Captain Sensible

Who are the best FPL captain options for Blank Gameweek 28?

Liverpool and Leicester assets are at the centre of an intriguing captaincy debate for Blank Gameweek 28.

With Manchester City out of the picture thanks to the EFL Cup final, we have fewer options to draw on – but that does not make picking a skipper any easier.

As the Friday night deadline hurtles closer, we have executed a deep-dive into the Opta data to help you chose the best captain for Blank Gameweek 28.

As this article uses data from the Fantasy Football Scout Members Area, only those signed up for the 2019/20 season, the half-season package or a monthly membership can access it in full.

Captain Poll

After scoring in Monday night’s 3-2 win over West Ham, Mohamed Salah (£12.8m) tops the Blank Gameweek 28 captain poll by a considerable margin.

The Egyptian faces a Watford side that has lost the momentum of Nigel Pearson’s December appointment, conceding at least twice in three of their last four matches.

Returning to the scene of his first-ever Premier League goal for Liverpool, Salah has scored four times since Double Gameweek 24, more than any of his colleagues. That has led to 42.1% of voters lending him their support for the Blank Gameweek 28 captaincy.

However, Salah has struggled for goals on the road in 2019/20, netting just twice in league games outside of Anfield. In fact, Salah is still yet to score in an away match that Sadio Mané (£12.3m) has started this season.

The Senegalese international has scored in back-to-back games since returning from his Double Gameweek 24 injury and has a total of five goals away from home this year, compared to Salah’s two. Involved in three assists in such matches, admittedly fewer than the Egyptian’s five, Mané still has more goal involvements on the road than his colleague on the other flank of the attack (eight to seven).

Despite that, the former Southampton attacker is a long way off the top of the captain poll, with just 12.1% of our voters selecting him as the best option for the armband this weekend.

Ahead of him is Jamie Vardy (£9.7m), who, despite not scoring a Premier League goal since Gameweek 18, when Leicester were beaten 3-1 at Manchester City, has attracted the backing of 20.2% of the voters.

The Foxes face a Norwich side that, despite recent improvements at the back, were well-beaten by Wolves in Gameweek 27, conceding three times at Molineux.

Daniel Farke’s men remain in one of the worst sides defensive at home so far, averaging two goals conceded per match at Carrow Road after 13 outings there. That’s the second-worst in the Premier League.

The question is whether an out-of-form Vardy can capitalise on that this weekend. Interestingly, only 1.9% have leant their support to his team-mate Harvey Barnes (£6.0m), who has outscored the forward by 33 points to 14 from Gameweek 19 onwards.

That is good enough for fifth-place in the poll, just behind Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.7m) on 7.6%. The Liverpool right-back has not blanked in a game he has started since Gameweek 13, still on a remarkable run of reliability.

He did not even need a clean sheet to get two assists, maximum bonus and 10 points against West Ham, suggesting there could be more to come against Watford.

Despite his Gameweek 27 blank against Aston Villa, Danny Ings (£7.1m) has been backed by 1.6% of our voters as Southampton prepare to face West Ham. Meanwhile, his colleague Shane Long (£4.6m), who outperformed and outscored Ings last weekend, was chosen by 0.2%.

Roberto Firmino (£9.7m) comes into Blank Gameweek 28 with more away goals than any other Liverpool player this season but only 1.6% of the voters believe he is worth captaining against Watford.

James Maddison (£7.4m) and Ayoze Pérez (£6.2m) are the other alternatives in the Leicester attack for the trip to Norwich, pulling in 1.5% and 1.3% support respectively.

Teemu Pukki (£6.5m) and Bruno Fernandes (£8.2m) are the only other options backed by more 1%.

Player statistics – Last four matches

663 Comments Post a Comment
  1. FantasyFooty01
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Hi into week 5 of Last Man Standing who should I pick this week. Not sure on Leicester other suggestions welcome Already picked:
    Spurs
    Liverpool
    Man City
    Wolves

  2. Dynamic Duos
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Mane my bus (c) , no reason to change it now

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

      Same

  3. Dynamic Duos
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Grealish going down tonight?

    1. Ninjaa
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Yeah gotta go imo. 3 point average (15) my prediction for the next 5 gws

      1. Dynamic Duos
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Get Mount or Barnes?

        1. Ninjaa
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Not too fussed on either. Barnes out of the 2

          1. Dynamic Duos
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 1 month ago

            Any other suggestions?

            1. Ninjaa
              • 13 Years
              4 years, 1 month ago

              Armstrong seems a good punt at 5.2

              1. Dynamic Duos
                • 10 Years
                4 years, 1 month ago

                Got 3 Southampton

        2. Nomar
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          I'm seriously considering McNeil.

  4. Dynamic Duos
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Barnes or Mount is the question, already have Perez

    1. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Mount

    2. Dont give a fuchs
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Same question. I already have Perez and vardy. Thinking of going for mount

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

    What should be my bench order for this gw? Obviously KDB has no game so he's on the bench.

