Captain Sensible
6 January 2026 234 comments
FFScout Tom FFScout Tom
Share:

Over seven million Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers were left scratching their heads once again as Erling Haaland (£15.1m) blanked for the third consecutive match in Gameweek 20.

However, the Norwegian remains, by some distance, the top-scoring player in Fantasy – and the go-to captain for many.

Once again in ‘Captain Sensible’, we consider whether there is a case to back against Haaland in the latest midweek round of fixtures. Players from Manchester United, Brentford, Arsenal and Aston Villa provide the competition this time, in what looks to be a wide field of alternative options.

First, we will assess the on-site captaincy poll. We will then analyse player and team statistics and Rate My Team (RMT) to determine the best captain for Gameweek 21 ahead of Tuesday’s 6.30pm GMT deadline.


Captaincy Poll

Best captain 21

Haaland sits at the top of the Fantasy Football Scout captaincy poll standings. Over half of our site users believe the Norwegian is the best option for Gameweek 21, despite six blanks in nine Gameweeks.

The highest-scoring player in Gameweek 20, Igor Thiago (£7.0m), sits in second place, currently boasting just over 15% of the vote. After a hat-trick against Everton, the Brazilian is unsurprisingly the most-transferred-in attacking player ahead of today’s deadline.

Elsewhere, Ollie Watkins (£8.7m) and Jarrod Bowen (£7.6m) are the only other players to garner more than 5% support. The England internationals come up against Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest, respectively.


Player Stats – Last Six Gameweeks


price change predictions

FFScout Tom <p>Partnerships &amp; Community Manager. Previously Multimedia Manager and Deputy Social Media Manager.</p>

234 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. FDMS All Starz
    • 10 Years
    5 months, 6 days ago

    Really stuck here not sure what to do with VDB/Ekitike/7th mid

    Areola
    Timber Gabriel Keane VDB*
    Cunha Saka Foden
    Ekitike Haaland Thiago

    Verbruggen LeFee Andersen Devenny
    (3FTs & 0.1itb)

    1. JoeSoap
      • 12 Years
      5 months, 6 days ago

      Downgrade Ekiteke & upgrade elsewhere. Better options in midfield.

      1. FDMS All Starz
        • 10 Years
        5 months, 6 days ago

        To who? Burnley next looks plum though

        1. JoeSoap
          • 12 Years
          5 months, 6 days ago

          It is but I would rather attack now. Cheap forward & get in Bruno G & Thiaw for example. Just a thought.

          1. FDMS All Starz
            • 10 Years
            5 months, 6 days ago

            Cheers

  2. KostaK
    • 4 Years
    5 months, 6 days ago

    Start DCL or Wilson?

    1. JoeSoap
      • 12 Years
      5 months, 6 days ago

      Wilson if you think he starts

      1. RamaJama
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        5 months, 6 days ago

        Why shouldn’t he start?

        1. JoeSoap
          • 12 Years
          5 months, 6 days ago

          Thinking of wrong Wilson. Definitely start Fulham Wilson

    2. The Knights Template
      • 12 Years
      5 months, 6 days ago

      Dcl!!!!

  3. JoeSoap
    • 12 Years
    5 months, 6 days ago

    A. Ekiteke>Thiago (cover ML chasers)
    B. Ekiteke>Watkins
    C. Save (play Guehi v VILLA)

    Have Haaland & Guiu. Struggling with this position. Need to just set & forget for a while. Watkins has better fixtures but plays less minutes and probably not on pens. Would have went for DCL if fixtures were better.

    1. Jigger & Pony
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 months, 6 days ago

      B medium term. Thiago has 4 really poor fixtures in the next 6.

  4. dansmith1985
    • 4 Years
    5 months, 6 days ago

    Play Dorgu or bring in Thiaw or Keane?

    1. Cojones of Destiny
      • 8 Years
      5 months, 6 days ago

      Dorgu

    2. Jigger & Pony
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 months, 6 days ago

      Save FT

  5. The Knights Template
    • 12 Years
    5 months, 6 days ago

    Rosenior confirmed Chelsea manager.

    1. Better off with a pin and a…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 months, 6 days ago

      BBC have a misprint on their website. They're saying a 6 year contract when it must surely be 6 months?

      1. MJF
          5 months, 6 days ago

          I wish him all the best and hope he does well, but the six year deal reminds me of when Ashley handed Pardew a 10-year version. The chances of him being Chelsea manager in 2032 have to be near zero.

