Captain Sensible

Who is the best FPL captain for Gameweek 31?

Fantasy Premier League managers may have to look past this season’s most reliable assets for the Gameweek 31 captaincy.

Son-Heung min (£9.4m), Harry Kane (£11.7m)and Bruno Fernandes (£11.6m) have been among the most reliable skippers in 2020/21 but Sunday afternoon’s meeting between Spurs and Manchester United has blown the latest debate wide open.

A number of alternative options have emerged including Diogo Jota (£6.9m)and Mohamed Salah (£12.4m)who starred in Liverpool’s 3-0 win at Arsenal and face Aston Villa on Saturday afternoon.

Meanwhile, all eyes will be on Manchester City’s starting XI for their lunch-time meeting with Leeds. While this is a favourable fixture for Pep Guardiola’s men, it is sandwiched between two key UEFA Champions League ties with Borussia Dortmund.

As always, the Captain Sensible article is here to help you with this week’s captaincy conundrum. Given that this text includes plenty of analysis backed up by the extensive data from the Fantasy Football Scout Premium Members Area, only those with a valid subscription can access it in full.

CAPTAIN POLL

As shown above, Salah is the leader of this week’s Captain Poll, having gained 27.4% of total votes so far. The Egyptian scored in his last two appearances for the club (against Arsenal and Real Madrid) and looks to be getting back to his goalscoring best, just in time for the final stretch in the Premier League Golden Boot race.

Just behind him in the poll sits Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne (£11.9m) with 17.7% of votes from our users. The Belgian was unlucky to come out without any returns against Leicester City in Gameweek 30, but played a crucial part in his team’s win over Borussia Dortmund midweek, opening the scoreline in the first half and providing a crucial pass in the build-up for the late winner. The match-up against Leeds United could be a great opportunity for a big haul, although there is heavy uncertainty over the likelihood of him starting.

This season’s top goal-scorer, as well as the top assist provider, Kane has gained 9.0% of total votes. The England international has been in outstanding form in this campaign, often winning games for his team single-handedly. 

That said, in Gameweek 31, Kane will face a tough opponent in Manchester United. He may have scored 16 points in the reverse fixture but the chances of another double-digit haul are not too strong considering the Red Devils have improved significantly since their 6-1 thrashing at Old Trafford.

The top-five list is closed by the aforementioned Jota (8.6% of votes) and Raheem Sterling (£11.3m, 5.2%), who could turn out to be a shrewd one Gameweek captaincy punt.

KEY MATCHES

Liverpool v Aston Villa

Jota continues relentless form as Klopp manages Salah's minutes
1,428 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Redranger
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    How’s this WC looking?

    Mendy Forster
    TAA Rudiger Fofana Masuaku Holding
    Salah Jota Son JLingz Bruno
    Kane Nacho Vydra

    Bit template and really not sure about the defence?

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

      Can you stretch to Dawson

      1. Redranger
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Just about. Leaves me with 0.0 ITB. Guess he’s a safer pick than Masuaku

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

          Worth it imo

          1. Redranger
            • 9 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            Yeah, think I might for him. Didn’t even think, cheers!

  2. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Non-WC team, any comments on captaincy and bench order folks? Thanks!

    DDG
    Azpi TAA Cresswell
    Bruno Gundo Jota [C] Lingard Raphinha
    Kane DCL

    Subs: Martinez Bamford Dallas Konsa

  3. LLoris
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Will there be any price rises today?

    1. PompeyUpNorth!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Loads of drops but only 2 rises at this time.. Phillips and another I can’t remember who..

      1. PompeyUpNorth!
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Plus Trent probably n possibly Dias, but they’ll be more as the night progresses I imagine

  4. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    What to do here chaps?

    Sanchez
    Veltman Cancelo Digne
    Raphinha Son KDB Gundo Bruno
    Kane Watkins

    Martinez Dallas Tierney* Antonio*

    1 FT & 0.2m ITB

    A) Tierney Raphinha ➡ Phillips Jota -4
    B) KDB Antonio ➡ Salah Iheanacho -4
    C) Tierney :arrow Rudiger
    D) Save FT

    1. waltzingmatildas
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Probably c

  5. Tricky FC
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Thoughts on aguero in for a wildcard? Or play safer with vardy?

