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. AdamJ91
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    How's the WC team looking? Could downgrade Son > Bergwijn or Mahrez to upgrade on Martinez if needed.

    Martinez
    TAA - Saiss - Doherty
    KDB - Mane - Bruno - Son
    DCL - Rashford - Jiminez

    (Button - Kiko - Saka - Robinson)

    1. Dybala10
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Perfect to me.

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

      Good team

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

      Looking good

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

      Saka > Guenduzi, Sais > Lascelles/Holgate, Martinez > Foster?

  2. reeceon
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    A) Son,Jota,Doherty
    B) Son, Rashford, Sais
    C) Bergwijn, Rashford, Doherty

    1. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      V

      1. iL PiStOlErO
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        *C

    2. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      C

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

      B

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

        but v close with C

    4. Chip fat
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I've got C, I'm chasing

    5. N00B
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      A

  3. Ci Siamo
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Right my FH is done now, decided not to go with Doherty, how is it looking guys?

    De Gea
    Boly - VVD - TAA
    Salah - Son - Rich - Bruno - Sarr
    Jimenez - Rashford

    Bench: Lascelles and Connolly

    A part of me wants to draft Vardy in a 3-4-3 though but trying to resist it!

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

      Can't downgrade Sarr to Guendozi and get DCL in?

    2. jason_ni
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Doherty over VVD for me.

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

    Feels wrong getting rid of Mahrez aftr last two games. Have Kdb also. My WC but no time to play it before 5pm

    Keep both v Chelsea??

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      You've gotta know when to hold em, know when to fold them etc.

      Keep if you have a bench

    2. jason_ni
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I've moved him out for Richa, norwich game too appealing. May bring Mahrez back, also have 0.1 ITB in case he rises while out of my team!

  5. 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

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

    RAMAJAMA Fantasy Football Scout Member7 Years1 hour, 26 mins ago
    Take A chance on Martinez?

    A) Pope, Mane, Guendouzi

    B) Martinez, Salah, Saka

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

      Nice copypaste fail

      1. iL PiStOlErO
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        He is quoting himself. Thats a giant!

        1. RamaJama
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          🙂

      2. RamaJama
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Cheers, imbarrasing 🙂 Pages flyging so fast that we dont get the chance to answer before it’s all gone... good luck!

    2. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      A only cause of keeper

    3. StoichkovFPL
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      B

  7. Grounderz
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Talk to me, folks. Any Auba buyer here?

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

      stuck with him from the last GW

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

      I'm very tempted on WC. Just trying to figure out the logistics coz i want to ditch after Norwich

    3. Chip fat
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Auba out, too much $ in a low morale team

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

        Want to gamble on their comeback. Not a lot of noise on Auba at the mo so am especially interested in exploiting this route. Risk and reward.

  8. iL PiStOlErO
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Jimmy or Rash for captain???

    1. Chip fat
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I like rash, wanna see the blades get blunted

  9. A Fat Spanish Waiter
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Down to the last picks. What do you think:

    a) Lascelles + Holgate
    b) Justin + 4.1

    Already have TAA, Doh and Boly. Feel free to make suggestions on that lot too.
    0.1 ITB

  10. Nando7
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    A) rashford Saint Maximan Son
    B) Ings Martial Dele

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

      A

  11. GE
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    On Wildcard:

    1) Salah/Mane and Boly
    2) Sterling and Doherty

    1. How I met your Mata
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      2

    2. Nando7
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      2

  12. How I met your Mata
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Wildcard G2G?

    Foster
    Soy Trent Doherty Lascelles
    Son Bruno Mane KDB
    Rashford Jiminez

    (Martins Greenwood Saka Holgate)

  13. GW31+ Breakout Players
    Geoff
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Who do you think will find form and step up to score big this GW, and why?

    Maybe someone who is a bit under the radar, has very few transfers in, or has low ownership.

    Have you seen something in the stats to make you think they could be ready for a breakout GW?

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

      Lucas Digne!

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

      Probably Sterling.

    3. The Train Driver
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Ritchie if he isn't rested will continue racking up the points.

    4. Blame it on Traore
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Pogba for me. Think he may go on a great run between now and the end of the season

    5. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Hopefully Aurier with a CS and attacking return, since I'm bringing him in this week. Just as likely to get a RC and OG of course, but that's the fun of it, right?

      Also, Pogba if he looks good vs Sheffield.

    6. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Hopping for Rash to step up. Also Mo with fresh legs to make riot.

    7. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Sterling, Jesus, Grealish and Sheffield United defenders.

    8. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I reckon Sarr!

      He was unlucky not to get any goal vs Lei and Burnley look like still in lockdown with that performance.

    9. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Adama to put a spanner in the works and upset those who went with Jota or Saiss instead.

      1. Wet Knee Houston
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Unfortunately, i'm afraid Sarr (can't really fit him in, although i keep trying 🙂 ).

    10. Adderz
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Mousset coming back from the FPL dead

    11. rnrd
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      richarlison

    12. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Anyone who can be bothered to ******** run.

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

    Think I'm gonna finally decide on Salah. His home record and penalties seem to be worth the risk that he doesn't start.

  15. Manumana
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Any kind soul help me out, with this last WC conundrum. Much appreciated !

    Pope or Martinez / Martin
    TAA Doherty Maguire Lascelles Kiko
    Salah KBD Son Fernandes D.Luiz or Foden
    Jimenez Ings DCL

    A. Pope & D.Luiz - Only playing keeper & 5th Mid

    Or

    B. Martinez & Foden - Only player keeper & 5th mid

    Thanks ppl 🙂

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I'd go with Pope as you would have decent bench anyway and 5th mid wouldn't see daylight often.
      Pope proven FPL asset.

