Welcome to the FPL Gameweek 26 Captain Picks & Metrics blog. After two back-to-back double gameweeks, we are back to a single gameweek this week. Liverpool playing Man City also makes captaincy interesting. The popular captaincy options include Salah, Kluivert, Mbeumo, Isak and Mitoma.
This season the metrics has a 18/25 return record. Last season the metrics finished with 560 points(26/38 returns). The metrics had a 31/37 “returns record” in the 22/23 season and a 30/38 “returns record” in the 21/22 season. Do follow the man behind the metrics @AK_FPL1(Do follow him on Twitter)
Total metrics points: 10 + 34 + 34 + 26 + 12 + 4 + 4 + 4 + 12 + 4 + 4 + 26 + 26 + 10 + 36 + 6 + 42 + 18 + 32 + 14 + 32 + 6 + 16 + 58 + 40 = 510 pts
Note: “Returns” ~ Player topping the metrics getting points returns and not necessarily the highest scoring option of the week.
Link to all our FPL GW26 blogs including scout picks, players to target, buy, hold, sell analysis, differentials, captaincy metrics, best forwards, and more. Completely free to access as well!
FPL GW26 Captaincy Metrics
FPL GW26 Captaincy poll ~ Wisdom Of the Crowd
Salah is on top of the captaincy poll for GW26 with 36% of the votes and will be up against Man City at the Etihad Stadium. Kluivert who is in red-hot form is 2nd in the captaincy poll with 17% of votes and has a good home game against Wolves.
The top five is completed by Mbeumo against Leicester(A), Isak vs Nottingham Forest(H), and Mitoma vs Southampton(A)
Further Read: 2024/25 FPL Chip Strategy Guide – Best Windows and Analysis
Underlying Numbers of the FPL Gameweek 26 Captain picks
Isak comes out on top for underlying numbers with an xG of 3.82 and 10 Shots inside the Box from the last 6 games. He also had 5 big chances in the PL over the last six games.
Mbeumo is close behind Isak in the 2nd place with an xG of 3.33 and has the highest chances created(16) and goal attempts in the box(16) amongst the five players.
Salah is 3rd with an xG of 2.90 in the last six games with 5 big chances, 14 chances created and 12 goal attempts in the box.
Kluivert takes the fourth spot in the underlying numbers table with 2.58 xG in the last six games. He’s had five big chances in the last six games along with 10 chances created and 10 goal attempts in the box.
Mitoma is 5th with an xG of 1.26, he’s created 4 chances including two big chances and five goal attempts in the box.
Further Read: FPL GW26 Scout Picks Based on Stats, Analysis, and Matchups
Underlying Numbers of the Candidate’s Teams
Brentford top the Team Underlying Data with 12.74 xG over the last 6 matches which is the highest amongst the five teams. The Bees have also had 73 shots inside the box and 22 big chances during the period.
Liverpool are second with 12.73 xG over the last six games, the Reds have also had 76 goal attempts in the box and 18 big chances.
Bournemouth rank 3rd for xG amongst the five teams registering 9.77 xG in the six games. They have also had a healthy 63 shots inside the box and 19 big chances.
Newcastle are 4th with an xG of 9.60 & they have had 17 big chances & 51 shots inside the box in the last six games.
Brighton are last on the table with an xG of 7.45, 43 shots inside the box &13 big chances.
Further Read: Top FPL GW26 Differential Picks to Consider Ahead of Deadline
Fixture Difficulty of the candidate team in FPL GW26
In the Third Phase of the Article, we look at the Fixture Difficulty of our 5 Candidates.
We will use DraftHound’s odds for a Team scoring at least one goal in the Gameweek and the Odds of Scoring more than 2.0 goals in the Gameweek as a whole.
Brighton have a whopping 86% odds of at least 1 goal and 38% odds of scoring 2+ goals in FPL GW23 vs Southampton(A)
Three teams are tied for the second spot with:
Bournemouth having 80% odds of at least 1 goal and 36% odds of scoring 2+ goals against Wolves(H)
Liverpool having 82% odds of at least 1 goal and 29% odds of scoring 2+ goals against Man City(A)
Brentford having 82% odds of at least 1 goal and 29% odds of scoring 2+ goals in FPL GW26 vs Leicester(A)
Newcastle are 5th and have a 76% odds of at least 1 goal and 31% odds of scoring 2+ goals against Nottingham Forest(H) in GW26.
Further Read: Upcoming FPL Double/Blank Gameweeks | 24/25 FPL Season
Projections Rank of our FPL Gameweek 26 Captain Picks
In the Fourth Phase of the article, I have used the Anytime Returns and Projected Points Tools available at Fantasy Football Hub. With the help of the Anytime Returns Tool, I have derived the Safety Rank, which helps in determining the Safest Captaincy Option of the week, while I have used the Projected Points Tool to determine the Explosion Rank, which helps in determining the Most Explosive Option of the week.
Salah is joint first for projections this week with 64% anytime returns & a 7.2 points projection in FPL GW26 vs Man City(A)
Isak shares the top spot with Salah for projection this week with 65% anytime returns & a 6.8 points projection in FPL GW26 against Nottingham Forest(H).
Mbeumo meanwhile is 3rd and has a 50% anytime returns & a 5.5 points projection in GW26 against Leicester City(A).
Kluivert is 4th and has a 43% anytime returns & a 4.9 points projection in FPL GW26 against Wolves(H)
Mitoma is last with a 39% anytime return & a 4.4 points projection in GW26 vs Leicester(A)
Further Read: FPL Gameweek 26 Transfer Tips: Two Players to Buy, Hold & Sell
Conclusion – Final Rank from our FPL Gameweek 26 Captaincy metrics
In the Fifth and Final Phase of the article, I have aggregated the Ranks derived above to pull out the Cumulative Rank Factor (CRF). According to our captaincy metrics, the candidate with the lowest cumulative rank factor is the ideal captaincy option.
Salah and Mbeumo are joint top of the captaincy metrics for FPL GW26 with a CRF of 8. Isak is 3rd with a CRF of 11. Kluivert is 4th with a CRF of 13 & Mitoma is 5th with a CRF of 20.
Further reads from AllAboutFPL ahead of FPL GW26:
2024/25 Ultimate Chip Strategy Guide- Best Windows to play all Chips & Combinations
FPL GW26 Scout Picks Based on Stats, Analysis, and Matchups
Top FPL GW26 Differential Picks to Consider Ahead of Deadline
Top FPL Gameweek 26 Captain Picks Based on Analysis & Metrics
FPL GW26 Tips- Assistant Manager Options, Wildcard Thoughts & More
FPL Gameweek 26 Transfer Tips: Two Players to Buy, Hold & Sell
Upcoming FPL Double/Blank Gameweeks | 24/25 FPL Season
Sleeper GW26 Draft Fantasy- Best Punts and Hidden Gems
FPL GW26 Tips- Assistant Manager Options, Wildcard Thoughts & More
Link to all our FPL GW26 blogs including scout picks, players to target, buy, hold, sell analysis, differentials, captaincy metrics, transfer targets, and more. Completely free to access as well!
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AK - Anurag Khetan
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