Captains

Captain Sensible – Aguero favourite but alternatives appeal in Gameweek 5

The captaincy discussion for Gameweek 5 of Fantasy Premier League probably isn’t quite as clear-cut as our recent poll indicates.

While Manchester City’s number one striker has run away with it, there are strong cases for alternative options.

We’ve weighed up the results of the vote, compare individual and team statistics and analyse what the Rate My Team tool says to ascertain the best captain for this weekend.

The Captain Poll

A home clash with Fulham has led to Sergio Aguero (£11.3m) amassing a huge lead in the captain poll ahead of Gameweek 5. The Manchester City striker has, at time of writing, a massive 58% of the vote.

Aguero’s three goals and two assists thus far have convinced Fantasy managers that he can deliver another big haul. In fact, he has even overtaken Mohamed Salah (£13.0m) as the most fashionable player in FPL, with 51.6% ownership.

Salah’s popularity continues to fall as shown by the fact that he currently sits fourth in our poll with just under 5% of the vote. Captaincy interest in Liverpool’s trip to Spurs on Saturday lunch-time is low, with Harry Kane (£12.5m) and Sadio Mané (£10.0m) backed by under 3% of our voters. That’s despite the latter averaging 9.75 points per match so far, Salah at 6.75 and Kane 5.0.

Joining Aguero in the top three are Chelsea pair Eden Hazard (£10.7m) and Marcos Alonso (£6.8m) who are expected to do very well against Cardiff. Both players have registered returns in every single match so far combining for three goals and seven assists.

Hazard is the more popular for the captaincy out of the two, by some distance. At the time of writing the Belgian has 19% of the vote while Alonso is only just ahead of Salah with his 4.5% share. Perhaps understandable given the differences in classification and price.

Outside the top six are some interesting differential candidates, all of whom look capable of delivering points in Gameweek 5. Benjamin Mendy (£6.4m) has 1.15% backing after registering four assists in his first four league matches and adding another international duty.

Just behind him is Arsenal frontman Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£10.9m) who scored his first goal of the season against Cardiff last week. The Gabonese forward has a trip to Newcastle this time around and continues to prove more popular than colleague Alexandre Lacazette (£9.4m). The Frenchman has outscored him so far but is backed by just 0.68% in this week’s captain poll.

Danny Ings (£5.6m), Jamie Vardy (£8.9m) and Romelu Lukaku (£11.0m) complete the top 10 with, at time of writing, 0.84%, 0.77% and 0.73% backing respectively.

Ings has two goals in his last three starts and hosts a travel sick Brighton outfit on Monday night.

Meanwhile, Lukaku is currently second among strikers for shots in the penalty area and efforts on target ahead of a trip to Watford.

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1,457 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Zlat-man
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 6 months ago

    play one
    a. Ederson (FUL)
    b. Patricio (BUR)

    1. HamezMace
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      For realz?

    2. Reedy
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      Probably b. It's tight.

    3. jia you
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      Ahh for the love of sweet Jebus.........

  2. Rio9
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 6 months ago

    Currently have Mkhi-Salah-Mane-Walcott; Zaha-ings-Aguero.
    What do u guys say Salah-Mkhi out for a hit to Haz-D.SIlva?

    I see potential in this hit if returns over the next three gws considered

    1. Ayat_S
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      Good move IMO

  3. pstokes2010
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 6 months ago

    Would you change anything here? No FT's. 2.4m in the bank.

    Pickford

    Mendy Van Dijk Alonso

    Hazard(c) Mane Neves Mkhitaryan

    Aguero Mitrovic Arnautovic

    Speroni Neves Duffy Jorginho

  4. Big Ronnie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 6 months ago

    So with Wally in contention save FT or Bilva to Pedro? Wan-B to come in if Wally doesn't feature.

    Patricio
    Alonso Robbo Mendy PVA
    Salah Mane Bilva Wally
    Aguero Arnie

    Hamer Wan-B Stephens Kamara

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

      I have the same situation. I think keeping Bilva because I believe he starts and because ManC and fixture

  5. pundit of punts
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 6 months ago

    What's the latest on Fraser?

