A busy Friday rolls on with our pre-Gameweek members’ article, as we check in with the key captain candidates for the largest round of fixtures of the 2017/18.
With 30% of active Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers still to play their Triple Captain chip, the armband decision for this 16-match Gameweek could be the most vital of our seasons.
To get underway, then, we assess the form of the leading players in the Double Gameweek 37 Captain Poll, then analyse the Opta data and Rate My Team (RMT) ratings before looking at a differential or two ahead of this evening’s 7 pm deadline.
The Captain Poll
The three most bought players for Double Gameweek 37 dominate our latest poll.
Earning 36% of the votes, Harry Kane sits at the top as Spurs head to West Brom before hosting Newcastle in midweek.
Goals in each of his last two matches hint at a return to form as he collides with a pair of off-form defences – West Brom have one clean sheet in eight at The Hawthorns, while the Magpies have just two shutouts away from home all season.
Yet midfield duo Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli have been far more reliable in terms of recent returns. Both have scored four times in their last six league outings, with Alli edging the Dane by three assists to two.
Gabriel Jesus claims the runners-up spot ahead of Man City team-mate Raheem Sterling.
One of just three sides to play twice in front of their own fans, the champions entertain Huddersfield and Brighton’s obliging defences.
David Wagner’s men have conceded in each of their last 14 on the road, while Brighton have only one shutout in their last 14 overall.
The Brazilian has flourished in the absence of Sergio Aguero, serving up four goals and three assists over five starts since returning from injury.
Sterling approaches the pair of fixtures in his most prolific FPL form of the season. Supplying double-figures in each of the last three Gameweeks, the winger has three goals and seven assists in his previous six.
Although Kevin De Bruyne and Leroy Sane have been far less reliable in recent weeks, the pair remain explosive options at the Etihad, with six and five double-digit hauls respectively.
With Kane, Jesus and Sterling so popular, no other player collects more than 1% backing.
Man United midfield duo Paul Pogba and Alexis Sanchez have both delivered two sets of double-digits in their respective last four league outings ahead of clashes with Brighton and West Ham.
Pogba is in particularly strong form since a switch to 4-3-3, bagging three goals and an assist over that period. His upcoming opponents have managed have mustered just one and two clean sheets respectively over their last 14 matches.
Chelsea’s Eden Hazard has hinted at a return to form ahead of back-to-back home encounters with Liverpool and Huddersfield – the Blues’ winger has a goal and two assists in his last three starts in all competitions.
Jamie Vardy remains Leicester’s main form attacker, firing four goals in six league appearances ahead of visit from West Ham and Arsenal.
Meanwhile, the Hammers’ Marko Arnautovic has averaged 6.5 points per match since a move up front in Gameweek 16, thanks to ten goals and five assists in 17 outings.
With Arsenal now out of the Europa League, both Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (five goals and three assists in his last seven) and Alexandre Lacazette (four goals in four) have the domestic form to emerge as key differentials should Arsene Wenger do away with rotation.
For once, Mohamed Salah is among the also-rans as Liverpool face a single Gameweek 37 fixture, away to Chelsea on Sunday afternoon.
The Egyptian has earned more sales than any player ahead of this evening’s deadline, though he has already scored against his former club at Anfield back in Gameweek 13.
