CAPTAINCY HYPE 2016/17: End of Season Review

Each season the art of picking a Captaincy in the Fantasy Premier League has a tendency to create a masterpiece, an unforgettable sight that you'll feast your eyes upon for the rest of the season, or it will leave you in an uncontrollable rage that not even Brock Lesner or Connor McGregor could handle. The 2016/17 season is now just a part of the FPL archive, and a time reflect upon our decisions. The Hype Train evaluates our Captaincy decisions, running down how well our Essential, Alternative, and Wildcard, selections got on over the course of the season. All aboard.

HOW DID WE PICK OUR GAMEWEEK CAPTAIN'S?:

Essential - Each Gameweek we put a Twitter poll up of 4 highly selected players with favourable form and fixtures, and had our FPL community decide the fate of our essential pick.

Alternative - There is no definition to the alternative role as it is a preferred pick by The Hype Train's team. We tended to go for overlooked assets, and players whose % ownership was slightly lower than an essential.

Wildcard - In our Weekly Wildcards differential article we pick a player from each game who could score big in the FPL. One of our ten picks who we believed would be a good selection, was given the armband.

CAPTAINCY HYPE: 2016/17 SEASON PERFORMANCE

In each Captaincy Hype article we tracked our progress throughout the 2016/17 season. Below you can check how our Captaincy selections have performed 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) - -1pt

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

GW29

Essential: Romelu Lukaku (Everton vs. Hull) - 16pts

Alternative: Diego Costa (Stoke vs. Chelsea) - 1pt

Wildcard: Josh King (Bournemouth vs. Swansea) - 8pts

GW30

Essential: Diego Costa (Chelsea vs. Crystal Palace) - 1pt

Alternative: Jamie Vardy (Leicester vs. Stoke) - 7pts

Wildcard: Troy Deeney (Watford vs. Sunderland) - 0pts

GW31

Essential: Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal vs. West Ham) - 3pts

Alternative: Jamie Vardy (Leicester vs. Sunderland) - 9pts

Wildcard: Oumar Niasse (Hull vs. Middlesbrough) - 6pts

GW32

Essential: Dele Alli (Spurs vs. Watford) - 8pts

Alternative: Sergio Aguero (Man City vs. Hull) - 9pts

Wildcard: Mesut Ozil (Crystal Palace vs. Arsenal) - 2pts

GW33

Essential: Dele Alli (Spurs vs. Bournemouth) - 6pts

Alternative: Romelu Lukaku (Everton vs. Burnley) - 6pts

Wildcard: Christian Benteke (Crystal Palace vs. Leicester) - 6pts

GW34

Essential: Harry Kane (Crystal Palace vs. Spurs) - 4pts

Alternative: Alvaro Negredo (Bournemouth vs. Middlesbrough and Middlesbrough vs. Sunderland) - 2pts, 2pts = 4pts

Wildcard: Andros Townsend (Liverpool vs. Crystal Palace and Crystal Palace vs. Spurs) - 4pts

GW35

Essential: Christian Benteke (Crystal Palace vs. Burnley) - 1pt

Alternative: Dele Alli (Spurs vs. Arsenal) - 8pts

Wildcard: Benik Afobe (Sunderland vs. Bournemouth) - 1pt

GW36

Essential: Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal vs. Man United and Southampton vs. Arsenal) - 3pts, 11pts = 14pts

Alternative: Dele Alli (West Ham vs. Spurs) - 2pts

Wildcard: Benik Afobe (Sunderland vs. Bournemouth) - 5pts

GW37

Essential: Alexis Sanchez (Stoke vs. Arsenal and Arsenal vs. Sunderland) - 12pts, 15pts = 27pts

Alternative: Harry Kane (Spurs vs. Man United and Leicester vs. Spurs) - 7pts, 24pts = 31pts

Wildcard: Gabriel Jesus (Man City vs. Leicester and Man City vs. West Brom) - 8pts, 11pts = 19pts

