Captain Sensible
10 February 2026 411 comments
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After some late madness saw Erling Haaland (£14.9m) outscore chief captaincy challenger Bruno Fernandes (£9.8m) in Gameweek 25, our attention turns to the armband debate ahead of Double Gameweek 26.

Haaland and the increasingly reliable Fernandes both have appealing fixtures in this midweek round of matches, but it’s Arsenal who boast a double-header.

This means that Gabriel Magalhaes (£7.1m), Declan Rice (£7.5m), Jurrien Timber (£6.4m) and more will enter our thinking. Possibly even as a Triple Captain.

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, check in with the Premier Fantasy Tools ratings and settle on a top three for the armband.


Captaincy Poll

Perhaps unsurprisingly, given he’s also under Triple Captain consideration for some managers this week, Gabriel leads the way in our Double Gameweek 26 captaincy poll, with a whopping 57% of the vote at the time of writing.

He’s followed by Rice (17%), who is the only other player with more than 5% of votes.

Trailing those two are Gameweek 25 brace-bagger Viktor Gyokeres (£8.8m) and Haaland, whose Manchester City side hosts a Fulham team they scored five past in the reverse fixture.

Then there are four more Gunners – Timber, David Raya (£5.9m), William Saliba (£6.1m) and Noni Madueke (£6.8m) – before we even get to Fernandes for his trip to relegation-threatened West Ham.


Player Stats – Last Six Gameweeks


price change predictions

FPL Scoop London-based freelance journalist and editor, frequently with The i Paper, The Standard, Fantasy Football Scout, and BBC Sport. Follow them on Twitter

411 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. ididnt
    • 14 Years
    1 month, 23 days ago

    Final call.

    Bench

    A. Mbuemo
    B. Mane

    1. Delph & Safety
      • 8 Years
      1 month, 23 days ago

      A

    2. fantasykid
      • 14 Years
      1 month, 23 days ago

      B, no question!

    3. Craigsimpson
      • 2 Years
      1 month, 23 days ago

      As if you need to ask

  2. Atwood
    • 15 Years
    1 month, 23 days ago

    2FT's
    A - Wirtz/Ekitike > Bruno/Strand-Larsen
    B - Dorgu > Hill

    Verbruggen
    Gabriel - Timber - Alderete
    Wirtz - Endo - Rice - Rogers
    Haaland - Ekitike - J.Pedro

    Dubravka - Anderson - Andesen - Dorgu

    1. Bleh
      • 9 Years
      1 month, 23 days ago

      Roll

  3. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    1 month, 23 days ago

    FFS struggling 🙂

    1. tiger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      1 month, 23 days ago

      Yep, very slow loading

  4. Bleh
    • 9 Years
    1 month, 23 days ago

    GTG?

    Sanchez
    Gabriel, Timber, Lacroix, Senesi
    Rice, Bruno F, Rogers, Enzo
    Haaland, Ekitike

    (Dubravka, Thiago, Mukiele, Wilson)

  5. McSauce
    • 16 Years
    1 month, 23 days ago

    Rogers to Rice for a -4 this week?

    1. Delph & Safety
      • 8 Years
      1 month, 23 days ago

      No way

  6. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    1 month, 23 days ago

    With all the Gabriel triple captains, you just know that Gabriel will give away a penalty in the first 5 minutes against Brentford and get sent off with a 1 game ban 😀

    1. Josh.E
      • 4 Years
      1 month, 23 days ago

      ikr TC Gabriel doesn't feel right.

      1. tiger
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        1 month, 23 days ago

        FPL will FPL us all!

        1. Pompel
          • 12 Years
          1 month, 23 days ago

          FPL will find a way to troll Gabby triple-captainers, captainers and non-captainers alike

          1. tiger
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            1 month, 23 days ago

            True 😀

    2. iFash@FPL
      • 2 Years
      1 month, 23 days ago

      This is my innermost fear.
      😉

  7. TochanMama
    • 13 Years
    1 month, 23 days ago

    Thinking of taking Cunha out.
    Ideal replacement?

    A) Rogers
    B) Sarr

    Already got Mbuemo

    2FTs
    Pickford
    Gabriel / Chalobah / Timber
    Enzo / Rice / Mbuemo / Semenyo / Cunha
    Thiago / Haaland
    (Dubravka / Kroupi / Alderete / Gudmundson)

  8. Lallana_
    • 12 Years
    1 month, 23 days ago

    If Gabriel gets a red card, I'll cry

    1. The Philosopher
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 23 days ago

      Don't cry because it hasn't happened yet. Cry because TCers deserve it!

      1. The Bandit
        • 15 Years
        1 month, 23 days ago

        Arse

  9. NoelsonTic
    • 9 Years
    1 month, 23 days ago

    Man U rumours on X says Mbuemo not starting

    1. Ze_Austin
      • 7 Years
      1 month, 23 days ago

      Gonna need a link with that comment

  10. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    1 month, 23 days ago

    Start Keane or Thiaw?

  11. tabby98
    • 10 Years
    1 month, 23 days ago

    Who would you rather as 3rd Arsenal asset?

    Gyokeres
    Havertz
    Rice

    Team is:

    Roefs
    Timber, Gabriel, O’Reilly
    Rogers, Mbuemo, Foden, Enzo
    Haaland, JP, DCL

    Dubravka | Mukiele, Miley* Gudmundsson

  12. dimitros
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    1 month, 23 days ago

    Thoughts on HWilson to Semenyo for -4?
    A) Yay
    B) Nay
    Money can go up to 8.0 so Wirtz and Mbeumo are excluded this GW.

