Captains
21 December 2018 1232 comments
DavidMunday815 DavidMunday815
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There is such a wide range of options for the Fantasy Premier League captaincy in Gameweek 18.

Not only do Manchester City have a favourable fixture against Crystal Palace, Arsenal host Burnley and Spurs travel to Everton.

Meanwhile, Mohamed Salah and Eden Hazard have been offering some impressive individual statistics.

We’ve compared the most popular options in our poll against the player, team and opposition statistics to try and come up with the best option this weekend.

Captain Poll

Raheem Sterling (£11.6m) is set to be the poll winner for Gameweek 18 ahead of Crystal Palace’s visit to the Etihad Stadium, with 27% of the vote. The Manchester City midfielder’s popularity probably stems from the fact that he is fairly likely to start this weekend after missing out on the last two line-ups, his minutes managed by Pep Guardiola against Everton and Leicester. In Sterling’s last six Premier League starts he has five goals and five assists, making him a strong candidate for Gameweek 18.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.5m) comes in with just under 19% backing this weekend and is the closest challenger to a poll leader for some weeks. The Arsenal man has been unfortunate not to find the net more often recently, now without a goal since his Gameweek 14 brace against Tottenham. However, a home match against an out-of-form Burnley could be the tonic Aubameyang and his colleagues need after their defeat at Southampton, and his owners seem confident he will deliver.

Leroy Sané (£9.7m) has been backed as an alternative Manchester City option this week, with the German international coming in at third place in the poll. 12% of voters are planning on giving him the captaincy, presumably because of his slightly greater chance of starting the match than Sterling. Sané has been named in the Manchester City line-up in six of the last seven Gameweeks and has considerably less competition for his place while Benjamin Mendy is injured.

Hot on Sané’s tails in the vote is Chelsea man Eden Hazard (£11.0m), backed by 11% at the time of writing. He has been remarkably consistent recently, with a goal and five assists in his last four outings for the Blues. With Leicester City the next to visit Stamford Bridge, Hazard owners will be confident of further returns in Gameweek 18, with a number of them looking to captain him.

Mohamed Salah (£13.1m) leads the chasing pack this weekend, with just under 8% believing he is the ideal captain candidate ahead of Liverpool’s trip to Wolves on Friday night. He is just ahead of Harry Kane (£12.6m) who will travel to Everton on Sunday afternoon, backed by 6% of the poll voters.

Another big name far down the list of popularity is Sergio Aguero (£11.2m) who is fit again and had some minutes in the League Cup midweek. 3.7% believe he is the best option for Gameweek 18, keeping him just ahead of the most popular defender: Matt Doherty (£5.2m). The Wolves man has the support of 1.7% of our voters.

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  1. Fletcher Moss
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 2 days ago

    Son + Francis => Sané + Targett?

    It’s a 4pt hit but would captain Sané (no City since I sold Aguero and D.Silva). And with Duffy and Francis out I need to replace one or play AWB away to City.

    Targett is only for the next 2 games as I’ll be wildcarding going into GW20. I believe he should be safe from Bertrand returning for those?

    1. Ambrosiana Inter
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      Suicide

      1. Fletcher Moss
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 2 days ago

        And why do you think that?

        I realise Son could do well this gameweek or next but his 70-odd mins midweek compared to Sane’s 0 makes the latter appear to be a more rotation friendly option over the next games.

    2. Amey
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      Do it.
      Sane C can be explosive

      1. Fletcher Moss
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 2 days ago

        Thanks Amey! Yup, I’m pretty confident on that side of the move, but do you think Targett should be safe for next 2?

        1. Amey
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 2 days ago

          Can't be certain about it.
          If you want surety of start try feminia or Bednarek too

          1. Fletcher Moss
            • 12 Years
            7 years, 2 days ago

            Hmm I did look at Bednarek but felt less secure about him with Stephens potential return and no guarantee they keep the back three. Thanks for the input though, given me some food for thought.

    3. Rust Cohle
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      I’ve done something similar bringing in those same two.

      1. Fletcher Moss
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 2 days ago

        Cheers, hope it works out for you (and maybe me!)

