Captain Sensible
23 January 2026 479 comments
FFScout Tom FFScout Tom
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It’s four blanks in five Gameweeks for Erling Haaland (£15.1m) – so is it time to back against him with the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) captaincy?

That’s what we’re considering in ‘Captain Sensible’, despite Manchester City’s favourable home fixture against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Brentford, Liverpool, Arsenal or perhaps even alternative Man City players are other options ahead of Saturday’s 11am GMT deadline.

In this piece, we will assess the on-site captaincy poll, analyse myriad player and team statistics, consult the Rate My Team (RMT) points projections and settle on a top three for the armband.


Captaincy Poll

Unsurprisingly, Haaland is the runaway leader at the top of the Fantasy Football Scout captaincy poll standings. Over 60% of our site users believe the Norwegian is the best option for Gameweek 23, despite him scoring just one goal in five Gameweeks.

Another Man City player, Antoine Semenyo (£7.6m), sits in second place, currently boasting just over 12% of the vote. The January signing, who already has two goals for his new club, was ineligible to feature in the Champions League in midweek.

Elsewhere, Igor Thiago (£7.2m) is the only other player to garner more than 5% support ahead of Brentford’s clash with Nottingham Forest. The Brazilian sits second in the Golden Boot race and bagged a brace in his last home match.


Player Stats – Last Six Gameweeks


price change predictions

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

479 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. shirtless
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    5 months, 17 days ago

    Made two trades this week swapped Nunes for Guehi and brought in Enzo. Will have two FT's next week.

    Sanchez
    Gabriel Guehi Aldarete
    Saka Foden Rogers Enzo Rice
    Haaland Thiago(c)

    1. Mr Turnip 1
      • 1 Year
      5 months, 17 days ago

      Nice team

      1. shirtless
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        5 months, 17 days ago

        I Wildcarded late in 17 which helped! Foden>Bruno next

  2. fgdu
    • 12 Years
    5 months, 17 days ago

    Who to start?

    Timber, Guehi, Tarkowski, Chalobah
    Wirtz, Rice, Semenyo, Wilson
    Ekitike, Haaland, Thiago

    1. F4L
      • 11 Years
      5 months, 17 days ago

      bench chalobah or wilson

  3. OffsidePenalty
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    5 months, 17 days ago

    Foden to
    A) Cherki
    B) Semenyo
    C) Roll ft. Start Foden.

    1. BrockLanders
      • 11 Years
      5 months, 17 days ago

      C

  4. gomez123
    • 12 Years
    5 months, 17 days ago

    Start A) DCL or B) Garner
    I have Tarkowski

    1. BrockLanders
      • 11 Years
      5 months, 17 days ago

      DCL is on pens. I'd be starting irrespective of Tark.

  5. Brosstan
    • 11 Years
    5 months, 17 days ago

    Wish there was a good captain alternative this week other than Haaland

    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      5 months, 17 days ago

      Thiago or Semenyo?

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • 9 Years
      5 months, 17 days ago

      Palmer?

  6. F4L
    • 11 Years
    5 months, 17 days ago

    no one tempted to captain an Arsenal player/Rice/Gabriel etc this gw? just have a feeling arsenal will put on a clinic this weekend. rice to run the match after a rest, i think he even got himself suspended for next week's CL match

    1. Dank Squid
      • 7 Years
      5 months, 17 days ago

      If you have a feeling, go for it. "O Captain! my Captain!" Journey vs destination.

  7. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 months, 17 days ago

    Bruno seems to rise in price tonight.

    A) Do Saka/Foden to Rice/BrunoF today to afford King to Enzo next GW
    B) Roll both FTs and not afford King to Enzo next week, max. 6.4, maby Ndiaye

    1. WVA
      • 9 Years
      5 months, 17 days ago

      If you have 2FT GET Fruno on Enzo

    2. OverTinker
      • 7 Years
      5 months, 17 days ago

      Hard to get anything for Bruno this GW

  8. BlzE_94
    • 11 Years
    5 months, 17 days ago

    Which 3 would you bench guys? Appreciate any help!

