Captain Sensible

Who is the best FPL captain for Gameweek 1?

Fantasy Premier League managers are considering captains from three different clubs ahead of the Gameweek 1 deadline.

Liverpool host Norwich on Friday night, Manchester City travel to West Ham on Saturday lunch-time and Spurs conclude that day’s action by hosting Aston Villa.

For the first Gameweek of the new season, the majority of the captain attention is on these three games.

We’ve analysed as much data as we can to assess the individual potential of the key players, as well as the quality of defences they are going up against.

As this uses data from the Fantasy Football Scout Members Area, only those who have signed up for the 2019/20 season can access the full article.

However, non-members can still enjoy our analysis of the results of our captain poll.

It is also worth clarifying for those used to Captain Sensible articles from recent seasons that we can only start to look at the last four (or so) Gameweeks once we have more data in the bank for 2019/20.

Captain Poll

The results of the captain poll as of Thursday night

The poll for Gameweek 1 is perhaps one of the most one-sided we’ve seen in quite some time.

Mohamed Salah (£12.5m) has absolutely run away with it, securing 62.8% of the vote at the time of writing.

That is not surprising at all considering the Egyptian has been the top-scoring FPL asset in both of his seasons at Liverpool.

He was especially deadly at Anfield last season too, scoring 13 of his 22 goals at home (59.1%).

Meanwhile, Norwich arrive in the Premier League with concerns over their defence.

They conceded 57 goals in 46 matches last season and recorded clean sheets in just 28% of those.

Furthermore, the Canaries’ defence has suffered injury problems during pre-season, Christoph Zimmerman (£4.5m), Timm Klose (£4.5m) and Grant Hanley (£4.0m) all missing various summer friendlies with knocks.

In his Thursday press conference, Daniel Farke revealed that only the latter of those three would be fit for Gameweek 1.

Kane is the most popular differential option this week

Way off in second place in the poll is Harry Kane (£11.0m) who starts the new season at home to newly-promoted Aston Villa.

They shipped a total of 61 goals during their promotion-winning campaign and recorded just 12 clean sheets, the tenth-best in the Championship.

That record has obviously handed optimism to those looking at Kane as a differential this weekend.

The Spurs forward has never scored in Gameweek 1 of a Premier League season though.

Sterling faces a trip to West Ham on Saturday lunch time

Raheem Sterling (£12.0m) sits even further down the ranking with the backing of just 6.4% in our poll at the time of writing.

He faces a West Ham defence that did not inspire confidence in 2018/19 and upon his last visit to the London Stadium, he came away with a goal and an assist.

Manchester City generally have a good record at West Ham too, scoring at least four times in each of their last four visits to the Hammers.

For that reason, if he starts, Sergio Aguero (£12.0m) could reward the 1.9% of managers who are handing him the captain’s armband for Gameweek 1.

However, it must be said that his late return to pre-season from the Copa America, and his lack of minutes in the Community Shield final could suggest he could take up only a substitute’s role.

It says a lot about Aguero’s Fantasy stock right now that both Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.0m) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.0m) won more support in the Captain Poll than him.

The Arsenal forward sits in fourth place in the poll with an admittedly small following of just 2.7%.

Arsenal are preparing for a trip to Newcastle, whose pre-season has been less than smooth sailing after Rafa Benitez left the club over the summer.

Meanwhile, Liverpool defender Alexander-Arnold currently has 2.3% support in the poll, his backers putting faith in his 14 attacking returns and Liverpool’s 21 clean sheets last season.

Sadio Mané (£11.5m), Callum Wilson (£8.0m), Virgil van Dijk (£6.5m) and Andrew Robertson (£7.0m) are the only other options backed by more than 1%.

MORE TEAM-BY-TEAM ANALYSIS CONTENT

Arsenal | Aston Villa (manager) | Aston Villa (defence) | Aston Villa (attack) | Bournemouth | Brighton | Burnley | Chelsea | Crystal Palace | Everton | Leicester | Liverpool | Man City | Man United | Newcastle | Norwich (manager) | Norwich (defence) | Norwich (attack) | Sheffield United (manager) | Sheffield United (defence) | Sheffield United (attack) | Southampton | Spurs | Watford | West Ham | Wolves

3,539 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Zlat-man
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Heaton, button;
    Walker-pieters, Zinchenko, Shaw, vinagre, lundstram.

    How is this defence for starters? Too risky?

    1. DeathoftheParty
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Vinagre won't play enough, no Liverpool is in risk of being left behind.

    2. Kaptenen
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Too risky imo

    3. MANGE TOUT RODNEY
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Needs more Liverpool and less Vinagre

      1. Thomas Magnum
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Very much this

  2. 442lion
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    A) BILVA MURRAY KEAN WILSON

    B) STERLING MURRAY AUBA WILSON

    1. Kaptenen
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B

    2. DeathoftheParty
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Maupay not a better option then Murray?

      1. ameisin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Not yet. That'll probably change in a couple of weeks.

