Fantasy Premier League Fantasy Premier League – Gameweek 7 – Top 3 Captain Picks Analysis By

The dust has settled on this week’s Champions League games, and it’s that time of the week again where we sit down and select our captains. After all 3 picks last Gameweek returned something – Aguero (22), Kane (26), Sanchez (10) – I cast my eye on to my top 3 captain picks for Gameweek 7.

1. Romelu Lukaku (vs CRY H)

A couple of weeks ago, I remarked it seems like there are 3 certainties in life – death, taxes and Lukaku scoring. It seems like the latter part at least, still holds true. With his goal against Southampton last weekend, he has brought his Premier League tally to 6 goals in 6 games. He has warmed up for this weekend clash with gusto too, scoring a brace in the harsh climes at CSKA Moscow, bringing his record in all competitions up to 10 in 9. The Belgian striker has scored in all but one of his appearances in a Man Utd shirt, against Leicester. Form and fixture collide perfectly for the big money summer signing this Gameweek, and it is hard to look past him.

Unlike last season, at Old Trafford, Man Utd have cut through opponents like a hot knife through butter. In the Premier League, the Red Devils have scored 10 goals in 3 games at home, conceding none. In all competitions, that tally rises up to 17 in 5. They are averaging 19.7 shots per game at home, much higher than the 14.7 away. Lukaku himself, too, has enjoyed success at the Theatre of Dreams. At home, he averages 5 shots per game. He doesn’t lack much in the creation department either, managing a fairly respectable 2 key passes a game.

That was form. The fixture is just as good too. At the moment, it doesn’t get any better than Crystal Palace at home. The Eagles’ downfall has been well documented. 2 managers, 6 games, 6 losses, 0 scored, 13 conceded. Their rotten run has been breaking all sorts of records, and not of the good kind. It comes just as well that they are coming off a 5-0 pasting from last week, from Utd’s crosstown rivals Man City. They’re in complete turmoil, and it doesn’t seem to be getting any better. Utd’s record against them, too, reads 13 wins, 3 draws and no losses.

Lukaku is the most owned player in the game by a big margin. He’ll also be the most captained. If you don’t captain him, be prepared for a weekend of chewing your nails.

2. Harry Kane (vs HUD A)

Another man in red hot form is Harry Kane. Even though there’s talk of a Wembley curse, his away form has remained unquestionable. Let alone unquestionable, his recent numbers would make Messi and Ronaldo proud. He has scored a mind-boggling 14 goals in his last 6 away games, with 2 braces and 3 hat-tricks. All his 4 Premier League goals this season have come away too.

It has been a similar story for Spurs. 8 in their last 6 at Wembley, they have scored 24 in their last 6 away games. This season, the 16 shots per game they average away from home is only second to Man City. Before Gameweek 6, Kane had scored twice from 32 shots. It seemed like he could do no right. A brace against West Ham and a hat-trick against APOEL later, it seems like he could do no wrong. He has had the most shots in the league for quite a while, and it seems like he is finally shedding the unlucky tag and delivering on his potential and price tag.

The only reason I have put him behind Lukaku is the uncertain fixture. Huddersfield have been extremely solid so far. The Terriers have only conceded 2 goals in 6 so far, keeping 4 clean sheets. However, it is worth noting they have faced none of last season’s top 7 yet, so it may be a false dawn. It remains to be seen how they set up in bigger games in their first bow in the Premier League, but surely an in-form Kane and an in-form Spurs will prove to be too good for the newbies.

Lukaku or Kane, it’s hard to go wrong with either.

3. Alexandre Lacazette (vs BHA H) – Differential Punt

For the differential punt, I again look towards an Arsenal player. This time, it’s Alexandre Lacazette. Last week, there were questions about how he would fit in with Alexis Sanchez, with the pair not having played a single minute together before the West Brom game. Those doubts have been firmly put to rest, with the Frenchman coolly scoring a brace against the Baggies. It bode nicely that Sanchez was the provider for his first too.

Arsenal have been resurgent ever since their 4-0 embarrassment against Liverpool. Having dispatched Bournemouth, Cologne and West Brom, and earning a respectable point in Chelsea, a home clash against the other newbies of the Premier League in Brighton & Hove Albion would be another welcome sight. The Gunners have been free-scoring at home so far, having scored 9 in their 3 home games. Away, they haven’t scored a single goal yet. Naturally, all 4 of Lacazette’s goals have come at the Emirates too. Their average of 20 shots per game at home is only second to Liverpool.

Newbies Brighton may have not proved the whipping boys we expected them to be, but a clash at the Emirates could be a step too far for a side with limited talent. With Arsenal in rapidly improving form, they could be subject to the harsh realities of the Premier League. If you don’t like the commonplace options, maybe Lacazette’s your man.