BAD CAPTAIN: Why Nico Jackson is about to haul huge

Photo Credit: Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images

<record scratch>

"Whoah, hold on. What about Salah versus Wolves? Son versus Sheffield? Jesus versus Everton?"

Hear me out: Chelsea's new #15 put up an xG of 3.71 and an xA of 0.57 over four game weeks. For all you Grass FC managers, those are INSANE underlying stats, suggestive of an imminent super-haul. Not convinced? Let's put it in more practical terms:

The Blues have created more big chances than any other team this season. Combine this with Jackson’s deep, relentless runs and Sterling's new renaissance under Pochettino, and it's only a matter of time before the Senegalese starts finishing what Raheem is creating.

Bottom line? Jackson is a hold at the very least and arguably, an intriguing alternative captain pick for Gameweek 5. He’s also (somewhat ironically) the most transferred-out player over the International Break (273K at the time of writing), which is quite literally increasing his differential value by the hour. Not that overall rank is overly-important five weeks in but if you're a hopelessly insatiable rank-chaser, Jackson could very well be that fast train up the table that you're looking for.

We'd be remiss to not to mention the Scandinavian elephant in the room. This weekend, Haaland’s away to high-flying West Ham – one of the few places he DIDN'T score a hattrick last campaign (and that was before the Hammers found their feet this season). It's EXACTLY the type of fixture in which the Norwegian Meat Shield could conceivably be kept quiet(ish). That being said, it's also the kind of fixture he could score 8 goals; so as always, choosing anyone but him feels like a horrifying attempt at self-sabotage. And Jackson could turn out to be another Timo Werner...

Whatever the case, it’s as good a game week as any for a mega-punt.

If you’ve got the bottle.