Captains Picks Fantasy Football Game-week 2

Captains Picks Fantasy Football Game-week 2 – Fantasy Premier League 2015/16

Lewis Hamilton’s first lap demise from pole to fourth in Hungary; Channel 5’s shoestring ‘Football League highlights’ debut; a calamitous $26.2m box-office opening for ‘Fantastic Four’… No-one is immune from a bad start. Not you, certainly not I (please don’t ask), and not even Arsenal.

A cursory look at last week’s Captain Poll reminds us how badly the mainstream choices let everyone down. Hazard, Walcott, Benteke, Aguero, Sterling, Costa, Memphis… the list goes on, and on. With 5 points, Rooney was a comparative saviour for many; while those willing to look past Sterling at Silva and Yaya were left purring smugly at the carnage below.

But like a Starbucks, redemption is always just around the corner. Lewis will surely come good again; Channel 5 will improve without Steve Claridge platitudinous drivel; and Fantastic Four already has a sequel in the pipeline, presumably entitled ‘Fantastic Five’. All of which neatly segues into my Fantastic Five for Gameweek 2.

5. TROY DEENEY – West Brom (H)
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[/three_fourth]Captaining a budget player used to be considered a perilous, yet thrilling gamble. But thanks to Harry Kane, Charlie Austin and their bargain basement chums, it became the norm last campaign. One of this year’s budget captain contenders has to be free-scoring, penalty-taking Watford skipper, Troy Deeney. Having regularly scored over 20 goals in the Championship, his bright play at Goodison Park showed a repeat in the top tier may be entirely possible. Though often dropping deep as a lone striker in a counter-attacking set-up, one assumes he will get more license, and support, at home to a West Brom outfit reeling from a 3-0 trouncing by Man City. Whether Tony Pulis will seek to prioritise his trademark clean sheet at a newly promoted club remains to be seen, but Vicarage Road will be hosting it’s first Premier League game since 2007. Watford, and Deeney, will want to put on a show.

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4. WAYNE ROONEY – Aston Villa (A)
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[/three_fourth]Those that shirk from early game-week captains will be even more turned off by Man Utd’s Friday night jaunt to Villa Park. Nevertheless, one only need wind back to last Saturday’s lunchtime clash with Spurs to see that Rooney has little thought for such superstitions. In a week where FPL points were scarce, his assist turned out to be a notable one. Opponents Aston Villa, under Tim Sherwood, are likely to be one of the most unpredictable teams in 2015/16, and showed uncharacteristic solidity in a single goal victory at Bournemouth. If the boisterous Villa Park faithful stir up Sherwood’s more ‘attacking’ instincts, the game could well become open, and would surely fall right into the lap of Wayne Rooney and Co. Until Van Gaal brings in a striker to challenge the England captain, there seems little danger in losing Rooney to rotation; and in a Man Utd side so rich in creative talent that means captaincy gold.

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3. HARRY KANE – Stoke (H)
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[/three_fourth]One can forgive Harry for not finding the net at Old Trafford, and before that against Real Madrid. They were not true litmus tests of his ability to continue last season’s Roy of the Rovers heroics. However expectations will be at a premium for the visit of Barcelona B / Stoke. A stupendous pre-season blockbuster against the MLS Allstars suggested that everything will be just as it was, and Kane will continue to be a reliable captain choice. The Stoke of a few years ago would have strikers dreading a bruising encounter, but while Mark Hughes’ team are undeniably evolving, they have become a less fearful proposition, especially without the injured Ryan Shawcross in defence. The Spurs number 10 is one of the best in the air, and perfectly equipped to take advantage of City’s weakened central defence.

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2. SERGIO AGUERO – Chelsea (H)
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[/three_fourth]30 minutes to go, Man City were 3-0 up and attacking at will. Then Pellegrini brought Aguero on. Cast your minds back. Do you remember that feeling? That feeling of dread; not having the Argentine in your squad; hiding behind the sofa for fear of hearing that all too familiar commentary of “Agueroooooo….?!” Well, luckily for those who risked a week without him, he didn’t compound an already painful FPL week. And for those with him, he did. It’s looking increasingly likely that he’ll be ready to start at home to Jose’s boys this Sunday, and more fool those who are running the gauntlet a second time. Those with Aguero already in their ranks will probably not be dissuaded from captaining him, despite the strong opposition, and neither should they. Lest we forget, he scored a phenomenal 26 goals in 33 league appearances last season.

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1. CHRISTIAN BENTEKE – Bournemouth (H)
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[/three_fourth]Let’s be honest, Brendan Rodgers £32.5m salvation didn’t quite deliver on his debut at Stoke. That being said, a home debut to a team fresh from the Championship and one renowned for their attacking verve, could prove to be a perfect environment for Christian Benteke to announce his arrival. Cherries boss Eddie Howe will be looking for a big improvement on their defeat to Benteke’s old club last weekend. Coutinho starting the season on fire can only be good news for the former Villa front man. With Henderson inheriting Gerrard’s lung-bursting box to box role; Firmino impressing with a hat-trick in a friendly this week; and marauding full-back Clyne feeding crosses in from the right, the Belgian will not be short of ammunition at Anfield in the game-week’s finale. Those giving Benteke the armband will be hoping for a repeat of his supreme volley against Swindon earlier this month.

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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 2. This article was written by Bryan Munich

Follow @Bry_cooper

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