GW38

Essential: Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool vs. Middlesbrough) - 10pts

Alternative: Harry Kane (Hull vs. Spurs) - 17pts

Wildcard: Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool vs. Middlesbrough) - 5pts

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), 16 (29), 1 (30), 3 (31), 8 (32), 6 (33), 4 (34), 1 (35), 14 (36), 27 (37), 10 (38) = 254pts

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), 1 (29), 7 (30), 9 (31), 9 (32), 6 (33), 4 (34), 8 (35), 2 (36), 31 (37), 17 (38) = 285pts

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), 8 (29), 0 (30), 6 (31), 2 (32), 6 (33), 4 (34), 1 (35), 5 (36), 19 (37), 5 (38) = 172pts

CAPTAINCY HYPE: ESSENTIAL PICKS

Each week during the 2016/17 FPL season we took to our Twitter account, @RealHypeTrain, with 4 players who have high ownership selection percentage, meaning all of our Essential picks have been Community picks. Here's a rundown of the picks, before we say who worked, and where our community got it wrong.

FPL Essential Picks

GW1: Sergio Aguero (Man City vs. Sunderland) - 9pts

GW2: Harry Kane (Spurs vs. Crystal Palace) - 5pts

GW3: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Hull vs. Man United) - 2pts

GW4: Eden Hazard (Swansea vs. Chelsea) - 1pt

GW5: Harry Kane (Spurs vs. Sunderland) - 9pts

GW6: Sergio Aguero (Swansea vs. Man City) - 13pts

GW7: Alexis Sanchez (Burnley vs. Arsenal) - 3pts

GW8: Sergio Aguero (Man City vs. Everton) - -1pt

GW9: Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal vs. Middlesbrough) - 3pts

GW10: Alexis Sanchez (Sunderland vs. Arsenal) - 13pts

GW11: Sergio Aguero (Man City vs. Middlesbrough) - 6pts

GW12: Sergio Aguero (Crystal Palace vs. Man City) - 2pts

GW13: Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool vs. Sunderland) - 1pt

GW14: Harry Kane (Spurs vs. Swansea) - 13pts

GW15: Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal vs. Stoke) - 5pts

GW16: Harry Kane (Spurs vs. Hull) - 2pts

GW17: Harry Kane (Spurs vs. Burnley) - 2pts

GW18: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Man United vs. Sunderland) - 15pts

GW19: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Man United vs. Middlesbrough) - 5pts

GW20: Sergio Aguero (Man City vs. Burnley) - 7pts

GW21: Alexis Sanchez (Swansea vs. Arsenal) - 11pts

GW22: Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal vs. Burnley) - 8pts

GW23: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Man United vs. Hull) - 2pts

GW24: Harry Kane (Spurs vs. Middlesbrough) - 6pts

GW25: Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal vs. Hull) - 15pts

GW26: Romelu Lukaku (Everton vs. Sunderland) - 6pts

GW27: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Man United vs. Bournemouth) - -1pt

GW28: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Liverpool vs. Burnley) - 2pts

GW29: Romelu Lukaku (Everton vs. Hull) - 16pts

GW30: Diego Costa (Chelsea vs. Crystal Palace) - 1pt

GW31: Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal vs. West Ham) - 3pts

GW32: Dele Alli (Spurs vs. Watford) - 8pts

GW33: Dele Alli (Spurs vs. Bournemouth) - 6pts

GW34: Harry Kane (Crystal Palace vs. Spurs) - 4pts

GW35: Christian Benteke (Crystal Palace vs. Burnley) - 1pt

GW36: Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal vs. Man United and Southampton vs. Arsenal) - 3pts, 11pts = 14pts

GW37: Alexis Sanchez (Stoke vs. Arsenal and Arsenal vs. Sunderland) - 12pts, 15pts = 27pts

GW38: Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool vs. Middlesbrough) - 10pts

Essential Total: 254pts

Player Selection Breakdown

Sergio Aguero (MCI)