    Ramsgate Pope
    TAA Soyuncu Rico Aurier Saiss
    Salah KDB Martial Traore Hayden
    Vardy Firminho DCL.....

    1. Dynamic Duos
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Who is Ramsgate?

      1. Ninjaa
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Bmouth Gk

        1. Dynamic Duos
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Ramsdale*

          1. Ninjaa
            • 13 Years
            4 years, 1 month ago

            Ahhhh yes

            1. Dynamic Duos
              • 10 Years
              4 years, 1 month ago

              Bench him , Rico, Traore, Hayden, you any fts?

            2. Dynamic Duos
              • 10 Years
              4 years, 1 month ago

              Sorry haha KDB needs to be on the bench lol

  6. AzzaroMax99
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Repost, sorry.

    Already used my FT to upgrade Button to Pope. Now thinking to sell Grealish for Bruno for a hit?
    Is it crazy considering ManU schedule and potential blank in gw31?
    I would bench Williams and play Bruno this week.

    Pope
    Taa Williams Stephens Webster
    Salah(C) Perez Cantwell
    Jimmy Firmino Ings

    Hendo* Holgate Grealish* KDB*

    3.7 IDB
    0 FT

  7. Le Bluff
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Stats will always say Salah, because of the type of the player he is.

    Mane ghosts into positions in the box and around the 6 yard box, which is where his higher quality chances and more shots on target come from.

    Mane even had a second goal (rightfully) ruled out for offside by VAR against WHU, but there wasn't much in it. The disallowed goal was another tap-in for Mane.

    Salah is a great option but he'll always look like the best option because of stats.

    I favour Mane marginally because of his raw goal threat and eye test (I have both Salah and Mane, btw).

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

      This man speaketh the truth, have an upvote.

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

      Agree. Only got Salah though. Pens helps soften this

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

    Who would you prefer to bring in for next few weeks?

    A Ricardo Pereira
    B Doherty

    1. Le Bluff
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      B.

      Not quite understanding all the hype around Pereira.

    2. FPL Xylophone
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Last few gws pereira had more shots in the box than any other player of Leicester

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

        That's not saying much 😉

        1. FPL Xylophone
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Speaks volumes

    3. Henning
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Doherty

  9. Steirish
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Start cantwell or webster?

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

      Oh to have a luxury like this dilemma! Webster.

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

    Ryan Button

    TAA Robertson Stephens Soyuncu Fernandez

    Traore Martial Salah Cantwell KDB

    DCL Ings Vardy

    2.2ITB with 1FT - would you save transfer or look to sell Traore?

    Also, if keeping Traore, would you bench him or Fernandez?

    1. Gazza2000
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Would keep Traore for one more week and play him over Fernandez or Stephens

    2. Henning
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Looks like My team.

      If Traore gets 90 mins tonight im not shure he starts next gw.

    3. aidmata
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Cheers guys

  11. NorwichCityLad
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Which one is is more likely to score more points?

    A)Maupay CRY(H)WOL(A)ARS(H)

    B)Benteke BHA(A)WAT(H)BOU(A)

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

      Please do not buy Benteke, I beg you!

      1. NorwichCityLad
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        It's just a question i think Benteke myself

    2. FPL Xylophone
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I think will both score low. I would go for Benteke cause it's more fun. Not sure if tosun will challenge him though

    3. The Rumour Mill
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Whatever the question, the answer is never Benteke.

      1. NorwichCityLad
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        God I hope Benteke does well this week for the doubters

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

          He'd be a differential that's for sure! Good luck! 🙂

  12. Henning
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    What to do with this team?
    4.4 m in the bank and 1 ft

    Ryan

    TAA VvD Boly

    Salah Traore Perez Martial

    Vardy Ings DCL

    Button Stephens Lundstram KDB

    1. Gazza2000
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Sell Lundstram or save

  13. MJM
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Is Rico expected to start this GW?

    1. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Doubt it.

    2. El Presidente
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Dont know. He was benched but BOU defense looked horrible and conceded 3, so.... maybe.

  14. Garfield1001
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    2FTs and 1.3m ITB

    Guaita £4m
    Trent Soyuncu Stephens Rico Holgate
    Salah Traore Cantwell Grealish* KDB*
    Vardy Ings Auba*

    A) Auba > Jota
    Grealish > Mane

    B) Rico > Gomez
    Grealish > Barnes

    C) Holgate > Doherty
    Grealish > Barnes

    Opinions appreciated!

    1. Gazza2000
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Think I would keep Auba and go with C here

  15. Dont give a fuchs
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Should I do grealish to mount?

    1. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Aye

  16. The Polymath
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone mentioned Storm Jorge yet?

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

      Changes v© to Vardy*
      😀

  17. Slitherene
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Ryan Button
    Robertson Holgate Lascelles
    Perez Salah Mane KdB*
    Ings Aubameyang* DC-L
    Egan* Doncker Fodder*

    How about these moves for a hit?

