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

    Masuaku getting a lot of love, do we think he is nailed now?

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

      Wingback in 352, could be lw in 433. Great option as a 4th or 5th defender. Even though he’s prone to rotation.

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

        Dawson not worth 0.2 more for security and goal threat?

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

          I do think masuakus XI will be higher than Daewoo, but you’re probably right. Could even go diop for cheaper.

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

            *Dawson

  2. Sid07
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Will you wc this lot, have 2 fts this week

    Martinez meslier
    Azpi dias cancello Dallas coufal
    Salah gundo lingard fernandz son
    Bamford kane Brewster

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

      hate to WC with two free transfers. I'd swap one out of your defense and Bamford and keep the WC.

  3. jdp219
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    rp because I foolishly posted to an article...
    Current WC draft and *potential* plans. Thoughts appreciated.

    Mendy, Forster
    TAA, Rudiger, Coufal, Holding, Struijk
    Bruno, Lingard, Salah, Son, Jota
    Kane, Vydra, Iheanacho

    gw32: Save
    gw33: Son, Struijk > Maddison, form defender(?)
    gw35: Mendy > Meslier or Fabs
    Play BB in gw36 or 37

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

    What are your thoughts on Welbeck as a third striker on WC? Plays shu GW33 and other weeks you can just bench him and play 3-5-2.

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

      Very much in my thoughts as a punt. The more I look at it the more I convince myself otherwise but need to have something a bit different or it’s boring.

  5. royals forever
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Best use of -4 for this team

    Aina > Coady
    Watkins > Ihenacho

    Rest of Team

    Martinez Johnstone

    Dias Mee Stones Dallas

    Jota Sterling Fernandes Lingard Odegaard

    Kane DCL

    No FH or WC

    Any ideas would be welcomed

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

    Which 3 to dump here? 6.5 itb

    Martinez/Johnstone
    Digne/Cancelo/Targett/Dallas/Velt
    Bruno/Mahrez/Lingard/Raph/Gundo
    Kane/Antonio/Bamford

  7. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Evening all!!! Bit of advice here warmly welcomed!!! Have no chips left and pondering something a bit radical but could set me up nice for the rest of the season!!.... it’s would be this....
    Areola Martinez
    Cresswell Digne Azpilicueta Dallas Dunk
    Bruno Son Lingard Grealish Raphinha
    Kane Antonio Bamford
    To this and will be -12 but leaves me the money to do Dallas/Dunk to Shaw next week and set up for the season nicely.....
    Areola Martinez
    Phillips Digne Azpilicueta Dallas Dunk
    Salah Bruno Som Jota Lingard
    Kane Ihanacho Bamford
    What do we think??? Advice really appreciated!!! Thankyou!!

    1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Ooops extremely sorry for the dreadful formatting there!!!

    2. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      What is it now?

      1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Evening all!!! Bit of advice here warmly welcomed!!! Have no chips left and pondering something a bit radical but could set me up nice for the rest of the season!!.... it’s would be this....

        Areola Martinez
        Cresswell Digne Azpilicueta Dallas Dunk
        Bruno Son Lingard Grealish Raphinha
        Kane Antonio Bamford

        To this and will be -12 but leaves me the money to do Dallas/Dunk to Shaw next week and set up for the season nicely.....

        Areola Martinez
        Phillips Digne Azpilicueta Dallas Dunk
        Salah Bruno Som Jota Lingard
        Kane Ihanacho Bamford

        What do we think??? Advice really appreciated!!! Thankyou!!

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

          Not sure I follow, would you say that again..

          1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            Haha sorry mate I’ve just read it and it’s dreadful, im basically pondering......
            Antonio, Cresswell, Grealish and Raphinha to Nacho, Jota, Salah and Phillips this week for -12 and that leaves me the money to do Dunk or Dallas to Shaw next week and I’m set up for the rest of the season nicely as I have no chips left

            1. Eat my goal!
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 5 Years
              2 years, 11 months ago

              Just do Antonio and grealish to jota & nacho

              1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 6 Years
                2 years, 11 months ago

                Cheers mate!! Already done Grealish to Jota, think I’ll do Antonio to Nacho now too!!

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

      Coufal for Dallas and upgrade nipples to mendy

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

      A minus 12 that leaves Digne in place 😉

      Not sure Mo is worth it tbh this side of 33 and just switching Grealish to your choice of mid and getting Iheanacho from Antonio is what I'd do.

      1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Haha yeah Digne would ordinarily go mate for sure I’m just thinking of the fact he has a double to come and West Ham are without Antonio, Rice and Ogbonna so would get rid of Cresswell instead, cheers for you advice mate I’ve already done Grealish to Jota, have money to do Antonio to anyone now basically or could just go for Nacho and bank the money for later

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

          Have Cresswell too

          Got him from Digne of course - think I have 3 points from the pair of them over 3 weeks 🙂 But 32 looks fine anyway and I wouldn't mid playing Dunk come to that this week and in 33.

          1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            Haha Digne is a nightmare to own mate isn’t he, so many 1’s, I only got Cresswell in two weeks ago so should keep really and hes on set pieces too, who would you play out of Dunk or Digne this week??

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

              Dunk I think but close call - Everton better away of course,

              We may have broken Cresswell between us - that's when I got him in. I was lured by the stat that he never went more than 3 games without either a cs or an attacking return. This must be the week 🙂

              1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 6 Years
                2 years, 11 months ago

                Haha yeah we must have mate!! I wish I’d got him when he was 5.1 as I went fro Coufal instead and then Dawson, 5.8 I paid for him now, too much realy, would you start both Dunk and Digne over him this week? And hope for a 0-0??

