Here’s a run down of the captain options in fantasy premier league for GW21

RVP – Wigan A

I’m going to have to stop doing fantasy premier league captain articles and just call them “captain RVP”.  Returned in 15/17 starts and even returned last week when left on the bench.  After getting 2/3 of a game rest and with the FA Cup on the weekend and Rooney it seems to me that he will play against Wigan.

For the sake of going through the motions lets see his returns away from home against qualifying opposition

South 15 points

New 4 points

Aston V 5 points

Norwich 2 points

Reading 6 points

Swansea 4 points

Consistent and has returned in every game except 1.  Only 1 big score though.  The Wigan defence at home is nothing to write home about so nothing to worry there.  A definite reliable option

Walcott – Southampton A

Since he’s moved to striker he’s become a legitimate captain option. Let’s look at his returns against Captain qualifying opposition away from home

West Ham – 10 points

Reading  – 8 points

Wigan  – 6 points

He’s also returned in 6 of his 8 starts this weekend.  Playing against his old club as a striker looking to get a fat new contract.  It all points in the right direction.

The only negative is that the Southampton defence at home isn’t too bad, middle of the road in underlying stats.  2 Clean sheets in 10 games and 13 goals conceded which again is middle of the road.

He’s still a viable option in my mind

Torres – QPR H

Who would have thought you’d see Torres in this article? QPR away though is pretty juicy.

Lets look at his record firstly at home to qualifying opposition

Reading 7 points

Newcastle 11 points

Norwich 12 points

Fulham 2 points

Aston Villa 6 points

A pretty impressive record.  One thing you are definitely sure of is that he will start as lets face it there’s no one else to play instead that’s for sure

His underlying stats show him as 10th overall in the shooting stats and 8th in the last 6.  Ok good but no RVP that’s for sure.   Here’s the issue, his consistency, he’s only returned in 6 of 20 games.  Not good at all.  Now, lets forget  stats for a minute, are we really ready to give Torres the armband, are we really ready to forgive him for those totally abject performances and hand him the armband with all the other options.

Here’s the reason why were even thinking about it.  The opposition away from home are pretty obliging.  17 goals in 10 games conceded and only 1 clean sheet.  Underlying stats are in the bottom third.

I would at a push

Defoe – Reading H

Reading away is always a good bet for goals, unfortunately Spurs at home aren’t always a good bet at home for goals.

Lets look at Defoe’s record at home against captain qualifying teams

WBA 1 point

Norwich 5 points

QPR 8 points

Aston Villa 5 points

Wigan 1 point

West Ham 12 points

Swansea 1 point

4/7 returns not too bad but you really would like more to give the armband.  The sides he failed at have their moments away from home.  Overall he’s returned in 11/19 starts.  In the underlying stats he’s 4th overall but has slipped to 9th in the last 6 which is worrying.  I’m still not convinced that Adebayor playing doesn’t affect his game.

The one big advantage that he does have is obliging opposition.  The worst away record by a country mile for the season in underlying stats, no clean sheets and 18 goals in 10 games conceded.  At a push I would give him the armband but I would be very nervous.

Suarez – Sunderland H

Lets get straight to the home captain qualifying games

Reading 5 points

Newcastle 9 points

Wigan 11 points

Southampton 1 point

Aston Villa 1 point

Fulham 8 point

4/6 positive returns in these games.  Very good.  Overall though 11/19 which shows his inconsistency and unreliablilty.   Top of the underlying shootings stats for the last 6 and overall he just sometimes cant put the ball in to the net.

I’m a big fan but he makes me nervous with the captains armband.

The opposition are one of the worst away.  Only Newcastle and Reading have worse underlying stats.  In terms of goals though 14 conceded and 3 clean sheets aren’t too bad  but the stats will catch up.

I would give it to Suarez at a push

Summary

Here’s my ranking

1.  RVP – Mr reliable.  My first choice and he will be my captain.

2.  Walcott –  Has proved himself but the opposition aren’t that bad

3.  Suarez – could be great returns but could be nothing but yes  would trust him – just

3.  Torres  and Defoe – Yes but relying on poor opposition rather than any track record themselves

The No’s

Michu – Probably wont play

Aguero – Stoke away are only middle of the road but 4 clean sheets in 10 is too tricky

Mata – Played 5 in a row in December, too big a rotation risk with Benitez in charge