Captain Sensible

Who are the best captain options for FPL Gameweek 31+?

Fantasy Premier League managers are faced with a perplexing captaincy decision for Gameweek 31+.

With Manchester City playing Chelsea, and Liverpool preparing for the mean defence of Crystal Palace, there is no standout candidate.

But this is the sort of Gameweek that Fantasy Football Scout readers relish. The lack of a comfortably popular captain provides Fantasy managers with an excellent opportunity to capitalise on how widely spread the armbands will be in Gameweek 31+.

To identify the best options to do this, we have looked at every key option’s recent form as well as the weaknesses (or not) of their upcoming opponents.

As this article uses data from the Fantasy Football Scout Members Area, only those with a valid subscription can access it in full.

Captain Poll

The dilemma of the Gameweek 31+ captaincy is reflected perfectly in the results of our latest poll.

As you can see from the image above, no option has streaked ahead of the rest of the pack, indicating the massive opportunity Fantasy managers have to make real ground on their opponents.

Bruno Fernandes (£8.7m) is the man who tops the pile but not by much. 19.7% of the voters handed their support to the Manchester United midfielder, who continued his pre-lockdown form in the Gameweek 30+ draw with Spurs, scoring a second-half penalty.

Since joining the Red Devils, Fernandes has been involved in six of his team’s nine goals, averaging 7.8 points per game.

Throw penalties into the mix, plus a Sheffield United defence short of key personnel, and things look good for Fernandes. Dean Henderson (£5.3m) is ineligible to face his parent club, John Egan (£4.6m) is suspended following his Double Gameweek 30+ red card and Jack O’Connell (£4.6m) still a fitness doubt.

Despite the potential low-hanging fruit from this game, the interest in captaining Marcus Rashford (£8.9m) is comparatively low, just 4.9% backing the Manchester United forward for the armband in Gameweek 31+.

Despite missing out on Double Gameweek 30+ entirely, Mohamed Salah (£12.7m) sits second in the captain poll for the upcoming round of action.

15.3% have handed their backing to the Egyptian as Crystal Palace head to Anfield. His home form was certainly in fine fettle when lockdown struck the Premier League. Salah found the net in five of his last six Anfield outings, scoring six times, assisting once and averaging 8.7 points per game in that run.

However, Liverpool’s attacking assets will have to compete with a stubborn Crystal Palace defence midweek. The Eagles have now kept four clean sheets in a row. There may be some hope for Salah owners behind that statistic though. Those clean sheets kept by Roy Hodgson’s men between Gameweeks 27 and 30+ were recorded against Newcastle (home), Brighton (away), Watford (home) and Bournemouth (away) – hardly the same level of quality on offer at Liverpool. 

Raúl Jiménez (£8.2m) is fortunate enough to be the next forward to face Bournemouth, who looked exceptionally poor in their Double Gameweek 30+ defeat to Crystal Palace.

Their defence has been in poor shape both before and after lockdown, conceding at least twice in five of their last six and with just one clean sheet on the road since Gameweek 11.

By contrast, Jiménez has been the right kind of consistent. The Mexican’s goal at West Ham was his third in the last four Gameweeks, and sixth in the last eight.

Meanwhile, the Wolves forward has become increasingly reliable against the lesser sides in 2019/20. 12 of his 20 attacking returns this season have come against those outside the traditional ‘big six’.

Son Heung-min (£9.7m) heads up the differential options with 8.7% backing in the captaincy poll. 

The South Korean was in an excellent scoring groove before his Gameweek 26 injury, netting four times in the three matches before then.

Of course, he was occupying the centre-forward role vacated by the now-fit Harry Kane (£10.8m) at the time, but facing West Ham in Gameweek 31+ is certainly a favourable fixture. David Moyes men have kept just one clean sheet since Gameweek 21, conceding at least twice in six of their last eight. Furthermore, even though the Hammers are well-known for upping their game against their local rivals, they have conceded 1.8 goals per match against London opposition this season, more than their overall average for the entire season (1.7 goals conceded per game).

