Captain Sensible

Who are the best FPL captain options for Gameweek 17?

The latest Fantasy Premier League captaincy debate is all about trust, something that has been in short supply recently.

Many of us are fresh from watching the most popular skipper blank in each of the last two Gameweeks, Mohamed Salah (£12.6m) still without a goal since Gameweek 14.

What’s worse, those two matches pitted league leaders Liverpool against so-called ‘lesser opposition’ in West Bromwich Albion and Newcastle.

Such freak results have become commonplace in 2020/21 as a busy fixture period, uncertainty over future matches and lack of fans have all impacted our Fantasy assets across the board. Since 2001, no team has ever occupied the Premier League’s top spot after 16 games with as few points as 33. Such a total would have placed you sixth in the division last season.

How will these factors play into the Gameweek 17 captaincy? Well, there is lots to unpack here.

Liverpool travel to face a stubborn Southampton defence, Bruno Fernandes (£11.2m) is up against an impressive Aston Villa team while the arguably out-of-form Harry Kane (£11.0m) and Son Heung-min (£9.7m) will be treated to Saturday lunch with Leeds’ gut-busting free-scoring Leeds outfit.

As ever, the Captain Sensible article is here to look into these options, comparing their individual form against the defensive capabilities and/or weaknesses of their upcoming opponents.

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

Captain Poll

Salah’s struggles in front of goal over the last two Gameweeks seem very fresh in many people’s minds, as the Egyptian has failed to reach 10% of votes in this week’s captain poll so far.

That puts the Liverpool winger in the fourth-place behind Fernandes (32.5%), Kane (20.0%) and Son (17.0%).

The top-five is closed up by Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£7.9), with 5.2% of votes going the way of the Everton striker ahead of West Ham’s Friday evening trip to Goodison Park.

Jamie Vardy (4.7%) is the one to slightly miss out on the top-five this week, as Leicester visit Newcastle in Gameweek 17.

Perhaps surprisingly, in-form Marcus Rashford (£9.5m) gathered less than 1.0% of votes this week, despite extending his scoring run against Wolves. The Manchester United man now has five goals in his last six Premier League appearances

KEY MATCHES

Southampton v Liverpool

Liverpool finally hit top gear ahead of appealing festive schedule
968 Comments Post a Comment
  1. merin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Any suggestions on how to use this FT?

    Martinez Steer
    Chilwell Coufal Dallas KWP Lewis
    Salah Mané Bruno Son Bissouma
    DCL Bamford Wilson

    1 FT, 0.2 ITB

    1. TeddiPonza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Save

    2. Sid1891
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Good team
      Save

  2. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Cup opp ranked inside top 50k....

    Fortunately he'll be saying the same thing

    1. The Count of Monte Cristo
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Weird flex, but okay.

  3. Atimis
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Have following dilemmas for DGW:

    1) Stones or Justin - have Cancelo
    2) Ghazi or Raphinha - have Bamford
    3) Son or KDB

    ?

    1. The Invincibles
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      1) Justin is a better long term pick imo, especially if you already have Cancelo.
      2) Raphina. Ghazi isn't guaranteed a spot when Barkley comes back.
      3) KDB. Son doesn't have a double and has tough fixtures after that.

      1. Atimis
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        That’s, had similar thoughts

      2. Pukkipartyy
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        This but i would double city d over Justin 100%

  4. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Is it madness to BB without a 2nd GK?

    1. Chucky
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      lol yes...

    2. dark91
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      A bit but better than taking a hit I would say

      1. dark91
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Unless it is a keeper with decent fixtures but I think you are referring to getting someone cheap with bad fixtures

        1. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Yeah, Martinez actually... vs City and Everton, but after the GW I'll have a headache of him and Mendy haha

    3. Lukakwho
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I wouldn’t go as far as madness, if you for example have 3 other playing DGW players, but it’s worth a -4 to make them a playing keeper

      1. popey
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        having same dilemma with getting Meslier for a hit for BB.

