FPL BGW31 Captain Picks: Best Options with Stats Analysis
Navigate Blank Gameweek 31 with our expert captain picks. Bruno Fernandes, Mac Allister, João Pedro, and Iwobi analyzed with stats, fixtures, and BGW strategy.
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View Campaign OfferFPL BGW31 Captain Picks: Navigate the Blank with Confidence
Blank Gameweek 31 is here, and with Arsenal, Man City, Crystal Palace, and Wolves blanking, the captaincy landscape looks completely different. Only 8 fixtures take place this week, meaning your usual premium picks might not even play.
This is where smart captaincy planning separates rank climbers from the pack. The template crumbles in blank gameweeks — whoever navigates this best will gain massive ground.
We've analyzed all playing teams, fixture difficulty ratings, expected points projections, and form to bring you the definitive BGW31 captain guide. From safe template picks to explosive differentials, here are your best options.
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🚨 BGW31: Understanding the Blank
Before we dive into captain picks, let's map out the landscape:
Teams Playing in BGW31
✅ Aston Villa, Bournemouth, Brentford, Brighton, Burnley, Chelsea, Everton, Fulham, Leeds, Liverpool, Man Utd, Newcastle, Nottm Forest, Sunderland, Spurs, West Ham
Teams Blanking in BGW31
❌ Arsenal, Crystal Palace, Man City, Wolves
Key Fixtures for Captaincy
- Fulham vs Burnley (H) - FDR 1 - Easiest fixture on the slate
- Newcastle vs Sunderland (H) - FDR 2 - Strong home advantage
- Aston Villa vs West Ham (H) - FDR 2 - Villa's attacking potential
- Spurs vs Nott'm Forest (H) - FDR 2 - Spurs at home
- Brighton vs Liverpool (H) - FDR 3 - High-scoring potential
- Bournemouth vs Man Utd (H) - FDR 3 - Could go either way
- Everton vs Chelsea (H) - FDR 3 - Tight contest
Strategy Tip: With template players blanking, BGW31 is the perfect week to take calculated captaincy risks. Differentials can skyrocket your rank.
Use our fixtures tool to analyze fixture runs beyond GW31 for these teams.
🔥 Top Captain Options for BGW31
1. Bruno Fernandes (Bournemouth vs Man Utd - A) - £10.2m
Safe Template Pick | 44.8% TSB | 8.7 Expected Points
The safe choice. Bruno becomes the highest-owned captain option this week. His 8.7 expected points lead all midfielders playing in BGW31.
Why Bruno is the sensible captain:
- 🎯 8.7 EP - Highest projection for BGW31
- 📊 176 total points - Elite season output
- 🔥 8.2 form - Exceptional recent returns
- 🎁 7 goals, 16 assists - Multiple scoring routes
- 💎 33 bonus points - Bonus magnet
- ⚽ Penalties + set pieces - Volume is king
At Bournemouth (FDR 3), Bruno faces a defense that's been leaky against top sides. Man Utd should control possession, and Bruno's involvement in every attacking move makes him reliable for points.
The Template Risk: At 44.8% ownership, a Bruno blank won't hurt you, but it won't gain rank either. This is the "safe" pick if you can't afford to fall behind.
Stats: 176 total points | 6.5 PPG | 2,345 minutes | 7 goals, 16 assists
Explore Bruno's full profile for shot maps and creative stats.
The Verdict: ✅ Template safety for risk-averse managers
2. Alexis Mac Allister (Brighton vs Liverpool - A) - £6.3m
Differential Captain | 2.6% TSB | 8.5 Expected Points
The explosive differential. Mac Allister's 8.5 expected points is nearly identical to Bruno's, but at just 2.6% ownership, he's a massive rank differential opportunity.
Why Mac Allister could explode your rank:
- ⚡ 8.5 EP - Elite projection
- 🎲 2.6% TSB - Huge differential
- 🔥 8.0 form - Scorching recent returns
- ⚽ Liverpool's attack vs Brighton (FDR 3)
- 💰 £6.3m - Mid-price value
- 📊 Advanced role - Gets forward regularly
Liverpool away at Brighton (FDR 3) should be a high-scoring affair. Mac Allister's box-to-box role has seen him contribute goals and assists recently, and his expected points suggest the algorithm sees a big score coming.
The Differential Upside: If Mac Allister returns 12+ points while Bruno blanks or returns 4-6 points, you'll fly up the rankings. At 2.6% ownership, almost nobody is captaining him.
