It's form vs fixture in this week's captain picks for Fantasy Premier League Gameweek 14.
This week we compare the usual forward titans Sergio Aguero, Diego Costa, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Romelu Lukaku along with prime midfielders Eden Hazard and Alexis Sanchez as well as two new players to our list.
Gameweek 13 may well have had a big say on what the Fantasy Premier League template, as well as who will be brought into people's sides in the new year.
Sergio Aguero and
Diego Costa both showed why they are the most owned strikers in the game while
Romelu Lukaku's place came into question, particularly with
Harry Kane approaching his best form.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic after scoring three goals in his last two Premier League games, as well as two in the EFL Cup.
Alexis Sanchez bagged twice to give managers a headache of whether to take him or
Eden Hazard into the Christmas period.
Roberto Firmino also emerged as arguably Liverpool's top midfield option after Philippe Coutinho was ruled out until January.
Which player is in the best form?
| # |
Player |
Home |
Away |
| 1 |
Lukaku |
8.50 |
4.00 |
| 2 |
Costa |
6.25 |
7.25 |
| = |
Kane |
7.25 |
4.50 |
| 4 |
Sanchez |
6.00 |
6.75 |
| 5 |
Firmino |
6.50 |
6.50 |
| 6 |
Hazard |
9.25 |
5.75 |
| 7 |
Ibrahimovic |
3.5 |
5.00 |
| 8 |
Aguero |
2.00 |
8.00 |
Despite blanking in his last home game against a Swansea side he was backed to score against,
Lukaku tops the form chart after netting three in his last four at Goodison Park.
Costa and
Kane both tie at 7.25 points apiece, with the Tottenham man's average coming either side of his ankle ligament injury.
There is a bevvy of midfielders in fine form as well.
Sanchez's away from may no longer stand out as drastically as it did a fortnight ago but is still respectable at 6.75, while
Firmino keeps ticking over with 6.5.
Hazard also has a solid 5.75, although he is behind his teammate.
Ibrahimovic is showing signs of getting back to form lately, and his brace at Swansea has bolstered his away form. The average does count the Swede's dry patch however, lowering his score to 5. Aguero's penalty miss against Everton still haunts his home form, where he has only scored one in his last four.
Which player has the easiest fixture in Gameweek 14?
| # |
Player |
Vs |
GC |
BCC |
| 1 |
Kane |
SWA (H) |
8 |
14 |
| 2 |
Lukaku |
MUN (H) |
8 |
7 |
| 3 |
Sanchez |
WHU (H) |
5 |
6 |
| 4 |
Firmino |
BOU (A) |
3
|
3 |
| = |
Ibrahimovic |
EVE (A) |
3 |
3 |
| 6 |
Aguero |
CHE (H) |
3 |
2 |
| 7 |
Costa |
MCI (A) |
3 |
1 |
| = |
Hazard |
MCI (A) |
3 |
1 |
The 8.4% of players that have brought
Kane in after his injury will be licking their lips at the prospect of the England international that has not only conceded eight in four, but a massive 14 big chances as well. A player of Kane's quality will surely find the net if the Swans consider to be so generous.
Manchester United have hardly been watertight away from home either, keeping only one clean sheet and letting in three goals to Watford and four to Chelsea.
While you would expect Jose Mourinho to shut up shop, an early strike could see it start raining goals for
Lukaku and the Toffees.
Sanchez will also be hoping West Ham continue to leak goals at the London Stadium so he can bag another goal or two away from home.
There are some surprises as we reach the sterner defences, with five teams tied on three goals each. Bournemouth have kept things surprisingly tight at home and recorded two clean sheets at home. Everton have also been much better in home comforts, with both teams only giving up three big chances.
Surprisingly City come out with the best defensive record on paper, although it is worth noting they have only kept one clean sheet while all three goals Chelsea conceded came before their change to 3-4-3.
Who is the best captain pick for Fantasy Premier League Gameweek 14?
| # |
Player |
H/A Form |
H/A Fixt |
| 1 |
Lukaku |
1st |
2nd |
| 2 |
Kane |
2nd |
1st |
| 3 |
Sanchez |
4th |
3rd |
| 4 |
Costa |
2nd |
7th |
| 5 |
Firmino |
5th |
4th |
| 6 |
Ibrahimovic |
7th |
4th |
| 7 |
Hazard |
6th |
7th |
| 8 |
Aguero |
8th |
6th |
Despite looking like a tough fixture on paper,
Lukaku has come out on top. It may be worth exercising caution however, with the Belgian scoring only once in his last six against the Red Devils.
Kane looks primed for goals and - despite being just behind Lukaku in our table - may well be the weapon of choice for his owners this week - particularly with teams unlikely to own both him and the Everton man.
Elsewhere
Sanchez and
Costa score well once more, with managers having to make the call between the Chilean's explosiveness and Spaniard's consistency. Personally we'd back the Arsenal man after his fine display last weekend.
Firmino also scores well this week but is not worth captaining until we see how Klopp's side cope without Philippe Coutinho and possibly Adam Lallana too. Elsewhere Ibrahimovic seems a stretch too far until we are sure he won't blank again, while none of our assets in the City vs Chelsea game should be risked unless managers are very confident in Guardiola or Conte coming out on top.
The Differential
After the success of Charlie Austin and Christian Benteke last week, we decided to include another player who perhaps goes under the radar as a captaincy option due to his price and the team he plays for.
A differential captain can help you close the gap on your mini league leaders and also win you cash contests on
Bet4theBest.
Jermain Defoe would have ranked only behind Lukaku with 8.25 points having scored four goals in his last four games, with his and Victor Anichebe's partnership potentially turning Sunderland's season around.
They also face up to a Leicester side who have let in ten goals in their last four away and are missing the hard-working Danny Drinkwater. If Defoe had been in our table, he would have ranked second for form and first for fixtures, giving him a score of 5.5, while Lukaku's score would have actually gone up to 6.5, meaning the 34-year-old should be seriously considered among those who own him.
