CAPTAINCY HYPE 2016/17: FPL Gameweek 29
Picking a Captain in the Fantasy Premier League is among the most important 38 decisions any person will make throughout the course of the season. There's a lot of self-help out there for FPL enthusiasts, with our Hype Team providing three major considerations for the armband 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. 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.
The transfer deadline for GW29 is Saturday 18th March 2017 at 11:30am.
CAPTAINCY HYPE: SEASON PERFORMANCE
To help track our progress throughout the 2016/17 season, below you can check how our Core Captaincy selections have done by week to week in the Fantasy Premier League.
GW1
Essential: Sergio Aguero (Man City vs. Sunderland) - 9pts
Alternative: Jamie Vardy (Hull vs. Leicester) - 2pts
Wildcard: Nathan Redmond (Southampton vs. Watford) - 10pts
GW2
Essential: Harry Kane (Spurs vs. Crystal Palace) - 5pts
Alternative: Roberto Firmino (Burnley vs. Liverpool) - 2pts
Wildcard: Fernando Llorente (Swansea vs. Hull) - 2pts
GW3
Essential: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Hull vs. Man United) - 2pts
Alternative: Eden Hazard (Chelsea vs. Burnley) - 11pts
Wildcard: Romelu Lukaku (Everton vs. Stoke) - 2pts
GW4
Essential: Eden Hazard (Swansea vs. Chelsea) - 1pt
Alternative: Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal vs. Southampton) - 1pt
Wildcard: Tom Heaton (Burnley vs. Hull) - 2pts
GW5
Essential: Harry Kane (Spurs vs. Sunderland) - 9pts
Alternative: Romelu Lukaku (Everton vs. Middlesbrough) - 12pts
Wildcard: Christian Benteke (Crystal Palace vs. Stoke) - 2pts
GW6
Essential: Sergio Aguero (Swansea vs. Man City) - 13pts
Alternative: Sadio Mane (Liverpool vs. Hull) - 7pts
Wildcard: Troy Deeney (Burnley vs. Watford) - 2pts
GW7
Essential: Alexis Sanchez (Burnley vs. Arsenal) - 3pts
Alternative: Philippe Coutinho (Swansea vs. Liverpool) - 2pts
Wildcard: Marcus Rashford (Man United vs. Stoke) - 2pts
GW8
Essential: Sergio Aguero (Man City vs. Everton) - -1pt
Alternative: Diego Costa (Chelsea vs. Leicester) - 9pts
Wildcard: Christian Benteke (Crystal Palace vs. West Ham) - -1pt
GW9
Essential: Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal vs. Middlesbrough) - 3pts
Alternative: Theo Walcott (Arsenal vs. Middlesbrough) - 3pts
Wildcard: Gylfi Sigurdsson (Swansea vs. Watford) - 2pts
GW10
Essential: Alexis Sanchez (Sunderland vs. Arsenal) - 13pts
Alternative: Romelu Lukaku (Everton vs. West Ham) - 12pts
Wildcard: Troy Deeney (Watford vs. Hull) - 2pts
GW11
Essential: Sergio Aguero (Man City vs. Middlesbrough) - 6pts
Alternative: Charlie Austin (Hull City vs. Southampton) - 7pts
Wildcard: Wilfried Bony (West Ham vs. Stoke City) - 2pts
GW12
Essential: Sergio Aguero (Crystal Palace vs. Man City) - 2pts
Alternative: Jermain Defoe (Sunderland vs. Hull City) - 11pts
Wildcard: Harry Kane (Spurs vs. West Ham) - 13pts
GW13
Essential: Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool vs. Sunderland) - 1pt
Alternative: Diego Costa (Chelsea vs. Spurs) - 5pts
Wildcard: Gylfi Sigurdsson (Swansea vs. Crystal Palace) - 10pts
GW14
Essential: Harry Kane (Spurs vs. Swansea) - 13pts
Alternative: Alexis Sanchez (West Ham vs. Arsenal) - 23pts
Wildcard: Victor Anichebe (Sunderland vs. Leicester) - 2pts
GW15
Essential: Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal vs. Stoke) - 5pts
Alternative: Diego Costa (Chelsea vs. West Brom) - 8pts
Wildcard: Divock Origi (Liverpool vs. West Ham) - 9pts
GW16
Essential: Harry Kane (Spurs vs. Hull) - 2pts
Alternative: Diego Costa (Sunderland vs. Chelsea) - 2pts
Wildcard: Marcos Alonso (Sunderland vs. Chelsea) - 7pts
GW17
Essential: Harry Kane (Spurs vs. Burnley) - 2pts
Alternative: Diego Costa (Crystal Palace vs. Chelsea) - 6pts
Wildcard: Marcos Alonso (Crystal Palace vs. Chelsea) - 6pts