8.2% of our voters must have been pleased with what they saw of Jamie Vardy (£9.7m) against Watford, as they have picked him out as the best captain candidate for Gameweek 31+. The midweek round of action pits him against the Brighton defence, that has kept just one clean sheet on the road since Gameweek 7. But the question remains over whether Vardy can recapture his earlier season form. His two goals against Aston Villa in Gameweek 29, remain his only strikes since Gameweek 19.

Sadio Mané (£12.5m) remains a part of the discussion with his 6.2% backing and relatively decent form since return from injury pre-lockdown. While he could not carve out anything for his Double Gameweek 30+ owners, the Senegalese international still averages 6.2 points per game since returning to action in Gameweek 26. But, like Salah, he still has to contest with Hodgson’s well-organised Palace defence midweek.

Kevin De Bruyne‘s (£10.6m) Double Gameweek 30+ double-figure haul is enough to convince 6.1% of our voters to captain him despite a tricky (on paper anyway) meeting with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. But no FPL midfielder has more attacking returns against ‘big-six’ opposition than De Bruyne, his total of eight coming from four goals and four assists in seven matches.

Harvey Barnes (£6.2m), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.0m), Richarlison (£8.3m), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£6.5m) and Sergio Aguero (£11.8m) are the only other options with more than 1% backing for Gameweek 31+.

Player statistics – Last four matches

2,965 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Feed tha Sheep
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Best Watford def? (not Dawson)

    1. hornetjb
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I have Femenia - may get the odd attacking return, playing almost as a wing back in the new system (especially at home). Just worried he may miss out on Thursday, if Pearson goes for more aerial power at the back - as its against hoofball Burnley, he may play Dawson or Mariappa there just for this game. Masina and Kabasele should play most games too.

  2. thom830g
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Any thoughts guys? Would be appreciated!

    Martinez - Martin
    TAA - Lascelles - Stephens - AWB - Saiss
    Martial - KDB - Cantwell - Son - Saka
    Jimenez - Kane - DLC

    1. thom830g
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      On WC

    2. Jack Burton
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Dunno about Kane

    3. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Wouldn’t go near Kane

      1. thom830g
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Cheers. Vardy/rash instead?

  3. UshFPL
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Mahrez -> Son for a hit?

    1. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      lol

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

      No. All of this Son stuff is anticipation based on fixtures. Spurs were poor in that game and the breakaway goal papered over the cracks a bit. Utd weren't world beaters either.

  4. gooner_112233445566
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    on WC, which one..

    a) martinez, lascelles, son
    b) patricio, ritchie, richarlison
    c) mccarthy/ryan, ritchie, alli

    got doherty and DCL in all

    1. thom830g
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      A

    2. Soto Ayam
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      B

    3. Forgetmeknot
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I’m on a. Don’t like c

    4. Fit_to_drop
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      B for me. Dont like the keeper set up in A. Richarlison also looks hungry.

  5. JELLYFISH
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Armband currently on Mane but leaning towards switching to Jimi

  6. Coys96
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    a) Salah
    b) Mane

    1) Vardy
    2) Rashford

    Final decision on my FH

    1. Catastrophe
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Coin-flip!

      A2

    2. Runaway
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      a2

  7. FPLMarc
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    How would you get Vardy into this free hit?

    De Gea
    TAA - Doherty - Lascelles
    Salah (c) - Son - Fernandes - Richarlison
    Rashford - Jimenez - DCL

    Basically, I'll either have no Vardy, no Son (alternative is Alli) or no Rashford (alternative is Martial).

    1. Catastrophe
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Rashford & Richarlison -> Vardy & Martial? Or are you short? (can't see bench). Not going to be much between Richarlison and Vardy this week I shouldn't think

      1. FPLMarc
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        My original team had that exact switch, with Doherty downgraded to Saiss.

        It's a tough call because it's impossible to have them all.