Times Selected: 6

Selected: GW1 (9), GW6 (13), GW8 (-1), GW11 (6), GW12 (2), GW20 (7pts)

FPL Returns: 4 successes, 2 blanks

Total Points: 36pts

Harry Kane (TOT)

Times Selected: 7

Selected: GW2 (5), GW5 (9), GW14 (13), GW16 (2), GW17 (2), GW24 (6), GW34 (4pts)

FPL Returns: 5 successes, 2 blanks

Total Points: 41pts

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (MUN)

Times Selected: 6

Selected: GW3 (2), GW18 (15), GW19 (5), GW23 (2), GW27 (-1), GW28 (2)

FPL Returns: 2 successes, 4 blanks

Total Points: 25pts

Eden Hazard (CHE)

Times Selected: 1

Selected: GW4 (1)

FPL Returns: 0 successes, 1 blank

Total Points: 1pt

Alexis Sanchez (ARS)

Times Selected: 10

Selected: GW7 (3), GW9 (3), GW10 (13), GW15 (5), GW21 (11), GW22 (8), GW25 (15), GW31 (3), GW36 (14), GW27 (27)

FPL Returns: 7 successes, 3 blanks

Total Points: 102pts

Philippe Coutinho (LIV)

Times Selected: 2

Selected: GW13 (1pt), GW38 (10pts)

FPL Returns: 1 success, 1 blank

Total Points: 11pts

Romelu Lukaku (EVE)

Times Selected: 2

Selected: GW26 (6pts), GW29 (16)

FPL Returns: 2 successes, 0 blanks

Total Points: 22pts

Diego Costa (CHE)

Times Selected: 1

Selected: GW30 (1)

FPL Returns: 0 successes, 1 blank

Total Points: 1pt

Dele Alli (TOT)

Times Selected: 2

Selected: GW32 (8), GW33 (6)

FPL Returns: 2 successes, 0 blanks

Total Points: 14pts

Christian Benteke (CRY)

Times Selected: 1

Selected: GW35 (1)

FPL Returns: 0 successes, 1 blank

Total Points: 1pt

Essential Captains: Overall Breakdown

Players Featured (10):

Alexis Sanchez (10)

Harry Kane (7)

Sergio Aguero (6)

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (6)

Romelu Lukaku (2)

Philippe Coutinho (2)

Dele Alli (2)

Eden Hazard (1)

Diego Costa (1)

Christian Benteke (1)

Teams Featured (8):

Arsenal (10)

Spurs (9)

Man City (6)

Man United (6)

Chelsea (2)

Liverpool (2)

Everton (2)

Crystal Palace (1)

Top Performing Essentials:

Alexis Sanchez: 102pts (10 appearances)

Harry Kane: 41pts (7 appearances)

Sergio Aguero: 36pts (6 appearances)

Zlatan Ibrahimovic: 25pts (6 appearances)

Romelu Lukaku: 22pts (2 appearances)

Dele Alli: 14pts (2 appearances)

Philippe Coutinho: 11pts (2 appearances)

Eden Hazard: 1pt (1 appearance)

Diego Costa: 1pt (1 appearance)

Christian Benteke: 1pt (1 appearance)

Captaincy Successes & Failures:

- 23 successes and 15 failures from 38 Gameweek's

- Ibrahimovic blanked a high of 4 times from 6 appearances

- Alexis Sanchez managed 7 returns from 10 matches, an essential high

- The best Gameweek score was GW37, which saw Sanchez earn 27pts

- The best individual Gameweek score was Romelu Lukaku's 16pt return during GW29

- Two captaincy essentials managed negative points: Aguero (GW8) and Ibrahimovic (GW27)

CAPTAINCY HYPE: ALTERNATIVE PICKS

Over the course of the 2016/17 our alternative picks were usually players who commanded a smaller FPL ownership, but also those who we believed were being overlooked. Let's have a look how the alternative picks fared, and how they got more points than essentials.

