Fantasy Football Captain Picks Double Gameweek 29
Welcome to Fantasy Football Captain Picks Double Gameweek 29
We head into the biggest Double Gameweek of the season with a plethora of options for our captain’s armband. It can be easy when so spoilt for choice to simply default to the obvious picks, whom this week will most definitely come from the red half of Manchester. Both Fernandes and Rashford are more than viable options and the latter will likely be the most captained player this week. So, as ever it might be smart to play the numbers game. Ahead in your mini-leagues and happy with your OR? Stick with the Red Devils. If, however, you’re chasing then there could be better options elsewhere. Below we assess the obvious and perhaps not-so-obvious along with something in between!
Kop — Isak v Man Utd (H) and West Ham (A)
It’s been quite some time since I’ve written anything on the site… I’m not sure I remember how to! For a start, I probably should’ve picked an easier subject than Alexander Isak.
Back-to-back draws against West Ham & Bournemouth were followed by back-to-back losses to Liverpool & City, and it looked like the wheels were coming off Newcastle’s charge to a Top 4 finish. However, they’ve most recently steadied the ship with back-to-back wins over Wolves and Forest. Isak played a key role in both games, scoring once against Wolves and grabbing two against Forest.
The Swede has scored six goals this season, which may seem like a paltry return when you consider Newcastle spent a fee in the region of £70m on him, but it is worth noting that he has been injured for a significant chunk of the season. In fact, he’s only made 10 league appearances. Now, six goals in 10 games sounds a lot better. He boasts a goals scored per 90 minutes ratio of 0.87, which is only bettered by Erling Haaland. Given he’s only made 10 league appearances the fact that he’s accrued 12 bonus points is rather impressive and he’s head & shoulders above all relevant players in terms of bonus points per 90 minutes ratio.
The visit of United will be a tough one as the Manchester club has kept 11 clean sheets this season, but, as we’ve recently seen, they’re prone to the odd collapse. West Ham however have only kept five clean sheets all season and have conceded nine in their last six games.
Of course, giving him the armband will require a serious punt but for those chasing points it’s getting near that stage of the season where it’s ‘now or never’.
Swirly — Fernandes v Newcastle (A) and Brentford (H)
Owned by just 7.5% of managers, we have a great differential pick – one that Matt, Mr Differential himself, would surely approve of. Indeed, Bruno Fernandes could be the perfect pick if you’re looking to take the risk by going against the grain and hopefully making up ground.
Sure, the absence of Casemiro does create the risk of the Portuguese playing further back on the pitch and therefore further away from goal threat. However, let’s press ahead and recognise him for his record against Newcastle and Brentford – that’s three goals and an assist in six against the Magpies, whilst Brentford have seen him find the back of the net once, and set up two others. Then we look at the current season for the midfielder, where he’s scored five and registered seven assists – just short of the last campaign but, admittedly, not near to the heroics of the 2020-21 season.
A deeper look into the opposition and the West Londoners have only kept one clean sheet in their last six, while you have to look back to Gameweek 21 for the last time the Magpies managed that. Quite the turnaround from the men led by Eddie Howe, when you consider they had enjoyed a run of eight straight matches without conceding.
Rosco — Mitoma v Brentford (H) and Bournemouth (A)
We’re all familiar with captaining Brighton players in a double-game week, but we no longer have to rely on Lewis Dunk to bring home the bacon! Brighton now have genuine captain options in March, Mac Allister and Mitoma, and whilst there wasn’t much to separate their final scores in DGW27, it was ultimately Mitoma who narrowly came out on top.
Mitoma got his first start for the Seagulls in GW14, he scored and has been almost ever-present since. He may not have the best-expected goals of the trio, (Mac Allister does) and he may not have had the most shots (again it’s the Argentinian) but he does come out on top for penalty area touches (80 vs Mac Allister’s 34 and March’s 64) – more on that later.
Since the resumption of the season in GW17 Mitoma has played 11 Games, and has 9 attacking returns (5 goals 4 assists) which have equated to 6.6pts per game. In that time, he has 3 double-digit scores, and matches teammate March’s 73pts, despite March scoring 2 more goals and 2 more assists.
In the first game of Brighton’s double, they face a Brentford side that have conceded 20 goals, which is about mid-table, however, they are sixth worst for shots conceded and have managed just 4 clean sheets in their 13 matches away from the Community Stadium. At the Amex, Brighton have scored 22 goals and only 4 teams have scored more on home turf, and it should also be noted 3 of the 4 have played an extra fixture.
