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. J to the T
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Yet another wildcard draft. What do we think? Warning. Contains Aguero!!!

    Martinez Forster
    Rudiger Saiss Phillips Shaw Regulion
    Salah Bruno Jota Lingard Raphina
    Kane Iheanacho Aguero

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

      Wow ithat's not bad actually

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

        I prefer Jesus to Aguero

        1. J to the T
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Hmm. Not for me but I grant you it is a gamble

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

      Prefer Mendy or Ederson

      1. J to the T
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Yeah I can save 0.1 and have Mendy and double Chelsea defence. But Martinez is a saves point monster

    3. Deadeye367
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I like it, quite similar to mine but I have Sterling rather than Aguero.

    4. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Really like the look of that!
      Would look even better with
      Son + TAA over Bruno + Shaw

      1. J to the T
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        I’d love Trent but budget and 3 Liverpool means can’t get him in.

        Bruno is going nowhere. Season keeper

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

    Lovely control and goal from Rashford

    1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      His first touch whilst simultaneously sprinting full pelt, switching between looking over his shoulder, holding off defender and looking at goalkeeper was absolutely god-tier

      If Haaland or Mbappe did that we’d never stop seeing the highlight & would never hear the end of it

      He’s been brutal all game up to that point mind you, but hey-ho

    2. dansully3
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Nobody cares

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

        Who pissed in your cereal?

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

      No one watches Thursday night football bud 😀

      1. dansully3
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Exactly

  3. Tmel
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Biggest priority to transfer in this week?

    a) Jota (AVL)
    b) Salah (AVL) - means losing Bruno
    c) TAA (AVL)
    d) Nacho (whu)

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

      A

    2. Deadeye367
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I think A and C for a -4 will pay off big for the rest of the season.

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

      Don’t lose Bruno you’ll be punished. Maybe C?

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

      B

  4. Henning
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    On Wildcard and have no idea what to do.
    Could this work?
    0.5 m in bank

    Martinez Forster
    Coufal Dias Phillips Rudiger Veltman
    Salah KDB Jota Fernandes Madison
    Kane Iheanacho Vydra

  5. 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

    That means 16 pts hit

    Gundo --> Salah
    DCL --> Vydra
    Dias --> TAA
    Digne --> Regulion

    Thoughts? Have to do it tonight since don't have money in the bank

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

      It's mad, but do you think it will pay off long-term? You have to decide that yourself I think

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

        I am fed up of being static. If City boys are rotated as expected I won't get 11

        I have to make hits for the blank anyway

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

          Anyone else? Mini crazy WC with hits ? Top 50K atm so make it or break it kind off

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

            16 point hit probably knocks you back to just inside or maybe even outside the 100k even before the GW starts. I wouldn't. You are selling 4 players with good or ok fixtures. I can easily see it backfire

    2. Disco Volante
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      16 point hit is insane, I get why you’re moving out the city players (but they both might start - it’s Pep) but Reguilon won’t start both DGW games with the final imminent and DCL could haul and decimate this entire plan.

  6. Scots Gooner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Arteta's Arsenal are an awful team to watch

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

      He'll probably play Messi as a defensive mid and Suarez as a full back. He is clueless from strategy pov imo

      1. Scots Gooner
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Clueless. Negative. Cowardly.

        As soon as fans are back, the pressure is going to mount.

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

          He plays for Chelsea.

          1. Scots Gooner
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            I'm logging off now...

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

              Are you looking forward to the possibility of Arteta's Arsenal v Emery's Villarreal?

    2. Kindness
        2 years, 11 months ago

        How's Saka?

        1. Scots Gooner
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Not terrible.

          Put a few decent balls onto the box for every player in red and white to avoid.

    3. Deadeye367
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      WC team. Am at 18k OR, looking to push for my first top 10k finish.

      Leno/Forster
      Reguilon/Saiss/Rudiger/Dawson/Holding
      Salah/Fernandes/Sterling/Maddison/Jota
      Kane/Ihenacho/Welbeck

      Plan is cap Sterling this week then ship him for Son in 32 and Reguilon to TAA in 33.

      Any comments welcome!

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

        Why welbeck?

        1. Deadeye367
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          8th attacker and I only need him for 33 when he play SHU.

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

            Have you got BB left?

            1. Deadeye367
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              2 years, 11 months ago

              No, wildcard is my last chip.

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

                Can you afford Watkins (for shitbeck) as his 33 is against west brom and Villa are a far better team

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

                  And grealish will be back

                2. Deadeye367
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 11 Years
                  2 years, 11 months ago

                  No, I only have 0.3m in the bank so would have to find 0.8m more from somewhere.

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

                    Then I would go Vydra and upgrade holding or Dawson

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

        Wow double arse defence!!!

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

          Lol it’s a family show mate ❗

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

      a stones to philipps
      b dias to fofana

      need cash 🙂

      thanks

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

        A

      2. Deadeye367
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        A

    5. Sloane426
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Jota or Trent?

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

      Hi.....which wildcard set up is best here please?

      Xxx forster
      Taa alonso shaw xxx coady

      A.....mendy  holding

      B.....Leno  rudiger

      Worry I may have too much rotation with holding option.