FPL Alternative Picks

GW1: Jamie Vardy (Hull vs. Leicester) - 2pts

GW2: Roberto Firmino (Burnley vs. Liverpool) - 2pts

GW3: Eden Hazard (Chelsea vs. Burnley) - 11pts

GW4: Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal vs. Southampton) - 1pt

GW5: Romelu Lukaku (Everton vs. Middlesbrough) - 12pts

GW6: Sadio Mane (Liverpool vs. Hull) - 7pts

GW7: Philippe Coutinho (Swansea vs. Liverpool) - 2pts

GW8: Diego Costa (Chelsea vs. Leicester) - 9pts

GW9: Theo Walcott (Arsenal vs. Middlesbrough) - 3pts

GW10: Romelu Lukaku (Everton vs. West Ham) - 12pts

GW11: Charlie Austin (Hull City vs. Southampton) - 7pts

GW12: Jermain Defoe (Sunderland vs. Hull City) - 11pts

GW13: Diego Costa (Chelsea vs. Spurs) - 5pts

GW14: Alexis Sanchez (West Ham vs. Arsenal) - 23pts

GW15: Diego Costa (Chelsea vs. West Brom) - 8pts

GW16: Diego Costa (Sunderland vs. Chelsea) - 2pts

GW17: Diego Costa (Crystal Palace vs. Chelsea) - 6pts

GW18: Sadio Mane (Liverpool vs. Stoke) - 2pts

GW19: Romelu Lukaku (Hull vs. Everton) - 2pts

GW20: Christian Benteke (Crystal Palace vs. Swansea) - 1pt

GW21: Harry Kane (Spurs vs. West Brom) - 17pts

GW22: Romelu Lukaku (Crystal Palace vs. Everton) - 2pts

GW23: Dele Alli (Sunderland vs. Spurs) - 3pts

GW24: Romelu Lukaku (Everton vs. Bournemouth) - 21pts

GW25: Diego Costa (Burnley vs. Chelsea) - 2pts

GW26: Sadio Mane (Leicester vs. Liverpool) - 2pts

GW27: Gylfi Sigurdsson (Swansea vs. Burnley) - 5pts

GW28: Romelu Lukaku (Everton vs. West Brom) - 12pts

GW29: Diego Costa (Stoke vs. Chelsea) - 1pt

GW30: Jamie Vardy (Leicester vs. Stoke) - 7pts

GW31: Jamie Vardy (Leicester vs. Sunderland) - 9pts

GW32: Sergio Aguero (Man City vs. Hull) - 9pts

GW33: Romelu Lukaku (Everton vs. Burnley) - 6pts

GW34: Alvaro Negredo (Bournemouth vs. Middlesbrough and Middlesbrough vs. Sunderland) - 2pts, 2pts = 4pts

GW35: Dele Alli (Spurs vs. Arsenal) - 8pts

GW36: Dele Alli (West Ham vs. Spurs) - 2pts

GW37: Harry Kane (Spurs vs. Man United and Leicester vs. Spurs) - 7pts, 24pts = 31pts

GW38: Harry Kane (Hull vs. Spurs) - 17pts

Alternative Total: 285pts

Player Selection Breakdown

Jamie Vardy (LEI)

Times Selected: 3

Selected: GW1 (2), GW30 (7), GW31 (9)

FPL Returns: 2 successes, 1 blank

Total Points: 18pts

Roberto Firmino (LIV)

Times Selected: 1

Selected: GW2 (2)

FPL Returns: 0 successes, 1 blank

Total Points: 2pts

Eden Hazard (CHE)

Times Selected: 1

Selected: GW3 (11)

FPL Returns: 1 success, 0 blanks

Total Points: 11pts

Alexis Sanchez (ARS)

Times Selected: 2

Selected: GW4 (1), GW14 (23)

FPL Returns: 1 success, 1 blank

Total Points: 24pts

Romelu Lukaku (EVE)

