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. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Free Hit GW18, Bench Boost DGW19 still looks a good option.

    Mainly because other than Man City and Bruno Fernandes, the players / teams you want to have in DGW19 don't have a fixture in BGW18. Namely:

    Liverpool (MUN, BUR), West Ham (BUR, WBA), Leeds (BHA, SOU)

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Depending on the shape of your team in gw17

      1. diesel001
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Yes. But struggling to see the AVL love (other than Martinez). mun, TOT, EVE / mci. Those are some tough fixtures.

        WHM: Coufal, Soucek
        LEE: Dallas, Raphinha, Bamford
        LIV: Robbo, Salah
        MUN: Fernandes
        MCI: Dias, KDB (or Aguero)
        AVL: Martinez

  2. OptimusBlack
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Who to get from City & Aston Vila for DGW ?

    1. S.Kuqi
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Martinez, Watkins, Kdb, Dias and Cancelo/ Stones.

    2. antis0cial
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Martinez, Grealish, Dias, KDB

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

      Hey!? Do they have doubles now?

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

    Last FF decision for the year!

    Fabianski Barnes and Abraham

    Or Martinez Soucek and Martial?

    1. GREEN JUMPERS
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Prefer the second one

  4. FDMS All Starz
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    How do I fit in city players for dgw19?

    McCarthy - Johnstone
    Alioski - O’Shea - Justin - Coufal - Balbuena
    Salah - Bruno - Rashford - Son - Raphina
    Firmino - Adams - Bamford

    1. Majestic Chanka
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      WC in 18

      1. FDMS All Starz
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Really? WC this early? I just used my 1st one in gw16 lol

        1. Majestic Chanka
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Maybe not if you have just used the 1st but you can get in players for both weeks, City Man U and Villa all have good fix after as well.

    2. The Red Devil
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Sell Rashford & firmino
      Get kdb & someone
      & replace O'Shea with dias

      1. FDMS All Starz
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Forward has to be 7.1 or below...who can fill that spot?

        1. The Red Devil
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Wilson?

  5. Duke Silver ☑
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Really annoying that City haven't confirmed which 3 players tested positive for covid. Bald fraud taking things to new levels.

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Believe medical privacy laws more likely

  6. LewanGOALski
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Which for the DGW19 out of:

    A) Fabianski + Robertson + Son + 4 pts
    or
    B) Johnstone + Dias + KDB
    ...?

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

      A, no guarantee that the city boys play both games (if at all)

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

        So u think Dias + KDB might not play ether game? Hahhaah.

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

          Someone posted the city DGW teams from last season and KDB was rested for one.. so not that funny lol.
          The reason I liked A was fab and Robbo are the better picks, so Son +4 isn’t that bad.

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

      Would go A, but find big sofa if u dont own any City. Allso not suprised if Robbo got rest at DGW. Has played so much resently.

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

    Best Chip Strategy if you currently have ALL Chips?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Depends on your team.

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

        Could be get a hot topic on your previous question last page I wonder. Lots of decisions with chip use to be made...

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

          We*

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

    Start Martinez or Johnstone this GW?

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

      Always Martinez

    2. ivantys
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I think it's better to start Johnstones this GW.

  9. WVA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    How the hell is KDB dropping again, he only dropped last night or the night before!?

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

      Got 0 points last time out

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

        No way he could drop that quickly legitimately

    2. ivantys
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      He's expected to blank again vs Chelsea

  10. leo_messi
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Taylor -> Holding this gameweek and Lewis -> Lowton gw 18 gives me:

    11 players in gw18
    10 players with DGW in gw19 ( only Son and DCL with 1 fixture) and still 2FT to use

    Martinez* (Steer)
    Stones* - Cancelo* - Holding (Dallas* - Lowton*)
    Kdb* - Fernandes* - Salah* - Grealish* - Son
    Dcl - Bamford* (Brewster)

    KDB/Salah TC in gw19

    yes or no?

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

      Yes

  11. HARLEY
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    GTG FOR DGW19? PLAN TO FH18

    McCarthy Steer
    Robbo Dias Dallas KWP Kilman
    Salah Bruno Son Soucek Bissouma
    Kane DCL Bamford

    1 ft 0 itb

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

      Keeping Kane & Son for DGW ??

  12. boroie
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Are Man City likely to have a DGW19?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      It's confirmed.

    2. S.Kuqi
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      They already do have

  13. S.Kuqi
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    It could actually be better idea to get someone like Maguire instead of Cancelo. Decent chance for cs against Burnley and Fulham and could get a goal against proper CB less Liverpool.

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

      Most importantly, Maguire is 100% nailed.

    2. ivantys
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      So annoying Lindelof is injured. A lot of the budget defenders getting injured at the same time is so annoying.

      1. Champions League Varane
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Bailly.

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

          Would need to transfer him out again when Lindelof comes back so Maguire best option now.

  14. 1984 TC
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Phillips nailed for Pool or rotation risk with the Williams brotha's?

    1. Pep's Money Laundry
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Rotation risk plus Matip is back in 3 weeks as well the transfer window opening tomorrow

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

      Looks like he's competing with Rhys Williams and Fabinho - not nailed.