The Risk: He's less consistent than Bruno. If Liverpool keep it tight and win 1-0, Mac Allister might return 2 points.
Stats: 84 total points | 2.9 PPG | 2,086 minutes | 2 goals, 3 assists
View Mac Allister's detailed stats for heat maps and xG trends.
The Verdict: 🚀 Rank climber for the brave
3. João Pedro (Everton vs Chelsea - A) - £7.8m
Goalscoring Forward | 51.5% TSB | 8.0 Expected Points
The most-owned player in BGW31 at 51.5%, João Pedro is essential but might actually be a captaincy trap. His 8.0 EP is excellent, but that ownership means most of your rivals captain him too.
Why João Pedro works as captain:
- ⚽ 14 goals, 9 assists - Elite goal threat
- 🔥 7.5 form - Consistent high returns
- 📊 8.0 EP - Strong projection
- 🚌 Away fixture at Everton
- 💎 162 total points - Premium output at mid price
- 🎯 Chelsea's main man - All attacks go through him
Chelsea away at Everton (FDR 3) should see Chelsea dominate possession. Everton's defense has been vulnerable, and João Pedro will get chances — the question is whether he converts them.
The Ownership Dilemma: At 51.5% TSB, captaining João Pedro is template. If he hauls, everyone benefits. If he blanks, everyone suffers. This is a neutral captaincy — it won't significantly change your rank either way.
Best Use Case: Captain João Pedro if you're playing it safe and don't want to risk falling behind. He's the "middle ground" pick.
Stats: 162 total points | 5.4 PPG | 2,230 minutes | 14 goals, 9 assists
Check João Pedro's detailed profile for shot data and xG analysis.
The Verdict: 🎯 Solid but template-heavy
4. Alex Iwobi (Fulham vs Burnley - H) - £6.4m
Fixture King Differential | 3.2% TSB | 7.5 Expected Points
The FDR 1 option. Iwobi has the easiest fixture in BGW31 as Fulham host relegation-threatened Burnley at Craven Cottage. At just 3.2% ownership, he's a genuine rank differential.
Why Iwobi is the fixture play:
- 🎯 FDR 1 - Best fixture in BGW31
- 💎 3.2% TSB - Massive differential
- 🔥 7.0 form - Hot recent run
- ⚽ 7.5 EP - Strong projection
- 💰 £6.4m - Budget-friendly
- 📊 4 goals, 3 assists - Contributing regularly
Fulham should dominate Burnley at home. Iwobi operates as Fulham's chief creator, taking set pieces and getting into advanced positions. If Fulham score 3+, Iwobi will be involved.
The Differential Upside: Almost nobody is captaining Iwobi. If he returns 10+ points, you'll gain massive rank. Even 6-8 points on the armband beats a template blank.
The Risk: He's the ultimate "fixture punt." If Burnley park the bus and Fulham can't break them down, Iwobi returns 2-4 points and you've wasted your armband.
Stats: 94 total points | 3.9 PPG | 2,042 minutes | 4 goals, 3 assists
Explore Iwobi's full profile for creative stats and shot maps.
The Verdict: 🎲 High-risk, high-reward fixture punt
5. Marcos Senesi (Bournemouth vs Man Utd - H) - £5.1m
Defensive Differential | 20.6% TSB | 7.0 Expected Points
The defensive captain option. Senesi's 7.0 expected points as a £5.1m defender is remarkable, and with Bournemouth at home (FDR 3), he offers clean sheet potential plus attacking threat from set pieces.
Why Senesi is intriguing:
- 🛡️ 7.0 EP - Highest for any defender in BGW31
- 💰 £5.1m - Budget defender with upside
- 🔥 7.5 form - Hot scoring run
- 📊 136 total points - Elite defender output
- 🎯 4 assists - Attacking contributions
- 💎 20.6% TSB - Under the radar
Bournemouth vs Man Utd (FDR 3) could be tight. If Bournemouth keep a clean sheet, Senesi gets 6 points. Add an assist or bonus points, and he's suddenly a 10+ point captain.
The Defensive Upside: Captaining defenders in blank gameweeks can be genius if they return. Clean sheet (6 pts) + assist (3 pts) + bonus (2 pts) = 22 points captained (11 × 2).
The Risk: Defenders are volatile. One Man Utd goal wipes the clean sheet, and you're left with 2-3 points.
