Captaincy Dilemma: Home vs Away

Should you captain a player away from home? The stats say yes, but only for elite assets.

Haaland averages 8.5 points per game at home and 7.8 away. The drop-off is minimal. However, for mid-tier assets like Bowen or Gordon, the drop-off is significant (nearly 40%).

Rule of Thumb: Only captain premium assets in away games. For mid-priced players, stick to home comforts.

Elite Assets – Away Game Confidence

Players like Salah, Haaland, Haaland, Ødegaard, and Saka tend to perform consistently regardless of venue. Their underlying stats—shots on target, key passes, involvement in goals—remain high even on the road. These are safe captaincy options.

Mid-Tier Players – Home Focus

Players priced between £6.0–7.5m often see a significant drop in output away from home. Their xG and xA numbers decrease, and they’re more susceptible to defensive setups by stronger teams. Examples include:

Explosive Away Fixtures

Sometimes, a mid-tier player can explode away if they face a leaky defense or a team known to concede goals. Use expected goals (xG) and expected assists (xA) metrics to identify these opportunities rather than blindly following fixture difficulty.

Alternative Strategy

Consider using a “split captain” approach: pick one elite player for away matches and a mid-tier home asset for the same gameweek if the fixtures align. This balances risk and reward and can help maintain steady point returns.

Manager Tip

Always check the home/away form over the last 6–8 games. Elite players rarely disappoint on the road, but mid-tier picks should usually stay at home unless underlying stats strongly suggest an upside. Data-driven captaincy wins mini-leagues.