Captain Sensible

Who are the best FPL captain options for Gameweek 26?

Some unusual factors may be at play in the Gameweek 26 captaincy debate.

There are a number of clubs who enjoy excellent matches in the next set of Premier League fixtures but the forthcoming games are spread out over ten days, with the English top flight’s first-ever winter break very much in full swing.

Only four matches take place this weekend, so we’ll be in the dark on the latest injury situation at a dozen Premier League clubs heading into Saturday’s deadline.

The Captain Sensible article runs through the runners and riders for the armband in this minefield of a Gameweek to come.

Most of this piece is restricted to subscribers of Fantasy Football Scout, with full details on how to sign up – and a guide to the benefits of membership – available by clicking here.

CAPTAIN POLL

Mohamed Salah (£12.7m) leads the way in our captaincy poll for the third Gameweek in a row, although unsurprisingly, given the number of viable alternatives this time, his leading margin is narrower than in Gameweek 25.

The Egyptian has registered 16-point hauls in each of the last two Gameweeks and averages 9.2 Fantasy Premier League points per match in 2020 so far.

It has to be said that Salah hasn’t been prolific on the road this season, scoring only two goals away from Anfield – although he has supplemented those strikes with five assists.

Of course, Salah bucked the trend in his last away outing, racking up 14 points in Liverpool’s 2-0 win over West Ham United.

That was his highest FPL score in an away game since Gameweek 16 of 2018/19.

Liverpool’s opponents this weekend, bottom-of-the-table Norwich City, have conceded more goals on home soil than any other team bar Southampton this season.

The ongoing injury concern over Sadio Mane (£12.3m) has probably aided Salah’s cause in the captaincy poll, with there being little in the way of a ‘split vote’ among the Reds’ premium midfielders: the Senegal international has garnered just over 1% of the nominations so far, with uncertainty still clouding his availability in Gameweek 26.

Despite their heroics at the back over the last few months (eight clean sheets in nine matches), not one of Liverpool’s defenders can boast more than a 1% share of the vote.

The number of popular FPL midfielders and forwards with appealing fixtures in Gameweek 26 will largely be the reason why even the most in-form of defenders are being overlooked for the armband.

Sergio Aguero (£12.0m) is among that group, with Manchester City facing West Ham United at the Etihad on Sunday.

Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne (£10.7m) sit second and third in our poll at the time of writing, with Riyad Mahrez (£8.5m) down at ninth.

If Pep Guardiola was less prone to rotation, then City assets would surely be faring even better in our poll.

The advantage that the reigning champions’ players have over their counterparts from Liverpool, Spurs, Chelsea, Manchester United, Wolves and Leicester this week is that we will hopefully hear about any injuries before Saturday’s deadline, with Guardiola’s pre-match press conference scheduled for Friday.

As for Messrs Klopp, Mourinho, Lampard, Solskjaer, Santo and Rodgers, they’ll only deliver their fitness updates long after the Gameweek 26 deadline has been and gone.

Of course, Guardiola is not one for being completely transparent when facing the media and it is extremely unlikely that he will give us any clues as to his starting XI.

Based on the fixture alone, Aguero and co have strong cases.

West Ham have conceded on nine occasions in their last three matches, shooting themselves in the foot against Brighton last Saturday when gifting the Seagulls two of their goals.

While it’s fair to point out that ten clubs have conceded more goals than the Hammers on the road in 2019/20, David Moyes’ beleaguered troops have yet to face five of the traditional ‘big six’ – including City ‘- away from home.

Aguero and De Bruyne have both hit double figures for FPL attacking returns at the Etihad this season, with Mahrez a little further back on eight.

Is Vardy To Aubameyang Worth A Transfer? 1

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£10.8m) is the best of the rest, with around 4% of our voters eyeing up Arsenal’s home fixture against Newcastle United a week on Sunday.

The Gabonese forward has actually been better on the road this season, with 11 of his 17 attacking returns coming away from home.

That said, most of those games came under Unai Emery.

His role as a left-winger in Mikel Arteta’s 4-2-3-1 set-up is less about hugging the touchline, as evidenced by the three excellent chances he was presented with in more central positions against Burnley last weekend.

