Captains Picks Fantasy Football Game-week 1 – Fantasy Premier League 2015/16
Welcome to the first captains article of the season!
The Premier League has finally returned, and while many of you have probably come pretty close to a settled squad by now, you also need to select a captain to help you start off your season with a good score. Well, that’s what we are here for. Whether that’s double points or treble will depend on whether you take advantage of the new ‘Triple Captain’ chip but more on that later. So without further ado, let’s get right to it and look at the best captaincy options for Game-week 1.
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[/one_half]Eden Hazard
Chelsea may have lost to Arsenal in the Community Shield, but expect Mourinho and his players to shrug off that result and start the season strongly. Chelsea play Swansea at home in their opening fixture, a match that ended 4-2 last season, while Chelsea won 5-0 in the away match. In other words, Chelsea enjoy playing against the Swans, and while Hazard scored none of the goals against them last season, he has been impressive in pre-season and should continue that form into the opening matches of the Premier League. As Costa struggles with his fitness and has been poor in pre-season, the responsibility for the offense falls on Hazard, and he can easily flourish under such a responsibility. He will probably be the most popular captain choice this game-week, and rightly so.
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[/one_half]Wayne Rooney
United begin the season with a home match against Tottenham, who have played Real Madrid in Munchen this evening and then will play either Milan or Bayern on Wednesday – three days before the season opens and having taken a squad consisting mainly of their preferred starters who you’d imagine will at least feel some fatigue. Typically, United win this matchup, and while United have bought well and strengthened their squad, Tottenham have been a bit more anonymous in the transfer market. The additions of Schweinsteiger, and Schneiderlin should boost United’s midfield platform and allow the likes of Mata and Depay to concentrate on creating more opportunities for Rooney. While he had his weakest FPL season last season, he looks to start the season in his natural striking position and should flourish in his preferred role.
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[/one_half]Raheem Sterling
City have not been overly impressive in pre-season, conceding 4 goals to both Real Madrid and Stuttgart. They face West Bromwich at The Hawthorns in the first match of the season, and while City have a tendency to struggle against this kind of team, they are much stronger on paper and should be able to get a comfortable win if they play up to their attacking potential. If there has been one light in City’s pre-season, it has been Raheem Sterling, who has scored 3 goals and gotten 4 assists. Pellegrini will certainly look to his dribbling and pace to create havoc in WBA’s defence, and Sterling could be employed either as an attacking midfielder or up top. Expect him to be among the points this game-week.
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[/one_half]Theo Walcott
While no-one can say for sure what Walcott’s role is in the Arsenal team, it is difficult to not see him starting as long as Sanchez is not available for contention. As with Sterling, Walcott’s pace and dribbling will cause problems for West Ham’s defence, hence Wenger could play him up top rather than on the wing. He started as a striker against Chelsea in the Community Shield, and while he was subbed off without any goals or assists, that was against arguably the best defence in the Premier League – this is against a West Ham team that struggles to repel the minnows of the Europa League’s early stages. Hence, Walcott could easily get an explosive score if he gets enough playing time this round.
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[/one_half]Graziano Pelle
As the 4th highest scoring striker last season, 8.0 might seem like a bargain. However, many will remember that he started the season strong, but then became more and more invisible as the season went on. He still managed 12 goals and 6 assists, and has been impressive in pre-season. Southampton play away to Newcastle, a team that may or may not improve under a new manager. Even if they do improve Southampton should still be the better team, and if Pelle can carry his pre-season form into the Premier League, he could start the season with an impressive performance against Newcastle. Obviously, Pelle should be seen as more of a punt compared to the rest of the players.
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Triple Captain Chip
Just a quick word on the new feature this season. It pretty much does what it says on the tin and trebles your points for your captain on whichever game-week you choose to deploy it. We shall touch on this as and when we feel the opportunity presents itself to use it effectively but this in all likelihood is one to save for when we encounter double game-weeks later on in the season.
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Thanks for reading Captain’s Picks Fantasy Football Game-week 1. This article was written by Tekno-Kun
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Don’t forget to vote in this week’s Captain Poll
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Mings/Sinclair/Sakho or Azpi/Wanyama/Wilson
The former allows for Sinclair/Sakho rotation and Mings/Martin rotation whilst the latter obviously has Azpi but would mean Wilson plays weekly and, after GW1, he has some pretty tricky fixtures. Thoughts?
At, I like the sinclair sakho rotation and am looking at it myself. I’d also try hard to get azpi in.
Cheers Alex…Will post my team later but I think I will struggle..it’s either Arsenal or Chelsea and, at the moment, I feel Arsenal have better CS potential over the first couple, thoughts?
At I have Chelsea but it’s a coin toss.
Swansea, City and West Brom vs West Ham, Palace, Liverpool
I agree it is a bit of a coin toss. At the moment I have Bellerin so he may only feature for the first few before rotation kicks in anyway so may as well make the most of slightly better initial fixtures..
I’d prefer the Azpi one as It’s a surety of points but I like the rotation prospects you have with the other trio. It just depends on if you like a gamble mate
Usually talk myself out of a gamble haha but I think fixtures make it safer in a way. In a very obscure, unconventional way 😉
That is true the fixtures for Bournemouth would make Wilson unappealing after GW1.
Might nip in here for a quick RMT too.
Thanks in advance.