Times Selected: 7

Selected: GW5 (12), GW10 (12), GW19 (2), GW22 (2), GW24 (21), GW28 (12), GW33 (6)

FPL Returns: 5 successes, 2 blanks

Total Points: 67pts

Sadio Mane (LIV)

Times Selected: 3

Selected: GW6 (7), GW18 (2), GW26 (2)

FPL Returns: 1 success, 2 blanks

Total Points: 11pts

Philippe Coutinho (LIV)

Times Selected: 1

Selected: GW7 (2pts)

FPL Returns: 0 successes, 1 blank

Total Points: 2pts

Diego Costa (CHE)

Times Selected: 7

Selected: GW8 (9), GW13 (5), GW15 (8), GW16 (2), GW17 (6), GW25 (2), GW29 (1)

FPL Returns: 4 successes, 3 blanks

Total Points: 33pts

Theo Walcott (ARS)

Times Selected: 1

Selected: GW9 (3)

FPL Returns: 0 successes, 1 blank

Total Points: 3pts

Charlie Austin (SOU)

Times Selected: 1

Selected: GW11 (7)

FPL Returns: 1 success, 0 blanks

Total Points: 7pts

Jermain Defoe (SUN)

Times Selected: 1

Selected: GW12 (11)

FPL Returns: 1 success, 0 blanks

Total Points: 11pts

Christian Benteke (CRY)

Times Selected: 1

Selected: GW20 (1)

FPL Returns: 0 successes, 1 blank

Total Points: 1pt

Harry Kane (TOT)

Times Selected: 3

Selected: GW21 (17), GW37 (31), GW38 (17)

FPL Returns: 3 successes, 0 blanks

Total Points: 65pts

Dele Alli (TOT)

Times Selected: 3

Selected: GW23 (3), GW35 (8), GW36 (2)

FPL Returns: 1 success, 2 blanks

Total Points: 13pts

Gylfi Sigurdsson (SWA)

Times Selected: 1

Selected: GW27 (5)

FPL Returns: 1 success, 0 blanks

Total Points: 5pts

Sergio Aguero (MCI)

Times Selected: 1

Selected: GW32 (9)

FPL Returns: 1 success, 0 blanks

Total Points: 9pts

Alvaro Negredo (MID)

Times Selected: 1

Selected: GW34 (4pts)

FPL Returns: 0 successes, 1 blank

Total Points: 4pts

Alternative Captains: Overall Breakdown

Players Featured (17):

Romelu Lukaku (7)

Diego Costa (7)

Sadio Mane (3)

Jamie Vardy (3)

Harry Kane (3)

Dele Alli (3)

Alexis Sanchez (2)

Roberto Firmino (1)

Eden Hazard (1)

Philippe Coutinho (1)

Theo Walcott (1)

Charlie Austin (1)

Jermain Defoe (1)

Christian Benteke (1)

Gylfi Sigurdsson (1)

Sergio Aguero (1)

Alvaro Negredo (1)

Teams Featured (12):

Chelsea (8)

Everton (7)

Spurs (6)

Liverpool (5)

Leicester (3)

Arsenal (3)

Southampton (1)

Sunderland (1)

Crystal Palace (1)

Swansea (1)

Man City (1)

Middlesbrough (1)

Top Performing Alternatives:

Romelu Lukaku: 67pts (7 appearances)

Harry Kane: 65pts (3 appearances)

Diego Costa: 33pts (7 appearances)

Alexis Sanchez: 24pts (2 appearances)

Jamie Vardy: 18pts (3 appearances)

Dele Alli: 13pts (3 appearances)

Eden Hazard: 11pts (1 appearance)

Sadio Mane: 11pts (3 appearances)

Jermain Defoe: 11pts (1 appearance)

Sergio Aguero: 9pts (1 appearance)

Charlie Austin: 7pts (1 appearance)

Gylfi Sigurdsson: 5pts (1 appearance)

Alvaro Negredo: 4pts (1 appearance)

