mario Balofail
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      I see TAA and Trent

      Open Controls
      1. AD105
        • 7 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Excuse me - James

        Open Controls
    3. agueroooooney
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Looks very nice (I've seen Trent is James)

      Open Controls
  4. AnyoneButLiverpool
    • 4 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    I’m not very good at this so could you guys help me please

    Ramsdale Ward

    TAA Robo James Cancelo Neco

    Salah Martnielli Rashford Bailey Andreas

    Kane Jesus Archer (0.5 in the bank)

    Orr

    Ramsdale Ward

    TAA Robo James Walker* Neco

    Son* Martnielli Rashford Bailey Diaz

    Kane Jesus Archer

    I could also go Archer ->wilson and Diaz -> pereira

    Open Controls
    1. Thomas Jerome Newton
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      The one with Salah and Cancelo.
      The other one has one playing player too many.

      Open Controls
    2. Kane5
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Option 1, very hard to not own Salah

      Open Controls
    3. agueroooooney
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      First option

      Open Controls
  5. klopptimusprime
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    A or B

    a) James, Saka, Neto/Aaronson
    b) Perisic, Mount, Martinelli

    Sanchez
    TAA - Robbo - Cancelo - xxx
    Salah - xxx - xxx - Bailey
    Haaland - Jesus

    Fodder Bench

    Open Controls
    1. Kane5
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      B

      Open Controls
  6. dunas_dog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Gtg?

    Ward
    TAA James Dias Cancelo Robertson
    Salah (c) Martinelli Bailey
    Haaland Jesus

    Bench: Sanchez Neto Andreas DaSilva

    Open Controls
    1. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      * leaves .5 m in bank

      Open Controls
    2. osceola31909
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      GTG

      Open Controls
  7. tats_lads
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    (A) Son & Sterling

    OR

    (B) Salah & Mount (+1)

    Open Controls
    1. Kane5
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      B

      Open Controls
    2. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      B

      Open Controls
  8. Letsgo!
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Is this too differential
    Ward
    Taa walker trippier digne
    Kdb salah trossard neto
    Jesus kane

    Thinking trossard or odegaard/martinelli

    Open Controls
    1. Kane5
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Dont think its too differential. I think Martinelli is a great pick up at 6m

      Open Controls
      1. Letsgo!
        • 7 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        But will prefer odegaard than marti though

        Open Controls
  9. Origi-nal
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    A) Castagne, Maddison
    B) James, Martinelli +0.5

    Open Controls
    1. Kane5
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      B

      Open Controls
    2. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      B

      Open Controls
  10. Ruinenlust
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Haaland or Kane for first few gws?

    Already have Son

    Open Controls
    1. Kane5
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Haaland

      Open Controls
    2. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Haaland

      Open Controls
    3. Dynamic Duos
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Kane

      Open Controls
    4. KieranKA
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Haaland

      Open Controls
    5. Better off with a pin and a…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Haaland gives you a standout captain for gw2 so him.

      Open Controls
  11. KieranKA
    • 2 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    I think I'm locked in – at last.

    Ward // Sánchez
    Trent Robertson Cancelo James // Williams
    Salah(C) Saka Neto Bailey // Andreas
    Haaland(V) Jesus // Archer

    Any last-minute changes needed?

    Open Controls
  12. Simon69
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Madness absolute madness to play Bailey and Neto ahead of Mart? Palace are a tough nut to crack...

    Open Controls
    1. mezza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      I’d go Bailey and Martinelli

      Open Controls
      1. Simon69
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        I was on Mart to start since the game opened but I've just been thinking it's Arsenal on opening day and the expectation is huge.

        Open Controls
    2. Fish up a tree
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Tough game to start but we look a different team now & Martinelli looks on it in preseason & I think he could really come of age this season

      He’s starting for me no doubt

      Open Controls
  13. Pep's Money Laundry
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    I know 532 could backfire but I think aren't any good sub 6m players in midfield, so would do you think of this draft?

    Ward (Iversen)
    Trent Robbo Perisic Walker Trippier
    Salah Sterling Martinelli (Pereira Colback)
    Kane Jesus (Archer)

    Open Controls
  14. PapaWengzz
    • 4 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    A) Neto + Trippier + 0.5ITB
    B) Bailey + Reece James

    Open Controls
  15. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    A) Odegaard + James
    B) Saka + RAN (Neco GW3)

    Open Controls
    1. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Rather Martinelli James plus .5

      Open Controls
      1. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        And of the two options?

