Captain Sensible
24 October 2025 193 comments
FFScout Tom FFScout Tom
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Backed by over 6.3 million Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers with the armband in Gameweek 8, Erling Haaland (£14.7m) delivered yet again, scoring his 10th and 11th goals of the season.

With the Norwegian looking to score in a seventh consecutive league game, the captaincy decision will once again be straightforward for the majority.

But in Captain Sensible, we ask – probably in vain – if there is a case to look beyond the Norwegian this week, especially with Antoine Semenyo (£8.1m) averaging 10.5 points per home match this season.

First, we will assess the on-site captaincy poll. We will then analyse player and team statisticsRate My Team (RMT) and the Premier Fantasy Tools ratings ahead of Friday’s 6.30pm BST deadline.


Captaincy Poll

 Gameweek 9 Best captain

As expected, Haaland sits atop the Fantasy Football Scout captaincy poll yet again, albeit by a slightly smaller margin than last week. Among site users, he is the runaway leader in the poll, currently enjoying just over 50% of the popular vote. 

For the third week running, Semenyo occupies a distant second place, with a little under 15% of the vote. The Ghanaian international notched his 10th attacking return of the season in Gameweek 8.

Newcastle forward Nick Woltemade (£7.4m) occupies third place ahead of the Magpies’ clash with Fulham. Chelsea duo Joao Pedro (£7.5m) and Enzo Fernandez (£6.7m) complete the top five on 7% and 4% respectively.


Player Stats – Last Six Gameweeks

FFScout Tom <p>Deputy General Manager. Forever chasing the top 10K. Chelsea fan.&nbsp;</p>

193 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. lilmessipran
    • 13 Years
    8 months, 13 days ago

    Haaland

    1. Count of Monte Hristo
      • 13 Years
      8 months, 13 days ago

      Haaland

    2. Bavarian
      • 8 Years
      8 months, 13 days ago

      Selbst die Bayern haben angst

  2. Over Midwicket
    • 14 Years
    8 months, 13 days ago

    Play Dubravka (wol) or Vicario (eve)?

    Leaning Dub as I'm truly sick of Spurs defence.

    1. Count of Monte Hristo
      • 13 Years
      8 months, 13 days ago

      Dubravka

    2. FPLamateur
      • 1 Year
      8 months, 13 days ago

      Dubs as well, Wolves look terrible

    3. Punned It
      • 1 Year
      8 months, 13 days ago

      Yeah, Dubs for me too.

    4. Shark Team
      • 8 Years
      8 months, 13 days ago

      Dubravka

  3. Count of Monte Hristo
    • 13 Years
    8 months, 13 days ago

    Bench order correct?

    Anyone you would start instead of my current Xl?

    Cheers

    Raya

    James Timber Calafiori

    Mbeumo Semenyo Kudus Ndiaye

    Bowen Pedro Haaland

    Dubravka Paqueta Gudmundsson VDV

    1. FPLamateur
      • 1 Year
      8 months, 13 days ago

      Looks good, seems silly to have paqueta on bench vs promoted side but wouldn’t swap him for Kudus or Ndiaye

      1. Count of Monte Hristo
        • 13 Years
        8 months, 13 days ago

        I had Paqueta starting until I watched West Ham v Brentford. They were terrible, never played with a striker and looked completely out of ideas. I think Nuno was too experimental with the lineup but they don’t look like they create enough chances. Bowen is their talism

        1. Count of Monte Hristo
          • 13 Years
          8 months, 13 days ago

          …so he should be ok. Will be doing Paqueta > Gakpo in 2 weeks time.

          Like you say I don’t fancy benching Kudus or Ndiaye as I fancy a scoring game between them and both look very threatening in attack.

        2. FPLamateur
          • 1 Year
          8 months, 13 days ago

          Only worry would be that they get a penalty but I had the same issue with Diouf now getting rid for Cucurella

          1. Count of Monte Hristo
            • 13 Years
            8 months, 13 days ago

            Good point regarding penalties, Paqueta will be taking. Can’t bench Pedro (h) to Sunderland can I? He has been brutal and will be sold for Mateta this week.

            1. FPLamateur
              • 1 Year
              8 months, 13 days ago

              Guess you haven’t go BB available as Dubs and Gudmunsson got great fixtures

              1. Count of Monte Hristo
                • 13 Years
                8 months, 13 days ago

                I bench boosted last week. Was planning on this week and changed last minute. 14 points overall, 9 from Dubravka! 😆

    2. ljuta zena
      • 10 Years
      8 months, 13 days ago

      Too much Arsenal

    3. Shark Team
      • 8 Years
      8 months, 13 days ago

      Gudmundsson over Paqueta for me

  4. FPLamateur
    • 1 Year
    8 months, 13 days ago

    Getting rid of Isak for Ekitike this week and giving him the armband too. Mad or genius?

