Fantasy Football Captain Picks Gameweek 5 2017/18
Welcome to Fantasy Football Captain Picks Gameweek 5. This is only my second Captain Picks article but in my last article 4 out of my 7 picks either scored, assisted or both; so hopefully I can continue this trend with my picks below.
Last weekend we saw some new players settling into their teams and their new surroundings in the first gameweek after the International Break and the closing of the transfer window. The likes of Renato Sanches, Zappacosta and Krychowiak all featured for the first time in the Premier League. Hopefully with all the business now done and the new players settling into their teams it will allow us, as fantasy managers, to see the real picture and begin to get a feel of how the landscape lies. Case in point GroS and the rest of the Brighton team, not a single goal scored in 3 games and as soon as I decide to bench him, Brighton score 3 with the German involved in all (but I’m not bitter I swear!!).
Let’s move onto the players who will hopefully bag some massive numbers for us this weekend. Here are my 5 picks, in reverse order, for that invaluable Captain armband this week –
5. Mohamed Salah vs Burnley
Last week Rosco tipped Firmino as one of his choices as Liverpool would be “full of confidence” after the 4-0 demolition of Arsenal…. I blame him for the loss against City, he put a curse on them! After the 5-0 loss to City, Liverpool showed just why they desired VVD so much, not just because he plays for Southampton but also because Klavan and Matip are as useful as a knitted condom. Defence is not Liverpool’s strong suit but attack is and a key part of that is Mo Salah. While writing this I do not know the outcome of Liverpool’s fixture against Sevilla and Salah was replaced at half time against City with Sevilla in mind. Whether this means he is benched against Burnley and brought on for a cameo I don’t know but with Mane out Liverpool need all the speed they can get so I would play him.
Salah could be the focal point with Mane out and was looking very lively against City before the red card and his subsequent substitution. In the 45 minutes he did manage, he really should have added to the 2 goals and 2 assists he already has this season but did not have the finishing touch or final bit of composure. One upside to a sad injury to Heaton (may he get well soon) is that 25-year-old Nick Pope is going to be in goal and Liverpool could capitalise on this by scoring like they did against Arsenal and if so then I expect Salah to be amongst the points this weekend.
4. Chris Wood vs Liverpool
This may be a weird one as I am placing him ahead of Salah but the Burnley new boy could really hurt Liverpool. As we all know Liverpool aren’t exactly the masters of defending, especially set pieces!! This is where I can see Brady and Wood succeeding the most. Wood has scored 79 goals in his career and a lot of them are headers and the tall physical Kiwi could really trouble the Liverpool defence at set pieces and even just when holding them off and turning towards goal. Wood has scored in the two games he has played in so far since signing for Burnley and could extend that run here against a poor defence. He could be a nice differential for those who have him.
3. Lukaku vs Everton
I debated putting Lukaku higher in this list but never once did I debate not including him. Lukaku has been on fire this season so far, as have United. They did stumble against Stoke but the Big Belgian still got on the score sheet as he has done in 3 out of the 4 games this season. Lukaku is welcoming his former employers Everton in this one and could be out to show how much they will miss him. With both teams having a former player returning, Lukaku will want to outshine the man who can’t keep it in his trousers, so I wouldn’t be too quick in taking the armband off the boy.
Lukaku is quickly becoming a perma captain this season and that is mainly due to the fact he is averaging a goal a game so a lot of people are leaving the armband on him and just letting the lad do his thing. If he keeps getting 6 points doubled in every game why not but sometimes people like a bit of change so here are some more choices.
2. KDB/Aguero vs Watford
This one is risky as Pep could screw us over with rotation but I feel KDB and Aguero are safe enough. KDB could be the most controversial pick today as he has done nothing apart from the Liverpool game but I think that performance could be the boost he needed to kick on. As we know KDB is a brilliant player and usually pulls the strings for the Sky Blues which is exactly what happened on Saturday at the Etihad. KDB showed all his doubters that he can turn up when he wants to. With Watford keeping 3 consecutive clean sheets people might shy away from capping a City player but those clean sheets came against Bournemouth, Brighton and Southampton who aren’t the greatest sides and shouldn’t really make City that worried.
