A bold and potentially risky strategy in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) is being adopted, focusing on a significant differential by not only avoiding giving Erling Haaland the captain's armband but even excluding him from the FPL team of the week. This move, described as a 'brave, and possibly rash, step', aims to create a significant advantage over other managers.

The primary theoretical underpinning for this decision stems from the challenging nature of Newcastle away, which is considered one of the toughest fixtures in the league. Historical performance data supports this, as Erling Haaland has only managed to score one goal in six league and cup games against the Magpies, suggesting a potential for lower returns in this particular fixture.

Furthermore, the high cost of premium players like Erling Haaland (£14.9m) and Mohamed Salah (£14.2m) creates a significant budget constraint. The argument posits that if Haaland is not being captained for a gameweek, having both expensive assets in the team can lead to a weaker overall squad composition, making it a strategic choice to allocate funds elsewhere for potentially higher returns.

This strategy is enacted despite the knowledge that Haaland faces a series of favorable fixtures in the upcoming weeks, including matches against Leeds, Fulham, and Sunderland. These are games where the vast majority of FPL managers are expected to captain him without hesitation, making the current gameweek an opportune moment for a differential play.

The 'FPL team of the week' mentioned in this context is constructed under specific parameters: it is selected based on current FPL prices and adheres to a strict £100m budget, simulating a 'Free Hit' scenario to optimize returns within financial limitations.

The success of this audacious FPL plan remains to be seen, with the author acknowledging the potential for it to either yield significant gains or backfire. For further insights and expert advice, an FPL special Q&A with Gianni Buttice will be broadcast live on the BBC Sport website at 15:30 BST on Friday, 21 November.