Managers in Fantasy Premier League who trusted Mohamed Salah (£12.6m) with the captain's armband were left frustrated as he blanked again in the draw at Newcastle United.
For the sixth time this season, the top-scoring Fantasy player was the most-popular captain, being backed by more than 1,897,000 managers for Gameweek 16.
But with Liverpool drawing 0-0, Salah claimed three points. It adds to the two points he picked up against West Bromwich Albion on Sunday.
GW16 most-captained players
| Player | Captained by ('000s) |
|---|---|
| Salah | 1,897 |
| Kane | 1,220 |
| Son | 1,021 |
Managers who kept faith with Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane (£11.0m) and Son Heung-min (£9.7m) were dealt a cruel blow when their fixture with Fulham was postponed due to a rise in cases of COVID-19.
Frustratingly for 468,000+ who had one of the Spurs duo as their captain, they had the other as their vice-captain. This means they miss out on a member of their squad having their points doubled this Gameweek.
Top vice-captains for Kane captain
| Player | Captained by ('000s) |
|---|---|
| Son | 308 |
| Salah | 185 |
| Fernandes | 185 |
However, for more than 373,000 managers, Bruno Fernandes (£11.1m) will now assume the armband.
And the Manchester United playmaker produced his 18th attacking return of the season against Wolverhampton Wanderers, returning six points. Only Kane has been more productive with 19 goals and assists.
Another 371,330 of those armbands will go to Salah.
Top vice-captains for Son captain
| Player | Captained by ('000s) |
|---|---|
| Fernandes | 187 |
| Salah | 185 |
| Kane | 160 |
The leading 100 FPL managers were just as affected as the masses, selecting the same three players in the same order.
Most-captained by top 100
| Player | Captained by |
|---|---|
| Salah | 57 |
| Kane | 18 |
| Son | 17 |
Two centre-backs topped the table of the most-sold players ahead of Gameweek 16.
More than 488,000 shipped out the injured Jannik Vestergaard (£4.9m), with the Southampton defender being ruled out until the end of January.
And 284,000 parted company with Tyrone Mings (£5.4m), who missed Aston Villa's trip to Chelsea after receiving a one-match ban for his red card against Crystal Palace.
Finally, the 283,548 managers who parted company with Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£7.9m) benefited from a slice of good fortune as Everton's match against Manchester City was postponed due to cases of COVID-19.
GW16 most transferred-out players
| Player | Transferred out by ('000s) |
|---|---|
| Vestergaard | 488 |
| Mings | 284 |
| Calvert-Lewin | 283 |
The majority of FPL managers have turned to Jan Bednarek (£4.8m) as their replacement in defence, with more than 306,000 adding the Poland international to their squads.
They were rewarded as Southampton kept a second successive clean sheet in the goalless draw with West Ham United.
The excellent form of Fernandes persuaded another 276,000+ to acquire the Portuguese.
Following his 12-point return at Leicester City, Fernandes provided the assist for Marcus Rashford's (£9.5m) stoppage-time winner to finish with six points.
Meanwhile the best-value outfield player in FPL, Patrick Bamford (£6.5m), gained a further 238,759 new owners.
The Leeds United forward continued his excellent form with two Fantasy assists in the impressive 5-0 triumph at West Brom.
GW16 most transferred-in players
| Player | Transferred in by ('000s) |
|---|---|
| Bednarek | 306 |
| Fernandes | 276 |
| Bamford | 238 |
See: Fantasy Premier League stats
Also in this series
Part 2: GW16 Bonus points: Fernandez claims a maximum
Part 3: FPL Monday review: El Ghazi and Cash deliver again
Part 4: FPL Tuesday review: Mee scores big as Fernandes matches Salah
