Captains Picks Fantasy Football Gameweek 26 – Fantasy Premier League 2014/15
A ten day break from league action is just what the doctor ordered for fantasy owners. The wildcard has been played, the transfer window has closed and a break in the action will have allowed us all to take a long, hard look at the team we have going forward.
A rash of injuries to significant fantasy players has proved frustrating and a bench featuring good reserves players has paid off for those who make sure their reserves start for their respective EPL teams. The good news is that Sanchez and Aguero look set to play this weekend, which should solve many selection headaches around the world.
In the interest of full disclosure, I write the article this week coming off disastrous captain choices for my team in the past two gameweeks. GW24 saw me captain Kun Aguero who, with double the points, earned me 10 points. Nathanial Clyne (8pts), Eden Hazard (10) or Harry Kane (12) would have been better choices on my team. And then there was GK25, which featured a team led by captain Alexis Sanchez who brought in a meager four points. Aguero, Kane and Ozil each scored 11 for me and Sturridge scored eight. Check in with me on Friday to see who I’m going to captain and then stay away from that poor bloke.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at our options…
FIXTURES
Aston Villa v. Stoke
Chelsea v. QPR
Crystal Palace v. Arsenal
Hull v. QPR
Sunderland v. West Brom
Swansea v. Manchester United
Manchester City v. Newcastle
Spurs v. West Ham
Everton v. Leicester
Southampton v. Liverpool
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5. Angel di Maria (away vs Swansea)
Manchester United has been a mess this season: injuries devastated the team at the start of the season, they have abandoned a formation no one understood for one that some partially understand, and the manager has struggled to plug players into the right positions. They have three world-class forwards who have played a number of different positions, making it difficult for fantasy owners to employ a United forward. Enter di Maria. When healthy the Argentine has produced: in the 12 games he has played at least 75 minutes, he has scored three goals and dished out eight assists.
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4. tie: Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez (away vs Crystal Palace)
To be honest, Santi Cazorla could make this list too. It’s easy to be bullish on the Arsenal midfield: the position has accounted for 63% of Arsenal’s goals and 62% of its assists. With Mesut Ozil healthy once again, and looking bigger and better than ever, there is good reason to believe a midfield three of Cazorla—Ozil—Sanchez will continue to produce. In his last three league games Ozil has produced 2 goals and 3 assists, and the quality of his service makes him a constant threat for an assist. What can you say about Alexis that hasn’t already been said? His relentless work-rate and tireless thirst for the ball means he is always in the right place at the right time.
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[/three_fourth]3. Diego Costa (home vs Burnley)
It’s always risky picking a player fresh off a lengthy suspension as captain but there’s every reason to think the Stamford Bridge Stomper will pick up where he left off. Despite spending the last three weeks suspended this goal scoring gladiator still leads the league in goals scored. For the season, the Brazilian Bruiser averages a goal scored every 93 minutes played and at home he is even better, scoring a goal every 74 minutes. The Champion of Chelsea scored a goal earlier this season at Burnley and converts on more than 25% of shots he attempts.
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[/three_fourth]2. Sergio Aguero (home, Newcastle)
News that Sergio Aguero is carrying a knock should surprise no one. The good news for Aguero owners is the injury appears to involve his back, not his oft-injured knees or hamstrings. The City forward averages an eye-popping point every 11 minutes he is on the pitch. Yaya Toure and Wilfried Bony have returned from ACON and this added firepower should make it easier for Aguero to continue terrorizing the opponent’s defenders. He played just eight minutes against Newcastle in week one and still managed a goal; at that rate he should score 11 goals if he plays the full 90 this weekend.
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[/three_fourth]1. Harry Kane (home vs West Ham)
The North London Nose has picked double-digit points in five of his last eight games and each of his last three. The Tottenham Trunk has been on a tear: five goals in his last three games and 11 in his last 10. His current form makes the Whiffer of White Hart Lane an almost automatic pick. Like Aguero, his beak bagged a goal in just eight minutes of action against West Ham in week one. Say what you will about size of his schnoz, his goal-scoring record this season is nothing to sneeze at.
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Honourable Mention:
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Olivier Giroud (away vs Crystal Palace)
Arsenal’s first-choice striker is healthy again and looks ready to lead an end-of-the-season charge towards Champions League qualification. He has two goals and two assists in his last four league games and bagged a brace against Middlesbrough in the FA Cup. What sets Giroud apart from other strikers is his ability and desire to bring teammates into play. He dished out nine assists last season and does not get credit for his ability to set up his teammates.