GW18
Essential: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Man United vs. Sunderland) - 15pts
Alternative: Sadio Mane (Liverpool vs. Stoke) - 2pts
Wildcard: Marcos Alonso (Chelsea vs. Bournemouth) - 6pts
GW19
Essential: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Man United vs. Middlesbrough) - 5pts
Alternative: Romelu Lukaku (Hull vs. Everton) - 2pts
Wildcard: Marcos Alonso (Chelsea vs. Stoke) - 3pts
GW20
Essential: Sergio Aguero (Man City vs. Burnley) - 7pts
Alternative: Christian Benteke (Crystal Palace vs. Swansea) - 1pt
Wildcard: Olivier Giroud (Bournemouth vs. Arsenal) - 15pts
GW21
Essential: Alexis Sanchez (Swansea vs. Arsenal) - 11pts
Alternative: Harry Kane (Spurs vs. West Brom) - 17pts
Wildcard: Andre Gray (Burnley vs. Southampton) - 2pts
GW22
Essential: Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal vs. Burnley) - 8pts
Alternative: Romelu Lukaku (Crystal Palace vs. Everton) - 2pts
Wildcard: Junior Stanislas (Bournemouth vs. Watford) - 2pts
GW23
Essential: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Man United vs. Hull) - 2pts
Alternative: Dele Alli (Sunderland vs. Spurs) - 3pts
Wildcard: Mesut Ozil (Arsenal vs. Watford) - 2pts
GW24
Essential: Harry Kane (Spurs vs. Middlesbrough) - 6pts
Alternative: Romelu Lukaku (Everton vs. Bournemouth) - 21pts
Wildcard: Patrick van Aanholt (Crystal Palace vs. Sunderland) - 0pts
GW25
Essential: Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal vs. Hull) - 15pts
Alternative: Diego Costa (Burnley vs. Chelsea) - 2pts
Wildcard: Gabriel Jesus (Bournemouth vs. Man City) - 1pt
GW26
Essential: Romelu Lukaku (Everton vs. Sunderland) - 6pts
Alternative: Sadio Mane (Leicester vs. Liverpool) - 2pts
Wildcard: Troy Deeney (Watford vs. West Ham) - 9pts
GW27
Essential: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Man United vs. Bournemouth) - -1pts
Alternative: Gylfi Sigurdsson (Swansea vs. Burnley) - 5pts
Wildcard: Manolo Gabbiadini (Watford vs. Southampton) - 5pts
GW28
Essential: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Liverpool vs. Burnley) - 2pts
Alternative: Romelu Lukaku (Everton vs. West Brom) - 12pts
Wildcard: Fernando Llorente (Hul vs. Swansea) - 1pt
Totals
Essential Total: 9 (1), 5 (2), 2 (3), 1 (4), 9 (5), 13 (6), 3 (7), -1 (8), 3 (9), 13 (10), 6 (11), 2 (12), 1 (13), 13 (14), 5 (15), 2 (16), 2 (17), 15 (18), 5 (19), 7 (20), 11 (21), 8 (22), 2 (23), 6 (24), 15 (25), 6 (26), -1 (27), 2 (28) = 164pts
Alternative Total: 2 (1), 2 (2), 11 (3), 1 (4), 12 (5), 7 (6), 2 (7), 9 (8), 3 (9), 12 (10), 7 (11), 11 (12), 5 (13), 23 (14), 8 (15), 2 (16), 6 (17), 2 (18), 2 (19), 1 (20), 17 (21), 2 (22), 3 (23), 21 (24), 2 (25), 2 (26), 5 (27), 12 (28) = 188pts
Wildcard Total: 10 (1), 2 (2), 2 (3), 2 (4), 2 (5), 2 (6), 2 (7), -1 (8), 2 (9), 2 (10), 2 (11), 13 (12), 10 (13), 2 (14), 9 (15), 7 (16), 6 (17), 6 (18), 3 (19), 15 (20), 2 (21), 2 (22), 2 (23), 0 (24), 1 (25), 9 (26), 5 (27), 1 (28) = 120pts
CAPTAINCY HYPE: THE ESSENTIAL PICK
Player: Romelu Lukaku (Everton)
Position: Forward
Player Price: £10.3 million
Player Selection %: 42.4%
Leading up to Gameweek 28, a weekend of football which saw injuries, rotation, and low scores dominate the headlines; two people were in the running for the honour of being the essential Captaincy pick. In the early stages of the week Mane was the hot favourite to perform at home against a rigid Burnley side, especially after a goal and an assist against Arsenal helped continue a great run of FPL momentum at Anfield. As the week wore on and captaincy flip flopping happened, and with an injury to Roberto Firmino, by Saturday all eyes were on Romelu Lukaku as the leading man, and unlike Mane, the Belgian forward delivered on his support and scored in three games for the first time all season.