Aubamayeng has also failed to blank in his four previous meetings with the Magpies.

The fact that we’ll have concrete team news from Carlo Ancelotti ahead of Saturday’s deadline is perhaps a reason why Lucas Digne (£5.8m) and Richarlison (£8.1m) are proving so popular in our poll.

The pair are fifth and sixth respectively, with the visit of Crystal Palace offering the prospect of returns at both ends of the pitch: the Eagles have scored fewer goals than any Premier League team this season and are without a clean sheet since Gameweek 16.

Just over 80% of Digne’s FPL points have come at Goodison Park in 2019/20.

Danny Ings (£7.0m) and Son Heung-min (£10.0m) also feature in the top ten and it’s a little surprising to see the South Korea international so low down, given that Aston Villa have the joint-worst defensive record in the top flight and that Son has scored in four consecutive matches in all competitions.

1,168 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Make United Great Again
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    McCarthy
    TAA Stevens Eagan
    Salah(C) KDB Manè Martial Grealish
    Ings Aubameyang

    McGovern, Greenwood, Kelly, Simpson.

    Already on -4 after doing: Soy & Lundstram > Stevens Eagan.

    G2G?

    1. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Cheers lads.

    2. Cojones of Destiny
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      yep gtg

      1. tim
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Why getting rid of Soy?

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

          We're not very frugal these days, and he has minmal attacking end product.

    3. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Nice. Mane could be great for you

  2. quayle99
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Bench

    A. Traure
    B. Fleck
    C. Grealish

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

      A

    2. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      A

    3. Cojones of Destiny
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      id bench Greal

    4. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Tricky. A or B for me. Jack can explode in any game

    5. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Probably C

  3. footballcandy
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Rate the nailedness next 2 gws by % in the Watford defence:

    Mariappa
    Kabasele
    Masina

  4. Peter Ouch
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Love this article every friday morning.
    Best in the site

  5. Tmel
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    McCarthy
    TAA Lund Holgate
    Salah Traore Grealish KDB
    Auba Vardy Jimi
    (Button Rico Dendoncker Soy)

    1FT & 0.2ITB

    1) Lund > Egan
    2) Vardy > Ings
    3) Lund & Soy > Egan & Gomez (-4)
    4) Lund & Vardy > Gomez & Ings (-4)

    1. The Sociologist
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      1)

    2. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      3

    3. linkafu
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      4

  6. The Train Driver
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone considering Ings as C? Good game, great form and may be on pens now as well...

    1. The Sociologist
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Not this week, Man City and Liverpool too difficult to look past.

  7. The Sociologist
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Think I’ve reached my final WC draft. Thoughts greatly appreciated...

    Henderson, McCarthy
    TAA, Egan, Stephens, Lascelles, C. Taylor
    Salah, KDB, Son, Traoré, Mooy
    Aguero (C), Jiménez, Ings

    Aguero > Vardy on the cards for the blank.

    1. #FPLBhuna
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I like it, apart from Mooy, I find him such an uninspired pick but I guess it's okay as you'll hardly ever have to play him right?

      1. The Sociologist
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Only really as an emergency for the blank in 28, but could just swap to Hayden to save some cash?

        Alongside Aguero > Vardy this would allow Taylor > VVD

        1. #FPLBhuna
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Oh na, Hayden is worse

          I'd much rather Mooy over Hayden pal

    2. Zenith UK
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Only thing I can criticise is not having three Liverpool players and Mooy, but you've got that covered with the GW28 transfers I suppose!

      1. The Sociologist
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Any other 5th mids you’d be looking at over Mooy?

    3. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I’m on Mooy for my 5th.
      Don’t plan to play him much . Your squad can handle his inclusion.

      1. The Sociologist
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Good to know you’re also on Mooy.

  8. #FPLBhuna
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone else with this dream duo up top?

