Captain Sensible

Who is the best captain for FPL Gameweek 23?

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

479 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. EWH2020
    • 12 Years
    2 months, 11 days ago

    Start one

    A) Rogers
    B) O'Reilly
    C) Kroupi Jr

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    1. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      A

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    2. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      A

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    3. Il Capitano
      • 5 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      A

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    4. Ancelottery
      • 16 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      A

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    5. The Lucky Dane
      • 2 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      A

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  2. FPL Blow-In
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 months, 11 days ago

    Salah at Bournemouth not even in the captains poll…

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    1. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      Not nailed anymore

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      1. FPL Blow-In
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        2 months, 11 days ago

        Who will start ahead of him?

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        1. The FPL Units
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 16 Years
          2 months, 11 days ago

          Garner and play 352

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          1. The FPL Units
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 16 Years
            2 months, 11 days ago

            Sorry misread and ignore. Not sure but they have more players than spots up front.

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    2. lilmessipran
      • 13 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      Kinda fixture he will likely do well in imo

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    3. Yes Ndidi
      • 6 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      I suspect whoever wrote the article assumed that anyone who's still got Salah forgot they had an FPL team a long time ago. Which is probably fair enough.

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  3. Iceball
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 months, 11 days ago

    Anyone keeping O'Reilly this week ?

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    1. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      Yes and benching

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  4. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 11 Years
    2 months, 11 days ago

    play one please

    a dorgu ( i have rice and saka)
    b hall ( i have pope)
    c alderete ( i have bowen)

    cheers and gl 🙂

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    1. JohnnyB10
      • 1 Year
      2 months, 11 days ago

      A! 🙂

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      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 11 Years
        2 months, 11 days ago

        oh punty! cheers

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        1. JohnnyB10
          • 1 Year
          2 months, 11 days ago

          Punty for sure 🙂 I ditched VVD for Dorgu last week, I think he is nailed, in superb form, can’t do much wrong with him atm 🙂 Such a prolific winger/wb 🙂

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          1. Ajax Hamsterdam
            • 11 Years
            2 months, 11 days ago

            cheers !

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            1. JohnnyB10
              • 1 Year
              2 months, 11 days ago

              Cheers as well and good luck!

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  5. pug_chops
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 months, 11 days ago

    A) DCL to Thiago
    B) Ekitike to Thiago
    C) Keep DCL and Thiago

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    1. pug_chops
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      Sorry. C) Keep DCL and Ekitike

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      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 11 Years
        2 months, 11 days ago

        a

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    2. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 11 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      c makes no sense or am i missing something?

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      1. pug_chops
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        2 months, 11 days ago

        Apologies, it was a typo. I meant stick with DCL and Ekitike

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        1. Ajax Hamsterdam
          • 11 Years
          2 months, 11 days ago

          haha no worries i like a

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    3. The Lucky Dane
      • 2 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      A

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  6. Pep Roulette
    • 8 Years
    2 months, 11 days ago

    Saka to Semenyo(C) for free?

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    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 11 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      not for me

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  7. FPL Equilibrium
    • 4 Years
    2 months, 11 days ago

    Is it mad to go Semenyo over Haaland Captain?

    Extra point for a goal and clean sheet and the slight possibility Haaland is benched?

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    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 11 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      not mad at all if you own imo

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      1. JohnnyB10
        • 1 Year
        2 months, 11 days ago

        Will do Cherki to Semenyo tonight for a hit and captain him. Can’t think anymore about Cherki and his minutes lol.

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  8. THFC4LIFE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 months, 11 days ago

    Benching the right players? Plan to roll and have 4ft next week

    Roefs
    Timber Gabriel Tarkowski
    Saka Cherki Rogers Bruno G Garner
    Haaland Bowen

    Dubravka DCL VdV Alderete

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  9. hazza44
    • 13 Years
    2 months, 11 days ago

    Who to play this week? Cheers
    A) Bowen (SUN)
    B) Gordon (AVL)

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    1. THFC4LIFE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      A

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    2. The Lucky Dane
      • 2 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      A

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    3. JohnnyB10
      • 1 Year
      2 months, 11 days ago

      A

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  10. pug_chops
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 months, 11 days ago

    Thanks. That was my original thought. I guess the only other consideration is that if I sell Ekitike it would help fund Fernandes the following week

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  11. Garfield1001
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 months, 11 days ago

    Would you WC this team in GW24?

    Roefs Dubravka
    Gabriel Dorgu O’Reilly Andersen Richards
    Foden Saka Rice Wilson Rogers
    Haaland Ekitike Guiu

    Thanks!

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  12. Warby84
    • 10 Years
    2 months, 11 days ago

    Calvert Lewin vs Tarkowski?

    Do Everton get a clean sheet??

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    1. JohnnyB10
      • 1 Year
      2 months, 11 days ago

      Tark is in my 11 till the rest of the season, not even 1% thinking about benching him ever.

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    2. g40steve
      • 8 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      Nah, Leeds probably score

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  13. ABCDEFC
    • 8 Years
    2 months, 11 days ago

    Would you do Szobo to B. Fernandes? Price change tonight

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    1. Winnerr
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      only if you can't afford it next week

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      1. FPL Equilibrium
        • 4 Years
        2 months, 11 days ago

        This

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  14. Winnerr
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 2 Years
    2 months, 11 days ago

    If Foden drops to 8.5 tonight and I bought him for 8.3 I won't lose 0.1 right?

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    1. FPL Equilibrium
      • 4 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      Yes

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    2. FPL Equilibrium
      • 4 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      Sorry no, If he is £8.6 and you got for £8.3 you will not lose anything if he drops to £8.5

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  15. The-Red-1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 months, 11 days ago

    Are we really expecting United to not score on Sunday?