      1. 1984 TC
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Thanks both!

        Sorry, meant to say for the time being or over the next 4 game weeks or so. Would say he's off to a decent start with the clean sheet against Newcastle and should be ahead of Rhys, i'd assume.

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

    What’s the deal with Struijk, is he nailed for the time being?

  16. camarozz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Was sure Adams went off injured the other nite?

    Was it just a rest then been taken off at 57mins?

    1. The Cherry Picker
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Rest

    2. Prison Mike
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      It was tactical and also the manager said he has been feeling playing 90 minutes every week... A rest could be coming I think.

  17. tom_p77
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Is Kane&Son>>Vardy&KDB in DGW19 a good move? (I'm using my WC now to free up the £)

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

      Yes

      1. tom_p77
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Thanks - WC options for now:

        A) Saka (would have to use a -4 if either Vardy or KBD go up in£)
        B) Martinelli (-£0.3 than Saka)
        C) Lookman (-£0.2 than Saka and DGW19)

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

      So are you going without KDB in 18?

      1. tom_p77
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        will use FH in GW18 so will have KBD

    3. I Must Break You
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I like it

  18. The Red Devil
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Start DCL or soucek?
    What's the status of Chelsea vs city?
    Sell Taylor for lowton or save FT?

    1. Pep's Money Laundry
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I need my Taylor replacement to actually play this week, Burnley play Fulham who have a covid outbreak so I can't replace Taylor with Lowton. Your situation might be different

      1. The Red Devil
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        If Taylor is out, my back 3 is
        Zouma alioski bednarek
        With meslier as keeper!

    2. antis0cial
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      DCL
      Will go ahead as far as we know
      If taylor is hammy could be out for weeks.

      1. The Red Devil
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I really wanna save a transfer, if Chelsea vs city goes ahead, I can probably field 3 playing defenders

  19. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Not a clue what to do help would be majorly appreciated!

    Martinez
    Targett Stones TAA Mitchell Robertson
    Son Salah Bruno Soucek Burke
    Kane Adams Bamford.

  20. JWilson3
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Zaha or Saka next 2 GWs?

    1. Prison Mike
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Zaha

  21. Prison Mike
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Why am I being tempted into bringing Chris Wood into my team... It would give me a playing 11 for BGW 18.

    Adams (LIV) -> Wood (FUL)

    Yay or Nay?

    1. arndff_
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Only if you want him for dgw19 as well

      1. Prison Mike
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Hmm not the best fixtures but could nick a goal against West Ham?

        1. arndff_
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Sure but can risk it with antonio or go for watkins

          1. Prison Mike
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Yes will be getting in Antonio for DCL anyway if he’s fit.

    2. ivantys
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Wood's a decent punt as Adams and Watkins are garbage.

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

      I got him last week and already wish I had saved FT..

      1. Prison Mike
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Haha that’s what I fear!!!

  22. antis0cial
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Taylor to:
    A) Dias
    B) Maguire
    c) Stones

    Also, is this enough for gw 18 or go ahead with FH 18 as planned?

    Martinez
    Dias(or whoever from above) Mitchell*
    Bruno Rash Grealish
    Kane DCL

    1. The Cherry Picker
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Is he definitely out?

      1. antis0cial
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I thought it was his hamstring, in which case I thought he'd be out for weeks?

  23. The Cherry Picker
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Any update on Charlie Taylor lads??

    1. arndff_
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      nope

    2. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Not seen anything

  24. acidicleo
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    The City DGW19 is very interesting..
    Now many players will be tempted to ditch son and kane who have a plum fixture..

  25. Ye
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Looking to transfer out Taylor, should I go for Stones or Holding?

    0.5 ITB, already have Dias.

    1. 1984 TC
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Holding the safer bet

  26. n14mul
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    May have been asked already but has there been confirmation of city players tested positive apart from jesus and walker?

    1. 1984 TC
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Ederson, Cancelo and Torres i believe

      1. n14mul
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Is there any official confirmation

        1. 1984 TC
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          really just from reading on this site.

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

    Stones rising tonight will ruin all my plans...
    Still I just can't bring myself to use a transfer now, surely have to wait till the deadline...

    1. Hybrid.power
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yeah he's on the verge of rising which is a bit annoying

  28. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    A, Where can I use my FT?
    Playing FH18 & BB19
    B, Bench order correct ?

    Martinez
    Zouma, Robbo, Stones,
    Bruno, Son, Grealish, Salah
    Kane, Bamford, Adams

    Johnson, Soucek, Coufal, Dallas

    1FT .1 itb

  29. manu4life99
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Is this dgw19 bench worth boosting (avoiding any 4pt hits)?

    Johnstone (wol, whm)
    Taylor (whm, liv)
    Ayling (BHA SOU)
    DCL (EVE)

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

      Would hate DCL vs his own team. I think Taylor is out so probably not good to BB.

  30. HollywoodXI
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    My gut instinct is telling me to WC. Hmm.

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

      Same here. The prospect is becoming too enticing to ignore