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

    A) Salah and DCL
    B) Richarlison and Rashford

    Don’t have Mane. Thanks for any opinions

    1. FISSH
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      A for sure

    2. George Agdgdgwngo
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      A

    3. Ajay04
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      A for this week

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

      Thanks all

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

    Let's be honest, whoever we pick between Salah and Mané will probably be the wrong choice.

    Unless you pick both.

    But then, who to captain?

  3. Ceebes
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Current WC team:

    Martinez
    Doherty - TAA - Lascelles
    Salah - KdB - Bruno - Barnes - Son
    DCL - Jiminez

    Bench: Button, Nketiah, Holgate, Taylor

    Do I:

    A) Stick with above.
    B) Change Salah, Martinez and Barnes (who would become Mount next week) to Mane, Pope and Traore.

  4. FISSH
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    A) DDG & aurier
    B) Lloris & maguire

    1. james 101
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      A

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

      Either or, maybe A on attacking returns for Aurier.

    3. FPL_DON
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      same dilemma, leaning towards a for auriers attacking potential. You?

      1. FISSH
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Leaning towards A too

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

      A

    5. FeverPitch
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      A

  5. grooveymatt65
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Hi guys!

    What do you think about this wildcard team and captain choice?

    Martinez Martin

    TAA Doherty Basham Bednarek Simpson

    Salah (C) De Bruyne Son Fernandes Dendonker

    Rashford Jiminez DCL

    0.0 itb

    thanks guys!! 🙂

    1. james 101
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      You’ll score well mate

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

      Basham Bednarek Simpson Dendonker > Taylor Kiko Lascelles Guendozi woulld give you better rotating defenders

  6. james 101
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    I’ve enjoyed the week but that’s my messing around finished I reckon.

    Final WC team

    Pope
    TAA Doherty Fernandez
    KDB Son Fernandes(vc) Salah(c) Martial
    Rashford Jimmi

    Button Taylor Nk Robertson

  7. BNMC
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Any chance Vardy is benched today? Cup game imminent.

    1. james 101
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Doubt it

    2. FISSH
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Ugh I hope not!

    3. BigCoupes
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Sunday’s hardly imminent

  8. subhojit123
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Repost...
    Pick one out of -
    1. KDB
    2. Salah
    3. Mane

    And why?

    1. subhojit123
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      For this GW only

      1. Ajay04
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Mane, loves playing Palace

    2. james 101
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Salah. Rested. Quality player

      1. subhojit123
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Haha...so it's basically a 50-50.

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

    Who to transfer out for Son?

    Salah, Mane, KDB?

    1. The Rock
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Salah or Mane.

      1. Dele
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Churrrr

    2. james 101
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Mane

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

    Start one:
    a)Alonso
    b)CTaylor

  11. The Rock
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Ederson, Saiss and Ritchie

    or

    Patricio, VVD and Lascelles

    Already own Trent and Doherty.

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

      B

      1. The Rock
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Thanks!

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

      Prolly A

      1. The Rock
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Thanks Lev.

        I'm torn - Would like Ritchie instead of Lascelles obviously. And hoping Ederson could cover VVD ppg (Although VVD has attacking potential and Ederson doesn't get many saves or bonus).

        Patricio and Saiss would basically level out too.

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

    Final decision on WC:

    A) Son + Aurier + Guendozi
    B) Alli + Holgate + Traore/ASM
    C) Alli + Aurier + Saka

    Pope Martinez
    TAA Doherty Lascelles Kiko XXX
    Salah KDB Bruno XXX XXX
    Rash Jimi DCL

    *Planning to play BB at GW32 btw, otherwise I would go A without a question.

  13. gers23
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    What do people think about blocking a rival at this stage?Too early? I am 53 ahead in my mini league and rival has Rashford,who i can put in for Aguero...however my gut is telling me Vardy. Play it safe or play your own game? I have no Utd cover lol

    1. Ajay04
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Definitely block and get Rashford in

    2. Arfaish
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Always play your own game, it’s what got you into the lead in the first place

  14. FC Hakkebøf
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Save FT and reacess with 2 FT next gameweek?

    Dubravka
    TAA Gomez Aurier Boly
    Salah KDB Martial
    Auba Jimenez DCL
    ____
    McCarthy Perez Traore Lundstram

    0.2 itb

    1. FC Hakkebøf
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Reassess*

  15. Dacra
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    On WC, as second keeper with Pope + first sub:

    A) Martinez + Ayew
    B) Patricio + Nketiah

    Other defenders are TAA/Sais/Ward/Lascelles.

    With BB 32 in mind.

  16. 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.

