Welcome to the FPL Gameweek 21 Captaincy metrics blog, Haaland blanked for the third consecutive gameweek and Saka who topped the captaincy metrics last week came in as a sub and picked up only an assist. The festive period fixtures are coming to a conclusion with GW21 with Haaland facing Brighton at home, Watkins is traveling to Sehurst Park to face Palace, Igor Thaigo who bagged a hat-trick in GW20 will be facing Sunderland and Cunha will be up against Burnley. Without further ado, let’s get into it and see who tops the captaincy metrics this week.
Total metrics points: 14 + 4 + 18 + 26 + 10 + 32 + 16 + 26 + 4 + 26 + 4 + 4 + 4 + 28 + 4 + 26 + 32 + 4 + 4 + 8 = 294 points
Note: “Returns” ~ player topping the metrics getting points returns and not necessarily the highest scoring option of the week.
Link to all our FPL GW21 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 GW21 Captaincy Metrics
FPL GW21 Captaincy poll ~ Wisdom of the Crowd
Despite three cosecutive blanks Erling Haaland, tops the captaincy poll for Gameweek 21 with 56% of the votes at the time of writing. Igor Thiago, after scoring a hattrick against Everton, finds himself in the second spot, with 10% vote share.
The third spot is currently occupied by Bruno Guimaraes, who faces Leeds United at home, while Watkins takes up the fourth spot after scoring against Nottingham Forest in GW21.
Finally, Cunha, who managed a goal in Man United’s 1-1 draw against Leeds United, rounds up the top five of the GW21 captaincy poll.
Further Read: Top FPL GW21 Differential Picks to Target Ahead of Deadline
Underlying Numbers of the FPL Gameweek 21 Captain Picks
Watkins tops the table with 16 shots in the box, 8 Big chances, and an xG of 3.75 in the last six games.
Haaland is 2nd with an xG of 3.31 in the last six games. He’s also had 8 big chances and 16 shots inside the box.
Cunha is 3rd with an xG of 2.81 in the last six games. He’s had 5 big chances and taken 17 shots inside the box during the period. He has also created 9 chances in the last six games, which is the highest amongst the five players.
Thaigo stands 4th with an xG of 2.55, amassing 12 shots inside the box and 6 big chances in total.
Finally, Bruno G stands last with an xG of 1.04 and a measly 3 shots inside the box and 2 big chances.
Further Read: FPL GW21 Scout Picks Based on Stats, Analysis and Matchups
Underlying numbers of Candidate’s teams
Man United take the top spot and have registered 12.67 xG in the last six games. The Reds have had 70 shots inside the box and 19 big chances during the period.
Manchester City have registered 10.42 xG in the last six games and take up the 3rd spot. They have had 67 shots inside the box and 22 big chances.
Newcastle United are 3rd with 9.89 xG in the last six games, the Magpies have had 22 big chances which is the highest amongst all teams during the period,
Aston Villa are 4th in the table with an xG of 9.68 during the last 6 matches. They have 46 Shots inside the box and 20 Big chances during this run.
Brentford are last in the table with an xG of 9.53 during the last 6 matches. They have had 37 Shots inside the box and 18 Big chances during this run.
Further Read: Top FPL GW21 Differential Picks to Target Ahead of Deadline
Fixture Difficulty of the Candidate Team in FPL GW21
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.
Man City have 89% odds to get atleast one goal and 50% odds to get 2 or more Goals this Gameweek vs Brighton(H).
(5 double digit hauls in 10 games)
Newcastle United are 2nd with 89% odds of at least 1 goal in this Gameweek vs Leeds United(H) and 48% odds of scoring 2 or more goals.
Man United are 3rd with 86% odds of at least 1 goal in this Gameweek vs Burnley(A) and 37% odds of scoring 2 or more goals. Care taker manager Darren Fletcher will be on the touch line for the Red Devils following the sacking of Ruben Amorim.
Brentford are 4th with 83% odds of at least 1 goal in this Gameweek vs Sunderland(H) and 35% odds of scoring 2 or more goals in FPL GW21. The Bees are very strong at home and have the 4th best home record so far this season with just one defeat(vs Man city) in 10 home games.
Aston Villa are 5th with 75% odds of at least 1 goal in this Gameweek vs Wolves(A) and 14% odds of scoring 2 or more goals in FPL GW21.
Further Read: FPL GW21 Scout Picks Based on Stats, Analysis and Matchups
Projections Rank of our FPL Gameweek 21 Captain Picks
In the fourth phase of the article, I 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.
Haaland is first with an anytime returns projection of 73% and an 8.3 points projection in FPL Gameweek 21 vs Brighton(H).
Cunha is second and has an anytime returns projection of 53% and a 6.8 points projection vs Burnley(A), while the in-form Thaigo is third and has an anytime returns projection of 52% and a 5.4 points projection against Sunderland(H)
Bruno G is 4th and has an anytime returns projection of 38% and a points projection of 5.5 vs Leeds(H).
Watkins is 5th and has an anytime returns projection of 42% and a points projection of 4.0 vs Crystal Palace(A).
Further Read: Top FPL GW21 Differential Picks to Target Ahead of Deadline
Conclusion – Final Rank from our FPL Gameweek 21 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.
Haaland tops the captaincy metrics with a cumulative rank factor of 6, Cunha is 2nd with a CRF of 9. Bruno G is 3rd with a CRF of 14, Watkins is 4th with a CRF of 15 and Thaigo is last with a CRF of 16.
Haaland is back at the top of our metrics after a two week absence, let’s hope he’s back amongst the goals against Brighton on Wednesday night!
Further Reads from ALLABOUTFPL Ahead of FPL GW21
Premier League Players who will miss PL due to AFCON 2025
AK’s FPL GW21 Team Reveal & Transfer Plans | 3x Top 5K Finishes
FPL GW21 Transfer Targets & Watchlist Based on Stats & Eye Test
FPL Gameweek 21 Transfer Tips: Two Players to Buy, Hold, & Sell
Top FPL Gameweek 21 Captain Picks Based on Analysis & Metrics
Top FPL GW21 Differential Picks to Target Ahead of Deadline
FPL GW21 Scout Picks Based on Stats, Analysis and Matchups
FPL GW21 Ultimate Guide: Tips, Differentials, Captaincy & More
Link to all our FPL GW21 blogs, including buy, hold, sell analysis, differentials, captaincy metrics, transfer targets, and more. Completely free to access as well!
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