Best Captain for Gameweek 32

The new round of Fantasy Premier League is approaching so we take a look at the candidates and pick out the best captain for Gameweek 32. To do this we use some of the fantastic tools in the Fantasy Football Scout Members Area.

As we approach the latter stages of the competition picking the right captain will be absolutely crucial for rank and mini-league position. As tempting as it is to go against the crowd, giving the armband to the player with the most factors backing them tends to be the best option. So, lets take a look at who we should consider this week.

Gameweek 32 Fixtures

The Options – Cole Palmer

Chelsea have been mixed recently in terms of results, drawing three, winning two and losing one of their last six games. What is important though is that they are scoring goals and in fact have managed to net two or more in five of their last six games. In terms of underlying data Chelsea sit mid-table to poor for most attacking metrics. However they also sit in the top five teams for expected goals and big chances total this season.

The Blues have a fantastic fixture this week against Sheffield United. Overall this season they rank the worst for both total goals conceded and total clean sheets kept. They also sit amongst the worst two teams for metrics including total shots in the box conceded, big chances conceded, shots on target conceded and more.

The standout Chelsea attacker, and by a distance, is Cole Palmer (£5.9m). So far this season Palmer has racked up 13 goals and eight assists. In his last six matches the midfielder also collected a massive five goals and five assists. Overall however, Palmer does not rank amongst the top 10 players for any key underlying attacking metrics overall or in the last six Gameweeks.

Erling Haaland

Manchester City have been in good form recently and we can see that in their four wins and two draws from the last six league matches. Interestingly, in the same period they also scored over two goals in just two of their games. Overall however, they remain amongst the top two teams for goals scored, expected goals, total attempts on goal and total shots on target. They also sit in the top four teams for similar metrics in the last six Gameweeks.

Crystal lay ahead for Manchester City, a side who have won just one of their last six games. They also shipped at least one goal in five of the same matches. As a whole the Eagles have pretty impressive underlying stats – ranking with the top five teams for total shots in the box conceded and total shots on target conceded. That is also a similar case when it comes to their last six Gameweeks.

Erling Haaland (£14.3m) of course leads the Manchester City frontline. The Norwegian has amassed a huge 18 goals and four assists in just 24 matches this season. He also returned in three of his last six matches. It is worth highlighting he played Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United in that period. When it comes to the underlying attacking data Haaland sits amongst the best overall this season. Although outside the top 10 best players for other metrics in the last six Gameweeks, no player has had more big chances than Haaland.

Son Heung-Min

Tottenham are another side maintaining an inconsistent run of recent form. In fact, in their last six matches the London based side have won three, lost two and drawn one. They also netted more than two goals in half of those same games. Offensively this season Tottenham sit amongst the best six teams for multiple metrics including total attempts on goal, total shots on target and total shots in the box. Interestingly they also sit joint first for big chances total in the last six Gameweeks.

They come up against Nottingham Forest at home this week, a team who have won just one of their last six matches and conceded at least one goal in each of them. When digging into their defensive numbers Forest sit joint fifth for goals conceded, mid-table for other key metrics and fourth best in the league for big chances conceded. Their recent data is also very mixed, ranging from having excellent metrics to mid-table and poor.

The talisman in the Tottenham attack is Son Heung-Min (£10.1m) who has managed an impressive 15 goals and eight assists already this campaign. He has also picked up three goals and two assists in his last six league matches. When comparing him to every other player for attacking data this season Son fails to rank in any of the key attacking underlying stats. More recently however, in the last six Gameweeks only two other players have had more shots in the box than him.

Who is the best captain for Gameweek 32?

Son Heung-Min could be a great option. However, Nottingham Forest have maintained some impressive defensive metrics in some areas. We also have to factor in the return of Richarlison who could re-position Son to left-wing.

It could be very tight between Erling Haaland and Cole Palmer. Haaland plays for a side maintaining strong attacking data and is also maintaining some good attacking metrics himself recently. Meanwhile, Palmer has been inevitable recently and one of the most explosive assets in the game.

However, the best captain for Gameweek 32 is Cole Palmer. Not only does Palmer face the worst defence in the league, but he also gets an additional point over Haaland for goals scored and keeping a clean sheet. It is also worth taking into account that Haaland is playing in the latter stages of the Champions League which could affect both his minutes and match fitness.