Fantasy premier league – captain options gameweek 23

Background 

Just as a general point for those coming to the site for the first time.   I did alot of research on where the 10 point plus fantasy premier league attacking scores came from and the vast majority came from the top 4 challenging teams playing the potentially relegation threatened teams.  Now that may sound like common sense and it is how I look at where the captain choices should come from.   The theory is simple, you get more shots against the poorer teams.  What was interesting is that there wasn’t much variance between the home fixture and the away fixture.  The opposition was key.  However at the moment Suarez is breaking all the rules and is a form option irrespective of the opposition.  Aguero can also score no matter what the opposition.

Rooney

Whether he will play today looks very questionable as he’s seems to have only just returned from training.  However with the team sheet being out prior to the gameweek deadline he remains an option if he starts.  Given the time out though he may not make the 90 minutes.  With  9 goals 11 assists in 17 games his consistency return rate is  76%.  He’s returned in 3 of his last 5.  He has an excellent record at home with returns in games against West Ham, Stoke WBA and Palace.  Will still have pens assuming RVP doesn’t start but may lose set pieces with Mata in the team

The Cardiff away defence I’ve rated as the 3rd worst away defence conceding 21 goals with only 2 clean sheets in 11 games.

An option if he starts

Hazard

Hazard should play given the fact that Mourinho has only rested him for 1 fantasy premier league fixture.  However he surprisingly played 90 minutes against Stoke in the FA Cup on Sunday which may mean that he could be rested.  Unfortunately unlike Rooney Hazard plays on Wednesday so we wont see the teamsheet.  Worse he’s likely to come on as a sub meaning the 1 pointer becomes a danger.

In exceptional form with 4 returns in his last 5 games.   9 goals and 8 assists in 22 games.  His consistency rate over the season has been disappointing though at 50% returns.  However he’s returned in all 4 of his last home games against the lesser opposition of Swansea, Palace, WBA and Cardiff.

West Ham at one stage had a very good away defence and Ive rated them the 13th best away defence with 14 goals conceded in 11 games and 5 clean sheets.  Against the top 4 challenging teams they’ve failed away from home with a 3-1 loss to Man Utd and a 4-1 loss to Liverpool.  Without Reid they are a different  defensive side.

I expect Chelsea to win comfortably.

He is an option but not for the faint hearted due to gametime risk and inconsistency

Suarez

He’s returned in all of the 8 home games played and scored 14 goals and 6 assists. Has dropped off with his shooting in the last 4 games but an exceptional player having an exceptional season.

Everton I rate as the 2nd best away defence with 4 clean sheets in 11 games and only 11 goals conceded.  Interestingly Coleman Distin and Jagielka are all doubts though which does change the complexion.  The home Everton derby ended up 3-3 so there is potential for a high scoring game.  Recently though they have tightened up and not conceded more than 1 goal in 7 away games since City put 3 past them in GW7.

Suarez is always an option for me in current form

Aguero

14 goals and 9 assists in 16 games with a consistency return rate of 75%.    Can score anywhere having scored at Chelsea and Southampton in the only really difficult away games.

Spurs at home since the new attacking Sherwood took over have only played WBA Stoke and Palace so the new attacking team have not been tested on their own ground.  Unlike AVB though who could try and play more defensively this could be a far more open affair.

Aguero is always an option for me

Options summary

Here’s my order of preference:

1.  Suarez

2. Rooney

3.  Aguero

4  Hazard

William Hill Check

Here’s the players who pay less than £2 as an anytime goal scorer

1.  £1.57    Suarez  Eto’o

2. £1.61   Rooney

3.  £1.91  Giroud, Sturridge, Aguero Hazard Ba

So were not too far apart.

Eto’o is too much of a gametime risk without seeing the Chelsea team sheet.  Giroud is too inconsistent for me.  I can’t imagine there’s anyone who owns Sturridge and not Suarez so why would you consider Sturridge instead.  Ba same reason as Eto’o gametime risk

Thats it hope you found it useful in deciding your fantasy premier league captain picks

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