    1. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      You could get Aguero as a placeholder for Vardy

    2. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      aguero then vardy.

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

    Son>Salah or Gundo>Jota

  7. dark91
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Is there a reason why many are not picking any Leicester players on WC?

    1. waltzingmatildas
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Most I've seen are going for iheanacho?

      1. dark91
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Oh yes I was referring mainly to defenders or Maddison/Tielemans

    2. bautasten
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Nacho's on everyones WC, but agree on the defense. Would rather have Fofana than Coady if I could choose.

    3. Pompel
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I'm seeing a lot of Nacho love, no?

  8. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    cant decide help me please

    holding or phillips?

    thanks

    1. bautasten
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Phillips in isolation but depends on what your plans are for the other liverpool-slots

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        no more than 2. cheers

    2. Honker Muddlefoot
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      What does the rest of your team look like? What are your plans for other LIV assets? Would picking up Phillips block a TAA, Salah, Jota triple up for you, or is that not a move you’d planned on making?

      1. Honker Muddlefoot
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        In a vacuum, I’d take Phillips as he’s cheaper and on a team more likely to keep clean sheets.

        1. Ajax Hamsterdam
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          not planning on getting taa or jota. have salah. thanks a lot for your comments 🙂

  9. bautasten
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Would appriciate some thoughts on how to complete my (template) WC:

    Mendy. Forster
    TAA. Shaw. Rudiger. XX. XX
    Salah. Jota. Bruno. Son. Lingard
    Kane. Iheanacho. XX

    A) Dias, Holding, Davis
    B) Coady, Fofana, Vydra
    C) Coady, Holding, Welbeck

    1. Pompel
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Not much to choose between , but C for me. I think Dias will play maybe half of remaining games

      1. bautasten
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Yeah Dias could be Laporte instead but gives me trouble in GW33, that's why I like Welbeck for that week.

    2. n-doggg
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      C

      1. bautasten
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        thanks

  10. n-doggg
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Any improvements to this WC? 0.0 itb

    Mendy, Forster
    TAA, rudiger, coady, holding, massuaka
    Salah, Bruno, son, jota, gundo
    Kane, nacho, vydra

    Thanks all

    1. waltzingmatildas
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Are you worried about holding and masuaku starts?
      Looks good otherwise

      1. n-doggg
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        It’s not ideal but on a serious budget!

    2. bautasten
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Looking template and good. Have a similiar setup.

    3. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Pool triple up?

  11. waltzingmatildas
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Best def on wc to go with these?
    Mendy
    TAA alonso shaw veltman

    A) coufal
    B) holding
    C) konsa
    D) lowton
    E) rudiger

    1. bautasten
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      C could be good. nice fixture in 33 if you need him and will cover all the Martinez owners. A certain double somewhere down the line as well

  12. Pompel
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Looking at selling one of Dias or Stones for Rüdi or Phillips, but finding it difficult to decide which one.

    - Dias : arguably have been the most nailed, but think he's the more likely one to be rested this GW (seems to be consensus on City fa n forum), and I surely he'll be miss a couple games after GW33 also - though maybe fewer than Stones? And City chance of clean sheet ofc higher with him playing

    - Stones: more likely to start this weekend imho, also superior goal threat and cheaper. But might miss more games for remaining GW's

    So, do I loose:
    A) Stones
    B) Dias

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      See below. I was so sure to keep Dias but City forums worries me. There is consensus that he'll get a rest finally

      1. Pompel
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Yea, I've scouted City forums as well, and though they're guessing as well ofc, I'd expect them to know a bit better than myself at least. If Stones starts this GW, and they both play say half of remaining GWs, then I'd lean towards keeping Stones a couple of more GWs

    2. n-doggg
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      If on WC then probably both

      1. Pompel
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        No WC , unfortunately

  13. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    City fans think Dias will be benched 100%.

