Best Captain for Gameweek 15

The new round of Fantasy Premier League is approaching with haste. So, here, in this article we take a look at the best captain for Gameweek 15.

aa After registering his 10th double-digit haul in just 14 matches, Mohamed Salah (£13.3m) is looking increasingly difficult to oppose. This comes ahead of Fantasy Premier League’s (FPL) Gameweek 15.

Here, we examine the Egyptian’s credentials. We also run the rule over alternative options from Arsenal, Aston Villa, Bournemouth, Chelsea, and Manchester City.

Those alternatives may be needed if Storm Darragh leads to a postponement of the Merseyside derby. But, as things stand, the game goes ahead.

In this article, we will assess the fallout of the captain poll. We then analyse the best options, Rate My Team (RMT), and the Premier Fantasy Tools ratings ahead of Saturday’s 11:00 GMT deadline.

THE CAPTAIN POLL

Salah produced his biggest score of the season in Liverpool’s 3-3 draw at St. James’ Park. This reinforced his case for a lucrative contract extension.

His 18 points came from two goals and an assist, being vintage Salah. Indeed, having surpassed 150 points by early December, he’s on course to beat his 303 record of 2017/18.

Ahead of Saturday’s Merseyside derby at Goodison Park, he is backed by just under six-tenths of our electorate.

Meanwhile, Ollie Watkins (£9.0m) is propelled into the captaincy conversation following his 12-point salvo against former side Brentford.

Despite playing just 64 minutes of Aston Villa’s 3-1 midweek win, Watkins ended Gameweek 14 joint-top for shots on target (four). In fact, only one player fired more than his six penalty area efforts. The sharpshooter is backed by 6.78% for their hosting of Southampton.

Bukayo Saka (£10.5m) occupies third place with 6.07% of the vote, closely followed by Erling Haaland (£15.0m) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (£6.9m).

THE PLAYER STATISTICS – LAST SIX MATCHES

Looking at top contenders, Salah sits at the summit alongside Haaland for big chances (11) and shots on target (12) in these half-dozen. He also registers non-penalty involvements at the quickest rate – every 76.7 minutes – which is faster than Haaland’s very respectable 88.4.

The Norwegian sits top for attempts (31) and shots in the box (28). In terms of non-penalty expected goals (NPxG), his 5.76 places ahead of Salah and Cole Palmer (£11.0m), who have 3.98 and 3.69. No player has spurned more big chances than Haaland’s nine, several more than second-placed Watkins’ six.

Furthermore, Watkins settles inside the top three for big chances (eight), efforts in the box (20) and shots on target (10). It’s a strong showing for him, also sitting third with a non-penalty expected goal involvement (NPxGI) rate of every 100.4 minutes.

The creative king remains Saka, as the Arsenal talisman places top for expected assists (xA, 1.79), ahead of Salah’s 1.40. He’s at the summit for big chances created (five) too.

Moving onto key passes, Palmer’s dozen edges ahead of Saka (11) and Antoine Semenyo (£5.7m, 10).

Notably, this quartet have managed to reach double figures for both chances created and penalty area shots during this period.

Sticking with Semenyo’s Bournemouth, team-mate Evanilson (£6.1m) beats Semenyo for big chances (seven to three), shots on target (10 to five) and NPxG (3.08 to 1.91).

Yet the Ghana international has the creative edge when it comes to big chances created (three to zero) and key passes (10 to five).

Back to Aston Villa, Morgan Rogers (£5.3m) sits bottom in this assessment for shots (eight), efforts on target (two) and minutes per NPxGI (225.6).

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