    Fodder + KdB -> Soyuncu + Maddison
    Allowing me to get Jimenez for DC-L next week.

  18. Emm7980
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Gw28 GTG?
    Pope
    TAA lascalles soy Stephens
    Traore Cantwell Salah Armstrong
    Jiminez firminio
    Guaita lundstrum KDB aubameyang

    1)auba - vardy and play vardy over lascalles/Stephens.
    2)Traore - barnes
    3)save ft

  19. United10
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    How many more double gameweeks are we going to have this season?

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

      Atleast 2

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

        Hopefully only 2 😀

  20. waltzingmatildas
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Worth a hit to get rid of grealish this week? Have 11 but one of those is traore. Options are :
    A) doherty and Barnes
    B) boly and b.fernandes

    1. Gazza2000
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      B

  21. chaser123
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    GW31 planning....

    Only teams (probably) playing are: Norwich, Everton, Watford, Wolves, Burnley and Bournemouth

    I currently only have 3 players (Boly, Sidibe and Rico) from those teams.

    With free transfers, I can therefore get 5 or 6 players for that GW.
    With free hit, I can get 11 players (probably better ones) for that GW.

    - If I make bad picks with the free hit, this would gain me 12 points.
    - If I make good picks with my free hit, this would gain me 30(?) points.
    --> expected points gain would be 20 points.

    Additionally, it would mean making transfers now that benefit my team across GW29 and GW30 rather than only bringing in GW31 players.

    Surely that makes a FH worthwhile? Or do you think a free hit is worth more than 20 points?

    1. Walcoff life
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Maybe FH, yeah

    2. Duffy Dunk
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      It still feels a little early but I feel like focusing on gwks 28-30 & deciding to FH or not closer to gw31.

    3. Tambling5
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I wish I had free hit left! I think it's a no-brainier. You should gain points over the likes of me, and lots of other people who won't want many players from those teams cluttering up theirteam before the end of the season. Intend to play wildcard following week,but currently I have only two from those teams: Jimi and Traore!

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

      Is the Liverpool palace game on 31 if chelsea beat pool in the cup? If pool game is on no FH.

      1. bench boost for every gamew…
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Yep. Kids like Jones and eliott will play so Chelsea decent chance of winning but tight i guess.

  22. Duffy Dunk
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    How does this look for gw28?
    Would you start Saiss instead of Stephens?

    McCarthy
    TAA Robertson Soyuncu Stephens
    Salah Richarlison Martial
    Vardy Jimenez Ings

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

      G2G as it is

    2. Walcoff life
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Good team

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

    TAA !!

    1. Walcoff life
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      You capping again?

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

        Yep

        1. Walcoff life
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Massive balls, gl

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

            Thanks mate.
            GL to you too 🙂

  24. Walcoff life
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    If you had both, who would you captain?
    A) Salah
    B) Mane

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

      Sadio

    2. Duffy Dunk
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Mane, as per my gut.

    3. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Mane.

    4. I Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Mane

  25. stu92
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Ryan
    TAA - Robbo - Lascelles - Williams
    Salah - Maddison - Traore
    Vardy (c) - Ings - Jimi
    (Martin - Hayden - Lund - KDB)

    2 free transfers, 0.5 in the bank - what do you think of this?

    A) Ryan & Williams > Pope & Taylor
    B) Ryan & Williams > McCarthy & Boly
    C) Williams & Ings > Boly & DCL
    B) Williams > Taylor or Saiss

  26. Mackans
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Who would you bring in, Barnes or Fernandes? (Money isn’t an issue)

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

      I can see me bringing in Fernandes next week (done this week).

    2. Duffy Dunk
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Fernandes

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

      Fernandes?

  27. Nomar
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    I reckon Trent might be the way to go, captain wise, this week.

  28. Mackans
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    What would you do? (1 free transfer, 2.1ib)

    Henderson
    Trent VVD Söyüncü Stevens Rico*
    Salah KDB Grealish Traore Hayden*
    Vardy Jimenez Ings
    Bench: McGovern, Stevens, Grealish, KDB

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

      Rico > Taylor?

  29. Tabbara
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Thoughts on :
    Getting mccarthy in for Foster or save FT

    Have already Bednarek
    Thx

  30. SpaceCadet
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Best Traore replacement here? Budget 11m

    salah kdb grealish traore dendo
    Firmino Jimmy ings

    1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Bruno Fernandes

    2. Hart-ake
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Fernandes

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

      Bruno

      Or get rid of Firmino and add Mane

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

        Bruno is tempting. Tempted to keep firmino as a differential. Cheers

        1. Nomar
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          My only problem with Bruno is I already have Martial.

          He looks a good FPL pick though.