    1. tbos83
      • 5 Years
      8 months, 13 days ago

      Ekitike is a good pick but not sure about the armband

    2. Count of Monte Hristo
      • 13 Years
      8 months, 13 days ago

      Good move bringing Ekitike in but I wouldn’t (c) him personally.

      I would have said Semenyo but Dyche at Forest changes that now. No Haaland?

      1. FPLamateur
        • 1 Year
        8 months, 13 days ago

        Yeah got Semenyo Haaland and Saka. Just think Ekitike might haul if he gets 90 minutes. Possibly on pens if no Salah too

        1. Count of Monte Hristo
          • 13 Years
          8 months, 13 days ago

          I do prefer him over Semenyo and Saka for sure. Could be goals for sure and 90 minutes.

          Do you not back Haaland away to Villa or just want to mix things up a bit?

          1. FPLamateur
            • 1 Year
            8 months, 13 days ago

            Currently 1,700 and don’t see many above me playing Ekitike as captain so could move me up a few places I think

            1. Count of Monte Hristo
              • 13 Years
              8 months, 13 days ago

              That’s impressive, not such an amateur 😉

              Good luck and hope Ekitike smashes it for you.

    3. Shark Team
      • 8 Years
      8 months, 13 days ago

      Mad

  5. Ha.
    • 10 Years
    8 months, 13 days ago

    Is Acheampong likely to play this week?

    Thinking of bringing a Chelsea defender in just for this gameweek so that I can bench Sarr

    1. FPLamateur
      • 1 Year
      8 months, 13 days ago

      Never bench Sarr against the big 6

      1. Ha.
        • 10 Years
        8 months, 13 days ago

        Double Arsenal def and generally like to avoid conflicts unless a clear reason that both can do well

  6. The Philosopher
    • 5 Years
    8 months, 13 days ago

    Keep or sell Foden the fker? *Have Haaland and Reijnders too.

    1. The Philosopher
      • 5 Years
      8 months, 13 days ago

      Or may be Reijnders -> Anthony(Burnley)?

      1. FPLamateur
        • 1 Year
        8 months, 13 days ago

        Burnley fixtures after this one go downhill

    2. chilli con kone
      • 12 Years
      8 months, 13 days ago

      I have both and sold Reijnders and kept Foden. Might as well give him the next two imo after the rest in mid week. Villa and Bournemouth will leave him much more space than teams that low block

    3. Shark Team
      • 8 Years
      8 months, 13 days ago

      Sell

  7. SomeoneKnows
    • 10 Years
    8 months, 13 days ago

    Transfer thoughts 1FT + 0.8itb...

    A) Vicario > Pope
    B) J.Pedro > Woltemade
    C) Roll transfer

    Vicario
    Gabriel, Senesi, Porro
    Saka, Semenyo, Sarr, Anthony
    Gyokeres, Haaland (C), J.Pedro

    (Dubravka, Reijnders, Lacroix, Gudmundsson)

    1. tbos83
      • 5 Years
      8 months, 13 days ago

      C

    2. SARRFACE
      • 14 Years
      8 months, 13 days ago

      C

    3. Shark Team
      • 8 Years
      8 months, 13 days ago

      A

  8. Count of Monte Hristo
    • 13 Years
    8 months, 13 days ago

    Would you rather have Sarr or Gakpo long term?

    1. FPLamateur
      • 1 Year
      8 months, 13 days ago

      Personally Sarr as he’s nailed. Gakpo is always a rotation risk

      1. Count of Monte Hristo
        • 13 Years
        8 months, 13 days ago

        Cheers, yeah Sarr is never a minutes risk and Gakpo always seems a streaky player. Never seem to own him when he does well.

    2. Bavarian
      • 8 Years
      8 months, 13 days ago

      Gakpo

    3. gellinmagellan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      8 months, 13 days ago

      Gakpo

    4. Shark Team
      • 8 Years
      8 months, 13 days ago

      Gakpo

  9. Laurel and Vardy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    8 months, 13 days ago

    Start one from each pair:

    A) Reijnders
    B) Paqueta

    1) VDV
    2) Gudmundsson

    Thank you.

    1. Count of Monte Hristo
      • 13 Years
      8 months, 13 days ago

      B2 comfortably

      1. Laurel and Vardy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        8 months, 13 days ago

        Thanks. They play against each other though so it would be a mixed bag of expectations 🙂

        1. Count of Monte Hristo
          • 13 Years
          8 months, 13 days ago

          Yeah that is best avoided most of the time. Go for Paqueta and VDV then just to clear your mind of that issue 😉

    2. Shark Team
      • 8 Years
      8 months, 13 days ago

      B2

  10. SpaceCadet
    • 12 Years
    8 months, 13 days ago

    Start Gud or Vdv?

