Captain Sensible

Who are the best FPL captain options for Gameweek 23?

The captaincy debate for Gameweek 23 of Fantasy Premier League is not proving to be as straight-forward as many would have hoped.

Manchester City blew away the competition last time out but arguably face a sterner test this time.

Meanwhile, Leicester’s defeat to Southampton was certainly a damaging one for Fantasy confidence, but a trip to Burnley provides the perfect opportunity to make amends.

And let’s not forget that Liverpool host a Manchester United side that has made a habit of frustrating their arch-rivals in recent years.

As ever, the Captain Sensible article is here to help Fantasy managers make the right choice for their captaincy.

We will be assessing the key candidates based on their recent performances and compare them against the defensive showings of their upcoming opponents.

As this uses data from the Fantasy Football Scout Members Area, only those signed up to a Membership package will be able to access it in full.

Captain Poll

Kevin De Bruyne (£10.7m) tops the Gameweek 23 Captain Poll having accrued 31.9% of the vote.

It comes off the back of his nine-point haul in Manchester City’s 6-1 win at Aston Villa, which saw him outscore Gameweek 22’s most popular skipper Jamie Vardy (£10.0m).

De Bruyne’s latest haul ensured he goes into this weekend averaging 8.8 points per game over the last six matches.

Crystal Palace come to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon without a clean sheet since Gameweek 16 although the last time they conceded more than once on the road was at Chelsea in Gameweek 12.

In a straight swap from the Gameweek 22 poll results, it’s Vardy sitting in second place this time around.

Ahead of a trip to Burnley, the Leicester man has the support of 20% of the voters.

Despite failing to register a shot against Southampton’s revitalised defence last weekend, Vardy does have a much more appealing fixture in Gameweek 23.

The Foxes are set for a trip to Turf Moor, where Burnley have recently lost their defensive edge.

Sean Dyche’s men have played seven matches against last season’s top-six in 2019/20 conceding 23 times in the process, an average 3.3 goals per game.

While Leicester did not fit that description last season, their attack has shown it is capable of competing with the best sides in the Premier League this campaign, so it seems likely that Golden Boot front-runner Vardy will enjoy his trip to Lancashire.

Sergio Aguero‘s (£11.8m) monster haul at Aston Villa has fired him into outside consideration for the Gameweek 23 captaincy, with 12.3% of the voters lending him their backing for the visit of Crystal Palace.

It must be said that the centre-forward has only started two of the last four Gameweeks and there is another fixture coming up for Pep Guardiola’s men on Tuesday evening…

After assisting in Liverpool’s win at Spurs, Mohamed Salah (£12.3m) is considered the most likely to break through Manchester United’s defence on Sunday afternoon.

The Egyptian has two double-figure hauls in his last three outings at Anfield, yielding a 6.3% backing in the captain poll.

By contrast, Mané has the support of just 3.1% of the voters despite proving more reliable at home recently.

The Senegalese international has registered attacking returns in each of his last four at Anfield, while Salah has two blanks in that time.

Raheem Sterling‘s (£11.8m) no-show against Aston Villa appears to have boosted his chances of a start against Crystal Palace, and his captain credentials in the process.

3.6% of the voters have decreed him as the best option for Gameweek 23, although his last league goal at the Etihad Stadium came against Aston Villa in Gameweek 10.

Danny Ings‘ (£6.8m) continuing form keeps on pushing him higher in the captaincy consideration. 3.2% have backed him for Southampton’s Gameweek 23 meeting with Wolves, who appear increasing threadbare and in need of January signings.

Ismaïla Sarr (£6.2m), Son Heung-min (£9.8m), Riyad Mahrez (£8.5m), Marcus Rashford (£9.2m), Neal Maupay (£5.9m) and Tammy Abraham (£7.8m) are the only other options with more than 1% in the captain poll.

Player statistics – Last four matches

1,300 Comments Post a Comment
  1. primal33
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Would you rather transfer:

    A) Evans ---> Robbo
    B) Jimenez ---> Firmino

    I already have TAA and Salah

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

      A no doubt

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

      Close one, Jiminez has some tough games in an ugly fixture swing starting 24 so it’s a good week to sell him and firminho has scored 7 in 10 away games with both in the double away! Not the easiest clean sheets to target in the double with two away games and one the custard bowl (molineaux) I think I’d do B out of the two but personally prefer TAA Mane Salah as the three to own

      1. primal33
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        I'd have to sell KdB to get Mane which isn't an option. I'll see if I can squeeze Mane in but I prefer Jimmy to Bobby personally thanks to the fixture swing as you say. Cheers!

