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. Klip Klopp
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 months, 2 days ago

    Play Roefs against Liverpool or Dub away to Palace?

    1. Ze_Austin
      • 7 Years
      2 months, 2 days ago

      Playing Roefs here. I expect more save points, but not much in it

    2. Drop Dead Tsimikas
      • 14 Years
      2 months, 2 days ago

      Haha my dilemma exactly. I've gone Dub.

    3. Boz
      • 13 Years
      2 months, 2 days ago

      Roefs

    4. I have no Wirtz
        2 months, 2 days ago

        Picking the home side always gives me reassurance. It’s a magic sauce. Miracles happen at home more often. Wouldn’t you agree?

        I went Roefs.

    5. Drop Dead Tsimikas
      • 14 Years
      2 months, 2 days ago

      Last quick check:

      Dubravka
      Chalobah | Guehi | Timber* | VdV
      Bruno | Wirtz | Semenyo
      Ekitike | JP (c) | Haaland

      Roefs, Scott, Mukiele, Wilson

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

        1 ars and you don't even cap him? 😮

      2. Winging it
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        2 months, 2 days ago

        Your rank is going to take massive nosedive, only having one Arsenal player and it not being Gabriel. A large number of managers will be using the TC chip on the aforementioned as well.

        1. Drop Dead Tsimikas
          • 14 Years
          2 months, 2 days ago

          I don't care what my rank is, mid-season, to be honest.

    6. Boz
      • 13 Years
      2 months, 2 days ago

      Start Thiago or Hill?

      1. Ha.
        • 10 Years
        2 months, 2 days ago

        Thiago

    7. Boz
      • 13 Years
      2 months, 2 days ago

      Start Hill or Thiago?

    8. Letsgo!
      • 9 Years
      2 months, 2 days ago

      Start garner or bowen??

      1. Ha.
        • 10 Years
        2 months, 2 days ago

        Bowen

    9. Ha.
      • 10 Years
      2 months, 2 days ago

      Rice TC let's go

      1. Make United Great Again
        • 13 Years
        2 months, 2 days ago

        Bold

        1. Ha.
          • 10 Years
          2 months, 2 days ago

          Not really

      2. Ze_Austin
        • 7 Years
        2 months, 2 days ago

        Good luck. It's been a fun debate so far

        What I've learnt from the TC Gabriel arguments is that I should cap Gabriel often, btw

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

          You would have done extremely well if you capped him every week

    10. Mesh
      • 12 Years
      2 months, 2 days ago

      Thoughts on Thiago to Ekitike for free?
      Yes or no?

      1. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        2 months, 2 days ago

        Definitely no. I'm looking to buy Thiago starting next week.

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

        No

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

      So the big question…. Play one

      A) Hall (tot)
      B) Mukiele (LIV)

    12. Brosstan
      • 11 Years
      2 months, 2 days ago

      Unforgivable. I'm paying for this site and it's at snails pace at the most important point in the season where I'm pondering TC and need valuable input from the people on here..

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

        Some might say missing the advice on here is the best thing that can happen to you

    13. Royal5
      • 14 Years
      2 months, 2 days ago

      Who to start?

      A) Thiago (ARS)
      B) DCL (che)
      C) O’Reilly (FUL)

      1. Van der Faart
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        2 months, 2 days ago

        A

      2. SharkyT
        • 12 Years
        2 months, 2 days ago

        C

    14. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 15 Years
      2 months, 2 days ago

      Crazy to c a defender this week

      Top of the table team playing the worst team in the league

      Gyok c

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

        If you own him sure. Most have stayed far away from that donkey and don't have luxury transfers to accommodate him

      2. Drop Dead Tsimikas
        • 14 Years
        2 months, 2 days ago

        You figure he gets at least 120?

    15. Drop Dead Tsimikas
      • 14 Years
      2 months, 2 days ago

      Wirtz >> Rice and (c). Let's see how this backfires for me.

    16. FPL Brains
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      2 months, 2 days ago

      Starting Rayan over Ekitike.