    2. gomez123
      • 12 Years
      5 months, 6 days ago

      Gordan to Rice? Already have Saka? Or maybe Gordan to Bruno G?

      1. Jigger & Pony
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 months, 6 days ago

        Hold this GW

      2. MJF
          5 months, 6 days ago

          Yeah I like both moves.

      3. Ruinenlust
        • 8 Years
        5 months, 6 days ago

        Pick one to play

        A) Ekitike
        B) Dorgu
        C) Miley

        1. Jigger & Pony
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          5 months, 6 days ago

          Dorgu

        2. Old Wulfrunian
          • 9 Years
          5 months, 6 days ago

          a

        3. Camzy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 16 Years
          5 months, 6 days ago

          Dorgu

        4. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
          • 9 Years
          5 months, 6 days ago

          A

      4. Old Wulfrunian
        • 9 Years
        5 months, 6 days ago

        Gross is back.Just in case.

        1. The Knights Template
          • 12 Years
          5 months, 6 days ago

          34 year old pensioner

          1. Old Wulfrunian
            • 9 Years
            5 months, 6 days ago

            They shoot horses, don't they?

      5. Jigger & Pony
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 months, 6 days ago

        Who do you think are the best 3 managers/head coaches in the Premier League?

        1. x.jim.x
          • 11 Years
          5 months, 6 days ago

          Pep, Arteta, Emery

        2. The Knights Template
          • 12 Years
          5 months, 6 days ago

          Glasner, Slot and Pep

        3. tbos83
          • 5 Years
          5 months, 6 days ago

          Howe, Pep, Arteta

        4. Camzy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 16 Years
          5 months, 6 days ago

          Pep, Arteta, Emery and Glasner close behind.

        5. MJF
            5 months, 6 days ago

            Well y'know I think if Dychey was called Le Dyche or Van Dyche he'd get the Real Madrid job y'know.

            1. Jigger & Pony
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 12 Years
              5 months, 6 days ago

              Lol

        6. tbos83
          • 5 Years
          5 months, 6 days ago

          Sign of age when significant no of prem league managers are younger than you

          1. The Knights Template
            • 12 Years
            5 months, 6 days ago

            Cheer! Is Roy still managing?

          2. MJF
              5 months, 6 days ago

              Aye there's a few younger than me now, and a few I watch play in their heydey. Darren Fletcher Man Utd manager makes me feel closer to coffin than cradle.

            • Better off with a pin and a…
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              5 months, 6 days ago

              Oh Lord, thanks for this; only Moyes is older than me now...

          3. Count of Monte Hristo
            • 13 Years
            5 months, 6 days ago

            Which Chelsea players will you want for WHU wol LEE BUR?

            1. x.jim.x
              • 11 Years
              5 months, 6 days ago

              Already have Sanchez so probably just Palmer - depends how Rosenior has them playing tbh

            2. Jigger & Pony
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 12 Years
              5 months, 6 days ago

              Enzo, Chalobah and maybe one of Palmer / JP. Let’s see how the new managers sets the team up.

            3. The Knights Template
              • 12 Years
              5 months, 6 days ago

              Chalobah.

            4. Tonyawesome69
              • 7 Years
              5 months, 6 days ago

              Difficult to say as we don't know who Rosenior will prefer to start

            5. MJF
                5 months, 6 days ago

                Chalobah, Palmer, perhaps Enzo or James. Double probably sufficient though given they are less than the sum of their parts as a team.

              • 1912 F.A Cup Winners
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 8 Years
                5 months, 6 days ago

                Currently have Palmer and Fofana miggt add Enzo

                1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 8 Years
                  5 months, 6 days ago

                  Might

            6. FCSB
              • 10 Years
              5 months, 6 days ago

              Raya
              Hall Gabriel Dorgu
              Cunha Foden Rice Wilson
              Thiago Ekitike Haaland

              Dubravka Minteh O’Reilly VanHecke

              1FT, 0.5itb

              1. Save FT, play Minteh / O’Reilly over Ekitike
              2. Ekitike >> Watkins
              3. Ekitike >> Wissa / Woltemade

              Thanks

              1. The Knights Template
                • 12 Years
                5 months, 6 days ago

                2

            7. Jam0sh
              • 14 Years
              5 months, 6 days ago

              Hello guys. Would you save a FT here? Players I'm looking to get are the usual ones Palmer, Rice, Chelsea/Newcastle def