  16. mattyb09
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Captain Vardy anyone?

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

      I own him but I'm not giving him the armband

    2. Blame it on Traore
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Not for me mate

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

    on wc..

    a) holgate/lascelles, mane
    b) femenia/ngakia, salah

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Easy A

    2. Sam1878
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      A

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

    Worth changing anything in this WC team?

    DDG/Martin
    TAA/Doherty/Lascelles/Holgate/Kiko
    Salah/Son/KDB/BrunoF/Guendouzi
    Rash/Jim/DCL

    0.0ITB.

    1. Blame it on Traore
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Nah. Solid as a rock mate

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

        Thanks a lot!

    2. Sam1878
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Looks great, no need to change

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

      Weaker in defence than most WC I’ve seen, but that’s due to Going with Salah.

      Still strong enough, especially when rotating the cheaper defenders.

      Good to go.

  19. Sam1878
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Who is the best rotating pair of < 4.4m defenders?

    Lascelles seems to be worth including in any pair, mainly due to Newcastle’s form and next 3 fixtures. Taylor could be considered as well based on fixtures, however Burnley didn’t look good last night (albeit against city), assume the contract extension issues is having a negative impacting on their squad.

    It’s not a comprehensive list so please share your thoughts. I’m going for the rotating cheap defenders on a wildcard to enable Martial in a 3-5-2.

    *** = fixture for the second player in the pair:

    A) Lascelles & Kiko/Masina gives you:

    AVL (H)
    BOU (A)
    WHU (H)
    *** NOR (H)
    WAT (A) / NEW (H)
    *** WHU (A)
    BHA (A)
    ARS (A)

    B) Lascelles & Holgate gives you:

    AVL (H) / NOR (A)
    BOU (A)
    WHU (H)
    *** SOU (H)
    WAT (A)
    *** AVL (H)
    BHA (A) / SHU (A)
    *** BOU (H)

    C) Taylor & Kiko/Masina gives you:

    WAT (H) / BUR (A)
    *** SOU (H)
    SHU (H)
    *** NOR (H)
    *** NEW (H)
    *** WHU (A)
    NOR (A)
    BHA (H)

    Bottomed.

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      B

  20. Blame it on Traore
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Afternoon guys, hope all the planning is going well!

    Who would you start this weekend please?
    A - Lascelles
    B - Charlie Taylor
    C - Kiko Femenia

    Thanks a lot.

    1. Blame it on Traore
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Sorry, I meant this gameweek

    2. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Lasc

    3. Sam1878
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      A

      1. Blame it on Traore
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Cheers guys

  21. Maddamotha
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    How would you rate this one?

    Pope
    TAA, AWB, Aurier, Sais
    Mane, KDB, Son, Bruno
    Jimenez, Rashford

    Norris, Connolly, Simpson, Guendouzi

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      -2 for bench

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

        So 8/10 then. Decent.
        I could upgrade bench a lil bit, most important for me is that they play. I dont want money on the bench.

  22. Patrick Bateman
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Who to ditch out of Grealish and Mount?

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

      Grealish. Looks like Villa are done for!

      1. Patrick Bateman
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Thank you!

      2. Sam1878
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Agreed, fixtures are in favour of mount over Grealish as wel

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

    Anyone fancying Ings for the arsenal match? Arsenal defense looks pretty leaky...

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

      He'll probably do well but can't look past DCL myself.

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

        Thanks buddy.and Gomez starting ahead of Lovren right?

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

          Yes for me absolutely

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

        This. Prefer DCL, Rashford, Jimenez and (just about) Vardy for this week

    2. threeputt
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      an option instead of dcl I guess, it's a punt

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

      His fitness and injury record put me off.....

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

        Thank you all so much

  24. goriuanx
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Quite often questions are answered, so go back to your post and check before spamming it loads of times.

    It's not fair on the other people who don't get theirs answered 🙂

  25. threeputt
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    wc g2g please ?

    Martinez (Martin)
    Justin Saiss Maguire Aurier (Lascelles)
    KdB Son Salah (VC) Fernandes (C) (Saka)
    Jiminez Rashford (DCL)

    £0.5 itb

    Thanks

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

      Very good team! 🙂

    2. Deeney-is-a-god
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Play DCL

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

        I would play DCL ahead of KDB.but that's just me

    3. Patrick Bateman
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      DLC benched? Justin out for DCL imo. Apart from that, G2G.

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

        Exactly.get Justin out for DCL

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

        This

    4. Sam1878
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Definitely would play dcl over Justin

  26. Deeney-is-a-god
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Holgate or saiss if you already have doherty?

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

      Saiss. Double up the points 😉

      1. Deeney-is-a-god
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Hopefully 😉

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

    Gomez keep or sell for Doherty ? Already have Sais and Taa

    1. Deeney-is-a-god
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Doherty could be gold so would try to get him. Think he will outscore gomez by a fair amount

  28. Lord Flashheart
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    is KDB really essential for the next two? i can easily bring him back after.

    i have money to choose from those:

    A KDB + DCL
    B richarlisoi + auba/vardy

    1. Sam1878
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Would just keep kdb, he’s the best midfielder in league if not world in my opinion - don’t think it matters who he plays. DCL got a great fixture as well and could match or do better then Richarlison

  29. SpaceCadet
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Repost
    Better option on wc?

    A. Vardy Richarlison guendouzi ngakia
    B. Mane Saka nketiah holgate

  30. JONALDINHO
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Any more news on Salah? Is he gonna start against palace

    1. Sam1878
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Klopp said he trained yesterday completely normal and available for selection. Expect him to start given that he’s not had any minutes yet and the next game for Liverpool 8 days after Crystal Palace