Captain Sensible
26 February 2026 322 comments
FFScout Tom FFScout Tom
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Cole Palmer (£10.6m) and Joao Pedro (£7.7m) dominated the captaincy conversation last week but largely left Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers disappointed after Chelsea’s 1-1 draw against Burnley. Mega points-hauls have proved to come by in recent weeks, following on from Gabriel Magalhaes (£7.1m) in Gameweek 26.

So, in Gameweek 28, is it time to go back to what we know and hand Erling Haaland (£14.8m) the captaincy? Or is this a week to again look elsewhere? That’s what we’re considering in ‘Captain Sensible’, especially with some tempting-looking fixtures elsewhere.

Popular Fantasy attackers such as Bruno Fernandes (£9.9m), Igor Thiago (£7.1m) are strong options and provide competition for Haaland ahead of Friday’s 6.30pm GMT deadline – as do Liverpool attackers at home to West Ham.

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

Best captain 28

Haaland returns to his usual spot and currently sits atop the Fantasy Football Scout captaincy poll. Just under a third of our site users believe the Norway international is the best option for Gameweek 28, following five attacking returns in his last four matches.

Fernandes is pulling ahead of Thiago in the race for second spot. Those two are on 17% and 12% of the vote, respectively. Man United host struggling Crystal Palace, while Brentford travel to relegation-threatened Burnley. Both players rank in the top seven for overall Fantasy points so far this season.

Elsewhere, Morgan Rogers (£7.7m), Hugo Ekitike (£8.9m) and Virgil van Dijk (£6.0m) are the only other players to garner more than 5% support.


Player Stats – Last Six Gameweeks


price change predictions

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

322 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Obi 1 Kenobi 0
      2 days, 14 hours ago

      G2G here?

      Raya
      Gab/Guehi/VVD
      Semenyo/Rayan/Wirtz/Fruno
      Haaland/Thiago/Ekitike

      Dub/VDV/Enzo/Reinildo

      1. how now brown cow
        • 11 Years
        2 days, 14 hours ago

        if wirtz fit, yes

    • how now brown cow
      • 11 Years
      2 days, 14 hours ago

      a - enzo to dango
      b - pedro to thiago

      1. Obi 1 Kenobi 0
          2 days, 13 hours ago

          B and bench Enzo for me

      2. The Philosopher
        • 5 Years
        2 days, 13 hours ago

        Will be batshite drunk during deadline, so this is basically a deadline call.

        Start

        A: Zubi
        B: Mane

        Captain

        1: Haaland
        2: Bruno
        3: Thiago

        1. SpaceCadet
          • 12 Years
          2 days, 13 hours ago

          A1

          1. The Philosopher
            • 5 Years
            2 days, 12 hours ago

            Thanks, space voyager.

            1. SpaceCadet
              • 12 Years
              2 days, 10 hours ago

              Enjoy your voyage to the liquid skies

        2. Rasping Drive
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 16 Years
          2 days, 11 hours ago

          B3

      3. Doozer2008
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 1 Year
        2 days, 13 hours ago

        Struggling with who to bench….

        Verbruggen (Dubravka)
        Gabriel, VVD, O’Reilly (Senesi, Dorgu)
        Rogers, Fernandes, Wilson, Dango
        Ekitike, Haaland, Thiago

        Wanted to play Senesi as Sunderland have injuries and can see a cs.

        Not a fan of Villa / Rogers at the moment but a big call….

        Wilson surely has to play???

        1. Norco
          • 11 Years
          2 days, 13 hours ago

          Who's the fifth mid?

          1. Doozer2008
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 1 Year
            2 days, 13 hours ago

            Enzo

            1. Norco
              • 11 Years
              2 days, 12 hours ago

              Bench Enzo surely ...

              1. DARE TO BISCAN
                • 7 Years
                2 days, 12 hours ago

                He was so sure, it wasn't even a question...

        2. DARE TO BISCAN
          • 7 Years
          2 days, 12 hours ago

          I think you have it right. Senesi first sub, Enzo second.

          If you have a guy feeling, on Senesi over Rogers. Do it. Live a little

          1. DARE TO BISCAN
            • 7 Years
            2 days, 12 hours ago

            You being the guy, who has a gut feeling ofc

            (damn you, auto-incorrect)

        3. Doozer2008
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 1 Year
          2 days, 10 hours ago

          Is benching Gabriel madness?