    Inconclusive scout tweet and Ben Dinnery's tweet.

    Keep him on WC or ditch? Who's the best option for 5.6m?

    1. THFC4LIFE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      Maybe a punt on Gündogan until Fraser is back?

    2. Goat
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      I am in the same boat. Such a tough decision. Would hate to keep and he be out for a month

  6. MJFainty
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 6 months ago

    Bottomed out on the last page...

    Besides the obvious reliance on Liverpool turning it on against Spurs, what are people's thoughts on this team?

    I've played the start of this season without premium strikers and it's paying off (so far)

    Kepa
    Robertson / Mendy / Alonso
    Salah / Mane / Hazard / Mkhi
    Mitrovic / Ings / Wilson

    Stek / Cairney / AWB / Tomkins

    Cheers in advance guys and gals.

    1. HamezMace
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      I don't like not having a premium striker.
      For me you should always have one of the big hitters (Aguero, Kane, Lukaku etc) and then you can use your transfers over the season to bring in the form guys.

      1. MJFainty
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 6 months ago

        Appreciate that, and I suspect that my first WC will be used with a view to bringing in one premium at the expense of the high-price who isn't performing.

        But I have to say that so far, I've not missed a premium striker yet... Am having the best start to a season I've ever had.

        1. HamezMace
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 6 months ago

          Apologies I was assuming this was a WC team...hence having all the budget performing strikers. So fair play to you mate, if you've gone with them from the start....although as I say my thinking is that over the whole season, the Mitrovic, and Ings of this league won't keep up with the Agueros and Kanes, so you'll need them eventually, and it's harder to bring them in if you need to find £3-4m from somewhere to do it.

          ...all that being said, if you still have your WC then it's all good.

          1. MJFainty
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 6 months ago

            Yeah I've managed to juggle the budgets up front quite well so far. Is it sustainable? Almost certainly not ha!

    2. 8-2
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      That front 3 is risky

      1. MJFainty
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 6 months ago

        It's paid off up until now, but agree that it'll only take one bad week for that to be just 6 points...

        But as mentioned above, I can see a premium striker coming in on the first WC.

    3. jtreble
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      It’s different but I like it.

  7. Hansel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 6 months ago

    A) PvA + Mkhi -> Alonso + Pereyra

    B) PvA + Bilva -> Alonso + Maddison

    C) PvA + Robertson -> Alonso + Pereira

    D) Robertson + Mkhi -> Alonso + Maddison

    E) PvA + Arnie -> Alonso + Wilson (would probably prefer Arnie -> Mitrovic next week but could do with Wilson)

    1. Hansel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      F) PvA + Bilva + Mkhi -> Alonso + Pedro + Maddison (-4)

  8. MrFootieIsHere
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 6 months ago

    How serious is Fraser's injury?

    1. jtreble
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      It’s a hammy. Min. = one week. Max. = impossible to say.

  9. Game of Throw_ins
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 6 months ago

    Play 2, Bench 2:
    Mitro | Billing | AWB | Holebas

    1. Wild Card this!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      AD to play

      1. Game of Throw_ins
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 6 months ago

        So basically form over fixtures ?

  10. markieffm
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 6 months ago

    1 FT this week.

    A) Hamer to Hennessey
    B) Walcott to Pereyra
    C) Davies to Trippier
    D) Hold

    My team:

    Patricio (Hamer)
    Mendy Alonso TAA Davies (Jonny)
    Walcott Mhki Pedro Salah (Stephens)
    Aguero Arny (Zaha)

  11. quayle99
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 6 months ago

    Bench one

    Bellerin
    Robertson
    Gray

    1. Reedy
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      Bellerin

  12. I drink and I know things
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 6 months ago

    Should I play

    A) Neves (Wolves at home to Burnley) as my 5th midfielder (alongside Salah, Dilva , Pedro and Moura) or

    B) take a chance on Zaha being fit and play a 3-4-3 with Zaha alongside Aguero and Ings?