  3. Kaptenen
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Help me, is Wilson a much better pick than King? Which combo would you rather have? (No Fraser)

    A) Wilson & KWP
    B) King & Walker/Laporte

    1. Emiliano Sala
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      a

    2. MJFainty
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A for me. I think if you take penalties out of the equation (which you may not want to) then Wilson is a much, much better pick.

  4. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    This article from June 15th concludes «Wesley more likely to boost Villa colleagues than provide FPL value himself” https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2019/06/15/wesley-more-likely-to-boost-villa-colleagues-than-provide-fpl-value-himself/

    Do we still agree after presesason?

    Ings a better choice for 6.0?

    1. DeathoftheParty
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I agree Ings from the off of you're on a 6m forward.

    2. droginexile
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      What about Che Adams, what do you reckon on him, I like the look of him for 6

  5. tyiocoyg34
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    A) Siggy | King
    B) Fraser | Keane

    1. MANGE TOUT RODNEY
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A

    2. Kaptenen
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A

    3. Winston.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A

    4. antis0cial
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A

  6. oah03
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    RMT

    Ryan

    Robertson VVD Digne Rico

    Salah Sterling De Bruyne Perez

    Wilson King

    Button Lundstrom Dendoncker Wickham

    Rico is the big risk, but if he plays, them I'm in business?

    1. DeathoftheParty
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Transfer waiting to happen

    2. Pique and De Bruyne
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Not a massive fan of the Wilson/King double up but could pay off nicely, otherwise looks good to me.

  7. Meme2011
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    which midfielder £8m and below is going to get the most points over the first 2 gameweeks?

    1. DeathoftheParty
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Imo Martial

    2. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Siggy or Fraser

    3. antis0cial
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Sig

    4. Andy'81
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Bilva

      1. Meme2011
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        nice!

        was surprised by the martial shout but i do think he'll have a good year

  8. Bubbles1985
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    My final pick...

    A - Roberston and Barkley
    B - VVD and Zaha

    Also have TAA!!

    1. MANGE TOUT RODNEY
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A

  9. SPorting
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Too busy for me in here today.

    I'll come back tomorrow at 11.30am for the real deadline panic.

    1. MANGE TOUT RODNEY
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Good one

    2. Oooof
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      There’s a game tonight so the deadline is today

      1. Oooof
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Joke fail 🙂

    3. mad_beer ✅
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Except the deadline is tonight.

      1. MANGE TOUT RODNEY
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        That's the joke

  10. 442lion
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Sorry...

    A) BILVA WILSON KEAN AUBA
    B) STERLING KEAN MURRAY VARDY

  11. tim
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Zinc or Walker? Could use the 0.5mil to get two 4.5 goalies...

    1. MANGE TOUT RODNEY
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I've landed on Zinchenko.

      Walker possibly threatened by Cancelo soon?

      Although then Zinc will be threatened by Mendy soon!

      Tough one.

  12. Phlajo
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Rip it apart, or GTG?

    Pope/Heaton rotation
    VVD Robbo Digne Cathcart/Guilbert rotation
    Salah Sterling Ziggy Robinson Martial
    Wilson (Greenwood Martinelli)

    1. Aubamewho
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      G2G for now. I hope you have a plan for Wilson GW3

      1. Phlajo
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Yeah, might be swapping 1 or 2 other fwds in, but can't decide in Haller, Kean, Abraham, Wood etc etc..

        So my plan is to stick with Wilson for starters and then adapt when I see who's playing good 🙂

    2. Aubamewho
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Def and mid looks safe for long term, so I think it might work.

  13. Pique and De Bruyne
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Hey chaps think i’ve narrowed it down to these 2.

    A) KWP - KDB - Trossard - Wilson

    B) Montoya - Sterling - Robinson - King

    Rest of team

    Pope
    VVD - Robertson - Digne - ****
    Salah - Perez - **** - ****
    Auba - ****

    4.0 - Targett - Dend - G’wood

    Which looks best thoughts please?

    1. MJFainty
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Just about A for me.

  14. selig
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    pope button
    taa digne zouma lowton diop
    sterling salah moura perez barkley
    wilson deeney

    1.0itb

    help.

    1. selig
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      forgot greenwood

  15. deathcabofdevil
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    H2H League Code no knockouts. Fourth year running (max 20 players) : j6fkfd

    3 slots remaining.