      4. FC Hakkebøf
        • 9 Years
        2 days, 13 hours ago

        A) Rice + Wirtz
        B) Palmer + Tavernier

        1. aapoman
          • 12 Years
          2 days, 13 hours ago

          A for sure

      5. PGR
        • 14 Years
        2 days, 13 hours ago

        Start Andersen or Munoz?

        1. aapoman
          • 12 Years
          2 days, 13 hours ago

          that's a 50-50 call. I do reckon both will concede though. Munoz might get an attacking return but Andersen more likely to get defcon.

        2. Drizzle
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 2 Years
          2 days, 13 hours ago

          Andersen

      6. aapoman
        • 12 Years
        2 days, 13 hours ago

        4ft and 2.2itb. Thinking about Tarkowski + Timber + Enzo -> O'reilly + VVD + Wirtz*/Schade/Dango/Wilson.. Team would then be

        Kelleher
        Gabriel VVD O'reilly
        Bruno Mbeumo Wirtz* Rice Anderson
        Haaland Thiago

        Dubravka; Andersen, Mane, Rodon

        With 2fts over next week I could get full XI for gw31 even if City blank

      7. mr_jones
        • 7 Years
        2 days, 13 hours ago

        Raya, Mukiele, Enzo to Donnarumma, Virgil, Gravenberch (or another max 5.5 mil midfielder)?

      8. _Gunner
        • 11 Years
        2 days, 13 hours ago

        Which is better? 2 FTs

        A- Joao Pedro + Timber > Ekitike + Thiaw
        B- Joao Pedro + Timber > Thiago + Virgil

        1. SpaceCadet
          • 12 Years
          2 days, 13 hours ago

          B

      9. Norco
        • 11 Years
        2 days, 13 hours ago

        Exact funds for a hit, worth it?

        Rice > Dango/Wilson
        Barnes > Ekitike (-4)

        Front 8:

        Bruno Mbeumo Rogers Dango (Enzo bench)
        Haaland Thiago Ekitike

        1. SpaceCadet
          • 12 Years
          2 days, 13 hours ago

          No

        2. Doozer2008
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 1 Year
          2 days, 13 hours ago

          Is Ekitike all that?

          I’ve been an owner for several weeks and he’s been incredibly frustrating. Missing easy chances left, right and centre.

          Expensive and not on pens, too.

          Not sure if I’d be taking a hit to get him in.

          1. FantasyClub
            • 5 Years
            2 days, 13 hours ago

            Agree and if Wirtz is out id definitely avoid Eki

          2. RamaJama
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            2 days, 12 hours ago

            Agree, also a frustrated owner, see his profile how few goals he has for many matches

      10. RamaJama
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        2 days, 13 hours ago

        Captain

        A) Haaland
        B) Bruno F

        Palmer Bruno F, Rogers, Enzo, Wilson
        Haaland, Etikite

        1. SpaceCadet
          • 12 Years
          2 days, 13 hours ago

          A

          1. RamaJama
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            2 days, 12 hours ago

            Cheers, on him atm

      11. FantasyClub
        • 5 Years
        2 days, 13 hours ago

        Lads serious question here...

        Play Kroupi bench JPedro?
        A) Yes
        B) No

        1. FantasyClub
          • 5 Years
          2 days, 13 hours ago

          Kroupi at Home to SUN

      12. Little Frank
        • 15 Years
        2 days, 13 hours ago

        Which defender to bench:
        a. Hill (SUN)
        b. Timber (CHE)
        c. Cash (wol)

        1. FantasyClub
          • 5 Years
          2 days, 13 hours ago

          B

      13. IvanGeorgiev
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 1 Year
        2 days, 12 hours ago

        Fernandes

        1. The Hunt
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 16 Years
          2 days, 12 hours ago

          Mbeumo

      14. SIMBOBIANTHEIII
          2 days, 12 hours ago

          Best GK till season end?
          Looking to replace Sanchez.
          Can't decide between Martinez and Kelleher

        • Wengers Apprentice
          • 3 Years
          2 days, 12 hours ago

          Got myself into a bit of a pickle with bench this week? Is Rice the right option? (Not unusual for my top scoring player to be on the bench!)

