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. MrMartini
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

    Do i need a 3rd Arsenal this wk or am i gtg with this?

    Pickford
    Munoz, gusto, gabriel, timber, lacroix
    Bruno F, anderson, cherki, neto
    Haaland

    Subs- dub, Dcl, thiago, wilson

    Got 3ft and 1.4 itb
    Thoughts anyone?

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 7 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      Pickford to Raya

      1. MrMartini
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        1 month, 17 days ago

        In my thoughts for sure, only downside is if i want rice later id need to bin him again and feel like the maximum he will get me is 10pts (assuming minimum pickford gets is 2) and then id need another transfer later. Not ruling it out though thanks for your reply.

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

      Neto > Rice easy

      1. MrMartini
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        1 month, 17 days ago

        Looking at this a lot and just with leeds and burnley next at home neto could do well but rice does have 3 games so very torn tbh. Player for player its a no brainer but fixtures pretty good for chelsea next 2. Not sure arsenal score enough away. Hard call.

    3. MarcusAurelius
      • 10 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      Anderson to Rice

      1. MrMartini
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        1 month, 17 days ago

        Id need a 2nd transfer to afford this, any suggestions?

        1. MarcusAurelius
          • 10 Years
          1 month, 17 days ago

          Maybe downgrade Lacroix as you already have Munoz

    4. FourLokoLeipzig
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      I don’t think you need Rice, but you have a bunch of mids I’d consider expendable so I’d get him in. Would be different if you had Mbuemo, Rogers, Sarr, and Semenyo

  2. Atwood
    • 15 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

    2FT's and no Bruno...
    Thinking Wirtz/Ekitike > Bruno/Strand-Larsen.
    Leaves me a little screwed in blank 31, but I don't know if I can survive another Bruno haul.

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

    Dubravka - Anderson - Andesen - Dorgu

    1. Four Letter Wirtz
      • 10 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      I'd wait another week and then do Ekitike to JSL or Thiago, use the funds to upgrade Rice to Bruno (helps with 31 too)

    2. FourLokoLeipzig
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      Wouldn’t do that with Liverpool’s upcoming fixtures. Could you get to him a week later by downgrading Timber / Pedro and upgrading Rice?

  3. The Philosopher
    • 5 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

    Bottomed and final call now.

    Wilson to

    A: Zubimendi
    B: Sarr

    Captain

    1: Gabriel
    2: Timber

    Start

    3: Verbruggen
    4: Dubravka

    1. MarcusAurelius
      • 10 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      A
      1
      3

    2. Punned It
        1 month, 17 days ago

        Gonna say W, 1, 4 again.

    3. MarcusAurelius
      • 10 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      Play one

      A) Kelleher (ARS)
      B) Roefs (LIV)

      1. Jet5605
        • 11 Years
        1 month, 17 days ago

        B

    4. TochanMama
      • 13 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      What would you change in this team?

      2FTs

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

    5. Jet5605
      • 11 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      Best Dorgu replacement?

      A - Hill
      B - Richards

      1. PascalCygan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        1 month, 17 days ago

        B

      2. Ze_Austin
        • 7 Years
        1 month, 17 days ago

        50:50, so Hill if BGW31 is a factor

        1. Jet5605
          • 11 Years
          1 month, 17 days ago

          Ta. Rice out next week so think I could manage BGW31. Prefer Richards for the next two then Hill after that

    6. threeputt
      • 16 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      Being mindful of both DGW26 & BGW31 I currently have 3 city (Robot, Semenyo & Guehi) and 2 Arsenal (Rice & Gabriel) I'd like to get one more Arsenal in this week.
      Do I:

      A. Sanchez to Raya (so that I have a Dubravka in the bgw)
      B. Thiaw to Timber because Sanchez has LEE & BUR next 2

      I have all chips remaining

      1. PascalCygan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        1 month, 17 days ago

        B

      2. Tonyawesome69
        • 7 Years
        1 month, 17 days ago

        Option B likely requires an additional transfer if navigating BGW31 without using FH

        1. threeputt
          • 16 Years
          1 month, 17 days ago

          Thats my concern, damn you Sanchez for having two potential CS next 2

          1. threeputt
            • 16 Years
            1 month, 17 days ago

            scrap that, I dont have enough £ for Thiaw to Timber - bugger !