    Sanchez Dubravka
    Gabriel Timber Chalobah Frimpong Alderete
    B.Fernandes Rice Gakpo Enzo Wilson
    Haaland Watkins Thiago

    1. -GK22-
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 months, 17 days ago

      Frimpong, Alderete, gakpo

    2. F4L
      • 11 Years
      5 months, 17 days ago

      alderete gakpo watkins

  9. gomez123
    • 12 Years
    5 months, 17 days ago

    Would you sell DCL for Pedro for -4? Y/N

    1. -GK22-
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 months, 17 days ago

      No

    2. bobicek92
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 1 Year
      5 months, 17 days ago

      not even for +4

    3. BrockLanders
      • 11 Years
      5 months, 17 days ago

      Goodness, no

  10. -GK22-
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    5 months, 17 days ago

    2FT and £1.3m not sure what to do, ditch the pool players or Foden

    Raya
    Gabriel, Andersen, Chalobah
    Foden, Cherki, Rice, Garner, Rogers
    Thiago (c), Haaland

    Dubravka, Ekitike, VVD, Rodon

    1. BrockLanders
      • 11 Years
      5 months, 17 days ago

      Starting Garner over Ekitike???
      I'd personally ditch Cherki & Foden for Bruno & Enzo.

    2. Mr Turnip 1
      • 1 Year
      5 months, 17 days ago

      Bournemouth defence is not good. You should keep and start all Liverpool attackers

  11. Dutchy
    • 7 Years
    5 months, 17 days ago

    Start Timber or Collins

    1. -GK22-
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 months, 17 days ago

      Timber

    2. F4L
      • 11 Years
      5 months, 17 days ago

      thats tough. if you really cant start both, collins at a push. i guess if you have gabriel it softens the blow of an arsenal cs somewhat

    3. BrockLanders
      • 11 Years
      5 months, 17 days ago

      Timber

  12. BrockLanders
    • 11 Years
    5 months, 17 days ago

    Start one folks:

    1/ J. Andersen
    2/ Mukiele

    1. bobicek92
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 1 Year
      5 months, 17 days ago

      I am on Andersen personally, always prefer the home fixture when 50/50

  13. FPLMACKEM
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    5 months, 17 days ago

    Raya
    Virgil, Gabriel, Chalobah
    Enzo, Wilson, Foden, Saka, Anderson
    Ekitike, Haaland (c)

    Dubravka, Andersen, Rodon, Guiu

    4ft 2.2 itb.

    Will Foden and Ekitike start?

    Is it worth doing Foden to Bruno now? Ekitike to Thiago?

    1. BrockLanders
      • 11 Years
      5 months, 17 days ago

      Neither transfer is essential this week if truth be known. But both are good moves and will pay off long term.

  14. Nightf0x
    • 10 Years
    5 months, 17 days ago

    Alison (dub)
    Richards mukiele gabriel (clyne keane)
    Bruno rice enzo gordon (king)
    Tiago haland watkins

    which ?

    A) clyne alison -4 to timber sanchez
    B) king alison -4 to rogers sanchez
    C) gordon clyne -4 to rogers timber
    D) king to rogers (have watkins)
    E) clyne to timber (can wait & get cala later & save some funds)

  15. rozzo
    • 12 Years
    5 months, 17 days ago

    Mane or Kroupi to sit on the bench or doesn't it really matter?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • 9 Years
      5 months, 17 days ago

      Mane for me, more minutes and potential double gameweek soon

    2. Dank Squid
      • 7 Years
      5 months, 17 days ago

      Mane reverse oop, playing behind two strikers atm, scored a few goals from outside the box.

      Kroupi might get less minutes, assuming Bournemouth spend money on new attackers, but pops up inside the box more often/better chances.

      Preference - minutes/ticking along vs haul potential.

    3. Mr Turnip 1
      • 1 Year
      5 months, 17 days ago

      If this is true get a cheap non playing forward. Mane and Kroupi only if you will play them

  16. doppelganger
    • 7 Years
    5 months, 17 days ago

    Play 1 of this 3:
    A.Senesi
    B.Cash
    C.Dorgu

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • 9 Years
      5 months, 17 days ago

      AB

    2. F4L
      • 11 Years
      5 months, 17 days ago

      a

    3. BrockLanders
      • 11 Years
      5 months, 17 days ago

      B

  17. Buck The Trent
    • 14 Years
    5 months, 17 days ago

    Which cheap striker ? Will only play if fixtures are good.

    A Mane
    B Kroupi Jr
    C Brobbey

    1. waltzingmatildas
      • 15 Years
      5 months, 17 days ago

      A

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • 9 Years
      5 months, 17 days ago

      A

  18. waltzingmatildas
    • 15 Years
    5 months, 17 days ago

    Which one to bench?
    A) Dorgu (ars)
    B) Lacroix (CHE)
    C) Kayode (NFO)

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • 9 Years
      5 months, 17 days ago

      A

    2. F4L
      • 11 Years
      5 months, 17 days ago

      a

    3. waltzingmatildas
      • 15 Years
      5 months, 17 days ago

      Yeah feels obvious, except I'm worried about an attacking return again!

