Metrics

Captain free-for-all set to re-shape top 10k FPL managers as Wildcards remain intact

Fantasy Premier League managers are set for an intriguing captaincy battle in Gameweek 17, especially those currently ranked inside the top 10,000.

At that level of the game, four different players have soaked up at least 20% support for the armband, which could lead to a weekend of significant green and red arrows.

Spurs’ meeting with Leeds is the most popular match of the weekend with the top 10k but there was also interest in Manchester United and Liverpool’s Gameweek 17 fixtures.

As you can see, Son Heung-min (£9.7m) proved to be the most fashionable Gameweek 17 captain among the top 10k in the end.

Despite attracting votes from only 19.1% of votes in the latest Fantasy Football Scout captain poll, 26.8% of 2020/21’s highest-performing managers handed him the armband for an appealing clash with Leeds.

The Whites’ last four matches have featured an average of 5.3 goals, a statistic that has evidently also influenced the 23.3% who captained Harry Kane (£11.0m).

That was marginally more than the 20.4% of Fantasy Football Scout readers who voted for the Spurs striker in our captain poll.

However, it is of particular note that the relatively routine winner of that ballot Bruno Fernandes (£11.2m) had to make do with a bronze medal in terms of support among the top 10k.

Just 21.9% of them chose the Manchester United man as their Gameweek 17 captain for a solid 10-point haul against Aston Villa

Nevertheless, Fernandes is still the most powerful asset among the top 10k for Gameweek 17, offering an effective ownership of 114.3% among the top 10k.

Mohamed Salah (£12.6m) is not far behind the Manchester United man in that regard.

He may be only the fourth-most captained among the top 10k for this round but his effective ownership of 111.0% is still ominous for any not in possession of the Egyptian.

Son is the more dangerous Spurs asset for non-owners, considering he is the third and final asset with more than 100% effective ownership in the top 10k.

However, those worried about not having Kane for Gameweek 17 might be relatively (the keyword here) relieved to see his effective ownership standing only at 70.5%, lower than Patrick Bamford‘s (£6.6m).

A small portion of top 10k managers have pulled the trigger on the second Wildcard at the first time of asking.

After 9.3% of them used up their first Wildcard last time out, it 

perhaps suggests considerably fewer of the top-level managers have decided to get a new team in preparation for Double Gameweek 19.

We saw just 0.7% usage for Wildcards in the top 10k for Gameweek 14, 1.9% in Gameweek 15, 9.3% in Gameweek 16 and now 1.8% for Gameweek 17.

That adds up to just 13.7% top 10k managers preparing for Double Gameweek 19 with a Wildcard.

So, for all the talk of this tactic in the community, often combined with the view to Free Hit in Blank Gameweek 18, it means 86.3% of these managers were happy to approach the upcoming ‘chip season’ using only their free transfers.

Of course, some of these managers might use the Wildcard in Double Gameweek 19 (doing so in Blank Gameweek 18 seems unlikely) but that would, of course, prevent them from deploying a Bench Boost or Triple Captain.

That said, the most recent Wildcard template is still an important frame of reference for all Fantasy managers.

Fernandes (95%), Bamford (86.7%) and Salah (81.7%) are the must-haves, it would seem; unsurprising considering their Double Gameweek 19 fixtures.

However, 67.2% of this week’s top 10k Wildcarders are still interested in Son despite just one match in that round.

With 41.7% of these managers securing the services of Kane, it is clear that the argument of not overlooking single Gameweek players in a Double Gameweek is one shared by some at this level. After all, Spurs travel to face Sheffield United that week, the Premier League’s worst side this season.

And, of course, it shows plans to avoid Double Gameweek blinkers in the build-up to one either. Son and Kane face an obliging Leeds defence this weekend and boast a fixture in Blank Gameweek 18.

Meanwhile, Stuart Dallas (£4.8m) and Tomas Soucek (£5.2m) are the key budget enablers for those preparing for Double Gameweek 19, featuring in 55.6% and 43.9% of top 10k Wildcard squads in Gameweek 17.

The relatively differential options include Vladimir Coufal (£4.7m), Ezgjan Alioski (£4.5m) and Marcus Rashford (£9.5m), all included in between 20% and 26% of top 10k Wildcard squads.