          B.Fernandes, Szoboszlai, Semenyo, Wilson, Rice
          Haaland, Thiago, Ekitike

          Bench boost better option in upcoming weeks.

        • SIMBOBIANTHEIII
            2 days, 12 hours ago

            Stary rice or Raul jimenez?
            Also starting Gabriel and Wilson.
            And why plese

          • trinzoo
            • 11 Years
            2 days, 12 hours ago

            Bench one:
            A) Gabriel (CHE)
            B) Senesi (SUN)
            C) Pedro (ars)

            1. GE
              • 9 Years
              2 days, 12 hours ago

              B or C, maybe V

              1. GE
                • 9 Years
                2 days, 12 hours ago

                C 🙂

          • GE
            • 9 Years
            2 days, 12 hours ago

            Chalobah ->

            1) O’Reilly (means I need to transfer out 3 non-playing players the next 3 GWs)
            2) Hill (means I only need to transfer out 2 players the next 3 GWs)

            (1FT, 0.9 itb, WC32-plan)
            Verbruggen (Dubravka)
            Gabriel/VVD/Chalobah (Alderete, Rodon)
            BrunoF/Mbeumo/Semenyo/Rogers/Rice
            Haaland/Thiago (Mane)

            1. Jet5605
              • 11 Years
              2 days, 12 hours ago

              1

          • Tambling5
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            2 days, 12 hours ago

            I need to play one of these!
            Help!
            A Munoz
            B Sarr (Palace)
            C Gudmundson
            D Mane

            1. Jet5605
              • 11 Years
              2 days, 12 hours ago

              B

          • dshv
            • 8 Years
            2 days, 12 hours ago

            Any news on Wirtz?

          • Powers106
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            2 days, 12 hours ago

            Which of the FT’s looks best? Thanks!

            A. Chalobah to VVD
            B. Pedro to Thiago
            C. Guehi to O’reilly

          • Pringle
            • 12 Years
            2 days, 12 hours ago

            Are you all planning to use your Free Hit in GW31?

            1. Brosstan
              • 11 Years
              2 days, 12 hours ago

              No. Planning transfers for 31 and using FH for the big blank after

            2. Powers106
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              2 days, 12 hours ago

              I’m trying to avoid using it if I can even if it costs a -4 or going with 10

            3. Count of Monte Hristo
              • 12 Years
              2 days, 12 hours ago

              No way, a big waste of the chip for such a small blank imo.

              Bench Raya Gabriel Semenyo and Haaland

              Sell Timber and field Xl

              Worst case scenario keep Timber and field X but mostly likely I will do the former.

          • Keane There Dunne That
            • 13 Years
            2 days, 12 hours ago

            To Start:
            A) Alderete (bou)
            B) Timber (CHE)

            1. Jet5605
              • 11 Years
              2 days, 12 hours ago

              B on the back of SUN conceding three to Fulham

          • Brosstan
            • 11 Years
            2 days, 12 hours ago

            If Muk is back for 31 I have no problem just dumping on the bench until then.

            Will probably be close..

          • Jet5605
            • 11 Years
            2 days, 12 hours ago

            1 FT and 0.3 ITB. Best Enzo replacement:

            A - Wilson
            B - Rayan
            C - Dango

            Kelleher
            Gabriel - Timber - Andersen
            BrunoF - Cunha - Rice - Enzo
            Haaland - Ekitike - Thiago

            Dub - Munoz - KDH - Gudmund

            1. DARE TO BISCAN
              • 7 Years
              2 days, 12 hours ago

              I went A. But, also considering C, to fund Thiago.

              Basically, they're all good options. Pick the one you want

          • Fpl K!d
            • 5 Years
            2 days, 4 hours ago

            Would go for salah this week as a differential.

          • joeynse99
            • 10 Years
            2 days, 4 hours ago

            Good to go? 1FT 0.1m ITB

            Dubravka

            Gabriel, Hill, Cash, Andersen

            Mbuemo, Palmer, Fernandes (C)

            Haaland, Thiago, Evanilson

            Subs; Sanchez, Enzo, Zubimendi, Mukiele

            Any changes?