Fantasy Football Captain Picks Gameweek 16
Welcome to Fantasy Football Captain Picks Gameweek 16. Much like the other day with AT, you only have me in this shortened gameweek (other than the Site Team) and again like the other day I’ll only be looking at who we should give the armband to. That may not be what you readers necessarily want but it is the most important question at this, or indeed any time of the season.
We are rounding the corner into silly season and that means rotation, rotation, rotation and the biggest worry we all have is that our ‘primary’ captain is suddenly rested. And in some extreme cases, as evidenced in this past midweek, the back-up one is too! You can either man (or indeed woman) up or cry off home with your ball like Rosco. Every line-up matters now but I am sure we will all get stung at some point. The midweek games will hopefully be a sort of guideline as to who will play this weekend, but they are only that, a guideline. I will give you my main options for the armband but just because I’m nice I’ll stick in another back-up choice or two just in case the main options are given a break.
Salah vs Bournemouth (A)
BURNLEY, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 05: Mohamed Salah of Liverpool and Roberto Firmino of Liverpool looks on from the bench during the Premier League match between Burnley FC and Liverpool FC at Turf Moor on December 5, 2018 in Burnley, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Now if you don’t fancy Salah for the armband then my back-up option would be the oddly shaped, Xherdan Shaqiri. The little Swiss did start against Burnley and got yet another goal so I’d expect him to continue to start at the weekend and if he does I wouldn’t be surprised to see him on the scoresheet again. He has been great for Liverpool this season; he has got 3 goals and 2 assists in 11 games, but it is also all the other work he does that you only realise when watching him. If he was playing with the Bobby, Salah and Mane from last season his tally would be even higher right now. Well, ok, you probably won’t captain him but the worst you could do would be to pick him up as a punt this week, that’d by my ‘Tip’. Listen… I’m trying to cover for 3 articles here, so lay off ok!
Aubameyang vs Huddersfield (H)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 05: Shkodran Mustafi of Arsenal celebrates with team mates after scoring their team’s first goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Arsenal FC at Old Trafford on December 5, 2018 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Now I think PEA is relatively safe in the line-up but if you feel otherwise the next best option for points who has an attacking threat is Lacazette. Which may be an odd one given that he hasn’t actually started the last two games but he has come on as a sub in both, and got points in both. Much as Auba was doing himself before he suddenly started a few and suddenly became flavour of the month. I’d fully expect Laca to be restored to the starting line-up for this one and as per Auba… it’s Huddersfield… at home.
Kane vs Leicester (A)
LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 05: Harry Kane scores his team’s first goal during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton FC at Wembley Stadium on December 5, 2018 . (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
If you are really stubborn, or just adamant that you do not want to bring in the Spurs striker, or simply cash strapped, than I would recommend Eriksen just for guaranteed minutes. He does not seem to be on every set piece anymore, but the great Dane is one of the best midfielders in the league and like Kane he will only profit from the upturn in fixtures.
Matt’s 3 Punts…
Richarlison v Watford (H)
Talking of flavour of the month players it wasn’t so long ago that Richarlison was a must have, much like Auba, albeit for a week also! Funny what a brace does to FPL manager’s sensibilities. He is however proving somewhat durable after another goal in midweek put him on 7 for the season and this week sees another home game, this time against Watford, which looks favourable for yet more returns. And don’t be put off by his return to the wing position in midweek, this may actually be beneficial as this is where he has scored the majority of his PL goals from after all. Sometimes it’s better not to be the actual centre of attention in order to actually become so.
Paterson vs Southampton (H)
The reason I’ve gone with Paterson here is twofold. And no, one is not insanity… One, Cardiff are on a bit of a run right now and are winning a few games at home. Two, they are playing SOUTHAMPTON! That should be reason enough to get Paterson in and stick the armband on him, but I suppose I should try and entice you a little more. Paterson has gone 3 games without scoring but in the four games before that he 3 scored goals and an assist so coming up against a struggling side that couldn’t even beat United ( 😉 ) Paterson should have no trouble. Cardiff have been keeping things tight in the last few weeks ignoring their most recent game against West Ham so Paterson and co. shouldn’t have to defend too much and it will give the midfielder / come OOP striker more chances to produce.
Raheem Sterling vs Chelsea (A)
Had this been at home young Raheem would probably be front and centre in the main section but City do tend to be a tad more conservative in their away games. It is all relative though and by conservative we mean only being the 3rd highest scorers away from home as opposed to being the highest at it, by some distance. Chelsea are looking like they have hit a sticky patch which is not the thing you want to be doing just as City are rolling up. In theory this should be a tight game, in reality it may be another cakewalk for Pep’s men.
Thanks for reading Fantasy Football Captain Picks Gameweek 16. This article was written by MattX.
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Am I right in thinking that now that Gomez has broken his leg, TAA becomes a more appealing option for Liverpool defensive cover? Surely Clyne won’t get minutes? I’ve mad a lot of value on Robertson, but I could make £1m by ditching him for TAA (I just don’t want to have to sheepishly buy Robertson back again for more money than I’m selling him for now!)
In a word, yes. But in fairness, TAA has been nailed on all season.
I thought that, but then why did he not play those two matches where Gomez played RB?
I think you’ll be alright with TAA, bud, with Gomez now out.
Because Gomez played there instead.
