18 Dec, 2024

Game Week 17: FPL Bois Best Captains

Make sure you check out the FPL Player Rankings page for more great options ahead of game week 17.

Getting the right pick once again in a week where most heavy hitters blanked added to the festive cheer for us, and this week we highlight three candidates who could bring you more delight with some sweet green arrow candy canes:

Salah – TOT (A)

The only heavyweight who had a return in the previous game week starts things off this week, aiming for a 9th consecutive week with an attacking return. He faces a Spurs defence that ranks 13th for xGC and has lost both games in which they hosted fellow ‘Top 6’ teams.

Salah is a delight for anyone who loves going by stats, as he now ranks 1st for goals scored, 2nd for xG, 5th for nPxG, 2nd for assists, 11th for xA, 1st for Penalty Area Touches, and 9th for Big Chances Created. This output has positioned Liverpool as one of the best attacks in Europe, and they now rank 4th for goals scored, 3rd for xG, and 1st for Big Chances Created in the league despite having played a game less!

Salah has enjoyed playing against Spurs and boasts a strong record with 12 goals and 2 assists in 20 games against them. Salah will be eyeing the chance to translate his attacking output into a win to extend the lead at the top, and an unpredictable defensive side in Spurs could help him do that by utilizing the high line to his strengths. Consistency, spot kicks, creativity, and being the focal point of an exquisite attack make him the ever-reliable option to consider for captaincy this game week.

Palmer – EVE (A)

The talisman of the team that has scored the most goals in the league, Mr. Cole Palmer, is up next. He takes on a shaky Everton defence that ranks 10th for xGC, even though they have played a game less than others (for context, conceding an xGC of even 1 in the remaining game would take them to 14th).

Everton have kept 4 clean sheets in their last 5 games, but if there’s one man you can bank on to unlock this in-form defence, it has to be Palmer, who ranks 3rd for goals scored, 3rd for xG, 3rd for nPxG, 3rd for assists, 5th for xA, and 2nd for Big Chances Created! The Chelsea attack as a whole is also thriving under Maresca and ranks 1st for goals scored, 1st for xG, 1st for xG away, and 2nd for Big Chances Created.

Palmer’s last encounter was a really enjoyable one for him and his owners as he scored FOUR goals in the game, helping Chelsea cruise past the Toffees in a massive 6-0 win. The Chelsea attack has further strengthened since then, and another strong performance can be expected with Palmer at the helm, making him a strong contender for this week’s captaincy.

Isak – IPS (A)

Man in form? Check!
A defensively weak opposition? Check!

Alexander Isak ticks both boxes that FPL managers look for while deciding on captaincy as he takes on a leaky Ipswich Town defence that ranks 18th for xGC and has not kept a clean sheet since GW4 (their only CS of the season so far).

Newcastle, on the other hand, are finding their goal-scoring form and have scored 9 goals in their last 3 games, during which Isak has amassed 30 points! Isak now ranks 9th for goals scored, 6th for xG, 6th for nPxG, and 10th for assists, helping Newcastle climb up to 6th for xG in away games. Last season, Newcastle scored 23 goals in 6 games against newly promoted/relegated teams and have scored 5 goals in 2 games against Leicester and Southampton.

Isak looks set to carry his red-hot streak into this game and get on the scoresheet with his sublime finishing, using the opposition’s vulnerabilities through the middle to his advantage. The penalty duties add a cherry on top to further elevate his ceiling this week and make a strong case for him to wear the armband this week.

The Transfer Wizard is a great tool for helping you accommodate all of these great options in your team.

Thank you for reading our article! Which talisman are you banking on to get you some big green arrow gifts from an away stadium?

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By: The FPL Bois

Last Updated: 18/12