Stats: 136 total points | 4.7 PPG | 2,568 minutes | 0 goals, 4 assists | 11 bonus
View Senesi's detailed profile for defensive stats and set-piece threat.
The Verdict: 🛡️ Brave defensive differential for believers
🎯 Alternative Captain Options
Harry Wilson (Fulham vs Burnley - H) - £6.0m
25.2% TSB | 6.3 EP
Fulham's attacking midfielder faces Burnley at home (FDR 1), sharing the easiest fixture with Iwobi. Wilson has 9 goals, 8 assists this season and thrives at Craven Cottage.
Why Wilson works:
- ⚽ 9 goals, 8 assists - Clinical finisher
- 🎯 FDR 1 - Joint-easiest fixture
- 📊 143 total points - Strong season
- 💎 25.2% TSB - Template but not Bruno-level
- 🏠 Home advantage - Fulham dominate at Craven Cottage
Wilson is Fulham's secondary attacking threat behind Iwobi. Against relegation-threatened Burnley at home, he should get multiple chances. At 25.2%, he's owned but not heavily captained.
Stats: 143 total points | 5.1 PPG | 2,176 minutes | 9 goals, 8 assists
Check Wilson's profile for shot data.
The Verdict: 🎯 FDR 1 fixture alternative to Iwobi
Dominik Szoboszlai (Brighton vs Liverpool - A) - £7.0m
14.5% TSB | 6.3 EP
Liverpool's Hungarian midfielder at 14.5% ownership offers 6.3 expected points. Like Mac Allister, he benefits from Liverpool's attack going to Brighton.
Why Szoboszlai entices:
- ⚡ 6.3 EP - Solid projection
- 📊 120 total points - Consistent contributor
- 🔥 5.8 form - Decent recent run
- ⚽ 5 goals, 3 assists - Direct threat
- 💰 £7.0m - Mid-price value
If you prefer a Liverpool attacker over Mac Allister, Szoboszlai is the alternative. He gets forward more. But with lower EP and higher ownership than Mac, he's less appealing.
Stats: 120 total points | 4.3 PPG | 2,512 minutes | 5 goals, 3 assists
Explore Szoboszlai's stats for xG and shooting data.
The Verdict: ⚡ Liverpool alternative to Mac Allister
Jarrod Bowen (Aston Villa vs West Ham - A) - £7.5m
8.9% TSB | 5.2 EP
West Ham's talisman at 8.9% ownership with 5.2 expected points. Away at Villa (FDR 4) isn't ideal, but Bowen's quality makes him dangerous anywhere.
Why Bowen could surprise:
- ⚽ 8 goals, 7 assists - Excellent output
- 📊 141 total points - Top-tier season
- 🔥 5.2 form - Solid run
- 💎 8.9% TSB - Under the radar
Villa away (FDR 4) is tough, but West Ham can score against anyone. Bowen takes set pieces and penalties, giving him multiple routes to points.
Stats: 141 total points | 4.7 PPG | 2,689 minutes | 8 goals, 7 assists
View Bowen's full profile for detailed analytics.
The Verdict: 💎 Quality player, tough fixture
📊 Complete Captain Comparison
| Player | Team | Pos | Price | TSB % | EP | Form | Pts | Fixture | FDR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B.Fernandes | MUN | MID | £10.2m | 44.8% | 8.7 | 8.2 | 176 | @ BOU (A) | 3 |
| Mac Allister | LIV | MID | £6.3m | 2.6% | 8.5 | 8.0 | 84 | @ BHA (A) | 3 |
| João Pedro | CHE | FWD | £7.8m | 51.5% | 8.0 | 7.5 | 162 | @ EVE (A) | 3 |
| Iwobi | FUL | MID | £6.4m | 3.2% | 7.5 | 7.0 | 94 | vs BUR (H) | 1 |
| Senesi | BOU | DEF | £5.1m | 20.6% | 7.0 | 7.5 | 136 | vs MUN (H) | 3 |
| H.Wilson | FUL | MID | £6.0m | 25.2% | 6.3 | 5.8 | 143 | vs BUR (H) | 1 |
| Szoboszlai | LIV | MID | £7.0m | 14.5% | 6.3 | 5.8 | 120 | @ BHA (A) | 3 |
| Bowen | WHU | FWD | £7.5m | 8.9% | 5.2 | 5.2 | 141 | @ AVL (A) | 4 |
Track your captain's performance live with our gameweek tracker during BGW31.