Next up it’s a trip to the South Coast to face Bournemouth who have conceded 16 goals in their 13 home games. They do however have 5 clean sheets at the Vitality, a number bettered by only 6 teams on home turf. Against Brighton, they will be hard-pushed to add to that tally. Only Arsenal (28) have scored more than Brighton (24) on the road despite the Seagulls having played 2 games less than the Gunners. No team has scored more goals in the box (17) than Brighton away from home this season, remember those 80 penalty area touches? That’s Mitoma territory right there.
Jamesimmo — Rashford v Newcastle (A) and Brentford (H)
It feels like many Moons ago that I was referring to this man as ‘Trashford’ — of course, that was deliberately harsh, a tongue-in-cheek way of dealing with reality — having started with Marcus back in Gameweek 1 before quickly losing patience, I sold him, then watched as he dismantled Arsenal without much mercy before my very eyes.
Rashford hasn’t looked back since then. Certainly not since the World Cup ended: in the 12 PL matches (11 starts!) following it, he’s accumulated 94 points, equating to 7.83 ppm. For context: Erling Haaland himself has ‘only’ averaged 6.15 ppm (80 points from 13 PL matches) over the same period…
Indeed, before his latest pair of PL matches, Rashford had only blanked once (at Villa Park) since the PL resumed. In said latest pair, the former was that unforgettable, freak, 7–0 thrashing endured at Anfield, and the latter was largely played with 10 men. All of this to basically say, then, that entrusting your captaincy with ‘Trashford’ over 2 matches is a pretty damn safe bet. Far from being a Trash one! Just ask those who Triple Captained him for Man United’s previous Double Gameweek extravaganza.
Yes, he’s yellow-flagged at present; yes, he could (but probably won’t) have his minutes reduced as a direct result. However, know that if Man United find themselves trailing by 7 goals again for some bizarre reason, then Rashford’s probably more likely to play the full 90 minutes than one Bruno Fernandes: Marcus won’t be begging EtH to sub him off…
The confessional…
This is where we ask our entire writing team to tell us who they think they will pick this week…. There are more caveats and get out clauses than an Antoine Griezmann contract but this is their initial gut feeling based upon who they actually own. And they promise that their picks will be allowed to play for more than 29 minutes each week…
The Gallant Pioneer — Rashford McTominay!
Jamesimmo — Rashford
Ivan — Rashford
Swirly — Rashford
Matt — March or Rashford (undecided!)
Loud Atlas — Rashford
Smash — Rashford
Kop — Rashford
Rosco — Mitoma
Ellefcee — Salah
Init — Rashford
Gear — Rashford
Stone Frog — Mitoma
OddDane — Rashford, Maddison, Mitoma or Isak. In that order, depending on fitness.
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Thanks guys yet again, I’m going with Rashford this week. looking at the team would you Odegaard to salah and BB I have another transfer if you have any ideas. X
Couldn’t argue with that. Either him or Rashford. Could always do Zinchenko to Shaw as the other although I’m less convinced on that, depends how much you want to ‘embrace’ the doubles. And yes to BB either way.
Thanks innit x
Love GP’s choice haha. He’ll have a statue up outside Hampden soon enough if he keeps this up!
Oh the irony when Ten Hag puts him in instead of Weghorst
Many thanks all, a fantastic effort.
Yes thanks very much guys! 😉
Adios!
I meant for this evening!
Hasta pronto!
Still can’t believe the Scotties towelled up Spain.
Us Scots are the best team in the UK 😉
Jamie
That’s all.
Who would have thought we would have seen the days when we were arguing the toss that a Brighton player is as good (or better) a choice for captain as a Manchester United player?
I’m really torn to this point.
That’s a fantastic article everyone, thanks. Looking at Isak coming in for me too which would mean I have all the lads in the article by deadline
To add to Kop’s piece above – Eddie would make him his captain!
Howe on Isak today:
“He’s got himself into a really good place. He’s getting fitter with every game and certainly confidence wise will be in a really good place. His ability has never been in question for us. I’ve said many times he’s got real talent, a brilliant way about him off the pitch.
“He’s electric on the pitch. Really exciting player for us. Players excited to play with him, complements what we have. Excited about the future for him and it’s just the start.”
I’ve always got my finger on the pulse!