        PRO'S - should score more than 4, don't have other Leeds defender, its not the worst idea to have a playing second keeper this year with potential cancellations

        CON'S - -4, ties up 0.6m on bench keeper, wastes a transfer/hit to remove before 2nd WC

        cover for cancellations probably makes it worthwhile IMO

  5. Joey Tribbiani
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Trying to create Wildcard team for GW18 and GW19, struggling

    1. Joey Tribbiani
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      with gw 19 bench boost

      1. Lukakwho
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        so that’s how you’re doin 😉

      2. Sid1891
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Doing the same
        Fielding 9 in BGW and all 15 iin DGW

    2. dimo_fpl
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I just don’t understand that strategy bc of the need for Leeds and West Ham players

      1. Steve The Spud
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Can be done, just have a bench of flappy, Coufal and double Leeds attack

    3. Walnut Whips
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Fab, Martinez, Cancelo, Stones, Maguire, Coufal, Holding, KDB, Salah, Bruno, El Ghazi, Raphinha, Rodrigo, Bam, Watkins.

      Couple of transfers before 19.

      1. Walnut Whips
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        ...and Robbo.

        1. Walnut Whips
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          ... instead of Coufal. 2020 has affected my typing.

      2. Joey Tribbiani
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        hmm

    4. The Invincibles
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Something like this:

      Martinez, McCarthy.
      Dias, Justin, Dallas, Coufal, Targett.
      Salah, KDB, Fernandes, Grealish, Raphina.
      Bamford, Antonio, Adams.

      Might not be quite affordable depending on when you got players in originally, but you could just downgrade Robbo to Justin or another City defender. This gives you 15 DGW players for 19, then something like this using a FH in 18:

      Leno, Forster.
      Dias, Dier, Targett, Kilman, Mitchell.
      Fernandes, Son, KDB, Grealish, Romeu.
      Kane, DCL, Wilson.

      1. The Invincibles
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        *Thought I'd typed Robertson where Justin is!

  6. teemccann
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    HELP GUYS!
    SO...
    GW17
    Martinez,
    Dallas, Robbo, Coufal, Bednarek
    Salah,Bruno,Son,
    Kane, Bamford, DCL

    Bench Soucek

    A) Hold and bin FT
    B) Martinez,DCL to Fabianski,Adams

    FH18

    GW19
    Bednarek to Chillwell/Dias

  7. dimo_fpl
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Who’s backup to AWB?

    1. dimo_fpl
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Ah nice thanks

  8. TeddiPonza
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Play Mitchell or sell Taylor/Lamptey for a hit? (To Lowton or Coufal)

  9. Shark Team
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Amazing GW18 Free Hit team:

    Lloris
    Dias Stones Maguire
    KDB(C) Bruno Rashford Son Saka
    Kane Wilson

    For those saying that this is gonna be a bad gw to FH

    1. Garlana
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yeh looks decent tbf. I'd be tempted by zaha

    2. Lukakwho
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Got it on copy and paste cheers

    3. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      and the bench?

      1. Shark Team
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        4.0/3.8 3.9 4.3
        It's tight... If it's not working for your team then simply downgrade Lloris to Leno

        1. The 12th Man
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          and if there’s unforeseen postponements you’ll be crying.
          Get a full playing bench covering different teams by downgrading a player.

          1. Shark Team
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Martial in for Kane then but you have to risk in FPL

  10. Forza Papac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I never thought a goalkeeper transfer could be season defining, but Martinez > Johnstone feels like just that. I've not looked but I reckon that transfer has cost me 30+ pts so far.

    1. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Sam here with Mendy, cost me 26 and counting

      1. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        *Same

  11. Munny Man
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Hi All.
    According to FPL Statistics, is KDB going to drop in price? Or is that incorrect?
    Is Stones a good replacement for Taylor?
    Thanks.

    1. Tinfoil Deathstar
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Correct. Looks like he’ll drop tonight. Stones is a great shout for Taylor.

      1. Munny Man
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Thanks Tommy.....Have yourself a great couple of game weeks!