    Him or Digne out for a hit for TAA?

    1. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Only one man picks the team

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      All speculation for now

  14. Mighty Wings
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Start Emi or Forster?

  15. Tomas_brolin
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Please, your thoughts

    A. Ings and Phillips. Might C ings
    B. nacho and TAa. Bit worried about nacho.

    1. Bench Holding
    2. Bench Phillips
    3. Bench Coady

    Currently on A1

    1. Redranger
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      You not worried about Ings not getting a game in 33?

  16. ‘Tis the Season
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Does Amartey start next gameweek ❓

  17. Warby84
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Pope
    Azpilicueta Alonso Veltman Dias
    Gundogan Raphinha Salah(c) Fernandes Son
    Kane

    Martinez Shaw Antonio Davis

    Gtg?

  18. Whazza
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Rested Auba vs SHU is where to C punt should be 😎

  19. jonnybhoy
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Wildcard thoughts? Any chances you would make 0ITB. Cheers guys

    Mendy Forster
    Philps Rudiger Coufal Holding Stones
    Salah Bruno Son Lingard Jota
    Kane Lacazette Nacho

  20. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Does a triple up of Salah, Jota and TAA really make sense? Has Liverpool suddenly improved so much?

    1. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Don’t think so, just shows the pull of one good result.

      1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Exactly I am surprised. I have Salah. Think I will double up. But cannot decide between TAA and Jota.

    2. Pompey5
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I'm not so sure.
      Having Salah takes too much budget. Getting Jota and TAA and will stick with KDB for now

      1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        I have Salah. Cant decide who to get between Jota and TAA.

  21. Whazza
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Rested Auba vs Sheffield is where the C punt should be 😎

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

      Is there an echo in here

    2. ‘Tis the Season
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Don’t you mean Auba is a
      ‘Punt with a C’

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

        😀

  22. Bobby Digital
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Aguero or Vardy?

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

      Vardy. Aguero for this gw if you fancy a punt

    2. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      aguero then vardy

  23. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    To WC or not to WC!! CANT DECIDE! Ahhhhhhh!

    Martinez
    Dias. Alonso. Digne. Coufal
    Bruno. Son. Lingard. Jota
    Kane. DCL
    (McCarthy. Raph. Bamford. Dallas)

  24. Whazza
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Holding puts Saka through 1 on 1 with the keeper but misses

  25. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Which option?

    A) Raphinha Tierney: arrow: Jota(c) Philips-4

    B) KDB Antonio ➡ Salah(c) Nacho -4

  26. Shark Team
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Why people are that confident buying Iheanacho?
    2 blanks and he won't be a starter anymore imo

    1. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Maddison lurking aye

  27. Jinswick
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Best move here? Thinking it makes sense to delay the WC, probably to 31...

    A) Bale -> Jota/Mahrez
    B) Auba & Bale -> Salah & Jota/Mahrez (-4)
    C) Shaw & Bale -> TAA & Jota (-4)
    D) Wildcard

    Pope
    Cancelo, Coufal, Shaw
    Auba, Son, Gundo, Bale, Raphina
    Kane, Watkins

    Martinez, Bamford, Dallas, Targett
    Bank 0.0m, 1FT, WC & FH left

    1. jonnybhoy
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      D

  28. Tambling5
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Team is
    Forster, Martinez
    Shaw, Cresswell, Cancelo, Stones, Lowton
    Bruno, Son, Lingard, Mount, Raphina,
    Kane, DCL, Bamford.
    With 1FT and 3.1 in bank, anyone got any bright ideas , perhaps to get some Liverpool in?

  29. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Thoughts on this 16 pt hit ?

    Digne and Dias out for Regulion and TAA

    Gundo out for Salah

    DCL out for Vydra

    TAA Salah and Vydra will start, Regulion would be bench cover.

    Exactly 0 itb.

    I live when that happens it's kind of a sign

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      *love

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        The team would be

        Martinez
        Cancelo TAA Rudiger
        Son Jota Salah Mount Bruno
        Kane Vydra

        Bench: Shaw Regulion Davis