  17. Arfaish
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Which looks better A or B:

    A) Pope, Guendouzi, Ings
    B) DDG, Saka, DCL

    1. The Rock
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      B

  18. MGD
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    RMWCT

    DDG
    TAA - Doherty - Aurier - Lascelles
    Salah (c) - KDB - Fernandes - Mount
    Rashford - Jimenez

    Nyland - Saiss - Saka - Nkeitah

    I have additionally 1,2 in the bank. Where can i put this to use?

    1. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Nice team. Would go with that Leicester rb over Aurier personally.

      1. MGD
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Cheers!

  19. pingissimus
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    DCL

    Are people getting over excited? I know it’s Norwich and there’s been an uptick under Ancellotti but

    DCL 113 points
    Ayew 113 points
    Maupay 110 points

    He’s not keeping very exalted company now is he?

    1. _Ninja_
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      He didn't start playing regularly until GW16.

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

      He's a different player sice Anchelotti took over. Just check his stats. Almost a big chance a game.

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

        In the last 6 GWs he's top in the xG, xG on target, shots in the box, xGI...

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

        Yep I know - acknowledged above

        The actual returns are still relatively modest. Confess I hadn’t seen the minutes - that is the more valid point

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

          Over the last 10 matches he’s on 4.5 ppm - decent of course but unexciting and just about the same as Ayew

    3. Karan14
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Ayew has played 500 mins more and Maupay 200 mins more.

      Also if you compare them from when Ancelotti took over it might look a lot different.

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

        Yep - minutes I had forgotten about

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

      What would you like from a player priced as he is?

  20. Pukki Party
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    McCarthy
    TAA Boly Fernandes
    Salah Mane Mount Cantwell
    Vardy Jimenez Deeney

    Ryan Lundstram Holgate Moura

    A) Salah/Mane to Fernandes
    B) Salah/Mane, Moura to Fernandes, KDB -4
    C) Moura, Deeney to Rashford, 4.4 mid -4 (play 442)

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

      None look great options

      1. Pukki Party
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Any suggestions or just save and go without ManUtd assets?

  21. thepuntmaster
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Have taken a hefty -8 this week, but should be good to roll with FT until the end now I'm hoping. Stepping away with this side going into 31
    DDG
    TAA (vc) - Saiss - Doherty
    Salah (c) - KDB - Maddi - Grealish
    Jimi - DCL - Rashyford

    (Nyland - Lascelles - Cantwell - Egan)

    Good luck all, looking forward to another busy few days!

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

      Looks good - good luck!

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

    On FH:

    A) Rashford, DCL, Mane, Lascelles, Pope (Guendouzi)
    B) Rashford, Ings, Richarlison, VVD, Patricio (Aurier)
    C) Rashford, Vardy, Richarlison, Gomez, Pope (Guendouzi)

    (already have Salah, Fernandes & TAA)

    Cheers

  23. George Agdgdgwngo
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Too much on the bench? Maybe down grade traore and upgrade elsewhere?

    Foster
    TAA, Aurier, Doherty
    Mane, Kdb, Bruno, Son
    Rashford, DCL, jimi

    Button, lascelles, kiko, traore

  24. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Best goalkeeper to have this gw?

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

      Patricio

  25. Zilla
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    On WC, thoughts?

    Patricio (Martinez)
    TAA Doherty Maguire Holgate (Robinson)
    Mane KDB Son Bruno (Hayden)
    Rashford Jiminez (Connolly)

  26. fabregasismagic
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Would you start Sarr or Grealish?

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

      Sarr

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

    Surely Mane vs Ward & Dann is better than Salah against Cahill & PVA?

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

      Don't think it matters much tbh but if it did then the fact Ward is very defensive and PVA is very attacking then it could leave Salah with more space occasionally.

  28. Burger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Bottomed on last page, current team is:

    XXXX
    XXXX, TAA, Doherty
    XXXZ, Fernandes, Son, KDB
    Rashford, DCL, Jiménez

    Subs: Button, Aurier, Lascelles, Saka

    Help me fill in the blanks:

    A. Pope, Saïss, Sterling

    Or

    B. Ederson, VVD, Mahrez

    ?

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

      B

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

        Thank you.

  29. DV8R
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Am I G2G with my WC team?

    Pope (Button)
    TAA, Doherty, Lascelles, Holgate, (Kiko)
    Salah, KDB, Bruno, Son, (Guendouzi)
    Rashford, Jimenez, (Greenwood)

    0.0m itb

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

      Looks good. Start Greenwood instead of Holgate or Lascelles.

  30. Ibra
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    My WC team is ready. Greenwood is this GW's Foden, you'll see.

    Patricio
    TAA - Doherty - Aurier
    Mane - KDB - Bruno (C) - Son
    Rashford - Jimenez (VC) - Greenwood

    Martin - Lascelles - Hayden - Kiko