Now with Gameweek 29 quickly coming around, Lukaku was amongst the essentials again, and unsurprisingly the Belgian dominated at the polling station:
Lukaku’s next task facing him and an Everton side that are desperate to break into the Premier League’s top six places is a Hull side on the up since Marco Silva’s arrival, and a side who will genuinely believe in beating the drop after beating Swansea 2-1 at home thanks to a brace from Everton’s own forward, Oumar Niasse. Defensively speaking, owners of an Everton defender will be relieved that the in-form forward won’t be able to play against his parent club, and offensively knowing that the away game finished in a 2-2 draw, there is no real cause for concern.
Lukaku’s now scored in every home match during 2017 and looks a real handful, though there are potential concerns if you scratch just below the surface. Last time out we pegged Lukaku as a Captaincy pick in the 2-2 draw and stressed that playing sides with three at the back usually hinder the chances for big forwards like Lukaku, as defenders go touch tight on attacking players and have a man left over should the forward escape the defender. This happened the last time out when Dawson pretty much stepped on Lukaku’s toes for 90 minutes. The big change of course is the change in momentum, with Everton at home, and comfortably offing sides in and around them with relative ease – 3-0’s home win over West Brom was proof of this momentum.
The real test for Everton is seeing out the Hull match intact before a couple of season defining games away at Liverpool then Man United. Both are games that Lukaku could realistically score in, but perhaps home ties with Leicester and Burnley immediately following will be the final hurrah for Lukaku before Double Gameweek sides are formulated through the wildcard chip, and with Everton not featuring in any this season (they were involved in two last season), these next five could be the final five we consider the forward as a legitimate FPL option.
Everton's Next 5 Fixtures
GW29: Hull (h)
GW30: Liverpool (a)
GW31: Man United (a)
GW32: Leicester (h)
GW33: Burnley (h)
Notes on Romelu Lukaku
The Belgian forward has 19 goals, 5 assists, and 166 FPL points this season, with 25 bonus points.
Lukaku is now the outright top points scorer (166) in the FPL as a Forward, with Diego Costa in second with 154 points.
Big Rom has more bonus points than any other player in the FPL, with 26.
Gameweek 28's 12 point return placed Lukaku in the FPL Dream Team for the 4th time this season.
Lukaku has now scored in 3 consecutive games this season (Gameweek's 26, 27, and 28), the first time Lukaku has managed that feat this season.
Last time out against Hull, Lukaku played the full 90 minutes and managed 2 FPL points, not scoring or assisting.
Lukaku is currently averaging 6.1 points per match, which is representative of the 27 fixtures he's participated in so far this season.
CAPTAINCY HYPE: THE ALTERNATIVE PICK
Player: Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
Position: Midfielder
Player Price: £10.2 million
Player Selection %: 27.7%
Chelsea are sponsored by Yokohama tires, but it is not their engineering leading the Blues towards an almost certain Premier League crown this season. That driving force is a bundle of energy in Belgian form, that has seen a drastic upturn in form after a season of dismay last year. Taking note of Chelsea's 1-0 FA Cup quarter final victory against Man United, Eden Hazard was ultimately the difference for the London side pulling off a major scalp against a fellow league rival. Picking the ball up from deep, carrying the ball effortlessly into the opposition half, and most decidedly for FPL players, getting into the danger areas that yield FPL points, Hazard has hit another god patch of form, with his recent FA Cup display another signal of potential intent that Hazard's inclusion as captaincy potential shouldn't be overlooked.
Voted in as essential, Romelu Lukaku predictably ousted competition including Costa, Aguero, and Sanchez, but a visit to Stoke might be more appealing for those who either don't have, or don't want, to put faith in the Belgian yet again. Hazard's in the same bracket of points and positioning in the FPL as Lukaku, but with Chelsea, there is almost a guarantee of a fantasy return. We still watch and bite our nails over Lukaku because Everton aren't the assured package. Chelsea however are strolling to the title and will look to make another indent of their name of the trophy in the summer.
