The proof behind the most successful Fantasy Football manager’s captain picks for 2020/21
Last Updated: December 15, 2020 6:27 pm
Top captain picks
The choice for who the captain pick for the week should be is arguably the most important for Fantasy Football managers. The choice between Mohamed Salah and Kevin de Bruyne could be what costs you that spot at the top of the table.
Research conducted by FourFourTwo has looked into what the best Fantasy players in world have been doing with their picks over the opening weeks of the season. Looking at the most common picks and also the opponents they are selected against.
From 1000s of multi top 10,000 finishers, the results were filled with favourites and some surprised. The aforementioned De Bruyne and Salah were at the top with the Liverpool penalty taker top, with 29.9% of players picking the Egyptian. Followed by the Belgian with 18% of the vote. After Liverpool’s title-winning campaign it is no surprise to see how many put faith in the Reds talisman.
The surprise inclusion is Pierre Emerick Aubameyang at 11.8%. Arsenal have been woeful this season but many top managers have banked on the Gabonese forward to suddenly turn things around for the club, but that is yet to happen.
LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 29: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal looks on during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Emirates Stadium on November 29, 2020 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
- Salah – 29.9%
- De Bruyne – 18%
- Kane – 12.4%
- Aubameyang – 11.8%
- Bruno Fernandes – 7.9%
- Heung-Min Son – 7.2%
- James Vardy – 4.0%
- Raheem Sterling – 2.1%
- Timo Werner – 2.0%
- Dominic Calvert-Lewin – 0.8%
The perfect opponent
It is all well and good going and picking up as many of these top picks as possible but choosing who to captain when and where is also key. De Bruyne blanking one week in a game thought to be a sure bet could be catastrophic for your league position.
However, the safer option is typically how many of the most successful Fantasy managers have chosen so far this season.
Funnily enough, Fulham, despite not being bottom of the table and picking up a recent draw against Liverpool have seen the Cottagers have the highest opponent selection at 20.8%. Could that soon change after a run of good performances?
LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 13: (THE SUN OUT,THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Mohamed Salah of Liverpool scores the first goal for liverpool from the penalty spot during the Premier League match between Fulham and Liverpool at Craven Cottage on December 13, 2020 in London, England. A limited number of spectators (2000) are welcomed back to stadiums to watch elite football across England. This was following easing of restrictions on spectators in tiers one and two areas only. (Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Another interesting choice has been 6th place West Ham United. The Hammers have had a good season with Michael Antonio and Jarrod Bowen lifting them up the table with David Moyes at the helm. Despite this, 18.9% of the top managers have picked their captains when facing West Ham.
Leeds United also feature heavily at 10.5% expectantly after the 4-3 loss at Anfield on the opening day, goals seemed guaranteed against Marcelo Bielsa’s side.
Full list:
- Fulham – 20.8%
- West Ham – 18.9%
- West Brom – 15.5%
- Leeds – 10.5%
- Sheffield United – 8.0%
- Brighton – 5.8%
- Leicester City – 5.2%
- Burnley – 4.0%
- Everton – 2.5%
- Aston Villa – 2.3%
Fantasy Football managers put at ease as Mohamed Salah statistics back Klopp starting the Liverpool winger against Fulham
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This article was edited by Josh Barker.