    How much of a gamble is it to captain Palmer?

    2 key decisions I'm pondering

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    1. JohnnyB10
      • 1 Year
      2 months, 11 days ago

      I think Bruno F is a good captain choice, ya never know but I think they will score. Palmer nice punt, vs this Palace I’d go for it.

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  16. adstomko
    • 9 Years
    2 months, 11 days ago

    Thoughts on bench boosting these 4 players?
    Already used WC, so I'm tempted to go early & avoid transfers for DGW.

    Dubravka (TOT), Watkins (new), Ballard (whu), Alderete (whu)

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    1. JohnnyB10
      • 1 Year
      2 months, 11 days ago

      Not bad, I’d hold though.

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  17. BlzE_94
    • 11 Years
    2 months, 11 days ago

    Double up on arsenal defence with Gabriel and Timber or play Frimpong over Timber?

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    1. JohnnyB10
      • 1 Year
      2 months, 11 days ago

      I’d play Frimpong.

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  18. JohnnyB10
    • 1 Year
    2 months, 11 days ago

    Bruno F captain? Any thoughts? Anything is possible at the Emirates.

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    1. Hutchiniho
      • 7 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      Toughest fixture of the year
      Surely No

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      1. JohnnyB10
        • 1 Year
        2 months, 11 days ago

        I agree, it would be just crazy to do that, even though it could be 2-1, and he still gets a goal or assist.

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  19. Hint
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 months, 11 days ago

    Bench one:

    Rogers (New A)
    Bruno F (Ars A)
    Bruno G (Villa H)
    Rice (Man U H)
    Wirtz (Bou A)
    Etikike (Bou A)

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    1. Yank Revolution
      • 14 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      Rogers or Bruno G

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    2. Hutchiniho
      • 7 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      Can’t see BG playing. Considering selling for a -4

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  20. Hutchiniho
    • 7 Years
    2 months, 11 days ago

    Nunes to Guehi
    BrunoG to Ndiayi
    Guiu to KroupeJr?

    All would be a -4

    Start Rodon

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  21. fgdu
    • 12 Years
    2 months, 11 days ago

    Bench boost?

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

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    1. fgdu
      • 12 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      and Dubravka

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      1. fgdu
        • 12 Years
        2 months, 11 days ago

        Raya, Dubravka

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        1. Tibbles
          • 11 Years
          2 months, 11 days ago

          Who is your 5th midfielder?

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          1. fgdu
            • 12 Years
            2 months, 11 days ago

            Ba (non playing)

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            1. Tibbles
              • 11 Years
              2 months, 11 days ago

              That's a solid team. For bench boost, I'd be tempted but I hate wasting it on a non player.
              I feel you'll leave points on the bench this week not playing it, but if you can somehow strengthen a cheap 5th mid I would consider it.

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  22. Buck The Trent
    • 14 Years
    2 months, 11 days ago

    Start?

    A NOR (WOL)
    B Mukiele (whu)

    Captain?

    A Robot
    B Semenyo

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    1. JohnnyB10
      • 1 Year
      2 months, 11 days ago

      B and I will take a punt on Semenyo.

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      1. Boberella
        • 9 Years
        2 months, 11 days ago

        This

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  23. Tibbles
    • 11 Years
    2 months, 11 days ago

    Which of these options of 3 would you rather have going forward from this gameweek onwards?
    A. Rice, Palmer, Mbuemo
    B. Enzo, Wirtz, B Fernandes

    I plan to bench united player this week for either option.

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    1. fgdu
      • 12 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      pretty strong on Wirtz, so B

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    2. Fantasy Pig
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      That’s tough! Maybe A?

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    3. Boberella
      • 9 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      A

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  24. janlu0
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 months, 11 days ago

    3M itb. 1ft.
    Raya Dubravka
    Cash Senesi Guehi Dorgu Thiaw
    Saka Rice Wilson BrunoG Stach
    Watkins Thiago Haaland

    I only bought him last week so gutted BrunoG is injured.
    Do I ...
    A) sell him and buy Semenyo
    B) sell him and buy BrunoF
    C) Play him
    D) Bench him
    E) Give up playing Fantasy Football altogether, I have endured 16 years of hurt and it never gets any easier 🙂

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    1. Fantasy Pig
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      A Semenyo

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  25. Letsgo!
    • 9 Years
    2 months, 11 days ago

    Who is everyone captaining?
    Was thinking to capt saka or wirtz

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  26. Fantasy Pig
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 months, 11 days ago

    On a Wildcard and stuck on the final decision:

    A. Mbuemo, Enzo, DCL
    B. Palmer, Wilson, Kroupi

    Sanchez Dubravka
    Gabriel Timber Chalobah Guehi Dorgu
    Rice Semenyo Bruno XXX XXX
    Haaland Thiago XXX

    Help appreciated! Thanks

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    1. Tibbles
      • 11 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      If Palmer was deemed fit and healthy, B would be my choice (also because you already have Fernandes, and with mbuemo, feels like huge gamble despite their turn of favourable fixtures).

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  27. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 11 Years
    2 months, 11 days ago

    captain

    a haaland (might not start...)
    b saka
    c thiago

    cheers and gl

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    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      A still

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  28. evryetihng in its right plc…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 months, 11 days ago

    Start Dorgu or Anderson??

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  29. Faz4853
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 months, 11 days ago

    Start Wilson or Mbeumo?

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    1. Faz4853
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 months, 10 days ago

      ?

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  30. Junks
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    2 months, 11 days ago

    Worth using BB.. Every year i try and plan the BB and it o more often than not messes up my team structure and doesn't do well. Only question mark re minutes is Lewis-Potter but is there a chance he starts as its a decet fixture if so? Thanks all.

    Dubravka / Garner / Alderete / Lewis-Potter

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