  2. Bojaninho
    • 16 Years
    7 years, 2 days ago

    top 3 to own this weekend? one of each def, mid, striker

    1. George James
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      Alonso / Sterling / Kane

    2. CRO KLOPP
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      Alonso Sterling Kane

    3. Fletcher Moss
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      This weekend, exclusively...

      Laporte, Sané and Lacazette

    4. yakirh
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      Alonso Sterling Jesus

    5. Amey
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      Alonso/Sterling/Jesus

    6. Brosstan
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      No one, Sterling, Jesus

      1. Doctor Evil
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 2 days ago

        Alonso/Hazard/Ings

        I have Kane but have a good feeling about Ings

    7. Slitherene
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      Alonso | Hazard | Aguero

    8. AuFeld
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      Auba / Sterling / Alonso

  3. FPL_Crisis
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    7 years, 2 days ago

    Sané
    Hazard
    Felipe

    Who to captain this week?
    First to 3....go

    1. Amey
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      Sane

    2. SoShy
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      Sane

    3. Fletcher Moss
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      Sane

      1. FPL_Crisis
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        7 years, 2 days ago

        Thanks all

    4. Doctor Evil
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      Haz

    5. Steiger
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      Haz

  4. DR0GBA
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 2 days ago

    How to get Hazard into this team without removing Sane/Sterling?

    Fabianski
    Kolasinac, Laporte, Luiz, Diop
    Sterling, Sane, Richarlison, Anderson
    Auba, Kane

    Woodman, AWB, Camarasa, Kamara

    Don't want to get rid of Rich/Anderson since I think they're good players which means Camarasa > Hazard is the most appealing option.

    I would prefer to get rid of Auba instead of Kane but I can only afford £5.3m strikers to fund Hazard unless I take another hit somewhere else

    A) Kane + Camarasa > Ings + Hazard (-4)
    B) Auba + Camarasa > (5.3m or less striker) + Hazard (-4)
    C) Something else?

    Thanks

    1. Jontharon
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      C, with Kamara

      1. DR0GBA
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 2 days ago

        I already have Kamara on the bench

        1. Jontharon
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 2 days ago

          My bad

        2. Tingate
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          7 years, 2 days ago

          I'm in the same boat as you and been thinking about this all week but i'm going to wait until after this weekend and decide. Hazard may haul but you're already starting with a -4 for the gameweek. Seeing out this week and rolling over a transfer until next week is a better option in my opinion and being able to make three transfers for -4 next week once you've seen what happens this weekend.

          Aubameyang may be benched for the start of Burnley put past sub appearances show that he is capable of high scoring even in these games. Just my two cents.

          1. DR0GBA
            • 8 Years
            7 years, 2 days ago

            I'm probably going to go for this idea then and just hope the players i've been wanting to get in don't punish me

    2. Doctor Evil
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      A

    3. Rust Cohle
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      Auba & Camarasa to Hazard and Depoitre

  5. ZakAFC_
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 2 days ago

    Salah > Sterling? (Have Sané)

    1. CRO KLOPP
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      No, Salah great captain for next week

  6. SoShy
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 2 days ago

    Definitely doing Auba & Fraser to Rashford & Hazard.

    Questions is to do it this GW or the next?

    Got 2FT 0.9 in the bank

    Or maybe address my defence?

    Keane, Doherty, AWB, TAA, Kola

    1. Amey
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      Get Digne for Kean this gw.
      Do auba+fraser >> Hazard + rash/jimmy/ings/chicha next gw

  7. King H
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 2 days ago

    Save free transfer or Use?

    Patricio
    Alonso Robertson D.Luiz
    Hazard Salah Fraser Paterson
    Kane Wilson Mitrovic

    Hennessey Holebas WB Musuaku

    1. rekyaren
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      No city and way to expensive defence.
      I would do something like Alonso, Fraser -> Sane, 4.0 defence

  8. Athletic Nasherbo
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 2 days ago

    Got 2FT but nowhere to use. What shall I go here?

    Ederson
    Alonso Robertson Doherty
    Sterling Sane Son Richarlison Fraser
    Kane Chicharito

    Button Digne Success WB

    1. Jontharon
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      Fraser to Snoddy

    2. Amey
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      If burning FT do success to kamara & pocket 0.2M 😉

      1. Fletcher Moss
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 2 days ago

        This is not a bad shout.

        But if you’re open to losing Alonso (albeit some risk in that) then I’d consider downgrading - maybe even to Luiz - to free up money for Success to a 3rd striker who rotates with Fraser’s tougher fixtures. If that stretches you to around 7m then Rashford and Arnautovic could start to look like great options next week.

        1. Fletcher Moss
          • 12 Years
          7 years, 2 days ago

          Obviously you wouldn’t rotate Arnautovic or Rashford though! Haha.

    3. Slitherene
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      Robertson to Trippier, and then get back TAA/Lovren after ARS and mci?