  19. Weasel Boy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 months, 17 days ago

    Any chance O'Reilly starts this GW?

    Currently have O'Reilly Guehi Foden Haaland from city.

  20. OverTinker
    • 7 Years
    5 months, 17 days ago

    Is any team getting dgw before GW 30?

    1. JoeSoap
      • 12 Years
      5 months, 17 days ago

      Possibly Arsenal

  21. -GK22-
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    5 months, 17 days ago

    Foden, Cherki and VVD

    To

    Bruno, Semenyo, Collins -4?

    1. BrockLanders
      • 11 Years
      5 months, 17 days ago

      I wouldn't go Semenyo personally. Too much risk with rotation. Bruno & Enzo?

  22. Skout
    • 6 Years
    5 months, 17 days ago

    Any suggestions on this team? 2 FTs, 0.3itb

    Dubravka
    Gabriel Thiaw Reinildo
    Saka Foden Cherki Cunha
    Haaland Thiago Watkins

    Petrovic Timber Stach Rodon

    1. JoeSoap
      • 12 Years
      5 months, 17 days ago

      Cunha>Enzo/Ndiaye

  23. JoeSoap
    • 12 Years
    5 months, 17 days ago

    A. Bruno G>Enzo
    B. Save and have 2 FTs nxt week

    Verbruggen
    Guehi, Timber, Gabriel,
    Saka, Bruno G, Foden, Wilson, Rogers
    Ekiteke, Haaland,
    Dubravka, Mukiele, Cash, Guiu

  24. how now brown cow
    • 11 Years
    5 months, 17 days ago

    Pope
    O'Reilly Gabriel VDV
    Saka Rice Foden Bruno G
    Haaland Thiago Jimenez

    (Dubravka Xhaka Mukiele Truffert)

    With 1 ft, what should I do?

    A- save
    B - Foden to Semenyo
    C - o'Reilly to guehi
    D - something else?

    1. JoeSoap
      • 12 Years
      5 months, 17 days ago

      Maybe c

  25. OverTinker
    • 7 Years
    5 months, 17 days ago

    3.7 itb. 1ft.
    Pickford Dub
    Gabriel Timber Thiaw (Dorgu Keane)
    Rice Wilson BrunoG Rogers Foden
    Ekitike Haaland (Guiu)
    Is there any transfer worth utilizing an FT here?

  26. abaalan
    • 10 Years
    5 months, 17 days ago

    A. Tavernier to Enzo this week
    B. Tavernier to max 5.9 this week. Then foden -> Bruno next week.
    C. Save. Then tavernier & thiago -> Bruno & kroupi next week.
    D. A this week, then Foden & Thaigo -> Bruno & Kroupi next week (-4)

    1. BeaversWithAttitude
      • 7 Years
      5 months, 17 days ago

      B

  27. jonnybhoy
    • 13 Years
    5 months, 17 days ago

    GTG?

    Sanchez
    Gabriel Timber Alderete
    Bruno F Saka Bruno G Wilson Foden
    Haaland Ekitike

    1. F4L
      • 11 Years
      5 months, 17 days ago

      gtg

  28. F4L
    • 11 Years
    5 months, 17 days ago

    could do with a goal from big dan ballard tomorrow

  29. el polako
    • 9 Years
    5 months, 17 days ago

    Cole Palmer.
    No form for probably a year now, clearly carrying and injury yet still in people’s minds to bring in.

    Blinded by the fixtures?
    Or just too few premiums worth owning hence too much money to spend?

    1. Tripswich
      5 months, 17 days ago

      People are struggling to adapt to the post premium defcon DCL new world order. Very understandable.

  30. F4L
    • 11 Years
    5 months, 17 days ago

    bournemouth are so decimated, losing semenyo, kluivert, brooks, tavernier just like that in a blink of an eye. oof. gotta feel for iraola

    1. I have no Wirtz
      5 months, 17 days ago

      I feel for him. But he shall get a seat at the big soon.

      1. F4L
        • 11 Years
        5 months, 17 days ago

        yeah deserves it. hopefully clubs go for him and leave silva alone (please sign a new contract 🙂 )