  13. The Philosopher
    • 5 Years
    1 month, 23 days ago

    Your deadline guru will be here for the next 10 minutes fking around. Throw them in.

    1. G Banger
      • 7 Years
      1 month, 23 days ago

      TC Gabriel if have all other chips? Play Kroupi over Wilson? 🙂

      1. The Philosopher
        • 5 Years
        1 month, 23 days ago

        No TC. Just the good old cap.

    2. el polako
      • 8 Years
      1 month, 23 days ago

      How can I find sense in my fpl suffering?

      1. The Philosopher
        • 5 Years
        1 month, 23 days ago

        This game is basically pain. Just enjoy the small wins, and drown the other sorrows with your weekend pint.

        1. el polako
          • 8 Years
          1 month, 23 days ago

          Im Polish, my likelihood of becoming a raging alcoholic is already around 75%…

          Guess there’s no point fighting it.

    3. Atwood
      • 15 Years
      1 month, 23 days ago

      2FTs
      A - Wirtz/Ekitike > Bruno/Strand-Larsen
      B - Dorgu > Hill

      Verbruggen
      Gabriel - Timber - Alderete
      Wirtz - Endo - Rice - Rogers
      Haaland - Ekitike - J.Pedro

      Dubravka - Anderson - Andesen - Dorgu

      1. The Philosopher
        • 5 Years
        1 month, 23 days ago

        Bruno

  14. how now brown cow
    • 11 Years
    1 month, 23 days ago

    Pope to Martinez. Y or n?

  15. Moneymar
    • 3 Years
    1 month, 23 days ago

    Start Chalobah or Maguire?

    1. Sgt. Schultz
      • 9 Years
      1 month, 23 days ago

      Chalo

  16. Sid07
    • 11 Years
    1 month, 23 days ago

    Play
    1) Thigao
    2) Lefee
    3) mukiele
    4) Andersen

    1. iFash@FPL
      • 2 Years
      1 month, 23 days ago

      In that order

  17. Sailboats
    • 10 Years
    1 month, 23 days ago

    Gabriel (c) + Timber, no TC for me. Good luck everyone!

    1. The Philosopher
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 23 days ago

      Sailboats has been boating around long enough to know the way!

  18. tabby98
    • 10 Years
    1 month, 23 days ago

    A) Havertz + Sarr
    B) Gyokeres + Summerville

    Which one?

    1. it lies in the proles
      • 9 Years
      1 month, 23 days ago

      B

  19. it lies in the proles
    • 9 Years
    1 month, 23 days ago

    Is Eze gonna start?

    1. Ze_Austin
      • 7 Years
      1 month, 23 days ago

      Unlikely

  20. The Mighty Hippo
    • 9 Years
    1 month, 23 days ago

    Thiaw to:

    a) Guehi
    b) Dalot

    1. el polako
      • 8 Years
      1 month, 23 days ago

      Munoz

  21. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    1 month, 23 days ago

    Rice or Gabs Cap?

    Play dubs or Kell in goal?

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      1 month, 23 days ago

      Gabs if protecting

      Rice if chasing

      1. g40steve
        • 8 Years
        1 month, 23 days ago

        Went Gabs & Kell

        Benched Chalobah, played Guehi

    2. Cojones of Destiny
      • 8 Years
      1 month, 23 days ago

      Gab Kel

      1. g40steve
        • 8 Years
        1 month, 23 days ago

        Cheers that’s my thought process, cheers

  22. tabby98
    • 10 Years
    1 month, 23 days ago

    Captain Gabriel or Gyok

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      1 month, 23 days ago

      Gyok

      If punting

    2. Ze_Austin
      • 7 Years
      1 month, 23 days ago

      Gabriel

  23. Dreaming of glory
    • 10 Years
    1 month, 23 days ago

    Start dcl or harry Wilson?

    1. Sailboats
      • 10 Years
      1 month, 23 days ago

      DCL

  24. FantasyClub
    • 5 Years
    1 month, 23 days ago

    Crazy to captain Timber over Gab?

  25. FantasyClub
    • 5 Years
    1 month, 23 days ago

    Play one please?
    A) Hill
    B) Kroupi

  26. Ze_Austin
    • 7 Years
    1 month, 23 days ago

    Aaaaaand breathe!

  27. 'Broadsword Calling Da…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    1 month, 23 days ago

    Pants down

    1. The Philosopher
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 23 days ago

      They're down. Come over.

      1. 'Broadsword Calling Da…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        1 month, 23 days ago

        Hellooo sailor, need to get my bloomers back on, could be some time.

        1. toerag
          • 15 Years
          1 month, 23 days ago

          ...come in Danny Boy!!

          1. 'Broadsword Calling Da…
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 9 Years
            1 month, 23 days ago

            ..will do, straight after my (TC) Gab grabs his 2 clean sheets, 1 goal, 1 assist, 1 set of defcon and a set of bonus points (..talk about cursed it for everyone ;))

    2. el polako
      • 8 Years
      1 month, 23 days ago

      That’s what my uncle used to say.
      Then one day he disappeared, haven’t seen him since.

  28. toerag
    • 15 Years
    1 month, 23 days ago

    rice

    1. The Philosopher
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 23 days ago

      and some chicken butter masala. Delicious!

      1. toerag
        • 15 Years
        1 month, 23 days ago

        mmmmmm 😆

  29. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    1 month, 23 days ago

    Just watch Haaland run riot at Fulham & destroy the sellers

    1. toerag
      • 15 Years
      1 month, 23 days ago

      i know, got rid 2 weeks ago, waiting for it to go pear shaped

  30. Gazzpfc
    • 9 Years
    1 month, 23 days ago

    Benched Thiago and Wilson

    What can go wrong to play Hill