Captain Sensible

Who are the best Captain options for FPL Blank Gameweek 1?

Jan Sienkiewicz was the king of the Fantasy Premier League captaincy in 2019/20, scoring a whopping 657 points from the armband, the second-highest in the whole world. We asked him to help out with the captaincy debate ahead of the new campaign’s Gameweek 1 deadline.


Quite an unprecedented 2020/2021 pre-season is drawing to a close, as we are eagerly waiting for the new FPL campaign to start. Hundreds of drafts, multiple formations, Wildcard strategies and planning early transfers; we have all been there and, in fact, we are all living in this world right now.

There is one common denominator in our efforts; trying to find the best captain. Getting the right skipper is usually a crucial component to having a successful season and Fantasy managers are looking to start the campaign strongly with the right choice. Let’s evaluate the options available for us in Gameweek 1.

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

Captain Poll

Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£12.0m)  tops the Fantasy Football Scout captain poll with 53.3% of votes, as he faces a newly-promoted Fulham side in Gameweek 1.

The Arsenal striker, who has been reclassified as a midfielder for this season’s edition of FPL, is currently owned by 44.1% of Fantasy managers – which is more than the combined ownership of Sadio Mané (£12.0m, 13.3% ownership) and Mohammed Salah (£12.0m, 29.8% ownership).

The Gabonese international starred in Arsenal’s Community Shield victory two weeks ago (scoring a long-distance goal in a 1-1 draw that the Gunners won on penalties) and then netted twice in a 3-2 friendly defeat to Aston Villa behind-closed-doors.

Aubameyang’s great form is accompanied by a favourable Gameweek 1 fixture too, as Fulham’s defensive vulnerabilities are still fresh in people’s minds from the 2018/19 campaign. The Cottagers conceded a league-high of 81 goals the last time they were in the top flight, which included nine goals over two games against Arsenal (5-1 and 4-1 defeats).

Metrics

The second most popular pick for the armband among the Fantasy Football Scout users this week is Salah (25.6%). Considering that the runaway 2019/20 champions are hosting newly-promoted Leeds United, and Manchester City and Manchester United are without a fixture, it seems to some extent surprising that the Fantasy-proven Egyptian midfielder is struggling to attract more interest for the armband.

Even more of a surprise, Mané sits at third in the poll with only 3.9% of votes. The Senegalese winger, who scored 18 goals and provided 10 Fantasy assists last season, showed glimpses of class in pre-season and will be looking to improve on his impressive home record against newly-promoted opposition on Saturday.

Behind the podium we can find Chelsea’s new striker Timo Werner (£9.5m, 3.5% of votes), Liverpool’s defender Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.5m, 2.1%), as well as Tottenham Hotspur assets – Son Heung-min (£9.5, 2.1%) and Harry Kane (£10.5m, 1.8%).

Based on the poll, the main decision managers will have to make regarding captaincy will involve comparing Aubameyang with Salah. We will therefore mostly focus on the Liverpool and Arsenal options.

Best players by position:

3,881 Comments Post a Comment
  1. _vanillabryce
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Egan or Saiss?

    1. Respect My Authoritah
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Saiss has a great first 7, so I'd go with him

      1. Paul Psychic Octopus
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Could be. More a watching brief and get past the GW2 Man City picture first.

  2. Paul Psychic Octopus
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    For 6.0m forwards the runaway leader is Mitrovic (in 27% of teams). But are these options being overlooked? Any opinions on them? (likely starter; position in forward line; fixtures).

    A. Adams (SOT)
    B. Batshuayi (CRY)
    C. Rodrigo (LEE)
    D. Watkins (AVL)
    E. Nketiah (ARS)
    F. Fabio Silva (WOL)

    1. Villa Velour
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I'm going with (E)ddie for the first 2 weeks. Mitrovic had a 24% goal conversion in the Championship last year... Nketiah's been flying during internationals and if he starts, I think he could be a real bargain.

      1. Villa Velour
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        (I do have Che as well, he'd be my first £6.0m pick)

  3. zkinflint
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Hi all again!

    New season ahead. Any thoughts on my team highly appreciated!!!!

    McCarthy - ( Nyland )

    TAA - Egan - Davies - Walkers-Peter - ( Mitchell )

    Auba - Salah - Alli - Reed - ( Bissouma )

    Werner - Vardy - ( Davis )

    GW2: Werner / Vardy -> Martial.

    0,5 in the bank

    1. Villa Velour
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Like it. If you're adamant on that GW2 transfer then do you really need £0.5m in the bank? Soucek for Reed maybe?

  4. pgeelufc
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Liam Cooper possible injured for LUFC. Massive if you're backing a Liverpool captain

    1. Villa Velour
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Who you backing?

  5. deshawn7
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    RMT / 10, putting more in midfield

    McCarthy (Ryan)
    TAA, Vinagre, Justin (Dallas, Mitchell)
    Auba, Salah, Havertz, Alli, ASM
    Ings Mitrovic (Bamford)

    1. Villa Velour
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Very nice. I've got Bissouma (fodder), Adams, and Nketiah instead of ASM, Mitro, and Bamford.

  6. fuzzymike
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    What's the thoughts on Adams?? Will he add or subtract points from Ings?? Will he get a lot more pitch time (only 1095mins last season)??

    1. Villa Velour
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Just get both 🙂

  7. jimmyabs1987
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Vardy & Ings

    Werner & Wilson

  8. Monkeyslut96
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    What are people’s thoughts on:

    A) Kane & Ali
    Or
    B) Werner & Son

    I think B looks more balanced but I Spurs have some strong games to start with

  9. ean013
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    I have Auba and Salah. Really considering switch to Salah/Mane. Simply put: liverpool are more attacking and way better than Arsenal. Liverpool are at home. Auba hyped?

  10. NASIR
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    nice article. please keep doing these for the rest of the season.

  11. Mattador
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    A) Son and Mitro
    B) Barnes and Kane

    1. Jässi
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A

  12. Jässi
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Final decision:

    A) Bellerin (with two 4.0 defenders on bench)
    B) Holding (with KWP + 4.0 on bench)
    C) Saliba (with KWP + 4.0 on Bench)

    Rest of the squad is (playing 3-4-3):
    McCarthy - Steer
    TAA - Davies - Mitchell - ***** - *****
    Auba - Salah - Alli - ASM - Reed
    Werner - Mitrovic - Ings

  13. Stentona
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    The 'usually noisy Craven Cottage' LOL. Otherwise a very knowledgable article. Thanks

  14. Kobayashi
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    I have McCarthy in goal, who should my final 4.5m defender be?

    A) Justin
    B) Vinagre
    C) KwP

  15. daayne
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    A: McCarthy and Son
    B: Ramsdale and Havertz

    Which one?!