    Grateful for any views!

    1. quayle99
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      zaha, neves as 1sub so he'll be subbed in if no zaha

  13. Big W
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 6 months ago

    HELPP!!!

    Patricio (Foster)
    Mendy | Alonso | Wan-b (Bennett,Pelt)
    Haz | Mane | Maddison | Wally (Fraser)
    Aguero | Laca | Wilson

    Am I GTG?

    Or Maddison & Laca > Vardy & Pedro?

    Cheers!

    1. yakirh
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      Whats wrong with maddison and laca?

  14. Old Gregg
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 6 months ago

    G2G?

    Pat
    Boly-Mendy-PVA-Robbo
    Haz (c)-Salah-Pedro
    Ings-Aguero-Wilson

    Fab-Myhki-Wan Bis -Ward.

  15. TIME TO VARTY
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 6 months ago

    Can’t choose?

    On WC

    Patricio ( 4.0 )
    Alonso Mendy WanB ( Chilwel Bennet)
    Salah Hazard Dsilva Maddison ( 4.4)
    Aguero Ings Wilson

    Zero itb

    GK set and forget, is Pat best ?
    Could go 433/442

    Or

    Pat/Hennessey
    Alonso Mendy Chilwell WanB Bennett
    Mane Hazard Maddison Pedro Dsilva
    Aguero Ings Wilson

    0.2 itb

    Could go any formation with better GK rotation
    But a lot of cash on the bench and no Salah!

    Any advice please?

    Thanks

    1. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      A

    2. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      A

      1. TIME TO VARTY
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 6 months ago

        Thanks guys that’s what I’m edging towards.

  16. Shatner's Bassoon
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 6 months ago

    Guardian have put Bilva starting in their preview.

    Fellow owners, please follow my lead in taking a -4 to bin him off.

    1. FCSB
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      are they normally wrong?

      1. Shatner's Bassoon
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 6 months ago

        Notorious for it I think.

      2. Reedy
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 6 months ago

        Yeah, they aren't the best. But when the Guardian and the team news here agree it's usually a fair indication the player will start.

    2. jtreble
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      Fellow owners or lemmings?

    3. Shatner's Bassoon
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      N.B. I'm not actually doing that.

    4. Eden Wizard
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      I'm holding, bought him on the proviso that he was a relatively cheap risk. Can see rotation and protection of Dave Silva in KDB's absence.

      1. Shatner's Bassoon
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 6 months ago

        Certainly possible yeah.

        To be honest, whether he starts the match or not there's still a risk of a 1-pointer as Pep loves making changes before 60.

        Almost prefer Bilva to get ~25 at the end against a tired side...

    5. BobbyDoesNotLook
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      Keeping. I believe he starts, it is ManCity and fixture is good. Of course Pedro has better form but Bilva is a great player (if he is not playing RWB).

  17. Chockky
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 6 months ago

    Mkhi+B silva--> Hazard and Gray (Lei) for -4

    or wait and see then free transfer if required?

  18. Riders of Yohan
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 6 months ago

    Current team, advice on a change or leave?

    Ederson / hamer
    Mendy / robbo / pva / wan bis / bennet
    Salah / mane / miky / moura / Hughes
    Aguero / arnie / ings

    0.1 ITB & 1FT

    Salah to hazard to free up upgrades?

    1. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      I’d save but that move is a possibility.

  19. The 12th Man
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 6 months ago

    Gtg? Saving my FT 0.1m itb

    Ederson
    Alonso,Mendy,Periera
    Salah,Hazard(vc),Mkhitaryan,Fraser
    Aguero(c),Zaha,Ings

    Hamer,TAA,AWB,Guendouzi

    Playing Periera ahead of AWB and TAA?Likelihood one or two of them will come off the bench anyway.

    1. pstokes2010
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      Nice team.

    2. Chockky
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      looks G2G, hopefully AWB or TAA don't bite you in the arse

      1. The 12th Man
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 6 months ago

        That’s the risk of having a playing bench but it enables me to hold onto Fraser this week.
        Thanks.