  9. KingoftheRunts
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 2 days ago

    Hit out auba this week. Gonna be sweating it 11 30 saturday

    1. SoShy
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      2 goals of the bench

    2. Amey
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      Good move long term

  10. George James
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 2 days ago

    Best option?

    A) Save FT
    B) Salah >> Sterling / Haz
    C) Salah + Billing >> Haz + Martial -4

    Mcarthy
    Doherty / Alonso / Kolasinac*
    Salah / Richarlison / Sane / Fanderson
    Kane / Lacazette / Kamara

    Hennessy / Billing / Bennet / AWB

    1. SoShy
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      A)

  11. Delph & Safety
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 2 days ago

    Start Digne or Doherty?

    1. CRO KLOPP
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      Digne

  12. N00B
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 2 days ago

    Bellerin out for at least another two weeks, Mustafi out of Saturday. Kolasinac (thigh) and Mkhitaryan (ankle) being assessed.

    https://www.arsenal.com/news/team-news-mkhitaryan-kolasinac-mustafi

    1. Ole.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      Feel like Miki doubts boost Obama, hopefully.

    2. Brosstan
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      Cheers Unai. Nice to have managers who care about the FPL community

  13. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 2 days ago

    Play two, bench order

    A) jimenez
    B) Doherty
    C) holebas
    D) schindler
    E) hojbjerg

    Easy as ABC isn't it?

    1. SoShy
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      A
      C

    2. Amey
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      Play
      A & D
      Bench
      CBE

    3. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      Thanks both!

  14. DR0GBA
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 2 days ago

    Auba + Richarlison > Ings + Hazard (-4)

    A) Yes
    B) No

    1. Jontharon
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      B

  15. Lone Wolf FPL
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 2 days ago

    So TAA out this GW and should be ready for Newcastle, right?

    1. CRO KLOPP
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      Who knows, next week is midweek

    2. Elwood
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      Could be close, 1 more week out would miss 3 GWs. Quite a risk.

    3. AuFeld
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      Klopp seem pretty keen on his return soon. I think he'll be starting for the Newcastle match.

    4. GENERATION X
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      Happy to keep here as AWB has perfect Boxing Day fixture, reckon they will target Arsenal game for him...

  16. Forza Papac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 2 days ago

    Bellerin out for at least another two weeks, Mustafi out of Saturday. Kolasinac (thigh) and Mkhitaryan (ankle) being assessed.

    -Chris Watts

    1. Forza Papac
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      Charles Watts ***

  17. xHaTr
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 2 days ago

    Murray to Ings for free?

    1. Elwood
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      Looks good

  18. 420king
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 2 days ago

    I've only got 1 FT left a week after WCing, which is pretty sad...

    ..but still, Eriksen to Sane?

  19. camarozz
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 2 days ago

    Lad for - 4

    Feeling like Xmas is the time to take some punts. Comfortably leading my MLs and 8k ish rank.

    Wilson➡️Ings
    Kola➡️Luiz.

    . Thanks in advance.

    1. Amey
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      Bad move IMHO
      Save & play both Wilson & Kola

    2. AuFeld
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      Not for a hit.

  20. Nightf0x
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 2 days ago

    Ederson
    Luiz lovren schindler
    Richar peryera haz(vc) sane(c) anderson
    Kane auba
    Bench: kamara doherty awb

    A- roll ft
    B- auba peryera -4 to mane rashford/wilson
    C- auba peryera -4 to martial wilson
    D- auba peryera -4 stelring jimenez
    E- auba peryera -4 to aguero fraser

    1. Tingate
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      A

      Copied response to similiar post above...

      I'm in the same boat as you and been thinking about this all week but i'm going to wait until after this weekend and decide. Hazard may haul but you're already starting with a -4 for the gameweek. Seeing out this week and rolling over a transfer until next week is a better option in my opinion and being able to make three transfers for -4 next week once you've seen what happens this weekend.

      Aubameyang may be benched for the start of Burnley put past sub appearances show that he is capable of high scoring even in these games. Just my two cents.

  21. King H
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 2 days ago

    Guys don't sell Salah he is gonna smash it this week. Hatrick incoming

    1. AuFeld
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      Bold prediction.

      1. King H
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 2 days ago

        Watch this space. Not owning him with such a high ownership is a much bolder decision imo. If he explodes your ranking will drop massively.