              Raya
              Gabriel, Keane, Alderete
              Rogers, Saka, Cunha, Wilson, Foden
              Haaland, Ekitike

              Subs: Dubz - Van Hecke, Rodon, Guiu -- 1 FT, 0.9 itb

              1. The Knights Template
                • 12 Years
                5 months, 6 days ago

                Cunha to Rice

                1. Jam0sh
                  • 14 Years
                  5 months, 6 days ago

                  3 Arsenal so this is not an option this week. Not taking a hit for it

                  1. The Knights Template
                    • 12 Years
                    5 months, 6 days ago

                    Sorry, overlooked Raya. Save.

                    1. Jam0sh
                      • 14 Years
                      5 months, 6 days ago

                      Cheers

            8. Sun God Nika
              • 5 Years
              5 months, 6 days ago

              Which 3 would you bench out of the following?

              O Reilly, Senesi, Guehi, Mukiele, Bowen and Cavert Lewin?

              #Currently got Cavert , Mukiele and Guehi benched ?

              1. The Knights Template
                • 12 Years
                5 months, 6 days ago

                What on Earth is this!

                1. Sun God Nika
                  • 5 Years
                  5 months, 6 days ago

                  It’s going to be a another week of regrets for me

                  #rice bencher and Thiago seller

              2. Conners
                • 7 Years
                5 months, 6 days ago

                Senesi, Guehi & Mukiele I think.

                1. Sun God Nika
                  • 5 Years
                  5 months, 6 days ago

                  I Should have worded it better my bad !

                  Need to play at least one def out of the def options at a minimum

              3. Conners
                • 7 Years
                5 months, 6 days ago

                Senesi, Guehi & DCL in that case.

            9. Diles Mavis
              • 1 Year
              5 months, 6 days ago

              Start Hincapie (LIV) or Heaven (bur)?

              1. The Knights Template
                • 12 Years
                5 months, 6 days ago

                Heave n, if he plays

            10. OptimusBlack
              • 13 Years
              5 months, 6 days ago

              For this GW
              Eketike >
              A- Woltmade
              B- Barry
              C- Brobbery
              D- Watkins

              1. tuturututu
                • 5 Years
                5 months, 6 days ago

                D ofc

            11. The Knights Template
              • 12 Years
              5 months, 6 days ago

              James Milner turned 40 two days ago!

              1. golfboy
                • 8 Years
                5 months, 6 days ago

                Same age as Rooney

                1. The Knights Template
                  • 12 Years
                  5 months, 6 days ago

                  And doesn’t have a taxidermied ferret on his head!

              2. Conners
                • 7 Years
                5 months, 6 days ago

                40 is the new 39.

            12. golfboy
              • 8 Years
              5 months, 6 days ago

              Hi Chaps

              Raya
              Gab Dalot VDV
              Foden Saka BrunoG Wilson Wirtz
              Haaland Thiago

              1FT VDV to Tarkowski or Save it?

              1. tuturututu
                • 5 Years
                5 months, 6 days ago

                I would do it, Tark looking like a decfon monster, VDV good only with attacking returns if he gets any, small chances of CSs

            13. tuturututu
              • 5 Years
              5 months, 6 days ago

              Please how do you rate my WC team?

              Raya
              Chalobah, Gabriel, Nunes
              Palmer, Rice, Cherki, Rogers
              Watkins, Haaland, Thiago

              Darlow, Alderete, Miley, Nallo

              1. OptimusBlack
                • 13 Years
                5 months, 6 days ago

                Great

              2. golfboy
                • 8 Years
                5 months, 6 days ago

                Palmer a bit of a punt. Maybe have Wirtz for now>

                1. tuturututu
                  • 5 Years
                  5 months, 6 days ago

                  Will stick with Palmer, not liking Liverpool's form or fixtures, but thanks

              3. Mother Farke
                • 2 Years
                5 months, 6 days ago

                Said this yesterday, mate, but Raya is a waste of an Arsenal slot.

                1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
                  • 9 Years
                  5 months, 6 days ago

                  I agree. Downgrade him and upgrade Miley to KDH (when fit)

            14. Ruinenlust
              • 8 Years
              5 months, 6 days ago

              Play O’Reilly or Dorgu?

