Captain Sensible

Who is the best FPL captain for Gameweek 23?

Liverpool and Manchester City’s Gameweek 23 meeting at Anfield should allow Fantasy Premier League managers the chance to spread their wings and think creatively with the captaincy this weekend.

Fresh from their 9-0 win over Southampton, Manchester United options are in the conversation ahead of a meeting with Everton, while Spurs host a relegation-threatened West Bromwich Albion outfit. 

But considering the Red Devils were helped by the Saints’ unfortunate injuries and poorly-timed red cards, and Spurs have struggled without Harry Kane (£11.0m), is now the time for a differential captain?

West Ham’s in-form attack travel to face a Fulham side whose recent defensive improvements appear to have lapsed while Aston Villa host Arsenal, who have some defensive personnel missing for Gameweek 22.

As ever, the Captain Sensible article is here to sort through the best options, comparing their recent underlying statistics against those of their upcoming opponents.

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

CAPTAIN POLL

The early results on our website indicate that our users have identified three main captaincy candidates for Gameweek 22, each of them gaining more than 15% of votes so far.

Unsurprisingly, Bruno Fernandes (£11.4m) sits in first place with just over 32.0% as Manchester United’s prepare to host Carlo Ancelotti’s Everton.

Despite Spurs’ toils in front of goal, 21.4% of our voters trust Son Heung-min (£9.7m) enough to capitalise on West Bromwich Albion’s woeful defence. They have given up at least two goals in each of their last seven Premier League matches.

This week’s top-three is closed out by Michail Antonio (£6.7m), who, despite not finding the net in his last three league appearances, is still chipping in with assists (three since Gameweek 20) and remains a constant goal threat.

Jack Grealish (£7.8m) and Patrick Bamford (£6.6m) are the best of the rest this time around as Aston Villa host an Arsenal side without Bernd Leno (£5.0m), Marcelo Bielsa and his Leeds squad will be out for revenge on Crystal Palace, who beat them 4-1 earlier in the campaign.

KEY MATCHES

Manchester United v Everton

Fernandes punishes Saints' ailing defence as Man United face more appealing fixtures
745 Comments Post a Comment
  1. JP\'s
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Who to captain Fernandes or Bamford?

    1. Sam FPLFamily
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Fernandes of the two, although I think I'm going Antonio this week. Definitely a good week for a more differential captain pick I think.

      1. JP\'s
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks very much

    2. Etonmessi
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      if you need to make up points go fro Bamford. IF your in a good position go for Fernandes.

  2. Kaich24
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Maddison for Soucek?

    Is this a good transfer

    1. Etonmessi
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      no

  3. FantasyFooty01
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Into week 3 of last man standing, who should I pick? comment below. 50 left.
    Already picked:
    Chelsea
    Man City

  4. Xabatlea
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    2FT
    4'5 ITB

    How to get Son? Or what should I do?
    Martínez/fabiansky
    Justin/Stones/Coufal/Dallas/c Taylor
    Lookman/Salah/Sterling/ gundo/ Bruno
    DCL/Antonio/ Brewster

    Idea was Lookman to Son, but now Lookman has a DGW.
    Any suggestions?
    Thanks

    1. Fplviz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I'm going without Son personally - I would get Bamford in for Brewser who has Palace at home and a decent double coming up! And then roll the other transfer with a view of getting in Pope/Burnley defence

  5. azambadboy
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    need your advice for my line up :
    Pope (Guaita)
    Robertson Cancelo Dias Maguire (Creswell)
    Son(C) Bruno(VC) Grealish Soucek (Rapinha)
    Antonio Bamford (Brewster)

    Son or Bruno for captain?

  6. Sulley
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Play Saka or Barnes this weekend?

    1. Charlie&TheLads
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Great question. Im debating Madders or Saka atm
      Im wondering if the Wolves games was a blip, especially following that ridiculous Luiz sending off. Yes Arsenal will be missing Leno and Luiz, yes they will probably concede but Auba is back and the offensive is still firing. Saka had the ball in the net.

      1. Sulley
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Yeah hard to call

    2. SallySlayer
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Coin flip for me.

    3. Limbo
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I don't fancy City to keep a clean sheet today. So it comes down to minutes and possible goal threat...