There is some interesting disparity between the latest Wildcard template and the matrix of most popular players in the rest of the top 10k.

Andrew Robertson (£7.4m) appears in 31.7% of their squads but was not among the top-five most-fashionable defenders by those who Wildcarded for Gameweek 17.

Meanwhile, there is a gap of 13.2 percentage points between Son’s ownership among the top 10k as a whole and those who acquired his services on Wildcards at this level.

And it seems as if Jack Grealish (£7.7m) owners are at something of a crossroads. The most recent batch of Wildcarders are not too fussed with the Villa man (which was also the case for Gameweek 16) but he remains in 42.6% of squads at this level.

However, his stock has fallen significantly. In Gameweek 15, 68.5% of the top 10k owned Grealish. That number has fallen by 25.9 percentage points in just two Gameweeks.

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2,259 Comments Post a Comment
  1. chaser123
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Will Ederson be back for GW18?

    1. OneDennisBergkamp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      should be, its ages away

  2. Bruce Lee
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Most likeable player in the league?

    Has to be Pickford for me

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

      I needed a good laugh, thanks

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

      Interesting question!

      Rashford, Kante, Son perhaps?

      1. Bruce Lee
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Only person that'd give Pickford a run for his money is Rashford with all the kid stuff - really great

        Still Pickford for me

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

          Why do you like Pickford out of interest!? His tiny arms?

          1. Bruce Lee
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Just seems like a pleasant guy - would love a cup of tea with him

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

              😀 he seems more of a WKD drinker

              1. Bruce Lee
                • 5 Years
                3 years, 2 months ago

                😀

    3. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      KDB

    4. Clintymints
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Bamford

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

      KDB or Son imo

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

      Youri Tielemans has a very likeable face

  3. Bruce Lee
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    What does everyone think of the scout picks' new home in the footer of the website?

    1. jdp219
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Saw that, too. Thought I hit a CSS hiccup. But as someone who maintains websites, I feel their pain.

  4. jdp219
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Deadline is early (late?) in the US. Fell asleep. So now I have 2FTs.
    1) Use the 2FTs?
    2) Use FH?

    bgw18 team looks like this:
    no GK
    Kilman, Targett
    Bruno, KDB, Grealish
    Wilson, DCL

    Blanks: McC, Forster / Chilwell, Coufal, KWP / Soucek, Salah / Bamford

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

      1

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

        Agreed. You’ll really regret wasting you toffee hit this early in the game.

  5. Goooo Rickie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Noob question: Do FH transfers count towards price rises/drops? ( or do they apply in the same way as wc transfers)?

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

      Same as WC transfers

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

      They apply to the same gameweek but then your team value reverts to the value had the FH not been played

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

        Not sure that’s right, is it? Your team reverts to it’s pretty-FH form, but if players have risen or fallen, their new value will be reflected in your old team. Or Mai wrong?

        1. Iwantmorepointsthanks
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          You are correct.
          Old team will have new values, otherwise it would be super chaotic.

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

    What is the average score and number of played going to be?

    1. Jink
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      15pts and 3 players played.

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

      14.6 average, 9.1 players left

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

        Thanks

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

    Repost due to lack of response

    Would you recommend this move

    DCL, C. Taylor, Balbuena
    =>
    Watkins, Wan-Bissaka, Stones

    For a 4 point hit

    1. Volley127
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Looks great imo

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

      Even as a frustrated Watkins owner, I’d expect you to more than make up that -4 with those moves

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

        I don’t like the word cover but really want someone from Villa due to Grealish’s presence.

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

          Know what you mean, as a Grealish non owner too !

    3. Jam0sh
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Looks ok

      1. Uncle John from Jamaica
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Solid choices for my mind.

  8. Lignja
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Plan was to fh18 and tc19, not sure what to do, i have 2ft somehow beacuse i did not want to sell Kdb to Bruno this week as i planed...so should i fh or not, there is no easy way for me to have Bruno in blank and both Bruno and Salah in double...

    Mccarthy*
    Chilwell*, Coufal*, Holding
    Grealish, Salah*, Kdb, Son
    Bamford*, Dcl, Kane

  9. FF Dirtbag
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    With ederson out, is steffen in?

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

      Not sure who is the 2nd choice tbh

    2. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yep.

