In Fantasy Premier League, the captaincy is on the most important decisions managers make every week. But how exactly does it work? In this article we explain everything you need to know about captains and vice-captains, as well as giving some tips on how to pick the best captain each week.
How Does Captaincy Work?
Managers must select one player as their team’s captain for each gameweek. The key aspect of this role is that any points scored by the captain are doubled. For example, if your captain scores 10 points in a gameweek, this will contribute 20 points to your team’s total. This rule makes the choice of captain one of the most crucial decisions in FPL, as a good captain can significantly boost your gameweek score.
The captain is selected before the deadline of each gameweek. It’s important to consider various factors when choosing your captain, such as the player’s recent form, the difficulty of their upcoming match, and their likelihood of starting the game.
What Does the Vice-Captain Do?
The vice-captain in FPL serves as a backup to your captain. If your chosen captain does not play any minutes in the gameweek, he will be substituted, and the vice-captain’s score is doubled instead. In essence, the vice-captain is your safety net, ensuring that you still have a chance to earn double points even if your captain doesn’t participate in the gameweek.
How Does Triple Captain Work?
The ‘Triple Captain’ is a one-time-use chip that can be activated to triple the points of your captain instead of just doubling them for a single gameweek. This chip is typically saved for a gameweek where a strong player has particularly favourable fixtures, or during double gameweeks where a player might have more than one match. Timing is crucial when using the Triple Captain chip, as it can significantly impact your overall score in the league.
How Do I Decide Who to Captain?
Player Form: Prioritise players who are in a streak of good form. Consistency in scoring or assisting in recent games is a strong indicator of a player’s potential performance.
Fixture Difficulty: Assess the difficulty of the player’s upcoming match. Players facing weaker opposition are more likely to score higher points.
Player Fitness and Rotation Risk: Ensure that your captain choice is not only fit but also likely to start. Avoid players who are rotation risks, especially during busy fixture schedules.
Historical Performance: Consider how players have performed against their upcoming opponents in the past. Some players tend to score consistently against certain teams.
Clean Sheet Odds: For defenders and goalkeepers, the likelihood of a clean sheet is crucial. Look at the defensive strength of the player’s team and the attacking form of the opposition. Teams with high clean sheet odds can make defenders or goalkeepers excellent captain choices, as they can earn significant points for a clean sheet.
Goal Scorer Odds: For forwards and attacking midfielders, check the betting odds for scoring goals. Players with high goal scorer odds are often prime candidates for captaincy, as goals are the quickest way to accumulate points.
Set-Piece and Penalty Takers: Players who take penalties, free-kicks, or corners have additional avenues to score points, making them attractive captain options.
Gut Feeling: Sometimes, your intuition can be a powerful tool in selecting a captain. If you have a strong hunch about a player, it might be worth taking the risk.
Community Trends and Advice: Keep an eye on FPL community trends and expert advice, but be wary of following the crowd blindly. Sometimes, going against the consensus can pay off.
Long-term Strategy: Consider your long-term strategy. If you’re chasing points in your mini-league, you might need to take calculated risks with differential captains.
FAQs
What Happens if My Captain and Vice-Captain Don’t Play?
If both your captain and vice-captain do not play any minutes in a gameweek, you will not receive any double points for that gameweek. The points will be calculated based on the single points of your other players.
What Happens if My Captain Scores Negative Points?
If your captain scores negative points, for instance, due to a red card or conceding penalties, these negative points will be doubled in your total score. This is a risk associated with the captaincy.
Can I Change Captain After the Deadline?
No, you cannot change your captain or vice-captain once the gameweek deadline has passed. Your selections are locked in, and any changes made after the deadline will be effective from the next gameweek.