GW8 was a let down for owners of most of the popular captains. None from our top 5 captain picks returned a goal/assist. The points of my picks for GW8 as follows,

Teemu Pukki — 1 point (v AVL)

Harry Kane — 2 points (v BHA)

Aubameyang — 2 points(v BOU)

Raheem Sterling — 2 points (v WOL)

Mohamed Salah — 2 points (v LEI)

Raul Jimenez vs SOU(H)

The Mexican forward returned his first double figure haul of the season(10) last week after his two assists to Adama Traore helped his team clinch a famous win against City at their fortress.

The forward has 34 points after 8 games, which is only 1 point less than last season after 8 gameweeks. He has also faced 6 opponents so far, that he faced last season in the first 8 gameweeks.

Only Conor Coady & Rui Patricio have played more minutes than Raul Jimenez for Wolves. The forward’s home form might be of some concern to his owners, as he has returned only once in 4 games so far, and even that coming through a late penalty against Burnley.

Southampton have conceded 3 or more goals four times in their last 10 away games and Wolves have scored 22 goals in their last 12 home games, failing to score in only 1 fixture. Raul Jimenez has been involved in 8 of those goals.

Image Courtesy: Robbie Jay Barratt — AMA/Getty Images

The forward’s home form is definitely a worry, but with Wolves turning around their form in the last three games, there is no better time for Raul to start getting those fpl points.

Callum Wilson vs NOR(H)

Callum Wilson failed to register a return for the first time in GW8. An away fixture to Arsenal was always going to be tough for Bournemouth to win but given that Arsenal failed to keep a clean sheet this season at the Emirates before the game against Bournemouth, the English international was expected to be involved in at least a goal/assist.

Callum Wilson is the only forward to have returned in all the home games so far. Only Tammy Abraham has had more attempts on target than Wilson (joint 2nd) in the last four gameweeks.

Image Courtesy: Bournemouth Echo

Norwich are yet to keep a clean sheet on the road this season. They have conceded 10 goals on the road, only Newcastle & Watford have conceded more goals on the road than Norwich.

Bournemouth are joint 7th for goals scored at home this season. Four of the 6 teams above them in that category are the current top 4 in the premier league points table, and Callum Wilson has been involved in 5 of those goals

The forward not returning last week could lead people to think if he is going to be out of form for a few weeks now, but we have every reason to believe that Callum Wilson is a strong contender to wear the armband this gameweek.

Hueng-min Son vs WAT(H)

Tottenham face a Watford side that has conceded the most away goals, that is yet to win a single away game so far this season. Although, Spurs’ form is something to think about before we consider Spurs’ assets, they have been doing pretty decent at home.

Spurs are joint 4th for goals scored at home and 5th for attempts on goal at home, but their conversion rate is very bad, they are in the bottom five for that stat.

Image Courtesy: Getty Images

Son has 3 goals & 1 assist against Watford at home in the last three seasons. He has returned in his last 2 home games. Son was involved in a goal/assist in 8 out of 12 games that spurs had won at home last year (joint-top with Eriksen for Spurs’ midfielders).

However, Spurs are a different team this season and they have not won back to back league games this season, but given that is a home game for Spurs and Watford’s away form is extremely poor, Son is one of the contenders to wear this week’s armband.

Tammy Abraham vs NEW(H)

The Chelsea forward is in red hot form. No player has more points than Tammy Abraham(52) in the last 6 gameweeks. He has 18 more points than any other chelsea player during this period. Chelsea have very good fixtures coming up and the performance of Abraham could only get better.

However, after returning a 13-point haul against Sheffield United in GW4, Abraham has blanked in his last 2 home games, with Liverpool being one of the opponents. Has he been performing bad or been just unlucky in these home games? Only one other forward has created more chances than Abraham’s tally in home games so far and the forward has also the joint-3rd most attempts from inside the box.

Image Courtesy: Getty Images

Newcastle are 5th worse for shots conceded away from home, joint 2nd worse for shots on target conceded away from home. Only 3 other teams have more attempts on target in home games than Chelsea.

We have every reason to believe that Tammy will soon turn around his performances in home games and a fixture against Newcastle could be the start of the turn around.

Jamie Vardy vs BUR(H)

Jamie Vardy has played every minute of the premier league so far. Aubameyang is the only other forward to have done the same this season. Vardy has returned two double-digit hauls (joint 3rd) at home this season, so far. Only Kevin De Bryune & Teemu Pukki have returned more double digit hauls at home(3).

Since Rodgers took over at Leicester, Jamie Vardy has 9 goals & 2 assists at the King Power Stadium, contributing to 61% of Leicester’s home goals. He has blanked in 4/9 home games since Rodgers took over at Leicester.

Image Courtesy: Planet Football

Burnley have 1 clean sheet in their last 15 away games and only Man City & Liverpool have scored more at home than Leicester this season.

All in all, captaining Jamie Vardy at home to Burnley is too good an opportunity to pass.

Note: The above list is in no order. I just feel these 5 players have performed well (not just in fpl perspective) in the recent past for their names to be listed here and I also think these 5 players will be among the top performers for gameweek 9 after considering various parameters. Other popular names were excluded from the list owing to various factors that include form, opponents they face, fitness, etc.

Standout Captain: Callum Wilson

Differential Captain: Raul Jimenez

GW7 Top Captain picks

GW8 Top Captain picks