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. MrFrodo
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I'm planning on playing my free hit in GW18. I will probably be going into that GW with 2 free transfers will they still carry over to GW19 after i've played the free hit?

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

      Noop

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

      No, reset to one

    3. MrFrodo
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      thanks i thought that might be the case

    4. The Polymath
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      No buddy, they never do

    5. Over Midwicket
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      No. Lol.

  2. zotter
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Stick and roll the FT? 0.7 itb

    A. Stick
    B. Soucek to Saka (not going to BB now)
    C. Kwp to Bellerin

    Martinez
    Chilwell. Dallas. Trent
    Son c. Salah. Bruno. Grealish.
    Bamford. Wood. Dcl vc

    Forster. Soucek. Coufal. Kwp

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

    A, Can you see where to use my FT?

    B, Bench order correct ?

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

    Johnson, Soucek, Coufal, Dallas

    1FT .1 itb

    1. Ginkapo FPL
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      A. Yes

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

        Clue?

        1. Ginkapo FPL
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          I answered your question, do you want something else?

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

      A. Zouma to Leicester defender?
      B. Yes

    3. zotter
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Zouma to Cancelo. He will be back for double but play Dallas.

  4. Couch Potato
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    2FT 1.9 ITB

    Grealish & Brewster > El Ghazi & DCL?

    Feels like I'm late to the party with El Ghazi, but I really am done with Brewster and his 2pt ceiling and DCL looks overdue for a big game.

    1. Ginkapo FPL
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Why this week?

      1. Couch Potato
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Badly want to upgrade Brewster, and El G looks a bargain alternative to Jack.

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

    hmmmm..
    My plan was to fh gw 18 and bb gw 19 and get 2-3 more dgw players in.

    With my current team should i continue with the plan ?

    Martinez Steer
    Dallas Taa Coufal Bednarek Justin
    Son Kdb Salah Fernandes Soucek
    Bamford Watkins Adams

    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Nice team.

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

        What do you think.
        Should i get another gk in for Steer?

        1. Rupert The Horse
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          I probably would yes.

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

            Thanx.

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

    Is Balbuena expected back?

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

      Got rested, so yes

  7. JJeyy
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    KDB to Son (C) and then switch back for the double?

    Just concerned about no Spurs against the worst defence in the league..

    1. FPL price manipulators are …
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yes

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

      Yes

    3. Over Midwicket
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      "worst defence in the league".. They have 2 cleansheets in 2.

  8. Boomerang V
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Martinez Steer
    Bednarek Dallas Ayling Coufal Taylor*
    Salah Kdb Bruno Son Soucek
    Kane Bamford Brewster

    0.9 itb 1 FT

    A) Kdb to Mane
    B) Kdb to Rashford
    C) Taylor to someone?
    D) other?

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

      KDB out? Are you aware he is the most essential player to get for GWs 18-19?

      1. Dthinger
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        How do you figure? He’s been off the boil most of the season. No goals from open play, and city aren’t scoring tons of goals. Bruno seems more important to me.

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

      Kdb has double now

    3. Boomerang V
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I thought the Chelsea game was very likely to be postponed

  9. 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.

  10. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Will have 8 players for BGW18, is this enough to save FH? TC19 not BB.

    A. FH
    B. No FH
    C. No FH + Salah > KDB (-4)

    Martinez (Ryan)
    Stones Holding (Coufal Dallas Justin)
    Grealish Bruno Son (Salah Burke)
    Kane DCL (Bamford)

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

      B (C?!?)

  11. MGMT
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    How nailed is Holding?

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

      Looks pretty nailed. Arsenal fan might know better?

    2. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Holding out for news.

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

        What?

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

        Rupert! Is Holding out?

  12. Rupert The Horse
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Surprised how many season veterans still don’t know about the Free Hit rules. Not that I’m particularly smart but still.

    1. Ginkapo FPL
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Isnt it systematic of the comments section. To many tell others what to do rather than help them solve tbe problems themselves.

      1. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Gave a man a fish the other day and knicked his rod.

        1. Ginkapo FPL
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Did him a favour, better ways to occupy time

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

            Ou, and we have a monkey also here 😉

            1. Rupert The Horse
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Gang bang?

          2. Rupert The Horse
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            What like on here? 😉

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

      Me neither. Maybe veterans have age and remembering this kind of things is beginning to be difficult? But you are a horsie and I am a bitch if my gravatar is correct(?), so what do we whitish animals actually know?!?

      1. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Maybe. But this is my 14th season and I know.

    3. bialk
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      When we began to play FF there were not such things like FH, BB and TC.

      1. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Yes but been around some time now.

  13. Evasivo
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    HNY all!
    Guess it makes sense to hold transfers until close to deadline given current circumstances...but too close and could FPL site go down?!

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

      Think the servers are pretty robust nowadays.

  14. _Ninja_
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Scout injury news has Taylor return date as this weekend. Has there been any good news?