Arsenal betting odds, next game:
Southampton vs Arsenal odds: result, both teams to score, correct score & goalscorers
| Southampton vs Arsenal Result/Both teams score | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|
| Southampton | 5/1 | 9/2 |
| Arsenal | 7/2 | 3/1 |
| Draw | 10/3 | 9/1 |
| Southampton vs Arsenal Goalscorers | First | Last | Anytime |
|---|---|---|---|
| Danny Ings | 13/8 | 13/8 | 21/20 |
| Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang | 15/8 | 15/8 | 11/10 |
| Alexandre Lacazette | 21/10 | 21/10 | 5/4 |
| Eddie Nketiah | 12/5 | 12/5 | 7/5 |
| Daniel N'Lundulu | 3/1 | 3/1 | 21/10 |
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| # | Team | MP | D | P |
| 1 | Manchester United FC | 18 | 10 | 37 |
| 2 | Manchester City FC | 17 | 16 | 35 |
| 3 | Leicester City FC | 18 | 12 | 35 |
| 4 | Liverpool FC | 18 | 16 | 34 |
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 18 | 16 | 33 |
| 6 | Everton FC | 17 | 7 | 32 |
| 7 | Chelsea FC | 18 | 12 | 29 |
| 8 | Southampton FC | 18 | 5 | 29 |
| 9 | West Ham United FC | 18 | 4 | 29 |
| 10 | Arsenal FC | 19 | 4 | 27 |
| 11 | Aston Villa FC | 15 | 13 | 26 |
| 12 | Leeds United | 18 | -4 | 23 |
| 13 | Crystal Palace FC | 19 | -11 | 23 |
| 14 | Wolverhampton Wanderers FC | 19 | -8 | 22 |
| 15 | Newcastle United FC | 18 | -12 | 19 |
| 16 | Brighton & Hove Albion FC | 19 | -7 | 17 |
| 17 | Burnley FC | 17 | -13 | 16 |
| 18 | Fulham FC | 17 | -11 | 12 |
| 19 | West Bromwich Albion | 18 | -27 | 11 |
| 20 | Sheffield United FC | 19 | -22 | 5 |
| Player | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 13 |
| Kane, Harry | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 12 |
| Son, Heung Min | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 12 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United FC | 11 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City FC | 11 |
| Calvert-Lewin, Dominic | Everton FC | 11 |
| Bamford, Patrick | Leeds United | 10 |
| Zaha, Wilfried | Crystal Palace FC | 8 |
| Wilson, Callum | Newcastle United FC | 8 |
| Rashford, Marcus | Manchester United FC | 7 |
| Ings, Danny | Southampton FC | 7 |
| Maupay, Neal | Brighton & Hove Albion FC | 7 |
| Lacazette, Alexandre | Arsenal FC | 7 |
| Mane, Sadio | Liverpool FC | 6 |
| Maddison, James | Leicester City FC | 6 |
| Watkins, Ollie | Aston Villa FC | 6 |
| Barnes, Harvey | Leicester City FC | 6 |
| Abraham, Tammy | Chelsea FC | 6 |
| Grealish, Jack | Aston Villa FC | 5 |
| Sterling, Raheem | Manchester City FC | 5 |
| Player | Team | Red Cards | Yellow Cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bellerin, Hector | Arsenal FC | 0 | 6 |
| Gallagher, Conor | West Bromwich Albion | 0 | 6 |
| Bissouma, Yves | Brighton & Hove Albion FC | 1 | 5 |
| Egan, John | Sheffield United FC | 1 | 5 |
| Hayden, Isaac | Newcastle United FC | 0 | 6 |
| Reid, Bobby | Fulham FC | 0 | 5 |
| Doucoure, Abdoulaye | Everton FC | 0 | 5 |
| Romeu, Oriol | Southampton FC | 0 | 5 |
| Dunk, Lewis | Brighton & Hove Albion FC | 1 | 4 |
| Phillips, Kalvin | Leeds United | 0 | 5 |
| Cash, Matty | Aston Villa FC | 0 | 5 |
| Evans, Jonny | Leicester City FC | 0 | 5 |
| Lundstram, John | Sheffield United FC | 1 | 4 |
| Kante, N`Golo | Chelsea FC | 0 | 5 |
| Milivojevic, Luka | Crystal Palace FC | 1 | 4 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United FC | 0 | 4 |
| Grealish, Jack | Aston Villa FC | 0 | 4 |
| Ward-Prowse, James | Southampton FC | 0 | 4 |
| Tielemans, Youri | Leicester City FC | 0 | 4 |
| Klich, Mateusz | Leeds United | 0 | 4 |
| Player | Team | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| Kane, Harry | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 11 |
| De Bruyne, Kevin | Manchester City FC | 9 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United FC | 7 |
| Grealish, Jack | Aston Villa FC | 7 |
| Son, Heung Min | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 6 |
| Rashford, Marcus | Manchester United FC | 5 |
| Robertson, Andrew | Liverpool FC | 5 |
| Digne, Lucas | Everton FC | 5 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City FC | 4 |
| Ward-Prowse, James | Southampton FC | 4 |
| Werner, Timo | Chelsea FC | 4 |
| Adams, Che | Southampton FC | 4 |
| Harrison, Jack | Leeds United | 4 |
| Chilwell, Benjamin | Chelsea FC | 4 |
| McGinn, John | Aston Villa FC | 4 |
| Cresswell, Aaron | West Ham United FC | 4 |
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 3 |
| Ings, Danny | Southampton FC | 3 |
| Sterling, Raheem | Manchester City FC | 3 |
| Firmino, Roberto | Liverpool FC | 3 |
