CAPTAINCY HYPE 2017/18: FPL Gameweek 10
Picking a Captain to double down on in the Fantasy Premier League is the most important question asked ahead of each of the 38 Gameweek's in the Premier League season. There's a lot of self-help out there for FPL enthusiasts, with our Hype Team providing three major considerations for the armband for each and every Gameweek. We'll be detailing the Essential choice for captain, a popular alternative that's pushing the consensus, and a Wildcard pick to add to the chaos. Captaincy can make of break a Gameweek so strap in tightly, it's time to lose your marbles. All aboard.
Fantasy Premier League: Gameweek Deadline
For the 2016/17 Premier League season, the FPL deadline will be one hour before the commencement of the week's first game. The Premier League website lists each FPL deadline, you can always ask on social media, and you can also view a real time countdown on our Weekly Hype page
CAPTAINCY HYPE: 2017/18 SEASON PERFORMANCE
In each Captaincy Hype article we track our progress throughout the 2017/18 FPL season. Below you can check how our Captaincy selections have performed by week to week in the Fantasy Premier League.
GW1
Essential: Romelu Lukaku (Man United vs. West Ham) - 13pts
Alternative: Roberto Firmino (Watford vs. Liverpool) - 12pts
Wildcard: Josh King (West Brom vs. Bournemouth) - 2pts
GW2
Essential: Romelu Lukaku (Swansea vs. Man Utnited) - 6pts
Alternative: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool vs. Crystal Palace) - 1pt
Wildcard: Steve Mounie (Huddersfield vs. Newcastle) - 1pt
GW3
Essential: Harry Kane (Spurs vs. Burnley) - 2pts
Alternative: Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Man United vs. Leicester) - 5pts
Wildcard: Alvaro Morata (Chelsea vs. Everton) - 12pts
GW4
Essential: Romelu Lukaku (Stoke vs. Man United) - 6pts
Alternative: Alvaro Morata (Leicester vs. Chelsea) - 6pts
Wildcard: Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal vs. Bournemouth) - 1pt
GW5
Essential: Harry Kane (Spurs vs. Swansea) - 2pts
Alternative: Gabriel Jesus (Watford vs. Man City) - 6pts
Wildcard: Eden Hazard (Chelsea vs. Arsenal) - 1pt
GW6
Essential: Sergio Aguero (Man City vs. Crystal Palace) - 11pts
Alternative: Alexandre Lacazette (Arsenal vs. West Brom) - 13pts
Wildcard: Benjamin Mendy (Man City vs. Crystal Palace) - 0pts
GW7
Essential: Romelu Lukaku (Man United vs. Crystal Palace) - 6pts
Alternative: Dele Alli (Huddersfield vs. Spurs) - 2pts
Wildcard: Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal vs. Brighton) - 6pts
GW8
Essential: Harry Kane (Spurs vs. Bournemouth) - 2pts
Alternative: Jamie Vardy (Leicester vs. West Brom) - 2pts
Wildcard: Raheem Sterling (Man City vs. Stoke) - 15pts
GW9
Essential: Gabriel Jesus (Man City vs. Burnley) - 1pt
Alternative: Eden Hazard (Chelsea vs. Watford) - 5pts
Wildcard: Tammy Abraham (Swansea vs. Leicester) - 2pts
Totals
Essential Total: 13 (1), 6 (2), 2 (3), 6 (4), 2 (5), 11 (6), 6 (7), 2 (8), 1 (9) = 49 points
Alternative Total: 12 (1), 1 (2), 5 (3), 6 (4), 6 (5), 13 (6), 2 (7), 2 (8), 5 (9) = 52 points
Wildcard Total: 2 (1), 1 (2), 12 (3), 1 (4), 1 (5), 0 (6), 6 (7), 15 (8), 2 (9) = 40 points
CAPTAINCY HYPE: THE ESSENTIAL PICK
Our Essential picks for captain are selected each and every week on our main Twitter account, @RealHypeTrain, with four highly selected FPL options battling it out for alpha status amongst fellow FPL players.
