Captain Sensible

Who are the best FPL captain candidates for Gameweek 22?

The captaincy debate for Gameweek 22 may not be as simple as Fantasy Premier League managers are hoping.

Heading into the first round of action since the FA Cup third round, we now embark on the second half of the current campaign.

Every season, the January transfer window proves a major landmark for change and shifting templates.

For example, Southampton spent much of 2019/20 as whipping boys but they come into Gameweek 22 much improved at the back – perhaps the biggest issue with this week’s captaincy conundrum.

To help guide you to the right skipper for your team we will analyse the recent statistical form of each candidate and compare them with the defensive performances of their upcoming opponents.

As this article uses data from the Fantasy Football Scout Members Area, only those signed up either as a season-long, monthly or discounted Member will be able to access it in full.

Captain Poll

Despite missing the last two Gameweeks, Jamie Vardy (£10.0m) has returned to the Captain Poll’s summit once again.

Just shy of 39% of you had voted for the Leicester City forward ahead of Southampton’s trip to the King Power Stadium.

The last time the two sides met saw Vardy bag a hat-trick and an assist in a 9-0 win and it appears that a large number of Fantasy managers are hoping for something similar.

It may feel like a while since Vardy truly rocked the Fantasy world but if we forget his last two absences, influenced by paternal duties and a subsequent injury, he is still a reliable option. Between Gameweeks 9 and 19 he started every match and blanked only once.

However, the chances of another 9-0 drubbing for Southampton do look unlikely. Their defence has improved of late, resulting in two clean sheets in their last four, one at Chelsea and the other at home against Spurs.

A long way off in the poll’s second place is Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne (£10.6m) who faces Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon.

Despite a spirited EFL Cup semi-final first-leg performance against Leicester on Wednesday night, Dean Smith’s defence has been in recent Premier League displays.

In their last four outings, they have conceded three times on two occasions, while across their last three at home, Villa have let in an average of 2.3 per game.

De Bruyne himself has attacking returns in four of his last five, two of them double-digit returns.

It appears that the Belgian remains the most trustworthy asset in Manchester City ranks considering the rotation and patchy nature of some of his colleagues.

Sergio Aguero (£11.7m), with just one start and one goal since Gameweek 14 is the next most-popular among Pep Guardiola’s charges, backed by just 3.5% in the poll.

Meanwhile, Raheem Sterling (£11.8m), with two double-digit hauls but four blanks in his last seven, has the support of just 2.9%.

Marcus Rashford (£9.2m) looks set for third place in the vote, backed by 9.1% ahead of Manchester United’s meeting with Norwich City.

The Canaries have kept just one clean sheet since Gameweek 10 although have largely fared better on their travels than at home.

Each of their last three at Carrow Road has seen Norwich concede twice, but they have let in just one goal in each of their last three on the road.

Rashford is in good form at Old Trafford though, blanking there just once since Gameweek 4.

John Lundstram (£5.1m) has been considered an outside captain option by many this season but Gameweek 22 sees him get more support than usual.

5.1% of the voters are backing the Sheffield United man ahead of a meeting with West Ham.

The Hammers may have scored four times against a hapless Bournemouth last time out but it’s still early days in David Moyes’ second spell as manager.

Meanwhile, only Leicester (eight) have kept more clean sheets than Sheffield United (seven) this season.

Mohamed Salah (£12.3m) is the most fashionable captain option at Liverpool as they prepare to face Spurs, although the Egyptian is backed only by 3.9%.

Jose Mourinho has struggled to turn around the defensive fortunes in north London, conceding in all but one of his matches since taking charge – which could open the door for Salah and his colleague Sadio Mané (£12.3m).

The latter has accrued just 2.7% of the votes but has outscored Salah over the last three matches by 8.3 points per game to 5.3.

Tammy Abraham (£7.8m), Raúl Jiménez (£7.5m), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£10.8m), Anthony Martial (£7.9m), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£5.9m) and Richarlison (£8.0m) are the only other options backed by more than 1%.

Player statistics – Last four matches

881 Comments Post a Comment
  1. camarozz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Hi all. Bench one please..
    Currently on Grealish v City.

    A) Sarr v BOU
    B) Traore v NEW
    C) Grealish

    Thnks.

    1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      C

    2. swobe
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      C. Tough though.

    3. Bobby_Baggio
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Yep C

  2. Dannywaz
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    David silva

    1. swobe
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      yes

    2. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I agree

    3. El-Kloppico
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      How confident are you that he'll start?

  3. swobe
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    So, amongst the GW 22 noise I want to hear your DGW plans... AKA your Liverpool plans.

    I'm sat with Salah and TAA, 2FT this week that I plan on downgrading Aurier and Diop to get to 2.5ITB.