      Genius or madness?

      1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
        • 9 Years
        2 months, 2 days ago

        Right call

    17. maxwala
      • 8 Years
      2 months, 2 days ago

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

    18. MarcusAurelius
      • 10 Years
      2 months, 2 days ago

      Triple captain Gabriel or wait for a better opportunity further down the line?

      1. Diles Mavis
        • 1 Year
        2 months, 2 days ago

        This is what I'm wondering. It feels unusual enough captaining a defender, but if he is going to be my captain then why not triple down on it...

    19. Drop Dead Tsimikas
      • 14 Years
      2 months, 2 days ago

      For Challenge, would you stick with Palmer or take a punt on Tolu?

    20. ididnt
      • 14 Years
      2 months, 2 days ago

      Bench:

      A: Mane
      B: Rogers
      C. Mbuemo

      (arrgghhh)

    21. DBry
        2 months, 2 days ago

        Semenyo to Rice

        Or

        Watkins to Gyokeres?

        1. R Whites
          • 10 Years
          2 months, 2 days ago

          Rice but does it have to be Semenyo..

        2. Rednev1983
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 4 Years
          2 months, 2 days ago

          Rice

      • SharkyT
        • 12 Years
        2 months, 2 days ago

        1 FT 0.3itb
        Start:
        A) Thiaw
        B) Hill
        C) Thiaw > Richard’s/Lacroix

        1. R Whites
          • 10 Years
          2 months, 2 days ago

          Save ft, coin toss on who to start.

      • Biggsy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 months, 2 days ago

        Semenyo & Dorgu to Dango & Munoz locked in

        Given i'm now doubled up on Brentford attack, probably should move to Rice (C)...

      • Van der Faart
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        2 months, 2 days ago

        Had DGW FOMO earlier but think im just going to roll the FT here after some good replies

        Would be lost without this place especially on these midweek deadlines

        Dubravka
        Gabriel(C) Timber Chalobah
        Garner BrunoF Anderson Semenyo
        Ekitike Haaland Pedro

        Verbruggen Truffert Alderete Wilson

      • CoracAld2831
        • 5 Years
        2 months, 2 days ago

        Get Mbeumo or Wirtz this week?

        1. Rednev1983
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 4 Years
          2 months, 2 days ago

          Mbeumo

      • teddy.
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        2 months, 2 days ago

        One player, double game week, triple points.

        Once. Twice... Th-RICE!

      • Sid07
        • 11 Years
        2 months, 2 days ago

        Play
        1) Thigao
        2) Lefee
        3) mukiele

      • 'Broadsword Calling Da…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        2 months, 2 days ago

        Going for Gab (TC), good luck all.

        1. Diles Mavis
          • 1 Year
          2 months, 2 days ago

          Good luck

        2. Rednev1983
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 4 Years
          2 months, 2 days ago

          Same here. Good luck.

      • Drip Doctor
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        2 months, 2 days ago

        Does anyone have any views on Guehi vs Nunes?

      • R Whites
        • 10 Years
        2 months, 2 days ago

        Start one:

        Guehi
        Thiago
        Wilson

        1. Miguel Sanchez
          • 9 Years
          2 months, 2 days ago

          G

      • Radulfo28773
        • 4 Years
        2 months, 2 days ago

        Any leaks so far?
        Need to know if Keane is playing tonight

      • Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 months, 2 days ago

        Thoughts on Dewsbury-Hall ?

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

          Very good option in the price bucket

      • Mane Mane Mane
        • 5 Years
        2 months, 2 days ago

        My team is kelleher
        Gabriel Dalot James
        Rice enzo rogers Bruno Wilson
        Evanilson Haaland

        Dubravka Thiago oreilly Mukiele

        I plan on either getting
        A) raya for Kelleher and then getting either hill or Richards in for oreilly (-4)
        Or
        B) timber for James
        I like James’ fixtures so I’m hesitant about getting rid?

        What’s the best move

        1. KunDogan
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          2 months, 2 days ago

          B