      3. Ze_Austin
        • 7 Years
        1 month, 17 days ago

        B

    7. PascalCygan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      Dorgu to Munoz worth -4?

      0FT 3.3 ITB
      Raya
      Gabriel Esteve Kadioglu
      Rice BrunoF Mbeumo Garner
      Haaland Thiago Pedro

      Dubravka Wilson Andersen Dorgu**

      Cheers!

    8. Miguel Sanchez
      • 9 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      You could have the nice boat where Smithers is standing or trade it all in for what in this box?

      A) the boat by Smithers
      B) what’s in the box

    9. HD7
      • 9 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      Need your help mates

      2 FT 0.2 ITB

      A)Palmer Mukiele to Rice Gabriel
      B) Ekitike Mukiele to Strand Larsen Gabriel

      Pickford
      Timber Chalobah Mukiele
      Bruno Palmer Rogers Wilson
      Haaland Pedro Ekitike

      Dubravka Esteve Miley Gudm

      1. Utopsis
        • 6 Years
        1 month, 17 days ago

        A is a non starter.

        B could work if you have a plan for GW31

        Option C: I don't trust Chelsea defence, so could you do Chalobah Mukiele to Gabriel KDH?

        1. Utopsis
          • 6 Years
          1 month, 17 days ago

          Sorry I meant Chalobah Wilson to Gabriel Mukiele

          1. Utopsis
            • 6 Years
            1 month, 17 days ago

            I'm having an absolute mare.

            CHALOBAH WILSON to GABRIEL KDH

        2. AC/DC AFC
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          1 month, 17 days ago

          I doubt it

          2 defenders to 1

          Wouldn't sell Palmer tho.

      2. Hank Scorpio
        • 14 Years
        1 month, 17 days ago

        Wouldn't lose Palmer

      3. Ze_Austin
        • 7 Years
        1 month, 17 days ago

        Esteve to Hill and bench Mukiele

    10. Dthinger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      Would it be crazy to Free Hit for this week?

      1. Ze_Austin
        • 7 Years
        1 month, 17 days ago

        If your team is that bad, you probably need a WC more

        Many of the top FH targets are good mid/long-term holds

    11. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      Looking forward to getting my haircut later tonight…

      1. Sgt. Schultz
        • 9 Years
        1 month, 17 days ago

        United we Strand

        1. AC/DC AFC
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          1 month, 17 days ago

          West Ham with the draw

          2-2

          1. Jafooli
            • 14 Years
            1 month, 17 days ago

            Lol….imagine

    12. ididnt
      • 14 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      Bnech 1 of:

      A: Maguire
      B: Hill

      1: Rogers
      2. Mane

      1. Jafooli
        • 14 Years
        1 month, 17 days ago

        B2

        1. Hank Scorpio
          • 14 Years
          1 month, 17 days ago

          Agreed

      2. PascalCygan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        1 month, 17 days ago

        B2

    13. Hank Scorpio
      • 14 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      Evening chaps,

      Thoughts on Garner --> Zubimendi for -4?

      Thanks.

      1. Cojones of Destiny
        • 8 Years
        1 month, 17 days ago

        do it

      2. Biggsy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        1 month, 17 days ago

        No. Zubimendi is another transfer out which is effectively a -4 and Garner should get 4 points so I don't think it pays off when you weigh it all up

    14. Biggsy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      Who is a better choice?

      A. Rayan - cheap, good fixtures but relatively unknown and limited eye test data

      B. Dango - not the best week to bring in, and means two Brentford attackers (eggs and baskets), but doing well since AFCON.