        Open Controls
        1. dunas_dog
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          1 year, 8 months ago

          If you are set on them then A

          Open Controls
    2. Fish up a tree
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      A

      Open Controls
  16. The FPL Units
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    RMT

    Template
    Template Template Template Template
    Template Template Template Template
    Template Template

    Bench: Template Template Template Template

    Open Controls
    1. Diedhiou See That?
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Too risky

      Open Controls
    2. smitch
      • 13 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      I think you should consider a formation change

      Open Controls
    3. Mario Balofail
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Way too heavy on a template

      Open Controls
    4. agueroooooney
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Bit Templatey but it's good

      Open Controls
  17. Casualspotted
    • 1 Year
    1 year, 8 months ago

    https://youtu.be/YoEB4E0LjNc

    170 pts incoming

    Open Controls
  18. thattreblefeeling
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    A) Ederson Trippier ITB .5
    B) Ward Cancelo

    Open Controls
  19. Solly_786
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Game week 1

    Son or haaland??

    Which one would you have

    Open Controls
    1. agueroooooney
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Haaland

      Open Controls
  20. Letsgo!
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Who is aston villa pen taker?

    Open Controls
    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/fantasy-premier-league-set-piece-takers/

      Open Controls
    2. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Unclear- Watkins Ings or Coutinho

      Open Controls
  21. pundit of punts
    • 11 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    I'm done. 🙂

    Ederson
    TAA - Cancelo - VVD
    Salah - Mount - Martinelli - Neto - Bailey
    Kane - Jesus

    Ward - Neco - Patterson - Plange

    Kane > Haaland in gw 2

    Ticks all the boxes -

    1. 3 city
    2. 3 pool
    3. Chelsea attack ( they actually have an amazing run attack wise)
    4. Double arsenal attack
    5. Potential bargain early risers in Neco and Patterson
    6. Darwin plan if need be - Mount + VVD + Plange > Darwin + Perisic + Andreas in gw 4 after Savin FT in 3
    7. Easy route to James/Chilwell and Perisic/Doherty in the form of VVD
    8. 8m mid in place in case another one explodes (if city mid needed Ederson + Mount > Lloris + Foden/Mahrez)
    9. Get Kane back around gw 6 (allows to have Kane and haaland for all their good fixtures upto WC)

    I will be WCing early between 6 to 8.

    I guess that cover all the eventualities by then. 😛 🙂

    Open Controls
    1. ambergamer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      I’d say so, good team & sound reasoning!

      Open Controls
  22. dunas_dog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    A Be bold and get Perisic
    B Play it safe with Dias

    Open Controls
    1. agueroooooney
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      A

      Open Controls
  23. Dynamic Duos
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    10? When Neto and Bailey inevitable flop?

    Open Controls
    1. Dynamic Duos
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Reply fail* for POP

      Open Controls
    2. pundit of punts
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Nah

      They both face promoted teams early doors

      They will get somethin and one 8 or 9 pointer in 3 games good for their price.

      Bailey looked so dangerous. I saw the last few games. Neto is also the talisman with Jimenez out.

      Hard to flop so bad with all those factors going their way

      Open Controls
      1. Dynamic Duos
        • 10 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        I will come back to this in a few weeks and we can discuss your disappointment

        Open Controls
        1. pundit of punts
          • 11 Years
          1 year, 8 months ago

          If you don't come, I sure will

          Open Controls
        2. noquarternt
          • 8 Years
          1 year, 8 months ago

          Yeah I can't see them having more than 6 points each after the first 2 games. And then what?

          Open Controls
  24. Xna
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    At the moment I have KDB and Jesus in my team. I might be crazy, but I am really considering actually going without Jesus, a couple of arguments below:

    1) KDB+Jesus can become Saka + Haaland, still leaving me with great attacking coverage from both teams, that could arguably outscore the latter. On top of that, there is a 0.5 budget gain if the switch is done.

    2) Potential Jesus blank could lead to an early price drop given the ownership % and the number of kneejerk reactions that could follow, and then brought in for a lower price. I am aware that majority of serious players want him long term, but there are a lot of casuals that will be making moves without giving them thoughts.

    3) Imagining Haaland+Kane is simply mouthwatering. This season smells as FWD position rebirth in FPL. Kane already has four 200+ points seasons, (for example KDB has 2). It does mean that strikers need to have a number of assists to their name on top of the goals scored in order to reach those heights. Kane is already proven in that regards, but having checked Haaland's stats, he had 8 league assists in each of the previous two Bundesliga seasons (24 and 28 appearances).

    It might just being me trying to justify being smart against 75% of people, but the more I think about it, the better it looks. Thoughts are welcome.

    Open Controls
    1. Albrightondknight
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Different ways to play I currently don’t have Jesus or Salah - I will be laughing or crying.
      Then again having Cancelo KDB and Haaland for GW2 will be nice.

      Open Controls
    2. ambergamer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Can’t fault the reasoning. Is it worth gambling on a Jesus price drop though?