Just like Lukaku, Hazard isn't top choice for set pieces at his club, and has had to settle for grinding his FPL points in open play. Hazard's a different beast altogether, and can go missing, but the limelight and hunch for fantasy owners is there in a potentially tricky tie away at a Stoke side who dimmed the hopes of Sergio Aguero having an unforgetable Double Gameweek return. Simplicity is key though and Hazard's playing for the best team, against a side that was whacked 4-2 on their visit to the Bridge. The potential is there for Hazard to be a big returner, and pressing for a 4th entry into the FPL Dream Team.
Should Hazard end up being injured, which is a potential risk, Diego Costa will take his place should the Belgian not play.
All of Hazard's vital statistical FPL information, as ever, is below.
Chelsea's Next 5 Fixtures
GW29: Stoke (a)
GW30: Crystal Palace (h)
GW31: Man City (h)
GW32: Bournemouth (a)
GW33: Man United (a)
Notes on Eden Hazard
So far this season Eden Hazard has mnaged 11 goals, 7 assists, 163 FPL points, with 23 of those points acting as bonus.
With 11 goals in the league, Hazard is only one of two Chelsea players with 10+ goals, the other is obviously Diego Costa (17).
Hazard has managed the maximum of 3 bonus points on 6 occasions this season, and with 23 points is only 2 behind leader Romelu Lukaku (25).
The Belgian midfielder has featured in the Dream Team 3 times this season, the same number as Diego Costa.
Only Kante (2328) has played more minutes in the Premier League this season than Hazard (2155).
In the 10 matches that Hazard has scored in, Chelsea have gone on to win all 10 matches.
Hazard has featured in every game but one this season, missing out during GW16's 1-0 victory at Sunderland due to a slight injury.
CAPTAINCY HYPE: THE WILDCARD PICK
Player: Josh King (Bournemouth)
Position: Midfielder
Player Price: £5.6 million +
Player Selection %: 7.1%
Here's what Hype Train Chief Writer, @TheHypeTrainSam, has to say regarding GW28 hat-trick hero Josh King and his place as Gameweek 29 wildcard Captain ahead of a home tie against Swansea:
Last week we discussed what has happened to Junior Stanislas, the maverick winger capable of making and scoring goals. Flash forward one week and nobody could care less about the French winger when Bournemouth have an in-form midfielder playing as a striker for the Cherries. King has steadily been proving his worth as an FPL asset and is currently sitting as the 13th best midfielder in the entire fantasy league, and with a budget price he is one of the most viable options currently in the Premier League. Scoring an unbelievable eighteen points in GW28 Josh King shot to the top of the differentials performers list in The Hype Train's weekly wildcard picks, ousting then-differential Romelu Lukaku from the top spot. Without doubt King will certainly have a place in the wildcard hall of fame for the 2016/17 season.
Bournemouth's Next 5 Fixtures
GW29: Swansea (h)
GW30: Southampton (a)
GW31: Liverpool (a)
GW32: Chelsea (h)
GW33: Spurs
Statistically Joshua King is on fire. Three consecutive returns in a row bagging thirty nine points is a mighty return, and if you go back further he has fifty eight points in his last seven fixtures. Taking into account his last seven weeks King has averaged 8.2pts per gameweek, and with Afobe's disastrous penalty miss and his goal scoring confidence he should surely keep taking penalties for Eddie Howe's team. The good news is that Swansea are up next, a team who struggle to keep clean sheets. Swansea have conceded the most goals so far this season at sixty one, at this stage of the season that is more than an average of two goals a game. In turn Bournemouth have scored the most goals from any team between ninth place and twentieth. The signs are encouraging for Joshua King to have another good week in the FPL.
So yeah, who was this Junior Stanislas player anyway?
Notes on Josh King
So far this season Josh King has managed 11 goals, 1 assist, and 116 FPL points, with 8 of those points cting as bonus.
King is the only Bournemouth player to reach 100 FPL points this season, and with 11 Premier League goals, is the club's top scorer.
King's 11 goals in the league is equal with FPL favourites Eden Hazard (CHE) and Fernando Llorente (SWA).
King has only managed 1 assist this season, against Hull during GW8, in a 6-1 home victory. On that day King was a substitute.
Despite 58 FPL points over the last 5 games, King has only managed 6 bonus points across 3 game, with the only 3 coming against West Ham during GW28 when he scored a hatr-trick.
King's 8 bonus points this season is the same number as Nacer Chadli, Gini Wijnaldum, and Michail Antonio.
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, television, live music, festivals, and any relevant topic in the public eye.
You can follow us on Twitter, Like us on Facebook, or visit our website here at www.thehypetrain.co.uk
All aboard.