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

    Is Lewis (Newcastle) just back frm injury or why the reduced minutes?

    Thanks

  11. wulfrunian
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    ManUtd's performance for one more game was really good but except Fernandes i fell that i can't trust anyone else.Maybe Rashford but with so many descent midfielders is really tough.

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

      Agree, there's a handful of well performing players now but other than a punt it's only Fernandes for me.

  12. PaulParker
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    If not free hitting this week, have the fpl boffins predicted the next best time to use?

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

      Gw29 blanks( but Im using now since only have 6 players)

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

        I have 7 (inc. flagged Taylor...), not sure what to do

        1. FF Dirtbag
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          A hit to get in 2 players with a bgw+dgw is worth it probs...

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

      GW18 has 4 blanks
      GW29 has 4-6 blanks

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

        Thanks

  13. chaser123
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Worth starting the FH now in order to catch Saiss and Holding price rises?

    I only have 5 GW18 players as it stands...

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

      if money is tight i guess. doesn't matter too much otherwise

      1. chaser123
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Unlikely that any other fixtures will be added I guess?

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

          I doubt it this close but who knows?

          I mean if money is tight for your draft FH team, go for it

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

    Is this a stupid FH team for next week, as it relies on Newcastle not messing up vs Sheffield?

    DDG
    Fernandez Dias Saiss Lewis
    KDB Sterling Bruno Rashford Son
    Wilson

    1. Volley127
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Looks good to me. Wouldn’t trust Lewis to start though so I’d look elsewhere - Holding perhaps. Or Darlow + Bailly

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

    Think I’m on the cusp with FH this week. Been planning to all along but having second thoughts...

    Using my 2FTs to build for BGW19 might undo some of my BB19 planning.

    What do you think?

    2FT 0.1ITB
    Martinez
    Holding
    Son KdB Bruno
    DCL Watkins

    Think I’d only keep 3 or 4 on a FH...

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

      Let’s see the rest of your team.

      I think with two free transfers you could have a very good team for the blank gameweek.

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

        Cheers

        Martinez McCarthy
        Zouma Justin Coufal Struijk Holding
        Salah KdB Bruno Son Soucek
        DCL Bamford Wakins

        Plan was to do DCL and Holding to two DGW19 players, making Son my only single GW player for 19

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

          Any money ITB?

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

            Sadly not. Well 0.1!

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

              I think your current team for the BGW is decent and you should save your FH for a later GW.

              To put this into context, here is my team for the BGW once I make the transfers shortly

              Dias Stones AWB
              Bruno Son
              Watkins Kane

              If due to any unforeseen circumstances, matches are cancelled or the above players pick up an injury before the start of BGW, I will activate my FH at that stage.

              Let me know what you think

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

                Thanks. That looks decent, better than mine. I’d really like Kane. Double City defence is good too.

                I think I like the plan of saving the FH for you, perhaps less so for me.

                I could get by with my current team - I just need to decide if the potential upside of using the FH is great enough.

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

                  Due to my nerdy nature, I have quickly calculated the initial value of your 7 players with mine. Your team value is 53m vs my team value of 52m.

                  You have KDB, a player most people will be captaining.

                  Of course, if you FH, you might get additional 20 points but the increment could be larger if you activate the chip in a future BGW when there are more blanks in the week.

                  Let me know what you think

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

                    Thanks for checking! I might run my drafts through the RMT tool and compare them.

                    I guess it’s the unknown about future gameweeks... one to mull over!

  16. Vazza
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Repost due to lack of response

    Would you recommend this move

    DCL, C. Taylor, Balbuena
    =>
    Watkins, Wan-Bissaka, Stones

    For a 4 point hit.

    1. FF Dirtbag
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      How many times? You have enough responses.

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

      No for me.

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

      Don't like it tbh.

    4. STEP rOVERS
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Nope

  17. More Cowbell
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    37 points from 3 players this evening 😀

    It's been a terrible season so forgive me for taking this moment of satisfaction!

    Look forward to it all coming undone tomorrow!

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

      Enjoy the moment mate. Well done!