    1. Count of Monte Hristo
      • 13 Years
      8 months, 13 days ago

      Gudmundsson

      1. SpaceCadet
        • 12 Years
        8 months, 13 days ago

        Thanks

    2. Rico123
      • 3 Years
      8 months, 13 days ago

      I’m starting Gud, benching vdv

    3. Shark Team
      • 8 Years
      8 months, 13 days ago

      Gud

  11. Fpl stress
    • 8 Years
    8 months, 13 days ago

    Not sure who to bench or play, a little help would be great:

    Dub
    Gabriel Timber Senesi
    Saka Kudus Semenyo Gakpo
    Haaland Pedro Woltemade

    Vicario Caicedo (SUN) Achempong (SUN Esteve

    It feels horrible benching Caicedo at home to Sunderland

    1. SpaceCadet
      • 12 Years
      8 months, 13 days ago

      Bench Kudus.

    2. Shark Team
      • 8 Years
      8 months, 13 days ago

      Bench kudus for sure imo

  12. abaalan
    • 10 Years
    8 months, 13 days ago

    Play FH? WC last week and got 3 ars and 3 pal all playing each other (could bench some palace)
    Or save when I have some more flags.
    Got 2 ft otherwise

    Pope, Dub
    Gabriel, calafori, Richards, mukiele, Anderson*
    Saka, Semenyo, Enzo, sarr, reijnders
    Haaland, Bowen, mateta

  13. agueroooooney
    • 11 Years
    8 months, 13 days ago

    Would you BB this?

    Dubravka (wol) - Tarkowski (TOT) - Stach (WHU) - King (new)

    1. JT11fc
      • 7 Years
      8 months, 13 days ago

      Yes

    2. Shark Team
      • 8 Years
      8 months, 13 days ago

      100%

    3. agueroooooney
      • 11 Years
      8 months, 12 days ago

      Thanks y'all

  14. Assisting the assister
    • 10 Years
    8 months, 13 days ago

    What’s the thinking on Grealish these days?

    1. denial
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 17 Years
      8 months, 13 days ago

      Starting him against a dodgy Spurs

    2. Shark Team
      • 8 Years
      8 months, 13 days ago

      Ok pick but Ndiaye better

  15. JT11fc
    • 7 Years
    8 months, 13 days ago

    Rodon or Gudmunsson?
    This week only

    1. LosBlancos
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      8 months, 13 days ago

      Rodon defcon and goal threat I think

      1. JT11fc
        • 7 Years
        8 months, 13 days ago

        Thanks

    2. Shark Team
      • 8 Years
      8 months, 13 days ago

      Rodon

  16. SARRFACE
    • 14 Years
    8 months, 13 days ago

    Hello all

    Should I bench boost this team considering the upcoming Leeds and Burnely fixtures?

    Pope
    Virgil Senesi Gabriel
    Semenyo Mbuemo Reijnders Kudus
    Haaland Pedro Gyokeres

    (Dub, Stach, Gudmondsson, VdV)

    Yay or Nay

    1. JT11fc
      • 7 Years
      8 months, 13 days ago

      As good a time as any id say

      1. SARRFACE
        • 14 Years
        8 months, 13 days ago

        Thanks mate

    2. Shark Team
      • 8 Years
      8 months, 13 days ago

      For sure

  17. gellinmagellan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    8 months, 13 days ago

    Donnarumma
    Gabriel Senesi Tarkowski
    Eze Reijnders Kudus Semenyo
    Isak Pedro Haaland
    Dubravka Stach Richards Andersen

    4 FTs 0.2 ITB
    A) Isak + Reijnders > Eketike + Enzo (leaving 1m ITB)
    B) Isak + Eze + Anderson > Eketike + Saka + Mukiele (exact)
    C) Isak + Eze > Mateta + Saka

    I want to get Saka in but I'm a bit confused if it is urgent this week or I should hold Eze for one more week... I want to punt on Eketike but wondering if if makes sense.

    1. JT11fc
      • 7 Years
      8 months, 13 days ago

      C out of those but like you say it could possibly wait if you can bench Isak

    2. Shark Team
      • 8 Years
      8 months, 13 days ago

      I don’t like this team, use your FTs

  18. LosBlancos
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    8 months, 13 days ago

    Why does the team news article say Guiu is suspended?

    1. JT11fc
      • 7 Years
      8 months, 13 days ago

      Weird, definitely not

    2. Punned It
      • 1 Year
      8 months, 13 days ago

      Someone mixed him up with Gusto, maybe?

  19. Shark Team
    • 8 Years
    8 months, 13 days ago

    I have a dilemma: Cucurella or R.James ?