        1. Amey
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 2 days ago

          Same can be said about
          Hazard
          Sterling
          Kane
          Auba
          Sane
          Richa
          Ando

          1. Amey
            • 7 Years
            7 years, 2 days ago

            All are highly owned i mean

        2. AuFeld
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 2 days ago

          Already happened with GW 16. I bounced back last week with a 77 and a 16k game week rank.

          5k net gain in OR without him in the last two weeks.

          1. AuFeld
            • 9 Years
            7 years, 2 days ago

            Sorry 18k net gain in OR over the last two weeks without Salah.

            106k OR after GW 15, sitting at 88k

            1. Amey
              • 7 Years
              7 years, 2 days ago

              It's about choosing your big hitting players & keeping faith in them & accepting that others will haul every now & then.
              Long term moves considering form of players.

    2. SoShy
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      No.

    3. Arctic monkeys
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      What about Lacasweat ?

      1. King H
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 2 days ago

        Good punt for a week or 2. I would personally go for Rashford.

        1. Arctic monkeys
          • 12 Years
          7 years, 2 days ago

          Already have him, wanted to know if he is scoring a hattrick as well

          1. Amey
            • 7 Years
            7 years, 2 days ago

            😀

    4. bench boost for every gamew…
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      i´ve just told a guy that he could contemplate it, but of course, selling Salah has the potential to backfire. But, Wolves do not regularly gets beaten by big margins, often their games are a bit tight, and while i do see a Liverpool win a and possibly a cs as well it´s hard to imagine more than say 2-0?
      Another point is that he eats up the budget and many will ty to have Haz, Raz and maybe one of Auba/Kane which is possible only without Salah. While i see the reasons for that i´m not overly worried about the so called difficult fixtures argument, and since they have so many days between games the "rest" argument i don´t buy that either. But for me, that leads to searching for another route into the Pool attack; Mané or Shaq if you want to be punty. Liverpools atatck is clicking atm and when they do, i think Mané at 3m less is better value.

      1. Amey
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 2 days ago

        Salah + Fraser
        OR
        Sane + Hazard
        Example.
        Salah takes too much out of budget to have a balanced squad during this time when goid squad is important.
        Can always get him back after rotation risk is over

  22. SoShy
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 2 days ago

    Auba sellers, where is the hiding place?

    1. Amey
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      No need to hide.

    2. Holmes
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      toilet

      1. Holmes
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 2 days ago

        or even too late...

        1. Ted Striker
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 2 days ago

          First one was fine

  23. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 2 days ago

    GTG?

    Fab
    Kola Schindler Dunk
    Sané(c) Sterling Son Anderson
    Kane Auba

    Bench: Hogg Doherty AWB
    1 FT, 0.3 ITB

    Concerned with Sons and Aubas game time. Take my chances and save FT?

    1. Amey
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      I'm playing Doherty ahead of Dunk.
      Otherwise g2g

    2. Holmes
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      you knew the risk.

  24. Slitherene
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 2 days ago

    WC after GW 19

    Aubameyang to Aguero for 2 weeks?

    What are the chances that Aguero plays more minutes than Aubameyang over the next 2?

    1. Amey
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      Nah

  25. Danny Fischarge
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 2 days ago

    Can anyone confirm, that Boxing day GW is the last chance to play your Wildcard??

    1. Holmes
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      depends when boxing day is

      you have to play before GW20 starts

  26. balint84
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 2 days ago

    Why not captain Kane this weekend?

  27. Erlinjo
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 2 days ago

    Please give me a Feedback on this team:

    Ryan
    Doherty Digne Schindler
    Anderson Snoddy Sterling Sane Eriksen
    Auba Kane

    Bench : button, jiminez, bennet, bissaka.

    What to do? Really afraid om Eriksens gametime, and want hazard at some point.

    Eriksen + kane/auba -> hazard + rashford?
    Presse help me out.

    1 ft 0 itb

    1. Amey
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      Save this gw.

  28. KuntaKante
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 2 days ago

    Which 2 gets the most points this GW:
    A. Doherty Liv(h)
    B. Digne Tot(h)
    C. Holebas Whu(a)
    D. AWB mci(a)

    1. Holmes
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      BC

    2. Amey
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      B
      C

  29. trinzoo
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 2 days ago

    Ederson / Steke
    Robbo / D.Luiz / Doherty / AWB / Peltier
    Sterling / Hazard / Anderson / Richa / Kenedy
    Kane / Wilson / Mitro

    2 FT, 0.4 ITB, WC in hand

    Mitro/Kenedy > Ings or Chica/Snoddy ?

    Better ideas?

    1. Amey
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 days ago

      Good move with ings