  12. Botman and Robben
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Will ask again: Cancelo or Dias?

    1. Saka Punch
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Cancelo rumoured to have Covid, so could be out for a couple of gw's

      1. Botman and Robben
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Hopefully we know by tomorrow for sure.

    2. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Cancelo

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

      Dias

    4. tisza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      last minute decision in case of more Man City COVID info for this GW.
      Going forward Cancelo has the higher upside but Dias probably has better surety of starts

    5. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Dias nailed, Cancelo higher ceiling. I've went with cancelo but there are rumours he has covid, nothing confirmed

    6. ClassiX
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Dias until there is certainty around Cancelo's COVID status.

    7. Pukkipartyy
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Both but Dias first

  13. Connor's Calling
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Any word on Fulham getting back to training? Given new Man City DGW curveball, I’m now thinking of:
    GW17: Taylor -> Lowton
    GW18: Free hit
    GW19: Kane & Son -> Firmino & Sterling

    Y/N as an outline plan?

  14. Make United Great Again
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Who’re you captaining then?

    1. Forza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Son, despite my grav.

      1. Make United Great Again
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        End to end match. He’ll get a lot of space

    2. dimo_fpl
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Son

    3. turd ferguson
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Was Son. Read this article and changed it to Kane. Listened to FPL General podcast and changed it to Bruno.

      Basically...i dont know.

      1. Make United Great Again
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Loool. The downside of too much information.

        I’m leaving it on Son

    4. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      On Salah

    5. Chucky
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Party

    6. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Torn between Son and Kane. Bruno vc

    7. el polako
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Kane - time for his Xmas hattie.

  15. UnitednationsXI
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Can’t decide whether to FH or not

    A: Get 11 doublers in gw19 with dcl, lowton, Forster, Burke on bench

    B: BB19 with 15 doublers but take a hit

  16. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Any update on who is out for Man City? And also if Fulham will play this GW?

  17. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    If i ignore Robbo for DGW...i can get this xi for GW 19

    So tempted to go without him

    McCarthy

    Dias Dallas Zouma

    KDB Mane Salah Bruno Soucek

    Ings Bamford

  18. Tinfoil Deathstar
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Who scores more in DGW: Mane or KDB?

    1. Luton_Fan
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Mane imo. Wat about my question?

  19. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I need to take a hit for Maguire either this week or next week, might as well take it this week and play him over Rodrigo maybe?

  20. Luton_Fan
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Who scores more this gw do u think?

    A. Bruno home to Villa
    B. Mane away to former club Southampton

    Tia

    1. Tinfoil Deathstar
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      As a Saints fan, I fancy Mane to score a couple this weekend.

  21. McSauce
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Who is the best liverpool DEF outside of TAA & Robbo, who will be playing with the injuries?

    1. Forza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      None of them are safe. Phillips, Williams and Fabinho are competing for the two CB slots.

  22. Who are all Lukakus
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Robbo to Maguire to make fund for

    A. Welbeck to Watkins

    B. Bissouma to El Ghazi

    C. Not worth selling Robbo

    Preparing for BGW18 without FH so I need as many players as possible.

    1. Who are all Lukakus
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Alternatively I could do KDB to Rashford / Son (c) but that means less players for gw18 + gw19

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

        Keep kev

        1. Who are all Lukakus
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          So Robbo must go. A or B, what do you prefer?

  23. dezille
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    1FT, 4.3 ITB

    McCarthy (Martinez)
    Robertson Coufal Dallas Justin (Mitchell)
    Salah Son Bruno Grealish (Soucek)
    DCL Bamford (Brewster)

    Plan: FH18, BB19
    Current DGW players: 11/15 (14/15 after 2 FTs and a hit). Son being the only SGW

    Need to commit to a Martial or Vardy route before tomorrow.
    Vardy: reliable, talisman, ownership cover, rested, feels safer
    Martial: gut choice, fixture run, flexibility with extra funds, low ownership, has started to hit some form, United double-up could be smart, higher risk/reward, thinking Martial gets rested in GW18 when Cavani returns, then they share minutes in GW19.