        1. Jambot
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Better move I think. Evans has Burnley then West Ham too so he’s a better hold probably.

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

    Aguero or KDB captain?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Aguero

    2. Amanda Staveley
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Aguero if I had him!

  3. Daghe Munegu
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Would you save ft guys? Or get rid of Pope for McCarthy?
    Also would you start Cantwell or Martial?

    Pope
    TAA Robertson Sidibé
    Salah KDB Cantwell Grealish
    Vardy Ings Abraham

    Button Martial Rico Reid

    1. Jambot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      If you have the three pool players you want may as well fix Pope while you can

  4. Amanda Staveley
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Alli and Abraham to Maddison and DCL or Ings?

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

      ings

      1. Amanda Staveley
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Done

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

      Ings

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

    Thoughts?

    Ryan
    Soyuncu, Sidibe, TAA
    DeBrunye (v), Salah, Maddison, Mane, Doucoure
    C Lewin, Vardy (c)

    Foster, Greenwood, Holgate, Baldock

  6. The Mantis
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    It comes down to the opposition defence doesn't it - City against Palace at home is stronger than Vardy against Burnley away. So KDB captain it is

    How's my team btw please?

    Ryan (Button)
    TAA / Sidibe / Lund / Dunk (Kelly)
    KDB (c) / Salah / Mane / Rich (Dendon)
    Vardy / Ings (Greenwood)

    Thanks!

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

      Will KdB start though? And I can't ever remember Palace getting whalloped at City (correct me if I'm wrong)

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

        City scored 16 goals in their last 4 home matches against palace

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

          They have actually scored 7 in the last four PL games against them...

          1. The Mantis
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            they won 5-0 twice against them in 2017.

            Also, on 20th Feb 1926 they beat them 11-4

      2. Woy_is_back
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Kdb came of early last game so should start

  7. Mufc202020
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Who would you play out of these 2!

    A) Traore
    B) MAUPAY

    1. Snooze ya lose
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      B

    2. suddenorgan
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      B

    3. Hasselbaink Forever - Defoe…
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      B for sure

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

      B

  8. Snooze ya lose
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Is ditching Alli a priority? Might impact on my salah or robbo quandary!

    1. Jambot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I don’t think ditching Alli is a priority in isolation at all. Getting pool Players for 24 is though and depending on your team he might be the best way to do it.

    2. Kuzser
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      not for me and not with 2 good fixtures ahead. Alli can even outscore some of top Liv assets in gw24

      1. Woy_is_back
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Watford away is not a good fixture anymore. Besides Son will more likely score than Alli

  9. RyanKent14
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    On a wild card, would it be mad to go 3 pool def? My team looks like this

    McCarthy Button
    TAA VVD Robbo Lund Williams
    KDB Martial Maddi Richarlison
    Cantwell
    Vardy Ings Rashford

    1.1 in the bank

    What you think?

    1. suddenorgan
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I don't see why you'd rather have triple Liverpool defence + triple Utd rather than dropping Rashford/Maddison to get Salah

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

      I'd drop one of them to Mane. Midfield too weak.

    3. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      You'll have at least one fan in Maximus Bonimus Pointimus (I thinkemus) - he's been expound the merits of such a move. You'll need nerves of steel. And Andrex

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

        *expounding

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

    Maupay eller Calvert-Lewin?

  11. FCSB
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    I’m sure this has been asked but who to captain and a reason why please:

    1. Vardy (bur)
    2. KDB (CRY)

    Thanks all

    1. Feed tha Sheep
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I’m on KDB C and Vardy VC currently

      1. Feed tha Sheep
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        City starting to turn it on again..

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

      2

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

        What’s your reason bro?

    3. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      2

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

        What’s your reason hombre?

        1. Miguel Sanchez
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Vardy looked poor last game. No shots and one penalty box touch. Has a record or 3 goals in 9 starts against Burnley. Possibly struggles against their low block defence.

          KDB and Man City appear in top form and can't see anything less than a 3-0 win.

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

      Vardy

      CPA haven't conceded more than 1 goal since gw13

      Burnley are appalling.