    Cucurella: last season provided an attacking return per 2.2 home games, this season his underlying stats are similar but provides a return per 4 home games, due to change?

    James: on corners & set pieces, he is rested in Europe/EFL Cup so I expect him to start next 4, cheaper.

    1. el polako
      • 8 Years
      8 months, 13 days ago

      Problem with James is - you can trust him to start but every time you’ll pray he gets past 60 minutes without pulling a hammy.

    2. JT11fc
      • 7 Years
      8 months, 13 days ago

      It is a dilema, Ive had Cucu all season and happy to hold, go with your gut, the upside outweights the risk of a future transfer.
      For James to go this long without an injury means they have at least found a system that keeps him fit

  20. Aaa
    • 11 Years
    8 months, 13 days ago

    Start Reijnders over Sarr?

    Own Gab and Timber

    1. Shark Team
      • 8 Years
      8 months, 13 days ago

      Yes

  21. FPLMACKEM
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    8 months, 13 days ago

    Raya
    Gabriel, Sensei, Tarkowski
    Reijnders, Bruno, Ndiaye, Semenyo,
    Gyokeres, Pedro, Haaland (c)

    Dubravka, Stach, Rodon, Andersen

    4ft 0.7 itb

    Start Stach for Reijnders? Rodon for Tarkowski? Or both?

    1. Shark Team
      • 8 Years
      8 months, 13 days ago

      Stach Rodon

  22. EWH2020
    • 12 Years
    8 months, 13 days ago

    Would you bench boost this? I have feeling Tosin will start fo Chelsea to deal with Sunderland aerial threat from long throws.

    Dubravka - Gudmondson - Tosin - King

    1. Count of Monte Hristo
      • 13 Years
      8 months, 13 days ago

      Definitely BB

    2. Shark Team
      • 8 Years
      8 months, 13 days ago

      I think Tosin won’t play so no

  23. Fernandito
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    8 months, 13 days ago

    Currently got Foden(had him for the past 4 games)...would you transfer to Mbeumo?

    1. Count of Monte Hristo
      • 13 Years
      8 months, 13 days ago

      In a heartbeat

    2. Shark Team
      • 8 Years
      8 months, 13 days ago

      Yes

  24. Minion
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    8 months, 13 days ago

    Start one of each:

    A. Munoz
    B. Rodon

    1. Sarr
    2. KDH

    1. Count of Monte Hristo
      • 13 Years
      8 months, 13 days ago

      B2

    2. Shark Team
      • 8 Years
      8 months, 13 days ago

      B1

  25. TanN
    • 5 Years
    8 months, 13 days ago

    Fernandes -> Saka for free?

    1. Count of Monte Hristo
      • 13 Years
      8 months, 13 days ago

      I wouldn’t, Bruno will be a season hold for me, the points always come.

    2. Shark Team
      • 8 Years
      8 months, 13 days ago

      Yes imo

  26. Karan_G14
    • 10 Years
    8 months, 13 days ago

    Petrovic
    Calafiori Senesi Rodon
    Saka Bruno Semenyo Reijnders
    Haaland Gyokeres Pedro

    (Dub Stach Richards Anderson)
    4FTs & 0.2m

    Gyokeres, Reijnders & Richards to Guiu, Enzo & Gabriel for free?

    Leaves enough cash for Pedro & Stach to Sarr & Mateta next week.

    1. Shark Team
      • 8 Years
      8 months, 13 days ago

      Yes

  27. Michelle Davin
    • 9 Years
    8 months, 13 days ago

    Reijnders to Gakpo a decent move?For free that is

    1. The Philosopher
      • 5 Years
      8 months, 13 days ago

      Unreal move, homie

    2. Shark Team
      • 8 Years
      8 months, 13 days ago

      Yes

  28. kysersosa
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    8 months, 13 days ago

    Play Bowen ahead of Rodon. I feel thisnsi a 50/50 call. Bought Bowen in on my WC last week, feel if I don't play him against Leeds I should just plan to ship any way.

    1. Shark Team
      • 8 Years
      8 months, 13 days ago

      Yes

  29. GoonerByron
    • 14 Years
    8 months, 13 days ago

    Start one here?

    A) Sarr (ars)
    B) Reijnders (avl)
    C) Rodon (WHU)

    1. Shark Team
      • 8 Years
      8 months, 13 days ago

      C

  30. tbos83
    • 5 Years
    8 months, 13 days ago

    On WC:

    A) Bruno + DCL
    B) Ndiaye + Mateta

    1. Defcons are for Kinnear
      • 13 Years
      8 months, 13 days ago

      Any option with DCL is a bad option

    2. Shark Team
      • 8 Years
      8 months, 13 days ago

      B