    1. chriscosta
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      just joined : D, thanks

  16. Wakanda
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Is daniel James first team player for Man U ?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      yes

    2. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      unlikely

    3. Lingard’s Shin Guards
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Nah, think he’ll be coming off the bench

    4. Hampe
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Yes. Not nailed though.

      1. Gunners n' Roses
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Who instead?

    5. Gregor
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Looks it.

  17. samlowe
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Pope (button)
    TTA, VVD, Montoya, Digne (rico)
    Sterling, Salah(c), Fraser, Wilson, Dendoncker
    Kane(vc), (Greenwood), (Wickham)

    struggling the most that I ever had this year! thoughts please?
    Do I drop Kane for jiminez and zinchenko or a better city defender?

    1. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      drop kane to vardy and upgrade dendoncker

  18. Pukki Blinders
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    What to go with as a 4th defender in a 4-4-2 ?

    A) x2 rotating 4.5s
    B) a 5.5 def (and a 4.0 bench)

    1. Shaw must go on
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      a

  19. jai1212
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    A. KDB + Wilson and extra 0.5
    B. Sterling + King

    1. antis0cial
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B

  20. Gabbiadini
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    best fwd bench option?

    1. Gregor
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Greenwood.

      1. 3 A
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Hi Gregor.. May I know ur team please? 😀

    2. MJFainty
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I was on Greenwood until I swapped some bits around to have 3 starting fwds

  21. 442lion
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Zinchenko or Tierney?

    1. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Tierney has 0 chance to play

    2. Gregor
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Is Tierney fit?

    3. Mike2795647
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Tierney injured as recovering from hernia op

  22. Gunners n' Roses
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Pope/Heaton
    VVD/TAA/Digne/KWP/Rico
    Salah/Sterling/Moura/Perez/Robinson
    King/Jota/Greenwood

    Not sold on Moura, or the front line. Any suggestions?

  23. mackan
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Siggy or bilva?

    1. Gunners n' Roses
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Siggy if you have Sterling
      Bilva otherwise

    2. 3 A
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Siggy in my draft earlier but scared. Not firing

      1. juho
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        i have siggy
        he'll come good if one is patient with him

  24. Silencetheweak
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    RMT and need some advice too!

    Pope (Ryan)

    Zinch Vvd Ake (Walker-Peters, Dunk)

    Salah (C), B.Silva, Moura, Sigurd (Townsend)

    King Firmino Deeney

    Thank you!!!!!!

    1. Young Lingard
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Ake a huge risk however cheap !! They concede always have .
      Better options than Deeney out there imo ;
      King for example has great fixtures many are going for him .
      I actually love the Firmino differential could see you gain on opponents.
      Moura and Siggy solid enough .

      **I’d fear no sterling**

  25. The Curse of Falcao
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    G2G?

    Pope
    Digne VVD Maguire Robertson
    Salah(c) Sterling Siggy Perez
    Wilson King

    Button| Dendoncker| Lundstram | Greenwood

    1. Gunners n' Roses
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Everton double up not my favourite, looked damn iffy in preseason.

      Maguire?

      Otherwise beautiful

      1. The Curse of Falcao
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Maguire best United def option for sure, way higher threat than AWB and Shaw for goals.

        1. Zladan
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          AWBaps has Bonus Points and assist potential.

    2. Fordy40
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Double Bournemouth attack ? Brave

      1. The Curse of Falcao
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Individually they're both good picks so why not have both? opening fixtures Vs Sheffield and Villa.

      2. Zladan
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        It’s not brave lol it’s smart. He won’t own Bou attack all season, he is playing the opening fixtures and they are better options than all but the premiums really.

    3. Zladan
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Solid team. In my 2 premium only team I had almost exactly this.

      (Heaton v Pope, Stones v Mag).

      Love it though and should start well. Slightly inflexible to transfer though I felt.

    4. KingGriffin
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Bar Maguire think I am rocking with something very similar myself. I was thinking 5 in midfield at one point but decided against it

  26. corderz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    A) Kane + Perez
    B) Vardy + Fraser

  27. Fordy40
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Done, finally

    Pope-Button
    TAA-VVD-Coleman-Zinky-Lunds
    Salah-KDB-Siggy-Perez-Doncke
    Kane-King-Greenwood

    Boom

  28. Sz21
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Think this is it for me finally- Any last minute suggestions?

    Ryan.
    Robbo, VVD, Rico, Coleman.
    Sterling (vc), Salah (c), Perez, KDB.
    Wilson, King.
    Button, Dendoncker, Wickham, Fredericks.
    0.0m ITB.

    1. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Bournemouth double up worth it?

  29. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    A. Digne, Martial, Wilson
    B. Rico/Dendoncker or other4 million defender, Kane, King

  30. No Totti No Party
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Maddy, Perez or Tielemans if money not a problem ?

    1. Gunners n' Roses
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Perez atm, but Tielemans for the punt

    2. 3 A
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Lei have bad fixtures imo. Clear after gw8