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

      Wow that’s great. Is one a captain? Should be able to relax for the rest of the weekend with points in the bag

      1. More Cowbell
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Yeah, Bruno...standard.

        No doubt Kane will bag a hatrick tomorrow and normal service will be resumed!

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

      I'd be exactly the same only I benched Coufal I'm favour of Holding.

      1. Warby84
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I did the same..

    4. Iwantmorepointsthanks
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Good stuff

  18. Mikey44
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Wait so if I have KDB in my currently active FH team and he drops tonight I will lose .1?

    1. maditass
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      You will lose 0.1 for this week and thereby have 0.1 less to use, but when the GW is over and you dont have him anymore. Your overall team value will be back to normal.
      So if you miss 0.1 to get someone, you should move him out for his drop and then get 0.1 extra to use

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

      If you brought in KDB for the FH team, your FH team would lose .1. if you owned KDB before, you'd lose .1 on original team also.

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

      If you want to play money game for FH week, you have to sell everyone at risk of dropping in price.

  19. Uncle John from Jamaica
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Bruno (C)s. How happy are we with his haul. Personally think should be happy with anything from a (C) but bit nervous about Kane/Son (both of which I own) hauling big tomorrow.

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

      Personally I am happy to get 6 points min. Anything but a blank.

    2. More Cowbell
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Would have taken 10 points before kick-off, so suppose I should be happy now.

      1. Uncle John from Jamaica
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Fair call actually.

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

      Yea I'd be happy

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

      I did Kane (c) and Bruno (VC), I based it on Villa being more defensively tighter than Leeds, I feel Leeds will have big scoring games against the better sides.

  20. jdp219
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I spend hours worrying about which transfers to make. But in the past 5 gameweeks, I've made one transfer. I'm in danger of jinxing this, but if the gameweek ended now, that'd be 5 green arrows in a row.

    This is a ridiculous game.

    1. FPL Theorist
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yeah, I should have spent less time worrying about my transfers and more time thinking about whether to start Soucek over one of my strikers (D'oh!)

      1. jdp219
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Ha! Same. Started Wilson over Soucek.

  21. lifes a pitch
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Would you play FH/WC if you only had 7 for next gw?

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

      Depends who they are. 7 is the minimum for me

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

      Depends which 7 really. If you have the big hitters you might be ok.

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

    if saving FH how many players do we think is decent amount to have playing? 6-7 looks decent to me. I think points haul in GW19 is much lucrative and gearing the team towards that rather than FHs or WCs

  23. FF Dirtbag
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    What's the news on Taylor? Is he gonna be out for gw18?

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

      Likely. Hammy, not sure how serious

  24. yanky
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    thoughts on this Non-KDB FH team?

    Leno
    Dias Cancelo Bailly
    Son Bruno Rashford Saka
    Kane Aguero Wilson

    bench: Saiss, Kilman, 4.4 mid fodder

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

      Aguero!

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

    Which one scores more next gw?

    A) Darlow Yedlin Holding Martial
    or
    B) Lloris Dias Maguire Saka

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

      B

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

      B

  26. Egg noodle
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Humble brag but I'm on 43 points from 6 players with Salah Kane Son(C) Robbo Zouma to go.
    No need to worry though, I'm rank 2million xD
    First time this season I feel genuinely happy!

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

      48 points from 4

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

      Enjoy the points 🙂

  27. jackoasean
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    48 points from my wildcard so far, free hit set for game week 18 then bench boost hitting game week 19 - cresswell, soucek, bissaka, fernandes (c)

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

      Annual post?

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

    Martínez
    Stones | Lowton | Mitchell
    Fernandes | Son | Grealish
    Kane | DCL

    Forster | Dallas | Coufal | Salah | Soucek | Bamford

    Thoughts on not using the FH gw18, saving it and then BB in gw19 (Forster becomes 4.5/4.6 & Mitchell 4.5/4.4)?

    Cheers.

  29. maimar
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Any toughts on my FH team

    Leno
    Dias - Saiss - Cancelo
    Rashford - Son - Fernandes - Grealish
    Wilson - Kane - Lacazette

    Mabye Saiss to Stones ?
    Or is that to much City defense

  30. FF Dirtbag
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Luke Shaw too risky?

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

      possibly, Telles over his shoulder.