Gameweek 10: Essential
Player: Sergio Aguero (MCI)
Position: Forward
Player Price: £11.7 million +
Player Selection %: 14.3%
We've not had the same essential captaincy picks since the first two Gameweek's of the season, when Romelu Lukaku was the overwhelming favourite for goals and FPL points against West Ham and Swansea. Since then the armband has been passed around to Harry Kane, Sergio Aguero, and most recently to Gabriel Jesus. With Gameweek 10 approaching, another essential captain has been pick, with Sergio Aguero once again leading the popular vote ahead of this next round of games.
Aguero has only recently come back from the injury table after suffering a broken rib in a card accident in Amsterdam less than 48 hours before Man City were set to play Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. The broken ribs caused Aguero to miss just one Premier League match, the 1-0 win at Chelsea. Aguero was named amongst the substitutes in the 7-2 home victory against Stoke, before returning against Burnley during Gameweek 9.
Aguero's appearance left a large chunk of FPL players frustrated, with Jesus at the forefront of attention to be captain. The one point devastated a lot of teams, but for Aguero he came back into the team and even managed to score his first goal of the season from the penalty spot against Burnley.
With Aguero fit and raring to go, FPL players had to watch the Argentine forward play all 120 minutes in the EFL Cup last 16 game against Wolves, an encounter that finished 0-0 after extra time, with Aguero scoring the winning penalty kick.
The stakes are simple for Aguero and his visit to West Brom. Score and become City's leading goal scorer of all time. Last season at the Baggies the forward managed two goals, and scored in the home encounter as well, so our gut is telling us that Tony Pulis might be sick of the sight of Aguero after their Gameweek 10 encounter has concluded.
Stats and Information: Sergio Aguero
Sergio Aguero has started the season with 7 goals, 3 assists, and 9 bonus points, from 7 appearances in the Premier League, with 59 FPL points.
Aguero has finished over the weekly Dream Team just once, during Gameweek 5 which saw Aguero manage 20 points against Watford.
Aguero is the joint-top FPL player at Man City with 59 points, level with Leroy Sane.
Sane and Aguero are only behind Harry Kane, who has 63 points, in the overall player charts.
Aguero's 9 bonus points this season is the joint-third best record in the FPL, level with Rooney (EVE), Jesus (MCI), and Doucoure (WAT).
Aguero's injury ruled him out of the 1-0 victory at Chelsea during Gameweek 7, and the 7-2 victory at home to Stoke during Gameweek 8.
Aguero scored his first penalty kick of the season in the Premier League in the 3-0 victory against Burnley. The only oher penalty awarded to City was in the 6-0 victory at Watford, which was converted by Raheem Sterling.
CAPTAINCY HYPE: THE ALTERNATIVE PICK
Our Alternative selection for captain typically commands a smaller FPL ownership percentage, but can be reserved for The Hype Train's own gut instincts on who could be captaincy inspiration.
Gameweek 10: Alternative
Player: Mohamed Salah (LIV)
Position: Midfield
Player Price: £9.1 million +
Player Selection %: 32.3%
It is extremely difficult right now not to be critical of Liverpool, in the wake of a very turbulent few months, which has yielded just a single win in the league against Leicester, their only win in the Premier League since September. Jurgen Klopp is taking abuse from all side, with the debate surrounding his team about the capability of his defenders (or if Klopp is badly managing them, or both).
The one standout performer from an FPL perspective, regardless of the form, is Mohamed Salah's consistency, even though casual viewers have noticed that the Egyptian winger takes ten chances to score. One week this season it will go right for Salah, and we'll be taking about a five goal haul for the Egyptian, but until then we have to make do with his very good returns so far.
Salah's 5 goals in the Premier League have all come in different fixtures, with two assists coming in games which Salah had already scored in (GW1 verses Watford, and GW3 at home to Arsenal).
Huddersfield are next up at Anfield and offer the test of two talented German managers going toe-to-toe, with the away Terriers a tough unit to crack when they're at their best. David Wagner, Huddersfield's manager, must be dreading Salah on the wing with Coutinho, but must be relishing the thought of the bulldozer powerhouse, Laurent Depoitre, exploiting the Liverpool defenders.