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One-Week Punt:
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[/three_fourth]Romelu Lukaku (home vs Leicester)
That Lukaku makes this list as a one-week punt tells you what a disaster his season has been. Everton’s record-signing has rewarded Roberto Martinez’s faith in him by spending the last week chirping about how he belongs at a bigger club. Being on track for his worst scoring season since becoming a full-time starter in the league might suggest otherwise but, if the Belgian is ever to put his money where his mouth is, it’s this week: put in a good game against a poor Leicester side or best to keep your mouth shut.
Thanks for reading Captain’s Picks Fantasy Football Gameweek 26. This article was written by Lawdogg
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Don’t forget to vote on our Captains Poll
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Huge thanks to Lawdogg for this week’s Capo article….great stuff and much appreciated mate !!
So who are you all giving the armband to? I’m struggling to look beyond Kun.
Cheers Cookie, appreciate it. Hard for me to look past Aguero this week.
Tnx Law. Keep an eye on Di Maria since he appaers to be injured. But he def. looks to have found form again in a weak ass United team.
1-1 PSG-Chelsea by the way. So done with Chelsea’s style. Usually I support English teams in the EPL but they can just bugger off. Parking the bus like that. :rant:
If they do go out I do wish Haz/Fabs/Iva get some more points before it happens. 😉
Xabi Alonso red card (2 yellow) in the Bayern game. >.<
Seriously though. All the points I currently have are coming from defenders. 8 from Iva, 6 from Bernat. With Xabi out I hope they can keep the CS.
Fabs/Haz/Gotze all on 2 or 3 points. Crazy. >.<
2FT 0.3m
Ideas please?
Thanks
Don’t know anymore. Wow Chelsea sucked tonight. Typical European display. Means they could walk over Burnley with 5-0. And with my luck Azp ain’t playing. :rant:
Hey Rip, doesn’t seem like you have much to do there, but 2 names who stand out are ADM & Wisdom. Wait until Friday for some definite news from LVG on Di Maria. If he’s ok, I would deal with Wisdom and probably look to Naughton, Vlaar, Hutton.
Thanks cookie – sound advise as always
Rip
I like the Wisdom out move this week.
Think Villa may well be worth investing in now. Glad I held Hutton. Wisdom to Hutton and bank one FT for me.
Thanks – like the plan of keeping one in the bank
Well done LawD
Great captain roundup mate.
Kun for me. (Maybe even Sturridge, Cookie 😉 )
Don’t you dare!!! Have you bought him?
Cookie
Might have!
Not yet. Haven’t been logged in since last midweek. Work has been busy and lots of personal stuff to attend.
Definitely thinking about him though.
How’s you?
I’m ok thanks mate, been enjoying the cricket, so haven’t logged in either. I think this may help me!
Cookie
Hope the same. Fresh eyes and all that.
Some Liverpool investment seems sensible sooner rather than later.
I think Pog has to go for me this week GP. That worked well!!
Appreciate it GP – thanks mate
May thanks Lawdogg. Liking the format, the 5, the outsider and the one-off. Said Kun all week and I doubt I’ll change that.
Was thinking of taking a punt on Costa but after tonight display I doubt I want to touch Chelsea. They truly sucked. One shot on target all night, on a more positive note that shot was a goal. But still. >.<
Raz
Knock out football away from home in Europe and league matches like at home to Burnley are two completely different beasts.
Thanks init – appreciate it. Thought the format worked well this week. There are a ton of quality possibilities this week, tbh.
RAZ – did Chelsea really look that bad? I was considering a cheeky Costa captaincy myself. If they looked terrible tonight though I might steer clear…
No, they didn’t look bad at all. They got what they came for: An away goal and a draw in one of the hardest stadiums in Europe to visit. I thought it was a job well done, even though it wasn’t easy on the eye.
They got exactly what they needed and wanted. I’d be very surprised if they don’t go through now. Very typical Jose result that one. They were never going to go gung-ho away from home in a 1st leg tie. Job done.
Indeed. I think they are a better side than PSG but going all out would have resulted in them being hammered. Same can be said for PSG at The Bridge. They’ll be well beaten if they come at Chelsea for 90 minutes.
Surprised Hazard didn’t get a mention. Think this is going to be a big week captain wise
I was torn between Costa and Hazard. In the end it was hard to not go with Costa given his scoring record. I think he’ll be eager to get on the scoring sheet after 3 weeks away.