    Damage is about to be inflicted.. (hopefully not to my OR, but to Burnley).

    mccarthy
    TAA - holgate - lundy
    salah(c) - mane - kdb - mahrez - son
    ings - long

    button - martinelli - lascelles - williams

    1. The Sociologist
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Not tempted to start Martinelli over Long?

      1. #FPLBhuna
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        well, I am a tiny bit but my moves this gameweek were:

        dcl + maupay > ings + long (-4)

        ...so I kind of feel obliged to play the long game with this one

        It's a close call though, I could go with either of the two really

        1. The Sociologist
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Peach. Poor Dom, didn’t even get the Palace game!

          1. The Sociologist
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 1 month ago

            Ouch...

    2. Our Man Charlie
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      could be gold , saints fixtures and both capable of scoring decent points , I watched the stream on last night was hilarious with Jason banter 😆

      1. #FPLBhuna
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        haha I hope so dude

        Always banter with Elite FPL ay!

    3. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Watch Redmond get all the points.

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

      It’s certainly different. That midfield is mint.

      1. #FPLBhuna
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        haha cheers man

  9. SHOOTER MCGINN
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Cheeky Ben Mendy punt for the week anyone?

    1. #FPLBhuna
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      is he fit? if so sounds very nice

      1. SHOOTER MCGINN
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Latest comments I heard were from a week or two ago where it was said not fit for Spurs but should be fine for WHU. Same with Laporte. Should be a strong lineup

    2. FPL.team
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I've had the last 4 weeks. Hoping he finally plays and returns...

  10. StoichkovFPL
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Here are my (not popular) opinions about moves for (not only) this GW:

    1. Selling Lundstram isn't worth FT
    2. Selling Vardy is bad idea
    3. Best front 3 soon will be: Vardy, Jimenez, Ings
    4. Best 3 Liv picks are TAA, Salah, Mane (when fit obv)
    5. Keep Grealish till GW31
    6. Aguero is best C option this GW
    7. If you are on WC get Son (also get Kun even for 1 game - look at p.6)

    1. The Sociologist
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Is pt. 6 unpopular? Think most people’s barrier here is that they just don’t have him.

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

      1. True, especially if you have a decent backup
      2. Bad idea if planning to get him back, otherwise not an issue
      3. Maybe, maybe not
      4. Agreed
      5. Agreed
      6. Agreed

    3. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      1. Shipped him last week to get VVD. Will bring Stevens in after 28.
      2. Shipped on WC a few weeks back to fund Son. I agree if your holding him now it’s probably a bad idea.
      3. The ideal front 3,yes. Honourable shout outs for Firmino,Wood and Martinelli.
      4. Depends on individual team structure.
      5. Maybe. Harvey Barnes v Norwich tempting.
      6. High risk, reward.
      7. Agree. Got Son on WC 3 weeks ago.

  11. Hybrid.power
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    This gameweek is so weird. I only have three players playing over the weekend.

  12. have you seen cyan
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Job interview today boys wish me luck 🙂

    1. Kun, Ayew Nigerian?
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Good luck, buddy.

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

      Good luck, hope you get the job if its good for you.

    3. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      GL.

    4. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      GL !!

    5. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Straighten that tie. Go kill it.

    6. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Thanks x

  13. Mighty Wings
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    I am almost 60 points behind my rival. Would you play the wildcard now and use the remaining gameweeks to catch up or wait for the blanks and doubles?

    He still has his wildcard and will surely use it for the blanks and double gameweeks. We both still have bb und free hit.

    WC now would mean the following changes:

    McCarthy Stekelenburg
    TAA Sidibe Stephens Kelly Rico
    Salah(c) KdB Mane Grealish Cantwell
    Auba DCL Jimmy

    to

    McCarthy POPE
    TAA STEVENS Stephens CAYLOR LASCELLES
    Salah KdB TRAORE Grealish Cantwell
    Auba KUN (c) Jimmy

    Next weeks changes would be Kun and Grealish to Mane and Ings.

    DCL, Sidibe (Cpl at home) and Mane out before Norwich away is risky of course, on the other hand I would make Kun captain and improve my defense. Navigating the blanks should also work without the WC...

    No idea what to do...