Salah is at the head of the table in regards to a captaincy spot this week, with the other competition for his spot coming from Eden Hazard, but we're a little sceptical of Chelsea's potential this week, given that Crystal Palace made the current Champions look second-rate in their recent 2-1 defeat at Selhurst Park.
Stats and Information: Mohamed Salah
Mohamed Salah has started the season with 5 goals, 2 assists, 4 bonus points, and an overall 53 points in the FPL so far.
Mo Salah is the only Liverpool player with more than 40 points in the FPL. Salah's 53 points is the best by a LFC player, with Roberto Firmino next on the charts with 37 points.
Salah is the joint-second top scoring midfielder in the FPL, with 5 goals. Salah has as many goals as Man City's Leroy Sane, and are one goal behind Raheem Sterling.
With 57 points in the FPL, Salah is the 5th best player in the game, behin Kane, Sane, Aguero, and Eriksen.
Salah has only acquired 4 bonus points this season, despite 5 goals and 2 assists, which is behind Coutinho (6) and Firmino (6) at the club.
CAPTAINCY HYPE: THE WILDCARD PICK
Our Wildcard selection is one of the ten differential picks that is featured in our Weekly Wildcards article. This captaincy selection has a very small percentage of owners in the FPL, and is our left field option.
Gameweek 10: Wildcard
Player: Alexis Sanchez (ARS)
Position: Midfielder
Player Price: £11.8 million
Player Selection %: 2.3%
Rounding off our selections for captaincy this week is our wildcard pick, and for consecutive Gameweek's we have been able to exploit Alexis Sanchez as a viable differential, due to the fact that his low 2.3% ownership has been due to players not valuing the Chile international at a steep £11.8m price in the FPL.
In the 5-2 victory away at Everton during Gameweek 9 the trio of Alexis Sanchez, Alexandre Lacazette, and Mesut Ozil, started as a front three in attack, and against lowly opposition, a game which would be Ronald Koeman's last for Everton (and against the same team that Olivier Giroud plays for, with the Frenchman's failure to sign for Everton the blame Koeman has given for not exceeding this season).
Against Everton, Sanchez, Lacazette, and Ozil, all found their way onto the score-sheet, with the Europa League side throwing their hat into the mix for Fantasy consideration when Swansea visit the Emirates for Gameweek 10.
Arsenal have won all four of their home matches in the Premier League this season, and before rockier ties against Man City (GW11, away), and Spurs (GW12, home), there could be one last hurrah for the time being with Sanchez's form.
For a one-week differential, if you've more money in the bank than you should have, Alexis is worth thought and consideration should your squad be lacking definite captaincy potential.
Stats and Information: Alexis Sanchez
Alexis Sanchez has started the season with 1 goal, 3 assists, and 2 bonus points, from 6 appearances in the Premier League, with 27 FPL points.
A net average of -23,446 transferred Alexis out of their FPL Gameweek 9 squads, which results in a 12 point haul against Everton.
After two assists at home, Alexis picked up his first goal and assist away from home this season in the 5-2 victory away at Everton.
With 2.3% ownership, Alexis is the 9th most selected player from Arsenal in the FPL as of writing.
With 27 points, Alexis is the 9th highest scoring Arsenal player in the FPL.
Want to know more about The Hype Train?
The Hype Train is an entertainment website founded in 2015, specialising in the Fantasy Premier League (#FPL), providing beautiful graphics and weekly insight for hopeful players attempting to climb ranking tables. We are also occasional media reviewers, with a keen interest to review movies, live sport, and professional wrestling.
As well as providing FPL articles on our website, we are a founding Contributor to the new Fantasy Football Hub, where you can find more unique articles, including weekly Power Rankings, from The Hype Team. You can support us and read exclusive members only content for just £2 per-month by clicking here.
The Hype Train were nominated and shortlisted for the 'Best Football Blog 2016' by the Football Bloggers Association at their annual Football Blogging Awards (The FBA's), with the final presentation held at Old Trafford in Manchester.
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All aboard.
