FPL Best Captain for Gameweek 18

We take a look at some of the top candidates and pick out the FPL best captain for Gameweek 18. Using the Fantasy Football Scout members area we can access its underlying stats and fixture ticker to come to a conclusion.

The player you select as your captain will earn you double points in any given round. Captaincy is one of the biggest contributors to your overall score and rank. Because of this, finding out the FPL best captain for Gameweek 18 could be key.

Gameweek 18 fixtures

Below we can see the fixture ticker – it has ordered the matches in difficulty order. According to the ticker the teams at the top have the easiest fixtures and the teams at the bottom have the toughest fixtures.

The fixture ticker can be very useful when trying to pick out a captain but other factors should also be considered.

The Options – Ollie Watkins

Aston Villa sit right at the top of the fixture ticker this week. They have also been brilliant this season and sit third in the league because of that. Aston Villa play at home this week, a place they have won on every occasion this season. In terms of attacking data they rank second best for goals scored and amongst the top six teams for expected goals, big chances total and shots on target total.

Sheffield United lay ahead for Aston Villa. The Blades have been woeful since returning to top flight football. In fact they sit rock bottom of the table. Defensively Sheffield United have conceded more goals than any other side in the league but they are also the worst for most underlying defensive data.

Leading the lethal Aston Villa frontline at home is Ollie Watkins (£8.7m). In terms of output Watkins sits fourth overall for points so far which reflects his consistency. When comparing his season data to every other player he sits fourth for non-penalty expected goal involvement, third for total attempts, second best for shots in the box and fourth for big chances total.

Son Heung-Min

Tottenham rank fifth on the ticker this week, however, their fixture could be considered as tough by some. In terms of form prior to their four losses from five recently they won four on the bounce. They also won their last two matches. With their underlying attacking stats they sit joint fourth for goals scored, second best for total attempts on goal, third for shots in the box and third best for shots on target.

As we mentioned, Tottenham’ next match could be tough. Everton are not the team they were. In fact, the Toffees have won all of their last four matches whilst keeping clean sheets. When focusing on their defensive data they also sit fifth best for expected goals conceded, joint second best for goals conceded, third best for shots on target conceded and fourth best for big chances conceded.

Son Heung-Min (£9.8m) is no longer leading the frontline – recently starting the last two matches on the left with Richarlison up front. In terms of output Son has the second most points in the entire game currently. Offensively this season Son also ranks eighth for non-penalty expected goal involvement, joint third best for goals scored, and outside the top 10 players for big chances total and shots in the box total.

Mohamed Salah

Liverpool are in great form recently – winning three, drawing two and remaining unbeaten in their last five league games. They are also second in the league with Aston Villa but ahead on goal difference. They play at home this week. In terms of attacking stats Liverpool rank second best for expected goals, joint third for goals scored, top for total attempts on goal, first for shots in the box and third for big chances total.

Liverpool come up against Arsenal this week, another team vying for the title and the team that sit top of the table. Arsenal are very strong away from home. In fact, when comparing their away games to all other sides they rank the best for expected goals conceded, joint best for goals conceded, joint best for clean sheets kept, the best for big chances conceded and the best for shots in the box conceded.

Mohamed Salah (£13.2m) is having another fantastic season for Liverpool. That is telling as he sits as the highest scoring player in FPL so far. When focusing on the underlying data Salah ranks second best for non-penalty expected goal involvement, second best for goals scored, and in the top four players for shots in the box, shots on target and big chances total.

Who is the best captain for Gameweek 18?

Son Heung-Min and Mohamed Salah are great options but they go into the new round with tough opposition who defensively have been maintaining some of the best data in the league this season.

The best captain for Gameweek 18 is Ollie Watkins. Not only does his side maintain relentless home form, a place they play this week but they are also face the worst defence in the league. Watkins is also producing great data and staying consistent.