    2. FPL_Crisis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      since you're captaining salah and not going without i would downgrade richarlison if you really want Vardy

    3. TIME TO VARTY
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Snap

  8. Mortal.Swinbat
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Nyland
    TAA, Saiss, Lascelles
    Salah, KDB, Bruno, Grealish
    Jiminez, Ayew, DCL

    Leno, Duda, Lundstrum, Egan

    5.9 in the bank

    Already done transfer, anything worth a -4? Or dare I say -8?

    Cheers

    1. stu92
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Not great keeper selections.

  9. Catastrophe
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    On FH:

    A) Rashford, DCL, Mane, Lascelles (Guendouzi) - no Vardy or Ings
    B) Vardy, DCL, Martial, VVD (Aurier) - no Ings or 2nd Liverpool attacker
    C) Ings, DCL, Mane, AWB (Lascelles) - no Vardy or 2nd United attacker.
    D) Rashford, Ings, Richarlison, VVD (AWB) - no Vardy or 2nd Liverpool attacker

    (already have Salah, Fernandes & TAA)

    Cheers

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      A

    2. Shuko
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Question is too complicated. There are so many alternatives for this week, especially on FH.

      I (think) I went with:
      Dubravka (Martin)
      TAA, Doc, Gomez (Lascelles, Simpson)
      Mane, Bruno, Richarlison, Son, (Saka)
      Rash, Jimmy, DCL

      1. Catastrophe
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Cheers and yes, dont I know it! And you made me think of another option (variant of D - Ings & VVD -> Vardy & Gomez) 😉 how likely is a Gomez start?

        Cheers

      2. Catastrophe
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        P.s. team looking good!

  10. stu92
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Wildcard team g2g? Subs for this week in brackets

    Pope (3.9)
    TAA - Saiss - Holgate (Baldock - Taylor)
    Salah - KDB - Bruno - Barnes (Foden)
    Vardy - Jimi - DCL

  11. Fuddled FC
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Has Jimi literally just risen 0.1?
    Was going Alonso & Jota > Lascelles & Jimi but missed out

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Literally was over 11 hours ago.

  12. LIARS POKER
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Who is the best TC option out of all the games left this season?

    1. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Salah 🙂

  13. Lev Yashin
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Rolling with this. Starting XI and bench order OK?

    DDG
    TAA, Doherty, Saïss
    Mané, KdB, Bruno(C), Bergwijn
    Jimenez, Ings, DCL

    Button, Fernandez, Davis, Holgate

  14. Forgetmeknot
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Which one would you pick?

    1) Kabasele, Mane, Hayden & Rashford

    Or

    2) Aurier, Salah, Martial, Nketiah

    1. Soto Ayam
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      2

      1. Forgetmeknot
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Ta - I’m erring that way

  15. pundit of punts
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    This is doing my head in. Please help 🙁

    A. Vardy + DDG + Boly + Lascelles
    B. DCL + Alisson + Doherty + Ritchie
    C. DCL + DDG + TAA + Saiss

    On FH. Replies appreciated.

    1. Ze_Austin
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      B

    2. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      B.

    3. JabariParkersEyelid
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      B just.

    4. Lev Yashin
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      B

    5. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      C

    6. Whazza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      TAA always

    7. JoeSoap
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      C

    8. Over Midwicket
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      C

      1. Over Midwicket
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        By far.

  16. UnitednationsXI
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Asking again becuase i am super confused!

    A: Maguire + Sarr + Rashford
    B: Aurier + Sarr + Son
    C: Lascelles/Holgate rotation + Alli + Martial

    1. Forgetmeknot
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      B for me

      1. Dee Lixon
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        B

    2. Soto Ayam
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      B

    3. UnitednationsXI
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      wow! did not expect that!

      Been set on Rashford over Sarr all this time. RMT also favours Rashford over Son

  17. Nightf0x
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    X - 3.9
    X - lascels - sais - X - X
    Kdb - mane - bruno - son - X
    X - jimi - X

    Which?

    A) martinez - taa - guendozi - vardy - rash - 4.2 & 4.3 def.
    B) pope/foster - gomez - richar - ings - rash - 4.2 & 4.3 def.
    C) martinez - gomez - richar - ings - vardy - robinson - taylor/kabasele/masina

  18. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Would you rather own Traore in a 3-5-2 or Jota in a 4-3-3?