Theo Walcott: 3pts (1 appearance)

Roberto Firmino: 2pts (1 appearance)

Philippe Coutinho: 2pts (1 appearance)

Christian Benteke: 1pt (1 appearance)

Captaincy Successes & Failures:

- 22 successes and 16 failures from 38 Gameweek's

- Diego Costa blanked a high of 3 times from 7 appearances

- Romelu Lukaku managed 5 returns from 7 matches, an alternative high

- The best Gameweek score was GW37, which saw Kane earn 31pts

- The best individual Gameweek score was Alexis Sanchez's 23pt return during GW14

- Harry Kane scored a hat-trick in each of his 3 inclusions as an alternative captain

CAPTAINCY HYPE: WILDCARD PICKS

Our crown jewel of FPL discovery each week can be found in our Weekly Wildcards differential article which sees us pick a lowly % selected player from each game of the season. These selections are left field who could prove to be a wise transfer in, even if just for the advertised Gameweek. We picked a Wildcard Captain that was featured in the Captaincy Hype article each week. Unlike with the essentials whereby a small number of players dominated the polls, there are a lot more differential picks to wade through, so let's get stuck in.

FPL Wildcards Picks

GW1: Nathan Redmond (Southampton vs. Watford) - 10pts

GW2: Fernando Llorente (Swansea vs. Hull) - 2pts

GW3: Romelu Lukaku (Everton vs. Stoke) - 2pts

GW4: Tom Heaton (Burnley vs. Hull) - 2pts

GW5: Christian Benteke (Crystal Palace vs. Stoke) - 2pts

GW6: Troy Deeney (Burnley vs. Watford) - 2pts

GW7: Marcus Rashford (Man United vs. Stoke) - 2pts

GW8: Christian Benteke (Crystal Palace vs. West Ham) - -1pt

GW9: Gylfi Sigurdsson (Swansea vs. Watford) - 2pts

GW10: Troy Deeney (Watford vs. Hull) - 2pts

GW11: Wilfried Bony (West Ham vs. Stoke City) - 2pts

GW12: Harry Kane (Spurs vs. West Ham) - 13pts

GW13: Gylfi Sigurdsson (Swansea vs. Crystal Palace) - 10pts

GW14: Victor Anichebe (Sunderland vs. Leicester) - 2pts

GW15: Divock Origi (Liverpool vs. West Ham) - 9pts

GW16: Marcos Alonso (Sunderland vs. Chelsea) - 7pts

GW17: Marcos Alonso (Crystal Palace vs. Chelsea) - 6pts

GW18: Marcos Alonso (Chelsea vs. Bournemouth) - 6pts

GW19: Marcos Alonso (Chelsea vs. Stoke) - 3pts

GW20: Olivier Giroud (Bournemouth vs. Arsenal) - 15pts

GW21: Andre Gray (Burnley vs. Southampton) - 2pts

GW22: Junior Stanislas (Bournemouth vs. Watford) - 2pts

GW23: Mesut Ozil (Arsenal vs. Watford) - 2pts

GW24: Patrick van Aanholt (Crystal Palace vs. Sunderland) - 0pts

GW25: Gabriel Jesus (Bournemouth vs. Man City) - 1pt

GW26: Troy Deeney (Watford vs. West Ham) - 9pts

GW27: Manolo Gabbiadini (Watford vs. Southampton) - 5pts

GW28: Fernando Llorente (Hul vs. Swansea) - 1pt

GW29: Josh King (Bournemouth vs. Swansea) - 8pts

GW30: Troy Deeney (Watford vs. Sunderland) - 0pts

GW31: Oumar Niasse (Hull vs. Middlesbrough) - 6pts

GW32: Mesut Ozil (Crystal Palace vs. Arsenal) - 2pts

GW33: Christian Benteke (Crystal Palace vs. Leicester) - 6pts

GW34: Andros Townsend (Liverpool vs. Crystal Palace and Crystal Palace vs. Spurs) - 4pts