  14. Doolittle
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Play one:

    A) Lundstram
    B) Rico
    C) Soyuncu

    1. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      C

    2. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Lundstram has lost his place. Time to get rid ASAP

    3. Camino Aleatorio
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Only Rico and Soy actually will play

      So Rico has the better opponent

    4. Bodini
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Interesting as I have exactly the same choice as you.

      At the moment I'm playing Lundstram. Even if he doesn't start he could still score, it is Bournemouth after all...

    5. linkafu
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      B

  15. The Mighty Whites
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    1FT, 0.0 ITB-

    Guaita, Button

    TAA, Stevens, Fernandez, Webster, Rico

    Salah, Mane, KDB, Grealish, Nakamba

    Vardy, Jimenez, Ings

  16. HairlessGrealish
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Henderson
    TAA Gomez Lundy
    Salah Grealish Maddison KdB
    Aguero Deeney Ings

    Gazza, Soyuncu, Kelly, Hayden
    0,9itb 2ft

    What would you do?

    1. XABI 15
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Kelly to Stephens or Baldock and bench Lundstram

  17. XABI 15
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Have Callum Wilaon 1ft and 0.2 itb and Pope in goal.

    Keep him or do Wilson to Ings (vs Pope)?

  18. Holmes
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    EH: "David Brooks is back in the country and ran on grass for the first time yesterday.

    "Josh King and Jack Stacey are close. I'm pleased with their progress.

  19. linkafu
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Bench one for GW26 :
    A) Traoré
    B) Maupay
    C) Pérez

    1. wulfrunian
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      b

    2. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      B

  20. My heart goes Salalalalah
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    In isolation, is DCL and Grealish to Ings and Fleck for a hit worth it? Really want Ings ASAP

    1. linkafu
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Nope

      1. My heart goes Salalalalah
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Didn't think so. Cheers

  21. #FPLBhuna
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    How do I change my display pic again folks, forgot the website

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

      Gravatar

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

      Gravatar.com

    3. #FPLBhuna
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      thanks both

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

      Secret Gooner?

      1. #FPLBhuna
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        hahaha brilliant

        nope.

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

          :0)

  22. Dele
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Vardy, Aguero, Jimenez.... which one to switch for Ings?

    1. Lukakwho
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Vardy/None of them

  23. Lukakwho
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Saint Maximim or Mooy?

  24. Fuddled FC
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    What order would you prioritise a SU defender?

    a) Egan
    b) Stevens
    c) O'Connell
    d) Basham
    e) Baldock

    1. FortunesAlwaysHiding
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      B
      E
      C
      A
      D

  25. FPL_Crisis
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Asked earlier today - would you recommend Sarr to Mahrez for a hit this week or play 433? Any advice appreciated
    Understand the blank coming up means I may not keep him

    Guaita (Button)
    TAA O’Connell Dunk Stephens (Soy)
    Salah kdb Martial (Traore, Sarr)
    Firmino Jimmy Ings

    1. FPL_Crisis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Bueller, Bueller....

  26. Energetics
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Ramsdale
    TAA Robbo Baldock
    Salah(c) KDB Grealish Traore
    Vardy Ings DCL

    Button Lundy Rico Cantwell

    5.2 ITB, 0 FT

    After fighting the urge to wildcard all week is anything in here worth a hit?

  27. In a Rush
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    A bit lost for what to do with this lot!?

    McCarthy
    Taa Lascelles soyuncu
    Salah kdb Maddison martial
    Ings Vardy Firmino

    McGovern Cantwell lundstram willems

    Have 1ft 0.2 Itb
    Obviously willems is a non starter
    Lundstram probably non starter
    Maddison poor form

    Thinking willems ➡️ Kwp
    And maybe Maddison ➡️ Someone -4
    Any thoughts much appreciated cheers

  28. steven8991
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Captain Salah or Aguero?

    1. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Kun

  29. Mooster©️
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Would you do this move:
    Mané and Vardy to Agüero and Son for -4?

  30. fplfansss
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    GTG?

    Ryan
    TAA, Lund, Rico
    Salah, KDB, Grealish, Son
    Kun, DCL, Ings

    Subs: Button, Cantwell, Soy, Kelly