I think we can all agree that Gameweek 11 was a total disaster for all concerned when it came to premium captain picks. The likes of Erling Haaland (£14.0m), Ollie Watkins (£8.4m) and Darwin Nunez (£7.5m) all blanked, making a mockery of last week’s article. There was nothing either for our differential call of Callum Wilson (£7.9m), who was subbed off just after the hour mark having failed to find the net.
Fingers crossed for better luck moving forward, specifically in Gameweek 12 as we highlight three more premium captain picks, including another differential choice ahead of Saturday’s 11:00 deadline.
PREMIUM OPTIONS
Bukayo Saka (£8.6m) vs BOU (H)
Burnley at home is an ideal fixture for a player like Bukayo Saka (£8.6m) to get back among the attacking returns after blanking in Gameweek 11. The Arsenal winger is without a goal in the Premier League since Gameweek 7, but was on the scoresheet midweek against Sevilla in the Champions League. Despite that, Saka boasts four goals, five assists and 66 FPL points over the course of the season so far. Taking on an opposition side low on confidence, who have lost their last four league fixtures, Saka represents a solid captaincy option. Be sure to keep a close eye on his injury status though, after sustaining a knock on Wednesday night.
Mo Salah (£12.9m) vs BRE (H)
The highest scoring FPL player of the season so far has racked up six goals in five league matches at Anfield, finding the net at least once on every occasion and gaining 47 fantasy points in the process. You don’t need us to tell you how big a threat Salah is from an attacking perspective, not to mention his command of penalties. Liverpool could only draw against Luton last Sunday and were beaten Thursday night in the Europa League, so expect a fired-up Reds team in Gameweek 12 against Brentford. Home comforts should see Salah profit once again from an FPL standpoint and captaining him Is the best chance of taking full advantage.
Kaoru Mitoma (£6.5m) vs SHU (H)
An assist in Gameweek 11 was Kaoru Mitoma’s first attacking return for Brighton since Gameweek 6, when he scored twice at home to Bournemouth. That match also took place on the Sunday following a Thursday night Europa League fixture, if you’re looking for good omens. But Mitoma’s offensive threat on the wing suggests that it won’t be look before he’s back on the scoresheet for the Seagulls and Gameweek 12 may prove the round where the Japanese international reminds FPL managers why he was so popular earlier in the campaign. Opponents Sheffield Utd have 30 goals so far in 2023-24, the most of any team in the Premier League, which underlines why handing Mitoma the armband may pay dividends.
DIFFERENTIAL OPTION
Cole Palmer (£5.1m) vs MCI (H)
A difficult Gameweek 12 fixture against Man City shouldn’t put off any fantasy managers looking for a differential captain from seriously considering Cole Palmer, who has been in excellent form for Chelsea. Since establishing himself as a regular starter at the Blues in Gameweek 7, Palmer has accumulated three goals, three assists and 37 FPL points. All three of the attacking midfielder’s goals came from the penalty spot, again underlining the value of being in charge of spot kicks. Going up against his old club who were happy to let him go this summer will no doubt see Palmer highly motivated to put in a big Gameweek 12 performance and with a small ownership percentage, the 21-year-old offers significant differential appeal.
