Captains

Captain Sensible – Blank Gameweek 27 a tough call

Fantasy Premier League managers face one of the hardest captaincy decisions of the season so far in Blank Gameweek 27.

The absence of fixtures for Manchester City and Chelsea, who were originally scheduled to play favourable opposition in Everton and Brighton, has removed several options from the debate already.

Meanwhile, Manchester United and Liverpool, two clubs who normally provide a handful of captain candidates each week, go head-to-head at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon.

That leaves Fantasy managers with the choice of either boldly handing the armband to one of those players or to look elsewhere.

Arsenal are currently the popular alternative in the search for a captain this week, but with many managers avoiding the Gunners for longer-term reasons, and plenty of viable alternatives elsewhere, we could see a whole host of different skippers this weekend.

As usual, we’ve had a look at the results of our latest poll, analysed each popular player, and some of the less fashionable options, using our members’ data and assessed the offensive and defensive statistics of all the teams involved to find the best candidates.

Captain Poll

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.1m) is this week’s poll leader ahead of Southampton’s trip to the Emirates Stadium. The absence of Sergio Aguero (£11.5m) and the meeting between Liverpool and Manchester United will have played a part in Aubameyang’s popularity for this Gameweek, amassing 32% support at the time of writing. Although he has just one goal in the last five Gameweeks, you do have to go back to Gameweek 16 for the last time he failed to find the net at home against a side outside the top six.

Son Heung-min‘s (£9.0m) trip to Burnley has captured the attention of a healthy number of Fantasy managers too. His case appears to be centred around form rather than fixture, the South Korean averaging 8.9 points per appearance since Gameweek 13.

Felipe Anderson (£7.2m) heads up a crop of differential options as West Ham prepare to host the worst defence in the Premier League this season: Fulham. The Brazilian does only have one attacking return in his last seven outings, but the appeal of a home match against such poor opposition may be too much to resist for his owners. Currently, the West Ham midfielder has the backing of 9% of our voters.

Just behind Anderson is Liverpool’s star man Mohamed Salah (£13.6m) on 7% ahead of a trip to Old Trafford. The Egyptian’s form may have slowed a little in recent weeks but he still has six double-figure hauls in the last 11 Gameweeks and remains a key FPL asset to own. The fact that Manchester United are still without a clean sheet at home under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer may suggest that Sunday’s encounter may not be as tricky as first thought for Salah and his Liverpool attacking colleagues.

Alexandre Lacazette (£9.5m) also features in the top five captain candidates for Blank Gameweek 27 according to the poll. The 6% who have backed the Frenchman may have found themselves a shrewd option here. Lacazette was not involved in Thursday night’s Europa League action for Arsenal, which gives him a slight edge over Aubameyang, in terms of security of start.

A few more managers are proving bold enough to look to that Old Trafford showdown as 3.8% have voted for Paul Pogba (£8.8m). The Manchester United midfielder has blanked just once since Solskjaer took over and has averaged 12 points per game at home in that time. With Liverpool’s defence not quite as strong as it was earlier in the season, Pogba looks the most likely of any Red Devil to breach them.

Some slight interest in Marko Arnautovic (£6.8m) confirms the popularity of West Ham’s home match against Fulham. 2.5% have selected the Austrian as the best captain candidate for Blank Gameweek 27 despite the fact he has started just once in the last four Gameweeks.

Salomón Rondón (£5.8m), Raúl Jiménez (£6.8m) and Callum Paterson (£5.0m) are the only other options above 1% while Harry Kane (£12.4m) is not far behind them on 0.9% backing.

1,283 Comments Post a Comment
  1. The Curse of Falcao
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    G2G or Aguero>Auba for a hit?
    0.7 ITB | 0FT

    Etheridge
    Doherty VVD Roberton AWB
    Salah Pogba Son F.Anderson
    Jimenez Rashford

    Patricio | Billing | Aguero | Digne

    1. Kuzser
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Gtg

    2. Rashers
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      G2G

  2. Rinseboy
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Which 2 to bench this week from below?
    Thinking Zaba and Doherty?!

    Pat
    Robbo AWB Zaba Yedlin Doherty
    Salah Mane Son Pogba
    Rash Jimi Rondon
    Hamer Sterling

    1. Kuzser
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Awb...and zaba

  3. Siggy in the Middle
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    When do we get confirmation on DGW32's fixtures?

  4. OneDennisBergkamp
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Etheridge (WAT) or Boruc (WOL) this week?

    1. Rashers
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Etheridge

  5. Grimmy
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Patricio
    Robbo, Doherty, Kolasinac
    Salah, Son, Anderson, Pogba
    Firminho, Jimenez, Rashford

    Ederson, Luiz, AWB, Camarasa

    1 FT, 2.5 ITB

    What would you do? Stick with it and save FT or get poss Pereira/Chilwell/Maddison/ Thielemans/Schar/Yedlin/Balbuena/Rice because of good fixtures ?

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

      I’d hold

      Leicester look much better next week. Don’t trust West Ham defence in the slightest.

