Fantasy Premier League: Top Five Captains for FPL Gameweek 12
In the world of Fantasy Premier League (FPL), it’s rare to find a consensus among managers, but Gameweek 11 was unanimously considered a disaster by most. Unless, of course, you were among the few who had the insight to select a player like “four assists Jeremy? Four?” Doku.
If the objective of FPL were to earn as few points as possible, many would have excelled in that regard. Most FPL teams were filled with players who had disappointing scores of one, two, or even zero points next to their names. The fact that four out of the top five most popular players in the game could only manage a combined total of seven points speaks volumes. It felt like a delayed Halloween horror show in the world of FPL, truly a nightmarish experience for many managers.
But as we say the Premier League is the most unpredictable and so it is. We can just look at the upcoming fixtures and stats which can only help us in making the prediction close to accurate unless a Glenn Maxwell inning hits your prediction dashboard.
Let’s have a look at the Top 5 players who could be worthy of the Captaincy tag in the Gameweek 12 of the FPL 2023/24.
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Mohamed Salah, priced at £12.9 million, had a rare off-week in the previous gameweek but is set for another promising fixture in Gameweek 12. He comes into this week’s game with eight goals and four assists to his name.
Liverpool are scheduled to face Brentford at home, making them strong favorites to secure a victory and potentially score multiple goals. The Reds have already notched 24 goals this season, ranking fourth in the league, with an Expected Goals (xG) of 23.55, which is the highest in the league. They also have a 45% chance of scoring 2.5 or more goals.
Brentford has displayed decent defensive capabilities, having conceded 14 goals (sixth in the league) with an Expected Goals Conceded (xGC) of 15.0 (eighth). However, facing Liverpool’s attacking prowess, they will face a tough challenge in trying to keep them at bay.
Salah has proven to be one of the most reliable performers this season and currently leads the game in terms of points earned. He is on penalty duty, is virtually guaranteed to start, and poses a significant goal and assist threat. His Expected Goals (xG) of 7.8 is the second-highest in the league, and he also ranks fifth in Expected Assists (xA) with 3.05.
As a result, Salah is expected to be a popular choice for the captain’s armband in FPL this week, given his consistent performance and the favorable matchup against Brentford.
Heung-min Son (Tottenham)
Heung-min Son, priced at £9.6 million, has been on fire in the league since he took on the role of the number nine in Gameweek 4, bagging eight goals. His Expected Goals (xG) stands at 4.2, and he has also contributed with an Expected Assists (xA) of 2.1.
When Son is playing as the central striker, he becomes one of the top assets in Fantasy Premier League, and his performance is consistent regardless of the opposition.
In Gameweek 12, Spurs are set to face Wolves, a team that has conceded 19 goals, ranking sixteenth in the league, with an xG against of 18.1 (thirteenth). Meanwhile, Ange Postecoglou’s team, Spurs, have scored 23 goals, ranking fifth, with an xG of 17.54 (ninth).
Also Read: Fantasy Premier League: Top Five FPL Goalkeepers for Gameweek 11
Spurs are expected to be strong favorites in this fixture, and Son is likely to be the main goal-scorer for them. He has become the talisman for Tottenham, and it’s anticipated that he will finish the season as their top points and goal scorer.
Tottenham are known for their attacking style of play and is expected to score in most games. Son has been involved in 56% of their goals, making him one of the top midfielders in terms of goal involvement since Gameweek 4.
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
Bukayo Saka, valued at £8.6 million, has had a solid season, contributing four goals and five assists. His Expected Goals (xG) stands at 4, and he also has an Expected Assists (xA) of 2.9. While Saka and Arsenal’s underlying statistics may not match their previous season’s performance, he remains a strong FPL option, especially given their upcoming fixtures.
In Gameweek 12, Arsenal are set to host Burnley at the Emirates, presenting a favorable opportunity for FPL managers. Burnley’s defense has been leaky this season, having conceded the second-highest number of goals (27) and ranking fifth-worst in terms of Expected Goals Conceded (xGC) at 20.3.
On the attacking front, Arsenal have scored 23 goals, ranking fifth, with an xG of 19.84, which is seventh in the league. Looking at their attacking players, they have a good chance of finding the back of the net against Vincent Kompany’s team. Arsenal is favored to score 2.5 or more goals in Gameweek 12, with a 58% probability.
Saka stands out as the top attacking option for Arsenal, especially when considering expected minutes on the pitch. He also shares the responsibility for penalties and other set-pieces, making him a valuable asset. With both goal-scoring and assist potential, Saka has the highest Goal Involvement (43%) among his teammates in the games he has played.
Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)
Bruno Fernandes, priced at £8.3 million, has contributed three goals and two assists in the current season, boasting an Expected Goals (xG) of 3.03 and an Expected Assists (xA) of 3.3, which ranks him second overall in the league.
Despite Manchester United’s relatively underwhelming performances this season, Fernandes has been their standout attacker. He might have felt a bit unlucky not to have more FPL returns, considering his team’s struggles.
Manchester United haven’t had the best start to the season, but they have a highly favorable fixture in Gameweek 12 when they face Luton at home. Luton has conceded the third-highest number of goals (21) in the league, with an Expected Goals Conceded (xGC) of 23.1, which is the third-worst.
Bruno Fernandes is a well-established FPL asset, with an impressive track record of 44 goals and 38 assists in his previous four Premier League seasons. He is the primary penalty taker, and his place in the starting lineup is virtually guaranteed, typically playing the full 90 minutes. This consistency provides him with an opportunity for attacking returns against any opposition.
Fernandes poses both a goal-scoring and assist threat and serves as the main playmaker for his team. It’s expected to be a challenging task for Luton to keep Manchester United’s attack in check. According to the odds, Erik Ten Hag’s team is the third favorite to score 2.5 or more goals in Gameweek 12, with a 48% chance.
Callum Wilson (Newcastle)
Callum Wilson, with a price tag of £7.9 million, had an impressive season last year, where he scored 18 goals and provided six assists in just 21 starts. This season, he’s already found the back of the net seven times in only five starts, with an Expected Goals (xG) of 6.06.
Newcastle United have an appealing fixture in the upcoming gameweek as they face Bournemouth, a team that has struggled this season, currently sitting in 18th place in the league. Bournemouth has conceded the second-highest number of goals (27) in the league, with an Expected Goals Conceded (xGC) of 24.1, which is the second-worst.
Also Read: Fantasy Premier League: Predicted Lineups | Team News | Injury Updates | FPL Gameweek 11
Bournemouth’s leaky defense is likely to provide Newcastle with numerous goal-scoring opportunities, and Callum Wilson is the team’s current talisman and primary goal threat, especially with Alexander Isak (£7.4m) sidelined due to injury. In Isak’s absence, Wilson is expected to play as the number nine without a doubt.
Newcastle United have also been prolific in front of goal, scoring the second-highest number of goals (27) in the league, with an Expected Goals (xG) of 23.34, which ranks second-best.
Wilson is a sure starter in the lineup, takes penalties, and possesses both goal-scoring and assist capabilities. As an ex-Bournemouth player, he won’t have many opportunities this season to add to his goal tally, and his track record demonstrates that he is a clinical finisher when on the pitch.