      Got Stones and Cancelo. Which would you bench?

      1. Limbo
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Fek. Reply Fail.

        I'd play Barnes.

  7. Sulley
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Saka had more double digit games lately

  8. damiang2233
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Worth keeping Son & Foden?

    1. SallySlayer
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Definitely Son for WBA this week. Foden will probably do well if he plays

  9. SallySlayer
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Anything here worth a hit?
    Pope
    Roboo - Coufal - Cancelo (mitchell, mee)
    Salah - Gundo - Barnes - Bruno (bissouma)
    Wilson - DCL - Bamford

    A) Robbo –> Shaw or Dias (-4)
    B) Salah –> Son (-4)
    C) DCL –> Antonio (-4)

    1. 7_Dan_7
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      nope g2g

  10. PScholes18
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    GTG or moves needed?
    Meslier
    Tarkowski - Maguire - Coufal
    Bruno (C) - Salah - Sterling - Barnes Soucek
    Antonio - Bamford
    Ederson - DCL - Cancelo - Mitchell

    1. tjostolv
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Cancelo on the bench?

      1. PScholes18
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        ATM yes. Expect Liverpool to score. Cancelo could get some attacking returns, but can't see who to bench instead.

  11. Knowsnothingaboutnothing
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Which two to bench...
    Digne
    Shaw
    Cancelo
    Coufal
    Mee

    1. PScholes18
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Digne and probably Cancelo. Expect the rest to get CS, but could go Cancelo over Shaw.
      Considering Cancelo over Maguire myself.

      1. Knowsnothingaboutnothing
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Thats exactly who I have on bench but thinking that both Cancelo and Shaw may concede but they can easily get attacking returns and thought to play them both and bench Coufal..

        1. PScholes18
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          You could start all five. Digne the stand out pick for the bench and the rest is basically gut feeling and focus on CS or attacking returns.

          1. Knowsnothingaboutnothing
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Could do but cant obviously, this is my front 8 and benching DCL

            Sterling Cundogan Bruno Barnes Grealish

            Bamford Antonio DCL

            1. PScholes18
              • 3 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              Of course. My point is that it is basically gut feeling as all could pay off.
              Similar front 8. I have Salah and Soucek for Gundo and Grealish.

    2. Wooterr
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I'd bench Digne and Mee!

  12. Wooterr
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Who to bench?
    1 of these: Dallas (CRY), Justin (wolves), Coufal (fulham), Stones (liv)
    1 of these: Barnes (wolves), (DCL (manu)

    or bench both Barnes and DCL and play all 4 defenders?

    Thanks for your advice!

    1. 7_Dan_7
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Stones and DCL

  13. Fpl_elstatto
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Some players always do well against a particular team is the general theory right? So we’ve looked back over past meetings of gw23 games to see if there is any stand out cases this week:

    https://jumpersforgoalposts.info/back-to-the-fpl-future-gw23/

    1. Limbo
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Thanks

  14. sarnshawn
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Thoughts?

    Martinez
    Maguire, Stones, Cancelo
    Fernandez, Salah, Grealish, Son
    Antonio (c), Wilson, Bamford

    Bench - Gundogan, Mings, Dallas

    1. 7_Dan_7
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      g2g looks nice

      1. 7_Dan_7
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        or maybe put Dallas in for Stones...

        1. sarnshawn
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Done. Thanks!

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

    Out of interest, who did Jan opt for captain in this article?

  16. 7_Dan_7
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    feels like a daft question but start Dias (LIV) or James (shu)? (I need to get rid of James, I know)

    1. Wooterr
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      James! More likely to get CS and better attacking threat!

  17. Gashead83
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I’m so torn between Fernandes or Antonio to cpt

    1. Belli2007
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Likewise. As I was last week when I went between Salah and Bruno and of course landed on the wrong one!!!!

      1. Gashead83
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Typically I went the wrong way

  18. Belli2007
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Got Dias and Stones which obviously a risk against pool so do I drop one and play Konsa v Arsenal?

  19. Kellz86
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Oh Arsenal, when will they realize Arteta is not the man to take them forward at this moment