      1. Miguel Sanchez
        • 9 Years
        1 month, 17 days ago

        B

      2. Cojones of Destiny
        • 8 Years
        1 month, 17 days ago

        b

      3. Jarnathan
        • 9 Years
        1 month, 17 days ago

        Just brought in Rayan. Two attacking returns from 2 games - the successor to Semenyo

    15. Cojones of Destiny
      • 8 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      would you play Mane over Enzo or Mbeumo
      Y/N?

      1. Biggsy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        1 month, 17 days ago

        Maybe Enzo at a push. Risky though

        1. Cojones of Destiny
          • 8 Years
          1 month, 17 days ago

          over Rogers?

      2. Hank Scorpio
        • 14 Years
        1 month, 17 days ago

        Nah

      3. FourLokoLeipzig
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        1 month, 17 days ago

        Is Palmer expected to start? Could chance him over Enzo if so, but definitely don’t bench Mbeumo or Rogers!

    16. Jammydodger10
      • 1 Year
      1 month, 17 days ago

      Transfer in Raya for Roefs for triple Arsenal?

    17. Lemongrab
      • 16 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      Play Chalobah or Guehi?

      1. ball c
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        1 month, 17 days ago

        Chalobah

    18. Jammydodger10
      • 1 Year
      1 month, 17 days ago

      E. Le Fee bets against Liverpool?

      1. Biggsy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        1 month, 17 days ago

        Don't tell the FA

    19. Gazzpfc
      • 9 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      Thiago or Hill?

      Wilson 3rd bench

    20. Hxnsey
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 17 days ago

      Keane to Richards or roll transfer?

    21. BobbyDoesNotLook
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      Difficult choice between Mbeumo and Wirtz.

      Also Sarr tempting but he trolled me in the reverse fixtures (and last season). I am also hesitant to bring in 31 blankers.

    22. maxwala
      • 8 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      A) Chalobah to Califiori
      B) Semenyo to Rice
      C) Chaloban to Munoz and play only two arsenal
      ...already have Raya and Gabriel

    23. ball c
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      Which one to captain:
      (Not chasing in any ML)

      A) Gabriel
      B) Timber
      C) Rice

      1. Cojones of Destiny
        • 8 Years
        1 month, 17 days ago

        A

    24. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      Eza gonna haul and be the one this DGW…anyone got ‘im?

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        1 month, 17 days ago

        Sold him for his hat trick

        Game is about timing

        Doubt he starts tho.

    25. Old Wulfrunian
      • 9 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      Which one?

      a)Andersen->Timber(-4)
      b)Truffert->Saliba(-4)
      c)Bowen->Gyökeres(-4)
      d)Trossard+Bowen->Rice+Havertz(-8)

    26. TanN
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      Some strategic advice please!!

      I used my WC in GW24.
      I have my TC, FH and BB intact still.

      Team is as follows (0 FT, 0.3itb)

      Sanchez
      Gabriel Timber Chalobah
      Enzo Rice BrunoF Semenyo Rogers
      Haaland Mane

      Dubravka Strand-Larsen Senesi Alderete

      Should I:
      A) Captain Gabriel
      B) Triple Captain Gabriel
      C) Play Bench Boost

      I plan to save free transfers (and use FH if needed) to deal with GW31 blanks.

      I originally planned to BB in the next DGW, however if City play arsenal and burnley then i would want to use my TC chip.

      Does that mean i should BB this week?

    27. OneTeamInBristol
      • 2 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      Play 1
      A) Garner
      B) Tark

    28. Pep Roulette
      • 8 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      The prospect of getting 10×CS points this gameweek with Gabriel(TC), Timber & Raya is absolutely nuts.

      1. TanN
        • 5 Years
        1 month, 17 days ago

        4 points x 2 = 8

        8 points x 3= 24
        8 points x 2 = 16

        40 points potential.

    29. maimar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      Play Dalot or Rogers

      1. Utopsis
        • 6 Years
        1 month, 17 days ago

        Rogers easily