🧠 BGW31 Captain Strategy Guide
Strategy 1: Template Safety (Bruno)
Best for: Managers near their target rank who can't afford to drop
Captain Bruno Fernandes for the safe template play. At 44.8% ownership, most serious managers will captain him. A Bruno haul maintains your rank, a blank doesn't hurt you.
Risk Profile: Low risk, low reward (rank neutral)
Strategy 2: Differential Explosion (Mac Allister or Iwobi)
Best for: Managers chasing rank who need big gains
Captain Mac Allister (2.6% TSB) or Iwobi (3.2% TSB) for explosive differential potential. If either hauls while Bruno blanks, you'll gain 20k-50k ranks.
Risk Profile: High risk, high reward (rank swing potential)
Strategy 3: Fixture Focus (Iwobi or Wilson)
Best for: Managers who trust fixture difficulty
Captain Iwobi (FDR 1) or Wilson (FDR 2) to target the easiest fixtures. FDR 1 and FDR 2 games statistically produce more goals and points.
Risk Profile: Medium risk, medium reward (fixture-dependent)
Strategy 4: Template Hedge (João Pedro)
Best for: Managers who want to avoid both extreme safety and extreme risk
Captain João Pedro (51.5% TSB) to stay with the ultimate template. At 51.5%, he's essential-level owned. A João Pedro haul is template, a blank is community misery.
Risk Profile: Minimal rank change either way
🔮 BGW31 Captain Predictions
Most Likely to Haul
- Bruno Fernandes - Highest floor, consistent ceiling
- Mac Allister - Liverpool's attack at Brighton
- Iwobi - Burnley are terrible
Most Captained This Week
- João Pedro (51.5%) - Template essential
- Bruno Fernandes (44.8%) - Safe option
- Wilson (25.2%) - FDR 2 home fixture
Biggest Differential Upside
- Mac Allister (2.6%) - Template-breaking potential
- Iwobi (3.2%) - Easiest fixture
- Senesi (20.6%) - Defensive wildcard
Use our transfer planner to build your BGW31 squad around your captain choice.
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🏆 Final Recommendations
🥇 Safe Pick: Bruno Fernandes (£10.2m)
If you're protecting rank or can't afford to fall behind, Bruno is the template captain. 8.7 EP, 44.8% ownership, and Man Utd's focal point away at Bournemouth. Sensible, reliable, rank-neutral.
🚀 Differential Pick: Alexis Mac Allister (£6.3m)
If you're chasing rank and need gains, Mac Allister is the explosive differential. 8.5 EP at just 2.6% ownership means huge upside. Liverpool away at Brighton should be high-scoring.
🎯 Fixture Pick: Alex Iwobi (£6.4m)
If you trust fixture difficulty over everything else, Iwobi has the FDR 1 fixture vs Burnley. At 3.2% ownership, he's a genuine differential. Harry Wilson (£6.0m, 25.2% TSB) offers the same FDR 1 fixture at higher ownership.
⚡ Value Pick: Harry Wilson (£6.0m)
If you want quality at mid-price, Wilson faces Burnley at home (FDR 1). 9 goals, 8 assists this season, and Fulham should dominate. 25.2% owned but not heavily captained.
🎲 Brave Pick: Marcos Senesi (£5.1m)
If you're feeling adventurous, Senesi's 7.0 EP as a defender is remarkable. Bournemouth vs Man Utd could be tight, and a clean sheet + assist makes him a 10+ point captain at 20.6% ownership.
📝 Key Takeaways
✅ Arsenal, Man City, Crystal Palace, Wolves blank - Template players unavailable
✅ Bruno Fernandes (8.7 EP, 44.8% TSB) is the safe template captain
✅ Mac Allister (8.5 EP, 2.6% TSB) offers explosive differential potential
✅ João Pedro (8.0 EP, 51.5% TSB) plays for Chelsea at Everton and is rank-neutral captain
✅ Iwobi (7.5 EP, 3.2% TSB) has the easiest fixture (FDR 1) vs Burnley
✅ Fulham vs Burnley (FDR 1) and Newcastle vs Sunderland (FDR 2) are prime fixtures
Plan Ahead: Use our fixtures tool to plan transfers for GW32 after the blank ends.
Transfer Strategy: Our transfer planner helps optimize your BGW31 squad structure.
Live Tracking: Monitor captain performance with the live points tracker during matches.
Differential Discovery: Find more BGW31 options with our hidden gems finder.
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