      Open Controls
      1. Xna
        • 8 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        It's not the sole reason, the 0.5 extra budget makes great difference at this stage.

        Let's put it like this.

        A) KDB + Jesus
        B) Saka + Haaland + 0.5m

        Even without the extra budget, A and B look neck and neck in terms of potential points in the first couple of GW.

        Open Controls
    3. noquarternt
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      I don't think anyone would deny that Kane + Haaland is far superior than Jesus + one of them.

      Just comes down to price and the rest of your team. Most people will have Salah so K+H is a bit of a stretch.

      A team with Kane Haaland + a few 8 mill mids would be great too.

      Open Controls
      1. Xna
        • 8 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        I agree with the squad balance argument. I went for the threemium, as I believe that there are 5.0 - 7.0mil midfielders with great value.

        The thoughts I am having are whether the MID premiums are worth 0.5 more than FWD premiums. There were a number of seasons with forwards exceeding 200pts mark, and that could easily happen again.

        Open Controls
  25. Albrightondknight
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Should I chicken out in the end and get Salah and put C on with the 1 mil ITB
    Or stick to my guns and C Son

    Open Controls
    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Yes

      Open Controls
    2. agueroooooney
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Go with your gut

      Open Controls
    3. ambergamer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Chicken out - there’s obviously a chance Son might score more but Salah is the safer option.

      Open Controls
  26. Matr1xOne
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Please help

    Ward
    TAA, James, Cancelo, Nico
    Sarah, Martinelli, Mount, Bailey
    Jesus, Haaland

    With either:

    A) Mendy, Mings, Bren Johnson
    Or
    B) Lloris, Perlsic, Greenwood

    Looking to play week 1 bench boost on option A, or permanent goalkeeper b

    Open Controls
    1. agueroooooney
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      B

      Open Controls
    2. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Don’t like either proposed bench - Mings may not be in first team so BB a risk and if wanting permanent goalie Sanchez better as rotates with Ward well

      Open Controls
  27. Seminole
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    I have seen weeks of debate about Haaland vs. Kane up front in order to cover City and Spurs for each of their nice opening fixtures, yet very little of KDB vs. Son with a mid price forward up top to offset them. I'm looking at starting with Son then swapping to KDB for GW2, with Wilson in the second striker spot.

    With all the hand-wringing over Haaland's minutes, the parade of 8m midfielders that go hand in hand with the premium striker spot (none of whom stand out), I think I prefer 2 big hitters in the midfield and then play the fixtures with the second mid price striker spot. After Wilson's first 2, he could become Bamford or one of the promoted strikers if they get off to a hot start.

    The recent article about lack of value in premium strikers vs. premium mids reinforced this approach.

    Any one else going this direction?

    Open Controls
    1. agueroooooney
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Too scared to not be a sheep but I like the idea

      Open Controls
    2. Xna
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Lack of value in premium strikers is just a trend following last season. Kane with a good half of the season ended with 192pts. Had he hit the form earlier, he could have easily matched Salah's numbers.

      Open Controls
    3. osceola31909
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Something like this?

      Ward
      TAA - Cancelo - James - Trippier
      Salah - Son - Saka - Bailey
      Jesus - Watkins

      Iverson - N. Williams - Andreas - Archer

      Open Controls
      1. Seminole
        • 9 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Very similar to what I have currently.

        Ward
        TAA - Cancelo - *Robbo - *Perisic
        Salah - Son - *Martinelli - *Bailey
        Jesus - *Wilson

        *Sanchez - Neco - Andreas - Archer

        Open Controls
  28. Dynamic Duos
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    G2G ?

    Neto Neto
    Neto Neto Neto Neto Neto
    Neto Neto Rashford Neto Neto
    Neto Neto Neto

    Or not enough Neto?

    Open Controls
    1. mcpoop
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      too much rashford

      Open Controls
    2. LLoris
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Bailey instead of Neto imo

      Open Controls
    3. noquarternt
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      I like it, strong

      Open Controls
    4. Thomas Jerome Newton
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Who will you captain GW1?

      Open Controls
      1. Dynamic Duos
        • 10 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Rashford lol

        Open Controls
  29. Joyce1998
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    G2G?

    Ramsdale
    Taa, Tripp, Walker
    Diaz, Bailey, Son, KDB, Rash
    Darwin, Jesus

    Ward, Coufal, N.Williams, Plange

    Open Controls
  30. Ungaio
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Gtg?
    Ramsdale
    Trippier TAA Robbo Perisic Cancelo
    Salah Mount Bailey
    Haaland Jesus

    Ward Taylor Reed Andreas

    Open Controls

You need to be logged in to post a comment.