    1. Ginkapo FPL
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Have you clicked on "injuries" under "team news"?

      1. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Sticking with your point I see.

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

        Yes, that's where it says his return date is this weekend. I'm just wondering if there has been positive news to make the return this weekend.

    2. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      He has done his hammy? If utrue , even a minor strain is 2 to 3 weeks.

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

        A grade 1 can take days to heal. No idea its worse than that though.

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

    Anyone looking at wc this gw to navigate 18 and 19?

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

      Have tried, it's quite tricky. Maybe but unlikely.

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

        Yeh it is. I managed this. What u think?

        Gw17
        Leno (fabianski)
        Dias, holding, maguire (hause, dallas)
        Bruno, son, zaha, kdb, saka
        Kane, bamford (brewster)

        Gw18 (no transfers )
        Leno
        Dias, maguire, holding, hause
        Bruno, kdb, son, zaha, saka
        Kane

        Gw19 (-4)
        Fab
        Dias, dallas, maguire
        Bruno, kdb, salah, rashford, saka
        Kane, bamford

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

          Are you then not BB DGW19? If not then WC seems to be too valuable for it ...

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

            No too tricky to get a good bb team. Might use tc. I think im gonna just save wc and fh in 18 tbh. As u said wc is more valuable than a fh

  16. Henryyy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Any ideas here gents?

    Martinez
    Robbo Coufal Mitchell
    Mane Grealish Son Bruno Salah
    Adams Bamford

    4m - Taylor* Dallas Brewster

    1FT 0.0ITB

    FH18
    TC19 maybe

    Cheers

  17. HTL
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Captain whoever is in the early kick off, assuming any cancellation is known before deadline

    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Not a bad tip.

    2. Dthinger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Everton/ West Ham? Not great options for captain

  18. Nespinha
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Pick a trio for BB19:

    A) lookman KDB martial
    B) barnes son martial
    C) rashford son watkins

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

      A for kdb. not sure martial will play twice though

  19. Bobby Digital
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    A. Clyne (SHU ars mci)
    B. Clark (LEI shu ars)

  20. stu92
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Best combo for DGW19? Using bench boost. Would like some Man City in an ideal world but feel there may be too much uncertainty around them just now, plus Pep roulette. Cancelo would require hits and less double gameweek players.

    Martinez _____
    Robbo Zouma Coufal Targett ____

    A) McCarthy & Alioski
    B) Meslier & Bednarek
    C) Johnstone & Stones

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      A

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

    Messed this post up earlier so not sure on the replies.

    2FTs, will FH18, BB19. Please help!

    A. Taylor >> Stones and burn 1FT.

    B. Johnstone+Taylor >> Martinez+Lowton
    (DCL >> inform striker in GW19).

    C. Taylor+DCL >> Cancello+Antonio

    McCarthy
    Robbo, Dias, Coufal
    Salah, KDB, Bruno, Raphinha
    DCL, Bamford, Adams
    (Johnstone, Dallas, Soucek, C.Taylor*)

    1. Easy Cheesy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      C for me.

  22. Congers
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Many sacked off the BB plan and now going for TC in GW19?

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

      Yep

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

      I have build up my team for freehit gw 18 and bb gw 19.
      So i think that i go ahead

  23. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Rumours circulating that Kyle Walker (yes again) hosted a party which 18 Premier League footballers attended, 11 of which have tested positive, not good if true ...

    1. Ginkapo FPL
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      We started that rumour on monday... its the obvious rumour

      1. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        It’s picking up momentum, seemed the obvious dig but may well of occurred

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

      Makes Cancelo more nailed if thats true.

      1. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Cancelo has it apparently

      2. pavlev
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Lol pun intended??

  24. FPLMACKEM
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Best captain for gw 17?

    A Son
    B Brun
    C Salah

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

      A

  25. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Martinez
    Zouma,Dias,Robbo
    Salah,Bruno,KDB,Bowen,Raphinha
    DCL,Bamford

    Button, Kilman,Brewster,Konsa

    1FT, 0.3ITB

    A) KDB to Son(C) then switch back to KDB for the DGW
    B) Konsa to Stones
    C) something else?

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

    Best replacement for Ferguson? Go expensive or cheap?
    3.4m to spend.
    Martinez
    TAA,Dias, Dallas
    Salah,Fernandes, Grealish,Raphinia
    Kane,Bamford,Watkins

    Johnstone, Soucek, Coufal, Ferguson

    Or keep him this week and replace in 19?
    Instead do Grealish > Rashford.

  27. Rupert The Horse
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Just had the remnant of a firework land on my head.

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

      Cruelty to horses.

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

      May lead to a genius transfer

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

    KDB or Salah to score more points in DGW19?

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

    Evening all,

    Would you take Mitchel or Taylor out now?

    Mitchel was purely giving PVA a rest right?

  30. Will J 256
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Which combo you prefer for GW19:
    A: Maguire, Cancelo, Johnstone
    B: TAA, Balbuena, Johnstone
    C: TAA, John Stones, No Johnstone