GW35: Benik Afobe (Sunderland vs. Bournemouth) - 1pt

GW36: Benik Afobe (Sunderland vs. Bournemouth) - 5pts

GW37: Gabriel Jesus (Man City vs. Leicester and Man City vs. West Brom) - 8pts, 11pts = 19pts

GW38: Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool vs. Middlesbrough) - 5pts

Wildcard Total: 172pts

Player Selection Breakdown

Nathan Redmond (SOU)

Times Selected: 1

Selected: GW1 (10)

FPL Returns: 1 success, 0 blanks

Total Points: 10pts

Fernando Llorente (SWA)

Times Selected: 2

Selected: GW2 (2), GW28 (1)

FPL Returns: 0 successes, 2 blanks

Total Points: 3pts

Romelu Lukaku (EVE)

Times Selected: 1

Selected: GW3 (2)

FPL Returns: 0 successes, 1 blank

Total Points: 2pts

Tom Heaton (BUR)

Times Selected: 1

Selected: GW4 (2)

FPL Returns: 0 successes, 1 blank

Total Points: 2pts

Christian Benteke (CRY)

Times Selected: 3

Selected: GW5 (2), GW8 (-1), GW33 (6)

FPL Returns: 1 success, 2 blanks

Total Points: 7pts

Troy Deeney (WAT)

Times Selected: 4

Selected: GW6 (2), GW10 (2), GW26 (9), GW30 (0)

FPL Returns: 1 success, 3 blanks

Total Points: 13pts

Marcus Rashford (MUN)

Times Selected: 1

Selected: GW7 (2)

FPL Returns: 0 successes, 1 blank

Total Points: 2pts

Gylfi Sigurdsson (SWA)

Times Selected: 1

Selected: GW9 (2), GW13 (10)

FPL Returns: 1 success, 1 blank

Total Points: 12pts

Wilfried Bony (STK)

Times Selected: 1

Selected: GW11 (2)

FPL Returns: 0 successes, 1 blank

Total Points: 2pts

Harry Kane (TOT)

Times Selected: 1

Selected: GW12 (13)

FPL Returns: 1 success, 0 blanks

Total Points: 13pts

Victor Anichebe (SUN)

Times Selected: 1

Selected: GW14 (2)

FPL Returns: 0 successes, 1 blank

Total Points: 2pts

Divock Origi (LIV)

Times Selected: 1

Selected: GW15 (9)

FPL Returns: 1 success, 0 blanks

Total Points: 9pts

Marcos Alonso (CHE)

Times Selected: 4

Selected: GW16 (7), GW17 (6), GW18 (6), GW19 (3)

FPL Returns: 4 success, 0 blanks

Total Points: 22pts

Olivier Giroud (ARS)

Times Selected: 1

Selected: GW20 (15)

FPL Returns: 1 success, 0 blanks

Total Points: 15pts

Andre Gray (BUR)

Times Selected: 1

Selected: GW21 (2)

FPL Returns: 0 successes, 1 blank

Total Points: 2pts

Junior Stanislas (BOU)

Times Selected: 1

Selected: GW22 (2)

FPL Returns: 0 successes, 1 blank

Total Points: 2pts

Mesut Ozil (ARS)

Times Selected: 2

Selected: GW23 (2), GW32 (2)

FPL Returns: 0 successes, 2 blanks

Total Points: 4pts

Patrick van Aanholt (CRY)

Times Selected: 1

Selected: GW24 (0)

FPL Returns: 0 successes, 1 blank

Total Points: 0pts

Gabriel Jesus (MCI)

Times Selected: 2

Selected: GW25 (1), GW37 (9, 11)

FPL Returns: 1 success, 1 blank

Total Points: 20pts

Manolo Gabbiadini (SOU)

Times Selected: 1

Selected: GW27 (5)

FPL Returns: 1 success, 0 blanks

Total Points: 5pts

Josh King (BOU)