      Newcastle is possible but if you’re aiming for 31/3 they’re a gamble for 33

  6. Kuzser
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    What to do this week please?

    1. Kamara hazard digne ->Auba McNeil Lejuene for -4
    Get sterling for son next week

    2.Digne Hazard ->yedlin barnes/fraser
    Get Aguero for kamara next week

    3. Kamara digne-> Rondon yedlin
    Get sterling for hazard next week 

    Current team is:
    Fab
    Pereira robbo awb (schindler digne)
    Salah Anderson pogba son hazard
    Rashford Jimenez (Kamara)

  7. Sol
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    0.9ITB
    Ederson (Hammer)
    Robertson Dhorthy AWB Bennett
    Salah F.Anderson Pogba Son
    Rashford Jimenez
    Sub (Digne Sterling Kamara*)

    A) Ederson > Fab
    B) Save

    Cheers

    1. Sol
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      A) -4

  8. H-Over United
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Play Zabaleta or take a hit with a sure starter?

    With Zabaleta i have this...

    Foster
    AWB, Zabaleta, Bednarek, Doherty
    Pogba, Son, Salah, "Transfer for Sane"
    Jimenez, Rashford

  9. Rashers
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Hello all

    a. AWB
    b. Kola -4

    Thanks

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      A

      1. Rashers
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers Holmes

  10. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Captain Auba or Son?

    1. Rashers
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Going Auba personally

    2. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Auba

  11. Rik Waller
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Which 3 to start...

    TAA (mnu)
    Rob (mnu)
    Peraira (CRY)
    Doherty (bou)
    AWB (lei)

    1. Rashers
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Rob, Pereira and Doherty

  12. OneDennisBergkamp
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Why am I finding it so hard to get rid of Richarlison... cardiff next game makes me want to hold..

    1. F_Ivanovic
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Cardiff away isn't a walk in the park especially for a team like Everton.

  13. JasonG123
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Any news on Doherty?

    1. Rashers
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Nuno Press Conference coming up in 10 mins. Waiting on Doherty and Jota news

      1. JasonG123
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Okay thanks!

    2. Ron_Swanson
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Trained yesterday

    3. HamezMace
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Holmes has done some investigating below.

  14. FPL_ANT
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Given their respective forms is Antonio a better option than Anderson?

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

      Lanzini and Nasri on the horizon make him a marginal starter but if he goes then he might well outscore FA

  15. Lignja
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Fabianski
    Taa, Doherty, Wb
    Salah, Son(c), Pogba, Anderson, Camarasa
    Firmino, Rashford

    Hamer, Bednarek, Kiko, Aguero

    A. Firmino to Laca -4
    B. Aguero to Auba (geting Aguero back next week) -4

  16. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    FH31
    WC34
    BB35

    What about TC then? Salah in 36!?

    1. Ron_Swanson
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      I think it has to be

    2. HamezMace
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Wouldn't you TC in DGW32?

      1. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Free hit in 32 sorry not 31

        1. HamezMace
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Then yes probably Salah vs Huddersfield looks tempting.

  17. tbhogal
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Worth doing Firminho to Auba for a one week punt?

    1. bigbudgie
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      you have Salah?

      1. tbhogal
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        yes

    2. panda07
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      I'd do Firmino to Laca instead. More nailed and better stats recently

  18. bigbudgie
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Bottomed:

    Worth losing VVD (leaving only two Liverpool) to afford Son > Sterling next week? Can always then get Lovren or Gomez back later in the season. Just really really want the City double up for WHU bou WAT

    1. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      No way, Son is essential right now IMO

  19. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Could Salah TC in GW31 away to Fulham be an option?

    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Only home to Huddersfield in GW36 looks better for a SGW.

      1. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        True

    2. bigbudgie
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      City vs Cardiff? Cricket score incoming. Just pick the right player 🙂

      1. bigbudgie
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        ah, that would be in a double GW.

  20. LFC4EVER
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    (C) Lacazette or Son?

    1. bigbudgie
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      I would always favour the home team

  21. panda07
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Which striker would you choose?
    A) Arnie
    B) Barnes

  22. Rains of Castamere
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    I think there's a very good chance Aguero plays both the ful / CAR fixtures in DGW32. A few days after CAR, they will likely have an FA Cup semi-final. This could be against Man Utd but is more likely to be against Watford/Palace/Brighton. Three days after that, they will have the first leg of the Champions League quarter final which Kun is more likely to play in.

    So, projected:

    30 Mar - Fulham (a) - AGUERO
    3 April - Cardiff (h) - AGUERO
    6/7 April - FA Cup semi-final - JESUS
    9/10 April - CL quarter-final - AGUERO

  23. shadeslayer
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone fancy fander for captaincy??

  24. Ted Bovis
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Good article, form over fixtures for me Pogba's(C) on fire.

  25. TopwithKlopp
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone know why Arnie is not playing?
    I bloody captained him this week....

    1. Kiwivillan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      There was enough doubt over him starting. Loads posted this

      1. TopwithKlopp
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        I haven’t been on here much of late.. Hope he doesn’t come on then. Salah. Vice C.