    I would love to get the Mane Salah double up but fear that there will be rotation. Salah seems more likely to start both. So considering upgrading Guaita to Allison. Thoughts?

    1. adams_6
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      6 days between games with an FA cup game inbetween. They will probably get their rest in the cup. Get both.

      1. swobe
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Oh, really? 6 days? I thought it was much smaller.

        1. swobe
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Double up it is. Cheers.

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

        That's misleading because 3 days after the Westham game they play Southampton

    2. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I've had TAA VVD and Salah since GW1 and not bothered to change.. not owning Mane makes me nervous though.

      1. swobe
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        I started with TAA VVD Mane to be fair. Was let down by the defensive double up early on though.

        1. Bobby Digital
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          That one week where VVD got a brace and TAA assisted both was beautyful.

    3. Alonso The Great Midfielder
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      no allison will be wasted

  4. Buck The Trent
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Captain ?

    A Rashford
    B Martial

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Rashford

    2. Bobby_Baggio
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Rash

  5. Bobby_Baggio
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Evening all. What to do with my 2FT and 0.2m ITB. Ramsdale > Foster or McCarthy? Thanks.

    Ramsdale
    Soy - TAA - Lund
    Salah - KDB - Maddison - Martial
    Vardy - Jimenez - Ings

    (McGovern) Grealish - Rico - Kelly

    1. Lightning Bolt
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Mc C

    2. swobe
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Foster imo.

    3. MrZ
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Just did pope > mcC to burn transfer & free up funds

  6. Lightning Bolt
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    I really want to ditch this spus player, current line up

    Henderson
    Pereira, Lord, Rico
    Salah, Maddison, De bruyne, Moura*
    Vardy, Jimenez, DCL

    Ramsdale, Cantwell, Kelly, Aurier
    1 FT, 5.6 itb

    A) Moura > Richarlison
    B) Moura > Mahrez
    C) Moura > Sarr
    D) Aurier > TAA

    Should I use my FT??

    1. swobe
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      D

      Would start Cantwell over Moura.

  7. corderz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    A) Alli > Martial
    B) Guaita > Foster/Fabianski

    Guaita Martin
    Aurier Otamendi Rico Kelly Lundstram
    Salah KDB Alli Grealish Cantwell
    Vardy Rashford Ings

    1. FPL Theorist
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      A

  8. JollyGoodYellows
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Best mid under 10 as a one week punt before I get in Mane? (already have Rashford so not sure whether to get Martial as well)

    1. Arse Craic
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Dilva

      1. Alonso The Great Midfielder
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        this

    2. Ze_Austin
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Mahrez

      1. JollyGoodYellows
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Does he definitely start?

    3. D.Glynn
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Maherz

    4. Jamizz
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Same here. The City differential could be trusted for points but not start. With Martial it is the other way round. Thinking of Sarr as well

      1. JollyGoodYellows
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        I'm thinking Mahrez or Dilva. Mahrez is looking good so surely he'd start?

  9. Ze_Austin
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    There's currently a 9-point spread between the first and tenth-ranked goalkeepers. That's so, so close and gives even more credence to the set-and-forget strategy

    Bonus point: 10th place keeper, Pope, has the second most clean sheets. It's a weird wild world down in that position

    1. Maddamotha
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      You can say that about all positions. Mane, Salah, Sterling and KDB will finish closely as well. The key is to have them at the right time, same goes for GKs.

      1. Ze_Austin
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        It's hard to predict the right time for GKs. Defensive form has been hard to predict or trust this season. Burnley went from bad to good to bad. Bournemouth, Brighton... Even fixtures don't help much, as big 6 sides are blanking against bottom-table teams

        Truly wild if you've tried rotating/buying

      2. Long ago I drew a walrus
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        I'm not sure that's true. KDB is currently 30 points ahead of Sterling. These guys are going to break 200, some maybe even 250, which is a significant points difference, then you consider price and how e.g. Maddison is close to matching Sterling for 4m cheaper

    2. Long ago I drew a walrus
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I started the season with Pope and Heaton rotating, and have actually got less goalkeeper points than just Pope himself. Thing with Pope this season is he's had either 7-9 or 0-1, with very few 3s and 4s which you see more from the likes of Ryan.

  10. StoichkovFPL
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    It looks like £28m deal Krzysztof Piątek from AC Milan to Spurs is done!

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Watched some highlights, seemed like a clinical finisher, but apparently not performing for Milan.

      1. StoichkovFPL
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Milan as a team looks awful. He did great at begining in Milan and same at Genoa. I also saw him before his move to Italy as he played in Poland. Really good striker! Lets see how he will look in England, cant wait!

    2. El Presidente
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Great signing, he is a great player! And for that price tag!!! Uau.

