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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I just realised I’ve been priced out today of my scheduled move of Haz/Arnie to Fraser/Kane.
Oh well. Given that I don’t fancy any of the cheaper mids than Fraser, I may then take a very different path and forget about Kane…
And at least have some fun instead of trying to follow a boring template and still failing miserably with red arrows every week!
Time for me to make an incredible comeback, or to plunge irreversibly into the darkest depths of the overall ranking.
Probably the latter one
That’s the spirit Frenchie :smiling:
I moved for Salah/Haz/Arnie —> Kane/Sterling/Anderson
Kane and Anderson rose already, I’m liking those moves although no doubt Salah will score a hatty now against BOU :woot:
Zed, planning your second wild card between Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve with a heavy hangover is the best time ever. I just can’t wait 😉
Have you used your BB already as planned (SINCE MAY)? :big-lol:
Nooo, scrap that idea. It was good at the time but it has been a strange season so far. In fact, we talked about the TC chip not the BB.
Right, the TC chip, I knew you wouldn’t use it before Christmas 😆
Nah, change of plan. Zed, never mind this. My what used to be the flagship team B is in a total mess. Do you think is time for the WC?
Just need to get rid of Barkley/Shaw/Arnie.. But you have to use the WC soon anyway so I’d use it now, especially if Robertson is still out… There are 4-6 changes I’d wanna make!
Yes, you are right. What changes do you think can be done which should include Auba?
If anyone is interested in Perez, Pellegrini has said this: ‘I’m pleased because he’s a player I brought in to this team. We know he’s a good striker. With Marko’s injury, we have Lucas in this position. We have Andy Carroll too. We hope he will play games in a row now.’
I’m guessing ‘he’ = Perez, not Carroll
Yeah, let’s hope Perez is a great visionary on the pitch so my Anderson will continue scoring goals… Who’s on pens by the way when Arnie is out? Anderson?
I think it would be Noble, if he’s on the pitch.
Perez took four penalties in La Liga last season, scoring three of them,
Yeah of course, is he still nailed?
Yes. He was benched against City after his three-game suspension, but now back into the side.
Haha. Given Carrol looked rusty when he came on and he was at fault for the goal conceded, I’m guessing he’s talking about Perez! I hope so too, as I’ve brought him in as my Arnie replacement!
‘he’ was actually referring to Carroll. Hmm, not sure who to go with here! Chicha does not seem like much of a one up top kind of guy
Roll with Kane/Auba, who needs cheap strikers? 😀
Planning on playing three strikers I think, so I need one, but sure as hell won’t be Andy Carroll!
since your on a WC AT, kane auba and wilson surely is worth a think?
Hi eresh, it would indeed, and I would grab him, but think I’m just going to stick with Fraser!
that works too. whats your current RMT looking like if you can share?
Any ideas? I’m on Jimenez/Mitro for Arnie or Fabianski for Ryan.
In 2 weeks I can do Hazard to Sterling or something.
Alternatively its downgrade Hazard+Alonso and do Arnie to Aubameyang. But is it worth it?
Arnie to Mitro and you ll be fine.
No hit is needed.
p.s. also – > leave Fabianski…no real logic behind that move.
I want to bring Fabianski in, not take him out! That would be madness Mr Lecter.
Jimenez allows for Sterling and other options later. But Mitrovic has unparalleled passion. Maybe Jimenez a bit Wolves too many for my taste. Mitro +1 vote registered.
Yes…Sorry (re: Fab)…
Still not worth the hit, though
Arnie to Mitro, then.
Done.
Is Filipe Anderson a better option now or a worse with Arnie ruled out?
I think it doesn’t matter a lot to be honest…
That idea from Smash about Chicharito sounds really tempting. Surely he will start every game until Arnie returns.
True, I went for Kane already though, and how long is Arnie out for? Smashers has WC still intact so he can easily use it to get rid, I would be more hesitant without a WC with Chic…
If this is a general question – > my answer would be 50%-50%.
He won’t get a more attacking role, if that’s what you are asking.
Me thinks = not really.
Why ? -> Chicharito will “take over” as the main striker (read : goal threat); Carroll may get some more game time and all other pts would probably spread out (Felipe+Antonio)…
At first glance, your team looks solid.
I would do a straight swap Arnie to Mitro and be done with it.
p.s. you can always do Arnie to Chicharito if you fancy a punt…
I think you are right HL. Mitro it is, let’s not play with fire in strange experiments.
What would you do here guys?
Problem areas:
– Arnie
– Perreya
– Dunk
– Hart (wanted to swap to fab for ages)
1FT and 0.4
Tempted by Salah and Arnie to Richarlison and Kane. But that’s doesn’t solve many of the problems identified…
Whilst Auba is in there, Kane does have an insanely good record against Leicester (scored 11 and assisted 1 in seven PL games against them). I think your Arnie to him and Salah to Richarlison suggestion is spot on.
That does sound incredibly tempting. Would leave no Liverpool attack though for now.
Yeah, I don’t either apart from TAA, however they’ve got injuries and rotation at the moment and so I’m just keeping a close eye on them. I don’t think they’ll keep a clean sheet away at Bournemouth – as good as their defence has been, it’s been a high scoring affair when the two sides have met in recent times.
I would just transfer out Arnie..
Mitrovic or Jimenez
Taking a hit for a defender/goalie doesn’t usually work (re: Hart & Dunk)
Team looks good in general, so the only change I would recommend doing is Arnie to Mitro.
Leave Auba in your team for this week and decide on whether you want to swap him for Kane next week.
Everton away for Pereyra doesn’t look so bad.
So, Arnie to Mitro and next week is next week – many things will change 😉 …
Do you not think both Auba and Kane would be pretty potent?
With Salah moving down To richarlison? Think Kane could hit big over the next few weeks and auba has a great record
Should be, yes.
That is if the rest of your team is balanced (enough).
Thinking of doing the same (getting Auba to partner up with Kane by doing Salah to someone)…
It will require a -4 on my side, so still doing the math if this will bring me some long term gains…
Hi all. Did Arnie to Jimenez. 1 million itb. Good to go?
Yeah, I’d say so, benching Alonso/Laporte could easily backfire though… But I completely understand why you’ve done so…
Cheers Zed
Looking good. Quite a bit of money invested in your defence which means you’re missing out on a Spurs player but the team you have there should still do well.
Thanks Swirly. I have plans to strip the funds down on Alonso and Neves in the next few weeks.
HL and EBC. Thanks for the feedback. That’s the plan down the line. Strip them down and reinvest.
Looks good, yes.
Although, having 4 premium defenders(2 of them benched=money that can be used elsewhere) when you play a 3-4-3 is not that ideal.
Maybe something to think about for next week…
Neves is the one that really looks like wasted money to me.