That literally doesn’t answer the question so shut up 😉
I was asking why he didn’t play if he has been nailed all season :finger:
Bobbyson hasn’t been, in such a strict sense, nailed on either… They have played the exact same amount of games, Bobbyson and TAA… With Gomez now injured, who cares why TAA didn’t play the games Gomez played (those are 2 games) 😀
I’m pondering on having both to be honest, TAA is perhaps the best value def in the game, Robertson is Scottish Roberto Carlos 😀
Hmm, I’m just not convinced their fixtures in the next 6 are good enough for that!
True, perhaps Bellerin now until GW22 and then switch to TAA…. I gotta hand it to you Arsenal has a sea of green!
Hahahaha
I like the idea of both. Liverpool are pretty solid
Yeah I’d be going for TAA
Cheers Smash
TAA has set pieces, Bobbyson doesn’t!
Hi guys,
This is my WC effort. Any thoughts?
Would it be worth going with Richarlson over Sterling just for this week die to the fixture? Then reverse the transfer next week? I have made some value on Sane.
You mean you’d leave the cash in the bank for Richarlison to Sterling? Be beware that Sterling could rise in price any day now! So you’d need to leave some extra in the bank!
But I don’t know whether that would be worth it, you’d save one FT with just going with Sterling and he could easily outscore Richarlison this week, it’s a gamble!
Zed, yeah I mean leave the cash in the bank but yeah you are right, if Sterling goes up I won’t have enough to get him back as I have 0 in the bank. Cheers
Defo just go with Sterling in that case! He could rise tonight!
I’m a big fan of that tactic normally, but in this case I probably wouldn’t bother. Usually when it’s something like wanting Jimenez for the next 6 after this week but say Mitro has a better fixture in this one it’s defo worth it but for Sterling I reckon you just lump in and be done.
How sure are we on Foyth?
Evening everyone.
Strongly considering Kamara and Alonso out for Lacazette and Bellerin, which would leave me with the team below. Means I’d have a good front first eight all the time, which does present possible headaches on who to play (ignoring any rotation, suspensions or injuries, Fraser would be benched this gameweek at home to Liverpool, while Richarlison away at Man City the next gameweek would also have the same fate). Just thinking it’d be good to have as full a 15 as possible with rotation so rife this time of year, but would very much appreciate your thoughts!
Agreed, it’s looking very good for the purposes you’ve mentioned!
Cheers Zed! None of the players in question are near price rises or falls at the moment and so will wait for the Arsenal press conference just to be on the safe side.
Yeah, that’s sensible!
Swirly, I had a look at Bellerin, only 2 CS in 15. What about Foyth?
I’m never a fan of that tactic. Just prefer to invest in starting eleven
Anyone know when Martial is likely to return?
Thanks!
Mou said he should be fine this weekend!
Thanks Zed.
Part of me wants to go nuts and bring in Sterling and Sane for Salah (not great matches coming up) and Martial.
It would take 12ph. I have the exact amount needed. Would this be insane?
Cheers mate
Isn’t those just for -8? Those are just 2 transfers, no?
12 point hit is nuts
Yes it would. Di wouldn’t ever consider more than a -8
brenda, i would listen to the guys and not do a -12. i had a similar discussion with zed where i wanted both auba and sterling in my team but would take a-16 hit. zed put some sense into me and eventually i agreed that extreme hit isnt the way to go.
Yeah, definitely no for -12 from me, I was just a bit confused as to Sterling and Sane for Salah and Martial should be two transfers with no other downgrades needed, I think of hits separately so two transfers can only be -8 no matter what other transfers one has made (unless of course one can’t afford the players and one would have to downgrade some other players in the process) — Too much mulled wine tonight for me I guess 😀
THANK YOU ALL!
I will cease and desist and leave it for now.
Does this look well set for the weekend? Done my transfers already but just want some reassurance on the set up
G2G imo!
Yep looks good to me
Cheers guys
I probably won’t do this as I think Kiko and Lucas might be too risky, but that attack is very tempting!
oops…
Richarlison and Fraser (don’t care about the fixtures) are so good value at the moment that that might be too much invested in the attack, you’ll basically get similar points for less money but have better defense… Richarlison over Son imo if you have Kane, the manager just loves Richarlison so he’s a must have for me due to that reason, Son will get rotated…
Tough fixtures ahead for Everton though. Doubt Rich will be that good value over the next three fixtures…
Now Zed, you are contradicting your earlier comments that Fraser has done f all against the top 6 teams 😉
Great fixtures after that, you could gamble on Son for the next three but I’m a fan of playing it long-term! Hence I said “don’t care about the fixtures”!
@Ivan That’s kind of true, he scored against Saints (last time I checked down at the cellar we were a top-6 side)… wait, was that just a dream? 😆
Haha. Also, Son’s record even without playing all the time is mint haha
Oh never mind Zed that I sounded like an old fart from Lapland talking s*it through his long white beard.
I am just contemplating WC for my beloved B team and can’t decide if I should keep him in there 😆
Currently on my wc and can see you are going down some of the roads ive been down !
I had Kiko in one of mine then thought better of it.Think i’m going relatively cheap in defence though.What about Digne instead of Bellerin ? Couple of rough fixtures coming up which can be covered by Schindler then Evertons fixtures really open up.
Cheers Brooky. I had Digne in an iteration earlier today. I think I want Arsenal covered for the next few at least! I’ve knocked that attack on the head for now!