      But option B means I play arsenal keeper every week and probably only 1 Chelsea defender......thanks

    7. bazbestos
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Can I just be honest and say I have my wildcard, bench boost and free hit left but I really can’t be arsed to pick a team or look at strategy etc.

      Can someone just tell me what to do so I can copy it and save myself the hassle.

      Thanks

      1. Life_Ban
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Hit wildcard straight away, play bench boost next week (ensuring you have some spurs).

        Then FH the following week

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

          Or GW35 if it is a big double

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

        😆

        Just have a look around on here, there's a nice WC draft two pages back 😉

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

        WC now ❗
        BB next gameweek
        FH last game of the season

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

      Any Sterling cappers?

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

        o/

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

          Who’s your VC?

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

            Salah

      2. Big Al Stankovic
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Me aswell. Going with Taa as VC. Could easily be Salah.

    9. Jaok
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      On WC. Low team value. Gtg?

      Mendy
      Rudiger Trent Dias
      Salah Jota Maddison Fernandes j.ling
      Kane Nacho

      Forster Veltman Coufal davies

      1. Life_Ban
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        What's the reason you chose Rudiger?

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

          Isn't he safe?

      2. Big Al Stankovic
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        No son for dgw?
        Maybe get holding and masuaku as your 4th and 5th defender. Will save some cash for upgrade elsewhere.

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

      Chances of below players starting?

      Jota
      KDB
      Nacho
      Gundo
      Antonio

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

        50%
        10%
        90%
        25%
        0%

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

      YC's for Shaw and Mctominay means they won't play Europa next week. Good news for Shaw buyers.

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

        Excellent

    12. vincentwsho
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Who to captain?

      A) Gundo
      B) Salah
      C) Jota

      Tempted by Gundo and I think he will start, but seems that Salah's minutes are more secure.....

      1. Big Al Stankovic
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Salah

    13. Big Al Stankovic
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Down to my last spot in my wc defence. Help me pick one.

      A) Alonso
      B) Reece
      C) Coady
      D) Fofana
      E) Shaw

      Have Taa, Rudiger, Holding, Masuaku for the other spots, with Leno or Mendy as gk.

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

        A

    14. Fuddled FC
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      would you have

      a) Shaw
      b) Fofana

      1. Big Al Stankovic
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Fofana better fixtures, Shaw better player and could face some rotation.
        Probably Fofana for me, barely.

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

        Fofana. Can only see one CS for united in the next 4

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

      Blimey, if fplstatistics are to be believed , I'm in for a £0.5m TV loss tonight. Lot's of WC's being played though, so hopefully won't be that bad

    16. Alisson WondHaaland
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Saka looks sooo good. With the amazing fixtures Im pretty tempted to pick him over Lingard

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

        Love the guy, but wouldn't bet on him starting Sheffield as he just returned to full training

    17. Mweene
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Chances of Shaw rested v Burnley after playing the EL games?

      On WC and BB32 and only want nailed players.

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

        Shaw just got a YC which means he won't play next week's return EL game.

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

          Perfect thanks.

          Watching the arsenal game unfortunately.

      2. @persecuted_by_mods
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Didn't he just get banned for the second leg

      3. Lord Flashheart
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        A white + raphinia to philips and jota -4
        B raphinia+ watkins to jota + ihenacho -4
        C forget jota if -4 is onvolved

      4. UnitednationsXI
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Which defence on WC

        Mendy Forster
        TAA Rudi xxx xxx xxx

        A: Shaw Holding Masuaku
        B: Coady Veltman Coufal

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

        Have Salah. Who would you agg:

        a) TAA
        b) Jota

        1. pingissimus
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          TAA I guess

          Think immediately cs prospects look a bit better than multiple goal wins. Mindful that it's been a right old time since Liverpool put away a low-lying team and home form doesn't exist. You still get chance of additional attacking returns of course.

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

            Exactly what I was thinking I should do. Thanks. Planning this for a -4. Does it make sense?

            Stones + Lewis + KDB to TAA + Coady + Maddison this GW
            Gundo + Bamford to Son + Davis in 32 to give me this:

            Martinez Forster
            TAA Coady Rudiger Konsa Struijk
            Salah Bruno Son Maddison Raphinha
            Kane DCL Davis

            0.4 ITB.

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

        Best combo?

        1. Rudiger and Madison
        2. Azpilicueta and Lingard

        1. Big Al Stankovic
          • 11 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          1

      7. Tshelby
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Wildcard time?

        Martinez,
        Shaw, Dias, Coufal, Dallas, Veltman
        Son, Lingard, Jota, Fernandes, Gundogan
        Kane, Antonio, Bamford

        1ft - 4.7 itb

        Or Just Bamford to Vardy this week? Or get Salah or Trent?

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

        A. Start Coufal
        B. Dallas to TAA for -4, bench Coufal

        1. Big Al Stankovic
          • 11 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          B

      9. The Red Devil
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Not quite sure who all to start in my backline
        Martinez/Sanchez
        Phillips/Shaw/rudiger/stones/dunk
        Cheers

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

        Didn't nacho come off for middison? are people not worried about his game time?

      11. Zlatan F.C
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Whats happened to the Simply Fpl guy?