Times Selected: 1

Selected: GW29 (8)

FPL Returns: 1 success, 0 blanks

Total Points: 8pts

Oumar Niasse (HUL)

Times Selected: 1

Selected: GW31 (6)

FPL Returns: 1 success, 0 blanks

Total Points: 6pts

Andros Townsend (CRY)

Times Selected: 1

Selected: GW34 (2, 2)

FPL Returns: 0 successes, 1 blank

Total Points: 4pts

Benik Afobe (BOU)

Times Selected: 2

Selected: GW35 (1), GW36 (5)

FPL Returns: 1 success, 1 blank

Total Points: 6pts

Daniel Sturridge (LIV)

Times Selected: 1

Selected: GW38 (5)

FPL Returns: 1 success, 0 blanks

Total Points: 5pts

Alternative Captains: Overall Breakdown

Players Featured (25):

Troy Deeney (4)

Marcos Alonso (4)

Christian Benteke (3)

Fernando Llorente (2)

Mesut Ozil (2)

Gabriel Jesus (2)

Benik Afobe (2)

Nathan Redmond (1)

Romelu Lukaku (1)

Tom Heaton (1)

Marcus Rashord (1)

Gylfi Sigurdsson (1)

Wilfried Bony (1)

Harry Kane (1)

Victor Anichebe (1)

Divock Origi (1)

Olivier Giroud (1)

Andre Gray (1)

Junior Stanislas (1)

Patrick van Aanholt (1)

Manolo Gabbiadini (1)

Josh King (1)

Oumar Niasse (1)

Andros Townsend (1)

Danirl Sturridge (1)

Teams Featured (16):

Crystal Palace (5)

Watford (4)

Bournemouth (4)

Arsenal (3)

Swansea (3)

Man City (2)

Liverpool (2)

Southampton (2)

Burnley (2)

Everton (1)

Man United (1)

Stoke (1)

Spurs (1)

Sunderland (1)

Chelsea (1)

Hull (1)

Top Performing Wildcards:

Marcos Alonso: 22pts (4 appearances)

Gabriel Jesus: 20pts (2 appearances)

Olivier Giroud: 15pts (1 appearance)

Harry Kane: 13pts (1 appearance)

Troy Deeney: 13pts (4 appearances)

Nathan Redmond: 10pts (1 appearance)

Divock Origi: 9pts (1 appearance)

Josh King: 8pts (1 appearance)

Christian Benteke: 7pts (3 appearances)

Oumar Niasse: 6pts (1 appearance)

Benik Afobe: 6pts (2 appearances)

Gylfi Sigurdsson: 5pts (1 appearance)

Manolo Gabbiadini: 5pts (1 appearance)

Daniel Sturridge: 5pts (1 appearance)

Mesut Ozil: 4pts (2 appearances)

Andros Townsend: 4pts (1 appearance)

Fernando Llorente: 3pts (2 appearances)

Romelu Lukaku: 2pts (1 appearance)

Tom Heaton: 2pts (1 appearance)

Marcus Rashford: 2pts (1 appearance)

Wilfried Bony: 2pts (1 appearance)

Victor Anichebe: 2pts (1 appearance)

Andre Gray: 2pts (1 appearance)

Junior Stanislas: 2pts (1 appearance)

Patrick van Aanholt: 0pts (1 appearance)

Captaincy Successes & Failures:

- 17 successes and 21 failures from 38 Gameweek's.

- The best individual Gameweek was Olivier Giroud's 15pt haul during GW20's 3-3 draw away at Bournemouth.

- 37/38 of the wildcards registered points, the only differential pick to not pick up points was Patrick van Aanholt's zero point return against old club Sunderland during GW24.

- 18 of the wildcard captaincy selections were only selected once. Only 8/18 of the singular picks managed to score or assist, with the remaining 10/10 gaining 2 points or less.

- Defence proved pivotal as Marcos Alonso finished with the most differential points, due to three clean sheets and an assist.

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