Many of the higher-owned premium FPL assets failed to find themselves amongst the attacking returns in Gameweek 17. Mo Salah (£13.2m) was kept at bay by Man Utd in a 0-0 draw at Anfield, although that did benefit Trent Alexander-Arnold (£8.2m), who picked up 9 FPL points following that result. Whilst Spurs defeated Nottingham Forest 0-2 at the City Ground, Heung-Min Son (£9.8m) could only gain 2 fantasy points and Bukayo Saka (£9.0m) also blanked despite Arsenal winning at home to Brighton.
Man United fans celebrating the 0-0 draw against Liverpool but then remember they triple captained Salah in FPLpic.twitter.com/9W7MTVHdkx
— Troll Football (@TrollFootball) December 18, 2023
Gameweek 18 brings with it our first blank gameweek of the 2023-24 FPL season as a result of Man City’s participation in the FIFA Club World Cup. Both them and Brentford won’t feature in the final round of Premier League fixtures leading up to Christmas, but there are still more than enough options for us to identify three premium captaincy options to consider, alongside an alternate differential choice ahead of Thursday’s 18:30 deadline.
PREMIUM OPTIONS
Ollie Watkins (£8.6m) vs SHU (H)
Gameweek 17 looked for a long period like being another frustrating one for owners of Ollie Watkins, until Brentford were reduced to ten-men in the second half against Aston Villa with the score at 1-0. This allowed Villa to wrestle the ascendancy after equalising and up popped Watkins late on to net the winner against his former club. This gave him a score of 9 FPL points after being awarded maximum bonus point.
Captaincy looking very straight forward this week.
— FPL Prince (@TheFPLPrince) December 17, 2023
Watkins at home to Sheffield United is an absolute no brainer. Chelsea should of scored 4/5 yesterday.
Son playing a very good Everton side at the moment.
Watkins for me pic.twitter.com/eNnr76PDGi
Watkins now boasts nine goals, nine assists and 108 fantasy points overall, the second-highest score among forwards. He is one of just four players in all positions to have reached the 100-point mark this season after 17 gameweeks. A home fixture against a Sheffield United side marooned in the relegation zone seems ideal in-which to place the armband on Watkins, especially with Haaland not featuring in Gameweek 18.
Heung-Min Son (£9.8m) vs EVE (H)
Despite Son having an off-night in Gameweek 17, recording just 2 fantasy points vs Nottingham Forest with no goals or assists, this shouldn’t put FPL managers off potentially captaining the Spurs attacking midfielder in Gameweek 18. Son is one of those players who is prone to ‘blanking’ but also has the ability to pile up a huge score as he did just recently in Gameweek 16, racking up a goal, two assists and a 17-point-haul against Newcastle.
So many are picking Watkins as there BGW Captain, am swinging to Son tbh pic.twitter.com/ncD408Fo0p
— FPL Alexander-Arnold (@FPLAlexndrArnld) December 17, 2023
As it stands, Son has accumulated six double-figure fantasy scores and his overall total of 115 FPL points is the second-highest among all players with only Mo Salah having accrued more. The biggest red flag regarding Gameweek 18 from Son’s perspective is his fixture with Spurs taking on Everton. The Toffees are coming off the back of four consecutive clean sheets but when considering Spurs’ attacking record under Ange Postecoglou, scoring in every round of fixtures so far this campaign, this shouldn’t deter anyone.
Kieran Trippier (£6.9m) vs LUT (a)
Returning from suspension that kept him out of Newcastle’s 3-0 victory over Fulham in Gameweek 17, Kieran Trippier should be back in the starting line-up come Gameweek 18, which sees the Magpies travel to Luton. Trippier is no longer the highest scoring FPL defender, after his current overall score of 82 fantasy points was surpassed at the weekend by fellow full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold. But don’t let that put you off potentially naming Trippier as your skipper.
Is it mad to triple captain trippier against Luton. I’m contemplating it.
— Theo Poolman (@theofooty) December 16, 2023
There’s no doubt that Trippier’s form has tailed off recently, with just one double-figure return since Gameweek 9. But whilst form is temporary, class is permanent and Trippier’s attacking threat going forward, combined with Newcastle’s defensive stability makes him a candidate for a high FPL score. A high-risk selection that could offer a big reward.
DIFFERENTIAL OPTION
Dejan Kulusevski (£7.1m) vs EVE (H)
Heung-Min Son isn’t the only attacking FPL asset from Spurs capable of making huge gains for his ownership come Gameweek 18. Dejan Kulusevski on the opposite side of the wing is just as much of an offensive threat and showed it against Nottingham Forest, playing a starring role with a goal, an assist and 14 fantasy points. Not only is Kulusevski available at a significantly cheaper price than Son, his ownership is far lower, which enhances his differential appeal.
Dejan Kulusevski vs Nottm' Forest:
— Fantasy & Football (@HomeOfFPL) December 18, 2023
1G/1A
npXGI 0.71
90' played.
In the form of his life suited under Poste's tactics
Most touches in Opp. box (141)
Most chances created from open play (39)
3G/1A in last four for Spurs
Magnificent in the #10 role #FPL
pic.twitter.com/eaQtsWJBWl
Over the course of the last four gameweeks, Kulusevski has recorded 29 FPL points, including a pair of double-figure point-scores. As is the case with Son, playing for such an ultra-attacking unit is a huge benefit and Kulusevski is a big part of the team, not to mention guaranteed to start in Gameweek 18. With that in mind, he gets the nod as our differential captain recommendation.