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

    Is AMARTEY nailed?

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

      Maybe for this week but not when Suyuncu is back (which is soon?)

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

        Ok thx

    2. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I don’t think so ... not for long anyway.

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

        Fair enough

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

    Rate this WC team out of 10. I still have my bench boost left. 0m in the bank

    Mendy Forster
    Fofana TAA Rudiger Coufal Holding
    Salah Jota Son Bruno Lingard
    Nach Kane Vydra

    1. RamboRN
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Solid 8.5 or 9 for me. Would prefer someone like dias at cb instead of coufal holding or fofana by downgrading other 2.

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

    Any Arsenal fans on here?

    Do you think Saka starts on Sunday as well?

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

      Yes but I imagine he will come off around the 70 min mark like he did today, sharpness isn't quite there.

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

    Is Fpl black box tonight?

  12. DannyDrinkVodka
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    A) Fofana Vydra
    B) Castagne Davis

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

      A

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

      A

  13. b91jh
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Thoughts on this WC team?

    Mendy Forster
    TAA Castagne Cresswell Rudiger Holding
    Auba Bruno Jota Lingard Maddison
    Kane Nacho Wood

    Cash itb for Auba to Salah on 32/33.

  14. michaelington
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Do Prague look like they could win this? Odds look decent but I’m not watching the game ...

    1. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Yes they do.......

  15. mr messi
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    If you had bb still,to play would you get Vydra in on a wc?

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

      I have bb and will get him. Depends on whether you'll play bb in gw 32 or 35.

      BTW we should have played in gw20 or so when was the big double because it of west ham assets who delivered

      1. mr messi
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Thinking of playing it in 32. Using my wc to set my squad up for that week.

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

          I don't like 32 for a bb

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

      I have played around with WC 31 and BB 32, but it gives me a benching headache for 31 and also not the best team for 31...

      Think I'll triplecap Kane in 32 and save BB for 35 in stead.

      Vydra not an option long term if Barnes is back soon.

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

    Come oooon Blackbox

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

      Hopefully they'll inspire me for my 16pt hit, Luke style

    2. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I’ve never tuned in for this ... when does it start?

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

        Started 5-10 mins ago

        1. Eh, just one more thing ...
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Ta much will try and catch after the Man U match.

  17. Danstoke82
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Hi all, which trio on a WC?

    A) TAA + Iheanacho + Castagne
    B) Phillips + Vardy + 4.6 defender

    Current WC team;
    Mendy
    Castagne TAA Dias
    Salah Son Bruno Gundo Jota
    Kane Iheanacho

    Subs: Forster, Rudiger, Vydra, Holding

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

    Agueerool

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

      You going for him? Im really.considering

  19. Atwood
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    2FT's and 0.7 spare.
    Any ideas chaps?

    Martinez
    Stones - Rudiger - Dallas
    Salah - Bruno - Raphinha - Son - Lingard
    Kane - Bamford

    Watkins - Shaw - Targett

  20. Hotdogs
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Bench one this week:

    A) Iheanacho (whm)
    B) Lingard (LEI)
    C) Vydra (NEW)

    1. mr messi
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Vydra

  21. Eh, just one more thing ...
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Shaw replaced at half time ... presuming tactical after his yellow ... anyone notice anything towards end of half suggesting anything more concerning? Suppose Oli will confirm after match.

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

      What ? Is he fine?

    2. Utopsis
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Hmm yeah I'm worried, will be hanging on Ole's every word

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

    A) Mendy & Fofana
    Or
    B) Leno & Alonso

    Have Rudiger & Holding fwiw.

    1. mr messi
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      A

  23. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Shaw off at half time. Injured or just rested for Sunday as I think he is out for second leg?

    1. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Yes, suspended for 2nd leg ....

      I posted the same question in case any eagle eyed watchers saw something I missed as I didn’t see anything suggesting injury .... hopefully just tactical given his yellow.

      1. DA Minnion (Former great)
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Giving telles a run out then before next week.

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

    Gabriel injured

    1. Utopsis
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Subbed off?

  25. Ohh1454
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    What’s the thoughts on jotas chances of starting ? Thinking of captaining him

    1. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I’m starting him ... won’t risk arm band though .... I honestly think 50/50

  26. FPLMarc
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Ok, so I can't WC a team with:

    TAA - Dias
    Salah - Jota - Son - Fernandes - Lingard
    Kane

    So which should be sacrificed? Trent?

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

      Dias?

    2. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Dias ... can you afford Stones instead with a playing defender on your bench to cover when he’s rotated by Pep?

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

        Think I'd be more likely to look elsewhere than bother with Stones.

        Trent to Phillips is a huge saving and it only loses an assist or maybe two.

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

    Aguero on a wildcard?

  28. Ohh1454
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Dias

    1. Ohh1454
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Reply fail

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

      What ?

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

    Is Shaw injured?

    1. For Fuchs Sake
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      maybe, we don't know. He was on a yellow, so maybe not taking risks with a red?

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

      Tactical I think to give Telles game time as Shaw now misses second leg after yellow card

      1. DA Minnion (Former great)
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        This

  30. Lazerball
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Sterling has played 4 minutes in last 3 gameweeks, and didn't play VS Porto during the week. What's going on here? I have a Sterling shaped hole in my WC team but it seems he is just not getting a look in right now. Also pep has favoured Kun and Jesus up front the last two league games.

    What am i missing here? Is Sterling too risky for WC team over Gundo?

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

      No it’s rotation and tactical team selection IMO
      I have Sterling capt then transferring out for Bruno next week