The best captain in Gameweek 26

We find the best captain in Gameweek 26. With the help of the Fantasy Football Scout members area we can use the season ticker and underlying stats to find the best captaincy option for the Gameweek ahead.

Captaincy is one of the most important decisions a manager can make in fantasy football. Writing up a shortlist of options can be helpful but picking out the best captain in Gameweek 26 can be even more important for FPL managers.

Fixture ticker

Below you can see teams near the top with the easier fixtures, going all the way down the table to teams with the tougher fixtures. The season ticker can be very helpful. However, won’t always give us the full story on which players make the best captaincy options.

Erling Haaland

Manchester City sit at the bottom of the fixture ticker with a game against Newcastle. In their last six matches they rank first for goals (19), second for attempts on goal (118), second for shots in the box (78), first for big chances total (31) and first for shots in target (42).

Although they have put up some fantastic stats they face a tough Newcastle who rank the best for shots in the box conceded (29), second best for total shots conceded (45), second best for shots on target conceded (13) and joint sixth for big chances conceded (10).

Erling Haaland (£12.2m) has been prolific this season. The Norwegian has bagged 27 goals and created four assists. His recent stats have also been impressive. In the same six-match period as above, he ranks second for goals scored (six), joint first for goals scored in the box (six), fifth for attempts on goal (18), fourth for attempts in the box (18) and first for big chances total (12).

Marcus Rashford

Manchester United also rank near the bottom of the fixture ticker this week. Their recent performances have been fantastic. In their last six matches amongst all teams they rank third for goals (14), third for attempts on goal (104), third for shots in the box (70), third for big chances total (12) and second for shots on target (35).

Liverpool lay ahead for Manchester United. Liverpool have have been torrid defensively for large parts of the season. In the same six-match period they rank the best for clean sheets kept (five) around mid-table for other attacking data points but the second worst in the league for big chances conceded (20).

Marcus Rashford (£7.3m) is having a great campaign. The midfielder has returned 14 goals and three assists in 24 matches. His recent stats are also impressive. Amongst all players in the last six he ranks first for goals (seven), joint first for goals in the box (six), second for attempts on goal (26), third for shots in the box (20) and big chances total (eight).

Bukayo Saka

Arsenal have been very consistency and that consistency has seen them maintain top spot in the Premier League for some time. In the last six matches they rank second for goals (16), first for attempts on goal (132), first for shots in the box (91), fourth for big chances total (19) and joint third for shots on target (32).

Bournemouth lay ahead for Arsenal. The Cherries rank joint fourth worst for goals conceded (nine), joint second worst for clean sheets kept (one), joint second worst for shots in the box conceded (67), the worst for attempts on goal conceded (102), the third worst for shots on target (31) and sixth worst for big chances conceded (13).

Bukayo Saka (£8.5m) has bagged 10 goals and nine assists already this campaign. His recent stats are also very impressive. Amongst all players in the last six matches he ranks joint fourth for goals (four), first for attempts on goal (29) and second for shots in the box (22).

Conclusion

This week is wide open in terms of captaincy. Erling Haaland has been relentless all season playing for a team maintaining some fantastic stats. However his Gameweek 26 opponent have proven to have the best defence in the league which could limit his potential.

Marcus Rashford is also in fine form and Liverpool have been conceding a lot of big chances. But the Reds have improved defensively in most other areas and unlike the other two options, Rashford does not take his teams penalties.

Bukayo Saka may well edge both this week. Taking penalties, maintaining great attacking stats and plays against one of the worst defences in the league. Saka has everything backing him for the round ahead including the potential for extra points via a clean sheet and goals over Haaland. For that reason the best captain in Gameweek 26 is Saka.