  20. TeddiPonza
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 6 months ago

    Current team

    Patricio
    Mendy AWB Alonso
    Salah Mane Hazard FRASER
    ZAHA JIMENEZ Aguero

    Hamer Kabasele Stephens Peltier

    Zaha is 75% according to Ben Dinnery, Jimenez 50% and Fraser 25%. My bench is crap with Kabasele, Stephens and Peltier.

    Got 0,0m in bank and 1 free transfer.

    What to do?

    A. Jimenez and Fraser to Ings and Neves (Ings unvailable next week though) -4 points
    B. Jimenez and Fraser to Wilson and Hojberg -4
    C. Just Fraser to Neves and hope the best
    D. Stop bothering and just wildcard

  21. Agger
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 6 months ago

    Shaw out - Bellerin In

  22. palmersears
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 6 months ago

    Ok so I'm contemplating no transfers this week, then Salah, Pedro and Miki > Hazard, Mane & Fraser next week for a -4. Part of me just wants to go Salah-less for a bit of variety, and I'd still have Liverpool coverage with Mane whilst getting Hazard in as well.

    It'd then leave 7.1 (allowing for any price drops) for a midfielder to replace Walcott the week after, possible back to Richarlison or another alternative.

    Thoughts?

  23. seewhyaxe
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 6 months ago

    play awb or walcott?

    1. Numb
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      Walcott

  24. Numb
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 6 months ago

    Start AWB or Mkhi?

    This is a tricky one.

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      Wan Bissaka

    2. MTPockets
        5 years, 6 months ago

        Have Mkhi ahead of AWB on bench, but yeah not sure

      • Reedy
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 6 months ago

        I haven't seen the Palace team news yet, but if Tomkins and Zaha start I'd probably start AWB. But Mkhy if either is set to miss out.

        1. Numb
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 6 months ago

          Tomkins is a late test. Doesn’t help!

          1. Numb
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 6 months ago

            So is Zaha

          2. Reedy
            • 13 Years
            5 years, 6 months ago

            Ah. I tried! 🙂

            1. Reedy
              • 13 Years
              5 years, 6 months ago

              If they are both doubts I'd start Mkhi.

              1. Numb
                • 9 Years
                5 years, 6 months ago

                Thanks

    3. quayle99
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      Hart or Fabi?

    4. Drop Dead Tsimikas
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      On a WC:

      Patricio / Etheridge
      Mendy / Robertson / Alonso / Shaw / W-B
      Hazard / Mane / Pereyra / Maddison / Moutinho
      Aguero / Ings / Mitro

      0.6 in the bank

      1. Stick with Shaw for now until he comes back or drop for a playing DEF?
      2. Anything else?

    5. Eden Wizard
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      Obviously Alonso could HAUL hard tomorrow but, is his fixture run worth a -4 for Robertson out? Was planning to wait until after United.
      CAR, whm, LIV, sot, MNU

    6. Moore FPL
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      Hmmm, seems like my 2 injury doubts walcott and shaw *may* play...

      1. caldracula
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 6 months ago

        Don’t think Shaw will play but Walcott probably will

    7. Winners900
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      Bottomed...

      Thoughts on who to start?

      A) Robertson vs Spurs away
      CS odds: 24%
      Goal: Around 5% (18/1)
      Assist : (?)
      RMT tool points: 2.77p

      B) AWB vs Huddersfield away
      CS odds: 36%
      Goal: Around 5% (16/1)
      Assist : (?)
      RMT tool points: 3

      Cheers

    8. Big Ronnie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 6 months ago

      Patricio
      Alonso Robbo Mendy PVA
      Salah Mane Bilva Wally
      Aguero Arnie

      Hamer Wan-B Stephens Kamara

      A) Save FT
      B) Bilva to Pedro

      1. Atimis
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 6 months ago

        Im doing B

      2. Le Bluff
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 6 months ago

        Save!

        Bilva could become Rich/Dilva next week. Too many rotation concerns with Pedro.