              1. No Professionals
                • 8 Years
                5 months, 6 days ago

                O’Reilly

            15. No Professionals
              • 8 Years
              5 months, 6 days ago

              Raya
              Gabriel Dorgu Anderson
              Saka Cunha Foden Rogers Wilson
              Haaland Thiago

              Dubravka Virgil Rodon Guiu
              0ft 2.2m

              A) gtg
              B) Wilson to Gordon (-4)
              C) Virgil to tarkowski (-4)

              1. Conners
                • 7 Years
                5 months, 6 days ago

                Save, no need for a hit

            16. Conners
              • 7 Years
              5 months, 6 days ago

              Starting 11 and bench is a bit tricky this week.

              Does this look right?

              Henderson
              Tark - Timber - O'Reilly - Thiaw
              Semenyo - Rogers - Bruno G - Foden
              Haaland - Thiago

              Dub / Miley - Ekitike - Andersen

            17. Caesar Salahd
              • 13 Years
              5 months, 6 days ago

              What to do with Lewis-Potter? Why didnt he start last game?

              1. The Knights Template
                • 12 Years
                5 months, 6 days ago

                Who?

                1. Caesar Salahd
                  • 13 Years
                  5 months, 6 days ago

                  Google

                2. Ha.
                  • 10 Years
                  5 months, 6 days ago

                  Do you not read JK Rowling?

            18. BlzE_94
              • 11 Years
              5 months, 6 days ago

              Any update on Paqueta injury?

            19. mad_beer ✅
              • 11 Years
              5 months, 6 days ago

              Trying to save my FT this week so I need to decide to play Jimenez or Semenyo

              1. The Knights Template
                • 12 Years
                5 months, 6 days ago

                Raul

                1. mad_beer ✅
                  • 11 Years
                  5 months, 6 days ago

                  Thanks!

                  1. Bale11
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 5 Years
                    5 months, 6 days ago

                    Semenyo does well against us

            20. Kabayan
              • 9 Years
              5 months, 6 days ago

              Keane or Collins?
              (To buy, mostly for rotation)

              1. Ha.
                • 10 Years
                5 months, 6 days ago

                Keane

                1. Ha.
                  • 10 Years
                  5 months, 6 days ago

                  Actually I take that back - Collins

              2. g40steve
                • 8 Years
                5 months, 6 days ago

                Collins

            21. Bale11
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 5 Years
              5 months, 6 days ago

              a) Hugo to Watkins
              B) Hold and go Foden and Mukiele out for Tarkowski and Cherki
              C) Hugo and Rutter out for Cherki and Bowen

              1. Ha.
                • 10 Years
                5 months, 6 days ago

                C

              2. g40steve
                • 8 Years
                5 months, 6 days ago

                Hold Foden’s still firing & don’t want to miss haul?

            22. boc610
              • 14 Years
              5 months, 6 days ago

              An absolute one off hatty against a toffees side who will never be that open again and thiago sellers are going back to him for one of the meanest defences in the league. You sold him for a reason and that was 6 gwks without a goal

              1. g40steve
                • 8 Years
                5 months, 6 days ago

                Shhhh spoonfeeders 😉

              2. JoeSoap
                • 12 Years
                5 months, 6 days ago

                Would you sell Haaland if he blanks again?

            23. g40steve
              • 8 Years
              5 months, 6 days ago

              Do we trust Slot on Ekitike, or play & await use of bench?

              Bench correct, DCL first if play Ekitike.

              Kelleher
              Timber O’Reilly Gabriel
              Foden Rogers Palmer HWilson Rice
              Haaland DCL

              Petrovic Chalobah Guehi Ekitike

              .2

              1. _Ninja_
                • 15 Years
                5 months, 6 days ago

                Yeah not sure, i'm tempted to move to watkins but might keep for Burnley.

                1. Bale11
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 5 Years
                  5 months, 6 days ago

                  I think he plays but might not be worth the risk if you have a good first bench

                  1. g40steve
                    • 8 Years
                    5 months, 6 days ago

                    Will bench DCL & play Ekitike so if he does play (aka Rice) not gutted

                2. g40steve
                  • 8 Years
                  5 months, 6 days ago

                  Cheers, he’s top form striker so would rather hold & let others sell.

            24. Danstoke82
              • 11 Years
              5 months, 6 days ago

              Hi guys, which 3rd arsenal asset (doubling up on defence) for 1FT?

              A) Saka
              B) Rice

              1. g40steve
                • 8 Years
                5 months, 6 days ago

                B