GW22 -- HoF Review
TLDR
- Haaland maintains 100% ownership among the elite, with 94% captaincy in GW22
- Hugo Ekitiké surged into 68% of elite squads (from 0%) as the standout transfer-in
- Cunha benched en masse—ownership dropped from 88% to just 10% of starting XIs
- Gabriel emerged as the new third-most selected player at 92% ownership
- Elite managers showed rare captain diversity with 6% backing Ekitiké over Haaland
Top Starters: Five-Week Trend
The elite top 50 continue to rally around a core template, though GW22 saw meaningful rotation.
| GW | Top 1 | Top 2 | Top 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | Erling Haaland (50, 100.0%) | Phil Foden (48, 96.0%) | Matheus Cunha (43, 86.0%) |
| 19 | Erling Haaland (50, 100.0%) | Matheus Cunha (46, 92.0%) | Phil Foden (46, 92.0%) |
| 20 | Erling Haaland (50, 100.0%) | Phil Foden (49, 98.0%) | Matheus Cunha (44, 88.0%) |
| 21 | Erling Haaland (50, 100.0%) | Phil Foden (49, 98.0%) | Matheus Cunha (44, 88.0%) |
| 22 | Erling Haaland (50, 100.0%) | Phil Foden (48, 96.0%) | Gabriel (46, 92.0%) |
Key insight: Gabriel’s rise to the third spot marks a defensive shift among the elite. Cunha’s drop from the top 3 reflects fixture concerns, with managers opting to bench rather than sell ahead of potential returns.
Captain Choices: Five-Week Trend
Haaland continues his stranglehold on the armband, though GW22 showed the first cracks in his dominance since GW19.
| GW | Top 1 | Top 2 | Top 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | Erling Haaland (45, 90.0%) | Hugo Ekitiké (5, 10.0%) | — |
| 19 | Erling Haaland (38, 76.0%) | Matheus Cunha (10, 20.0%) | Hugo Ekitiké (2, 4.0%) |
| 20 | Erling Haaland (50, 100.0%) | — | — |
| 21 | Erling Haaland (50, 100.0%) | — | — |
| 22 | Erling Haaland (47, 94.0%) | Hugo Ekitiké (3, 6.0%) | — |
Key insight: The 6% Ekitiké captaincy represents a calculated gamble by managers seeking differential upside. With City’s fixture list favorable, backing Haaland remains the safe play, but the elite are clearly monitoring alternatives.
Transfer Movements: GW22 vs GW21
Subbed IN (Biggest Increases)
| Player | GW22 | GW21 | Delta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hugo Ekitiké | 34 | 0 | +34 |
| Enzo Fernández | 21 | 8 | +13 |
| Marcus Tavernier | 14 | 1 | +13 |
| Virgil van Dijk | 20 | 9 | +11 |
| Gabriel | 46 | 37 | +9 |
Analysis: Ekitiké’s explosive entry into 68% of elite starting XIs is the story of the week. The Crystal Palace striker offers a premium attacking option at a favorable price point. Enzo’s resurgence reflects Chelsea’s improved form, while Tavernier provides budget midfield coverage with consistent returns.
Subbed OUT (Biggest Decreases)
| Player | GW22 | GW21 | Delta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matheus Cunha | 5 | 44 | -39 |
| Michael Keane | 0 | 12 | -12 |
| Nico O’Reilly | 4 | 14 | -10 |
| James Tarkowski | 6 | 16 | -10 |
| Elliot Anderson | 1 | 9 | -8 |
Analysis: Cunha’s dramatic drop from 88% to 10% of starting XIs represents strategic benching rather than mass sales—managers are preserving the asset for better fixtures. The Everton defensive exodus (Keane, Tarkowski) signals a loss of faith in their clean sheet potential.
Captain Movement: GW22 vs GW21
| Direction | Player | GW22 | GW21 | Delta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ↑ More captained | Hugo Ekitiké | 3 | 0 | +3 |
| ↓ Less captained | Erling Haaland | 47 | 50 | -3 |
The minor shift represents tactical variance rather than a fundamental change in strategy. Haaland remains the default captain choice for the overwhelming majority.
Visual Analysis
Only one manager used the wildcard. Tough week overall for HoF managers with one of the worst average GW ranks of the season. The average HoF manager sits at ~500k with one sitting below 5k.
