It says a lot when Blank Gameweek 26 was probably more lucrative from a captain perspective than Double Gameweek 25 was for FPL managers, especially when taking into account some of our picks. Although Erling Haaland (£14.4m) was forced to settle for just 5 points courtesy of his assist for Man City’s only goal against Bournemouth. But a seventh goal for Bukayo Saka (£9.2m) in just five league games saw him accrue 10 points, whilst Ollie Watkins (£8.9m) gained 9 points with a goal and assist in a 4-2 win for Aston Villa over Nottingham Forest.
Big Chances Missed in PL this season:
— City Chief (@City_Chief) February 24, 2024
E Haaland 24
D Nunez 21
O Watkins 17
Haaland missed 3 big chances vs Bournemouth pic.twitter.com/kbx79i6MgC
We move from Double Gameweek 25, to Blank Gameweek 26 and three premium captain picks who have a fixture to play, alongside a differential selection that could prove a crucial point of difference ahead of Saturday’s 13:30 deadline.
PREMIUM OPTIONS
Erling Haaland (£14.4m) vs MUN (H)
You could’ve saved it for Gameweek 27 Erling! Midweek saw history made as for the second time in his Man City career, Haaland struck five goals in a single game. This time it came in the FA Cup against Luton, meaning that he is still yet to achieve the feat in the Premier League having done it vs Leipzig in the Champions League last season. Still, the five goals means that it is now 27 in all competitions so far for the Norwegian striker in 2023/24.
Erling Haaland had a night to remember after scoring FIVE goals against Luton #BBCFootball #FACup pic.twitter.com/R99iyneeoq
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) February 27, 2024
Haaland has happy memories of last season’s home fixture against local rivals Man Utd in the Premier League, he scored a hat-trick in a 6-3 win for Pep Guardiola’s champions. With three goals and 23 fantasy points across Man City’s last three league games, this bodes well for his Gameweek 27 prospects and once again his captaincy credentials couldn’t be any more obvious.
Bukayo Saka (£9.2m) vs SHU (a)
FPL bosses must be salivating at the prospect of Saka facing rock-bottom Sheffield Utd this coming Monday night, especially when taking into account that the Blades have conceded a whopping 66 league goals so far this campaign. Having been on the end of a number of home thrashings already this season, Saka and Arsenal will be looking to stick the boot in and those who choose to captain Saka in Gameweek 27 may be the ones who benefit the most.
Eight goals in seven games
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) February 24, 2024
Averaging 9.9 #FPL points during this run
Bukayo Saka is on fire #ARSNEW pic.twitter.com/W7TqIZAAc9
The England international boasts a double-figure points return across each of the last three gameweeks, racking up 40 fantasy points in total and has accumulated a mammoth seven goals and 59 points since Gameweek 22. It would take a brave FPL manager to sway from handing their Gameweek 27 armband to Haaland, but the argument for Saka couldn’t be any more convincing right now.
Luis Diaz (£7.5m) vs NFO (a)
Due to the plethora of injuries currently affecting Liverpool, it has made selecting FPL assets from Jurgen Klopp’s side very tricky, let alone choosing one as captain. But one player who is quietly putting together an excellent run of form is FPL-listed midfielder Diaz. A staple in Liverpool’s front three, Diaz has recorded at least one attacking return in each of the Reds’ last five Premier League matches, accruing 38 fantasy points in the process.
Another match with a return for Luis Diaz
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) February 21, 2024
Did you have the Colombian in your side for Gameweek 25? #FPL #LIVLUT pic.twitter.com/ItntkdFXAK
Liverpool travel to Nottingham Forest in Gameweek 27, who are coming off the back of being knocked out of the FA Cup at the hands of Man Utd in midweek, not to mention conceding four goals away at Aston Villa last weekend. Diaz is a key part of Klopp’s offensive plans right now with the injuries he currently has to deal with and this boosts the argument for the Colombian to be your Gameweek 27 skipper.
DIFFERENTIAL OPTION
Gabriel Martinelli (£7.7m) vs SHU (a)
This is a differential pick chosen largely for the fixture he faces in Gameweek 27, not to mention the fact that he plays for a title-chasing Arsenal team who can’t stop scoring right now in the Premier League. Whilst all the attention is currently drawn onto Bukayo Saka, Martinelli may well sneak under the radar, which makes him a hugely enticing differential captain pick for this round of fixtures.
Martinelli has picked up two double-figure FPL scores over the past six gameweeks and most recently supplied an assist and 6 points last weekend against Newcastle. It would be no surprise to see him improve on that figure vs the worst team in the Premier League, not to mention the leakiest backline by far.