    3. El-Kloppico
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Another Soldado?

  11. Sid07
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Suggestions please

    Ryan button
    Taa soy Rico Kelly Lund
    Mane salah kdb martial grealish
    Vardy muapay greenwood

    2ft 0.0 itb

    1. StoichkovFPL
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Rico/Kelly > Holgate possible?

      1. Sid07
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Yes

        1. StoichkovFPL
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Do it!

  12. Long ago I drew a walrus
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Wow Lingard out. Should be a better performance from MU!

  13. KINGS
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Team set after making 2ft

    Pope
    Lund Rico Soy
    Salah Mane KDB Traore
    Vardy DCL Ings

    Kelly Denk Aurier

  14. goriuanx
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Klopp

    "James and Naby (Keita)..both are muscle injuries. Different. We don't have to put a timeframe on it"

    "Joel (Matip) was not part of all training"

    "Shaq trained completely normal"

    "Dejan (Lovren) and Fabinho we expect to be back in full training next week"

    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Lovren back and Gomez on form - RIP VVD.

    2. Alonso The Great Midfielder
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      would love to see minamino with the front three

    3. El-Kloppico
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Cheers Berbs.
      Big Shaq Time?

  15. MikeLowrey
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Bench 1?

    Pukki
    Soyuncu
    Maupay

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Pukki is injured

  16. ShaunGoater123
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Dele Alli replacement, max of £7.6 (already have Grealish)

    A) Luca Moura
    B) Mason Mount
    C) Ismaila Sarr
    D) Tielemans

    They will likely be moved around GW 25 / 26

    Thoughts?

    1. swobe
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      c

    2. Alonso The Great Midfielder
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      c out of that but im trying for dsilva

      1. ShaunGoater123
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Yeah Dilva would be nice but can't already have aguero and Pep roulette worries me enough with him!

  17. D.Glynn
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Play
    A) Soy, H vs Sou
    or
    B) Holgate, H vs Bha

    1. D.Glynn
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Ryan
      TAA Lund Soy/Holgate*
      Salah (K)DB Grealish Martial
      Vardy Ings Deulofeu
      4.0 *_* Cantwell Kelly

  18. LLoris
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Ings or DCL or Maupay??

    1. D.Glynn
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Ings

  19. tp1122
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Replacement for Alli?

    A. Grealish
    B. Maddison
    C. Other

    Already have Traore, Rashford and Vardy

    1. El-Kloppico
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Thinking of Dilva myself bt still not confident whether he'll start or not!

      1. Alonso The Great Midfielder
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        samewith me and hoping for his start

        1. El-Kloppico
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          I'll better wait for Pep's presser, in case he drops some hints.

  20. bennyp
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    GTG??

    Hendo - (McCarthy)
    TAA - Soy - Lund - Maitland - (Sidibe)
    Mane - Sterling(c) - KDB - (Mooy - Cantwell)
    Vardy - DCL - Maupay

    On WC

    1. CONNERS
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Assume Sterling is a 2 week punt and placeholder for Salah?

      Looks decent enough, so gtg.

      1. bennyp
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Yeh exactly.

        Dunno who to start in defence though this week.

  21. j.m
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Play Greenwood or Grealish this week?

  22. KLOPPS AND ROBBERS... the s…
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Play one

    a) Lund
    b) Cantwell
    c) Grealish

    1. Arse Craic
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Put your faith in the Lord

  23. FPL_Crisis
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Start Sarr or Traore?
    Currently have Sarr in...

  24. AC Yew
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Those with Maddison are you starting?

  25. altan8797
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    do you think that sterling will be rested this week? Brought him back in this week with WC and planning to replace him with mane before DGW24.

    1. FPL Theorist
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Not likely, he only misses about 1 game a month and he was rested NYD.

  26. Weasel Boy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Captain?

    A) Vardy
    B) KDB
    C) Salah
    D) Mane

    Seriously tempted by C or D.

  27. JollyGoodYellows
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Does Mahrez definitely start?

    1. jtreble
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Definitely, no. Good chance, yes.

      1. JollyGoodYellows
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Don't know why I asked to be fair. I think I'll risk it and bring him in for a week punt.

    2. Digital-Real
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Just be mindful he's played a lot of games, Dilva is back, so are Aguero and Jesus who were rested last game.

  28. The Greenback Boogie
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Who do I bench?

    A. Lundstram
    B. Grealish
    C. Alli

    Currently on Lundstram.

  29. Angin out the Begović
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Alli --> Martial -4 ? top spot has him also ?

  30. coozie
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Hi Folks,

    Struggling to decide who to bench this week? What 2 out of this 4?

    1 Holgate
    2 Lundstram
    3 Cantwell
    4 Grealish

    Thanks