GP,
right….. is Matthews a defo starter? If so, the defence is strong, good coverage. Targett we’ve already covered elsewhere.
Midfield – Haz, Caz and Raheeeeem all speak for themselves. Payet I know you like. Will he rotate with Sinclair or will you play the Frog in all games? (NIN will have a seizure!!)
Can’t fault up front – one question – will you start Wilson each week?
Cookie, the medication is working mate, no more seizures 😉
Cookie,
I’m hopeful on Matthews. If I’ve called it wrong, I’ll switch to another Sunderland who is assured.
Intending to play Payet most weeks and Wilson/Sinclair on fixture. The flexibility here is Wilson – Deeney if necessary. I had West Ham and Bournemouth defensive rotation in Jenkinson and Francis but I run Palace and Sunderland through last night and they cover each other very well until GW12 (where I stopped checking)
Like the goalscoring and assisting records of both Dann and Koscielny and now Cedric seems to be falling in to that category too judging on his pre-season.
Fair enough GP – you’ve done your research and it’s properly thought out. As you’ve seen from my squad I quite like that rotational midfield and attack and think it’s the way to go this season.
At least until I hit the emergency wildcard button in GW2
I’d go Chadli/Clyne over Payet/Dann any day, other than those it looks good to me.
Thanks NiN
I know you would have a titbit for me to entice me out of Payet 😉
Hey, if I call this one wrong I’ll put my hands up. I can only go on what I see, what I’ve researched and what I’ve followed pre-season.
*pressure* :smiling:
*Pops some medication, gulp.
Looking good so 😉
GP, very solid team lad. Personally I’d go for a cheaper keeper as think they may benefit from the new bps (that said you have covered a lot of team bases here so well done). The forward line looks very flexible which is great. Wilson is a little risky but worth a go. Cookie has cover my other thoughts.
Alex
Thank you kind sir.
Team looks good mate. Cookie kind of asked all the questions the only additional one I have is McCarthy. Is he preferred over Hennessey?
Thanks Matt
My guess is yea but its not assured by any stretch. I’d play Courtois every week anyway but to have a playing 4.0M GK would be nice.
Ye I assumed Courtois would play every week it was just having the playing bench keeper would help you especially with the new total bench chip this season.
GP, can’t add anything to what the other lads have said- you’re virtually all set for me.
Pippin
Thank you. Still a few days to go so you never know
GP – I like the team but I reckon your bench his a bit weak imo. Also I’m not so sure on that CPL/SUN rotation, it doesn’t look that good to me, sorry mate. Payet could be a very good shout, he’ll be on most set pieces and he has a good shot so you can expect he’ll have a few goals and assists as well. Not sold on Wilson, it’s always a risk to have a forward from a newly promoted team but you might know him much better than me.
Albertini
thank you mate.
I’d maybe change my saying “very well” then when it comes to rotating Sunderland and Palace. But I’m happy with them over the first 12. Would be “forced” to use Sunderland at home to Spurs and away to Everton being as hard as it gets. And as I mentioned, I’m looking at Dann for attacking returns as well as defensive ones. Although I will take another look at that tonight to see if I can improve.
Would you suggest anyone else for Sinclair? I think Targett could be anyone playing at 4.0M (if one so comes about).
Thanks for the input.
No problem mate.
I’d prefer some 4.5 mid instead and would use those 0.5 to upgrade Targett or even Matthews (I’m not sure if he’s nailed), unless you are looking to wildcard early. Bertrand seems to be recovering faster than expected and Targett’s price will probably drop as soon as he’s left out of the starting XI.
GOOD NEWS ALL ROUND
Louis van Gaal says Wayne Rooney will be Manchester United’s main man up front this season. We check the stats to see whether they are right to back the England skipper…
Who else have they to trust mate? I think its the right call by LVG and for my team!! haha
Come on guys who’s up for it (pardon the pun)
Roll up Roll up join the FF247 Doubles League grab yourself a partner (preferably as photo below) just a bit of fun & more risks let yourself go on Cap picks Get your codes from Init or Elle cheers all
Last one was classy, this is just sleezy mate. :p
Unless she’s your girlfriend, than it’s class. 😉
It’s funny how every season Eden Hazard seems to be the most popular choice. Last season he was as well, I think he failed that day? And not sure if I recall this correctly but I think he even had a DGW?
Lack of capital letters in this comment are forcing me to believe that the poster is not Raz.
That’s right, I’m not.
Well B, show us your team. Let us see if there are any weak points.
You will see my badass team while watching ManUtd vs Spurs.
Aaah, very unconvincing. 😉
To be fair, he is quality.
Not a bad bet…
He is. I’m considering capping him. I remember him failing in a DGW, just getting use 10 points as captain in 2 matches. 😉
Afternoon gents.
A little help please?
Second draft if my team below. £0.5 in the bank making for an easy trade of roon to kun when I’m ready to (dropping an arsenal defender for example)
Whatcha think?!
This team is a very tough one to judge. Very unconventional, but might work.
Convention is for people who want a good reliable start.
Ahhh. Hold on.
I mean, convention is for wimps.
So, “you can do it!” ?
Or…
How about this change?
Caz / graham out.
Pelle / Morrison in.
Morrison as a 4th mid and two 4.0 defenders? Not my cup of tea mate, sorry. I’d downgrade one defender or one forward and upgrade Morrison to at least someone like Mahrez or Ritchie.