    1. JabariParkersEyelid
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Traore I think.

    2. Sgt Frank Drebin
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Jota

      1. Sgt Frank Drebin
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        If price not an issue of course

        1. Bubz
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          Not huge issue, money would be banked

    3. Cok3y5murf
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Jota

    4. Over Midwicket
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Jota by a mile..

  19. JabariParkersEyelid
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Draft number 1099

    DDG 3.9
    Trent Doherty Aurier Lascelles Kiko
    Mane KDB Richarlison Bruno Son
    DCL Jimenez Nketiah

    0.2 itb should I get Salah for Mane or pocket it?

  20. Ed
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Is Salah on pens if Milner isn't playing?

    1. Ze_Austin
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Yes

    2. *Reformed-Character*
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      absolutely

    3. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Only if Salah is playing

      1. Over Midwicket
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Nice touch

  21. Sid07
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    On WC
    1) son + mahrez
    2) bergwijn + kdb

    1. SHOOTER MCGINN
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      1

  22. *Reformed-Character*
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Rashford + TAA
    vs
    Aurier and Salah

    This week only!!

    (have fernandes)

    1. JoeSoap
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Rash/TAA

  23. JoeSoap
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    A. Son/Ings/Taylor
    B. Sarr or H Barnes/Rash/AWB
    C. Martial/Ings/AWB

    Pope/Patrico 3.9
    TAA Saiss xxxxx Holgate lascelles
    KDB Fernandes xxxxx Salah saka
    xxxxx DCL Jimenez

    1. *Reformed-Character*
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      B with Sarr after seeing burnley last night...

      1. JoeSoap
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Thanks

  24. Jimmy Boy
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Any thoughts on this WC draft? Feels a bit too template to me. Doubled up on the Wolves defence as Saiss felt just too good value to ignore.

    De Gea
    TAA - Doherty - Saiss
    Mane - KDB - Fernandes - Doucoure
    DCL - Jimenez - Vardy

    1. TheDragon
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Identical first 11 to me currently other than I have Sarr & Rashford over your Doucoure & Vardy

    2. Tempestic
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Doucoure?

      1. Over Midwicket
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Doucoure.

  25. TheDragon
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Defence , I’m set on TAA, Doherty, Fernandez, Holgate.

    I’ll play 3-4-3 each week. Given how well Fernandez and Holgate rotate together would it be stupid of me to have Saiss as my other defender?

  26. JELLYFISH
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    which team is better?

    1.
    DDG/McCarthy
    TAA Doherty Lascelles Lundstram Holgate
    Mane Son KDB Bruno SAKA
    Jimi Rash DCL

    2.
    DDG/Martin (3.9)
    Same Sef
    Mane Son KDB Bruno GUENDOUZI
    Jimi VARDY DCL

    1. FF Dirtbag
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      2.

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

      1 for me im afraid

  27. Mackans
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Thoughts on my WC team? (0.0ib)

    Patricio
    Trent Doherty AWB
    Mané KDB Son Fernandes Sarr
    Jiménez DCL
    Bench: Button,Lascelles,Ngakia,Connolly

    1. LLoris
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      gtg

  28. Sgt Frank Drebin
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    How many wins Liverpool need to win the league?

    1. Jack Burton
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      5 points I believe

      1. Sgt Frank Drebin
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Thanks

  29. LLoris
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Heres my WC squad (dont worry about my bench)

    Foster
    AwB Saiss Doherty TAA
    Son KDB Bruno Salah
    Jimi DCL

    Any CHANGES?
    Am I gtg??

    1. battlecat
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Similar to mine just And I imagine with the same benchmark concerns. Could be important given how quickly the matches are coming round and in potentially scorching conditions.

  30. battlecat
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    WC team any good or too weak on the bench?

    Exact funds for:

    DDG (Martin)
    TAA, Doherty, Lascelles (Holgate, Ngakia)
    Mane, KDB, Son, Martial, Fernandes
    DCL, Jiménez (Nketiah)