    A)
    GW17 - DCL > Vardy (1.6 ITB)
    GW19 - Brewster > 6.1 fwd (Watkins/Adams/Antonio) for 13/15 DGW
    *Optional (-4) Mitchell > Johnson/Struijk

    B)
    GW17 - DCL > Vardy (1.6 ITB)
    GW19 - Brewster, Mitchell > Rodrigo, 4.3 def (-4)

    C)
    GW17 - Brewster > Martial (0.1 ITB) - allows me to play DCL this week & bench Soucek
    GW19 - DCL, Mitchell > Rodrigo, Cancelo (0.2 ITB) (-4)
    *Like getting back into City defence
    *is Rodrigo likely to become a fire?

    1. Bounce
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Reading all that is like doing algebra lol.

      1. dezille
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        It feels like it in my head too! Can't stand all this DGW/BGW bs to be honest haha

  24. The-Red-1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Please help me improve my WC squad to take into 19.

    I know I'm missing Liverpool, but can't have them all, and I think United and city have better fixtures afterwards

    Fabianski Johnstone
    Cancelo Coufal Balbuena Dallas Justin
    Sterling Bruno Rashford Barnes El Ghazi
    Vardy Bamford Tammy

  25. Flynny
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Hi....how does this 'plan' sound?Looking to bb in 19. 3.1mitb....

    17.....james and forster to dias and Johnstone - 4

    18 free hit

    19.....kane and soucek to kdb and 6.4m striker - 4.....gives me 15 x dgw players.....

    Martinez forster
    Robbo james dallas coufal balbuena
    Salah bruno grealish raphinha soucek
    Kane watkins bamford

    Thanks

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

      I wouldn’t waste the FH chip

      1. Tonyawesome69
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        He only has 5 GW18 players. Definitely use the FH

        1. Flynny
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Yeah I don't have enough to not play free hit....

          It's the forster to johnstone hit that I'm not sure is worth it.....

          1. Tonyawesome69
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            If playing BB19 then you should get a 2nd playing GK. You could wait until 19 to do the transfer to give yourself more time to decide chip strategy for 19 since it is for a hit anyway

            1. Flynny
              • 9 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Cheers

              Issue is I already need a hotnto get kbd in gw19.

              So I'm tempted to split the hits and take 1 this weekend and hope jphnstone does something miraculous v arsenal

              1. Flynny
                • 9 Years
                3 years, 2 months ago

                Thanks for the advice e tony

    2. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Forster will probably outscore Johnstone tbh

      1. Tonyawesome69
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I hope he doesn't...

  26. Yozzer
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Stones or Justin chaps ?

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Stones

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

      I've had had justin GW 1 fantastic value just unsure about city players

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

    Still planning to BB gw19 as bought Johnstone last week as my 2nd gk.

    But do I play:-

    A. Son & Brewster (I hope for a miracle)

    B. Take a -8 hit and do Son & Brewster > Grealish & Adams

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Got to be A for this GW. Take the hit in GW19 if you need to

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

        Yes the hit wasn’t for this week

  28. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Just too many premium DGW players to get a decent bench for BB

    KDB Salah Bruno Vardy Robbo

    Then u have differential picks Sterling Mane TAA

    Add the fact most have Kane and Son atm. Will have to use transfers on selling them

  29. Bounce
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Who does everyone have as their 3rd striker for BB19?

    Kane, Bamford, ???

    1. Openboxman
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Brewster :,)

    2. Alisson WondHaaland
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Why is Kane a compulsory? He doesnt even have a double

      1. The 12th Man
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Some will be carrying through. Palace at home.
        I’ll be shipping.

      2. Tonyawesome69
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I will most likely transfer him out to Vardy. Was planning this GW but feels like a bad move/ too early

    3. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Currently have rodrigo

    4. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I’m on Watkins

    5. gryffsonofarthur
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Watkins comes into play now with the announcement.

    6. Pukkipartyy
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Brew;)

  30. Dele
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Who comes in for Charlie Taylor now?