  12. Peter Ouch
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Why Lascelles hot substituted on the 57th min vs rochdale?

    Any injury?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      What was the score at the time?

  13. PickleRick
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Bench one:

    A) Maddison (bur)
    B) Grealish (bha)
    C) Ings (WOL)
    D) Calvert-Lewin (whu)
    E) Richarlison (whu)

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

      One of the Everton boys I think, West Ham look solid(ish) under Moyes.

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      B

    3. I SPEAK ENGELS AND DRINK GI…
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      D

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

      D

  14. wonkeydonkey
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Best Def under £5.3m?

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

      Probably still Lundstram.

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Gomez
      Holgate
      Webster/Dunk
      Stephens
      Williams

    3. Dele
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Lord or Dunk

  15. Von Lipwig
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    GTG?

    Ryan
    TAA Soy Lund
    Salah Mane KDB(c) Grealish
    Vardy DCL Ings
    (Button/Cantwell/Rico/Ramsay)

  16. screamer73
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Start Rico or Lundy?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Lund

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

      Lord

  17. MiechuPL
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Rico

  18. MiechuPL
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Gazzaniga/Ramsadale
    TAA,Sidibe,Webster
    Salah,De Bruyne, Mahrez, Maddison
    Vary, DCL, Ings

    Gazzaniga or Ramsadale?
    De Bruyne/Mahrez/Salah (c) ?

  19. WHYYYY
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Start deulofeu or cantwell? tough choice...

  20. aidmata
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Bench Martial or Cantwell?

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

      Hmmmm Cantwell?

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Martial

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

      Martial

    4. NielsvanDelft
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Martial

    5. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Cantwell

    6. suddenorgan
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Martial

    7. aidmata
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Martial takes it 4-2, thanks guys!

      1. Party time
          4 years, 2 months ago

          This should never be a contest.

          Martial

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

      Am I G2G? Got no idea what to do with Traore, run out of cash.

      McCarthy
      TAA, VVD, Dunk
      Traore, Salah, KDB, Maddison
      Ings, Aguero(c), Vardy

      Button, Lundstram, Dendoncker, Williams

      1. Miguel Sanchez
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Is this a WC team?

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

          Nope, I went -4 this week and got in McCarthy, Williams & Aguero.

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

        I'm planning to downgrade him to cheapie and upgrade 4th defender to someone with decent fixtures.

      3. The FPL Units
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Get Cantwell

        1. The 12th Man
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Or Doucoure

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

            Like the look of Doucoure

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

              He's looking great. And his positioning is often highest up the pitch.
              One word of caution though he is playing through an injury

    9. footballcandy
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      %Chance on David Silva to start this GW?

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

        Good chance I would say

    10. Runaway
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Planning to hold Martial only for BUR next GW but it will his 4th game in 11 days, given his injury record and Greenwood's recent form, how likely do you think he will be rested at BUR game?

      1. suddenorgan
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        when he's fit he tends to play though, see Christmas

    11. Fuddled FC
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Have 2 FT. Would you do

      a) Ramsdale > McCarthy
      b) not bother and hope Ramsdale plays

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

        A

    12. Nightf0x
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Bench 1
      Soy lund sidibe traore dcl

      1. The FPL Units
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Traore

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

      Guaita

      TAA Van Dijk Soyuncu

      Salah KDB Willian Cantwell

      Ings Rashford Jimenez

      Subs:Maddison Lunds Baldock

      I was thinking Rashford Maddison to Aguero and Noble for -4. Is this nuts?

      1. The FPL Units
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        A bag of nuts

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

        It could work out.

    14. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      So so tempted to do Vardy,Rashford >> Firmino, Aguero -4.

      Would give me-
      Ryan
      TAA,Lundstram,Soyuncu
      Salah,KDB, Maddison Sarr
      Aguero,Firmino,Ings

      Button,Cantwell,Rico,Kelly

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

      All set?

      Gazza

      TAA / Targett / Soyuncu

      Sarr / Grealish / Mane / KDB

      Aguero (C) / Vardy / Ings

      Button / Dendonker / Lundstram / Kelly

    16. footballcandy
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Maupay vs VILLA

      or

      Tammy vs. Newcastle

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

        Maupay

    17. Mufc202020
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Need assistance please!

      A) Rashford & Traore
      B) MAUPAY & KDB -4 points

      Thanks a lot!!!