The other key man for City is Sergio Aguero, the little Argentinian has always been a brilliant captain choice for FPL managers and with Jesus up top partnering him I can only see more goals being added to his tally. Aguero has 2 goals and an assist this season and with fixtures turning in his favour a bit he could once again become a great captain choice for this game and beyond.
1. Harry Kane vs Swansea
No need to check your calendars because Harry Kane has scored which means it’s no longer August!! Since September 1st HuriKane Harry has come storming in with 4 goals, a brace for both club and country and against a Swansea side that did not look very good against Newcastle, Spurs and Kane should have too much for them. He may have dropped in price due to a lot of impatient people but if he continues this form Kane’s price will rise again and all those who stuck with him through August can laugh at all those scrambling to bring in the Londoner. Eriksen, Alli and Davies have been getting all the points for Spurs so far but with Kane having turned the page of his calendar it shouldn’t be long before his name is top of the Spurs points sheet. He will most definitely be my captain choice this weekend and I hope he can reward me and all of us!
Thanks for reading Fantasy Football Captain Picks Gameweek 5
This article was written by Matt.
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Gameweek Tracker GW5-11
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Capos is live and many thanks to Matt for a great effort at attempting to give us some options other than Kane, at least for those who don’t own him, but ultimately….
Then again, we went here last season a good few times didn’t we… easy game at home etc. Blanked. I’d still be fearful if I didn’t have him though.
I think he’s in a run now but that could change tomorrow if he has a shite game but let’s hope not!
Cheers Matt, all good options.
Think i’m going with Eriksen myself, has 6 in 6 against Swansea and scored 19 in the same fixture last year.
Dont own Kane so makes the Spurs choice a bit easier.
Yeah if I had Eriksen it would have made the decision harder for me but either are good choices I just hope they get a win tomorrow night to end this Wembley hoodoo before Saturday!!
Cheers for this Matt, great article and some excellent choices!
Seems I cursed Liverpool and my own team in one fell swoop last GW! Let’s hope you’re a little more fortunate in your picks than I was!
We’ll keep you off Capos for a while so 😉
Excellent stuff there Matt, many thanks. Kane for me…..but only cos I don’t own Wood 😉
Same reason for me!! 😉
Question for any United fans knocking about but with Pogba out presumably for a few weeks, who comes in to replace him? Rashford? Martial? Don’t know if it’s worth swapping to Miki he looked dreadful tonight and really should have scored a few goals.
Fellaini or Herrera will likely start in place of Pogba Matt.
It’s a centre mid spot so either Herrera or Fellaini. Would be typical Jose psyche to start Fellaini against Everton at the weekend. Makes sense all round actually, he’s bigged him up this week already, had to use him tonight, he scored and assisted, former club etc etc.
Rashford, Martial et al don’t come in to that reckoning as they’ll all still jostle for one of the spots in the 3 behind Lukaku.
But isn’t Pogba playing a more advanced CM role this year since Matic has come in to sit back? Haven’t watched any of their games so don’t actually know how advanced Pogba is getting.
Yes and no.
Here’s tonight’s formation which may illustrate it better. Yes, Pogba gets forward but ‘no’ in essence that it’s his spot on this that needs filling.
Yeah that’s the formation I was looking at as well just thought they put it that way for ease and Pogba wandered forward. Well Herrera or Fellani don’t appeal so it’s looking like a swap to Miki or take a punt on Mahrez and just go with Luk for cover.
Wassup.
I’m in a bit of a pickle. WC squad from last week was looking good to hold a transfer until Atsu didn’t start, Mane got sent off, Pogba broke a hammy and it turned out I picked the wrong budget Toon defender.
So… what to do? Guessing at least 2 transfers needed. I might hope Atsu gets his place back and just swap out Pogba and Mane.
Salah and Miki in for a -4 or any other ideas?
Current team is….
What about Silva and Miki? Gives you city over?
Interesting Matthew. Interesting.
I’ll check the bank and see if I can swing it.
Nice article by the way mate. I mean, the intro was completely lacking in waffle, but other than that, good stuff.
You should be able to I think!
I thought I’d leave the waffle to you, the maestro!