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. Henryyy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    7 days, 21 hours ago

    Think Tavernier starts GW28?

    1. BR510
        7 days, 21 hours ago

        Yes

    2. BR510
        7 days, 21 hours ago

        Bench 1:
        1. Gabriel CHE
        2. Konsa WOL
        3. Rayan SUN
        4. Hill SUN

        1. Viper
          • 16 Years
          7 days, 21 hours ago

          2

        2. Benedict_Alexander_Arnold
          • 1 Year
          7 days, 19 hours ago

          Probably Konsa

      • g40steve
        • 7 Years
        7 days, 21 hours ago

        Haaland the default cap or go differential?

        1. Jordan.
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 16 Years
          7 days, 21 hours ago

          Mine this week

          1. g40steve
            • 7 Years
            7 days, 21 hours ago

            Thx think Leeds could get messy

        2. Pompel
          • 12 Years
          7 days, 21 hours ago

          Not the week to go differential with captain imho

        3. Viper
          • 16 Years
          7 days, 21 hours ago

          Bruno for me. Hard to look past a home captain

          1. Weasel Boy
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            7 days, 20 hours ago

            Also on Bruno but having my doubts.

        4. Amartey Partey
          • 6 Years
          7 days, 19 hours ago

          Haaland is the safest option. I have a feeling Thiago is going to go big this weekend though.

      • Garfield1001
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        7 days, 21 hours ago

        Start one:

        Roefs (bou)
        Dubravka (BRE)

        Thanks

        1. Viper
          • 16 Years
          7 days, 21 hours ago

          If you have Thiago or Dango, I'd start Roefs

        2. GunnerStorm
          • 11 Years
          7 days, 21 hours ago

          Roefs

      • Tinfoil Deathstar
        • 5 Years
        7 days, 21 hours ago

        I'm on Arsenal triple defence. Who would you move out for Virgil? WC in 32.

        A) Timber
        B) Munoz

        1. Viper
          • 16 Years
          7 days, 21 hours ago

          A

        2. GunnerStorm
          • 11 Years
          7 days, 21 hours ago

          A

        3. Amartey Partey
          • 6 Years
          7 days, 19 hours ago

          B

      • FPLMACKEM
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        7 days, 21 hours ago

        Raya
        Virgil, Gabriel, Chalobah,
        Enzo, Bruno, Rice, Anderson, Wilson
        Ekitike, Haaland (c)

        Dubravka, Andersen, Munoz, Guiu
        5ft 1.5 itb

        Chalobah, Enzo and Guiu to Hill, Dango and Thiago?

        Yes
        No

        Or any other suggestions welcome.

        1. Garfield1001
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          7 days, 21 hours ago

          Yes

        2. GunnerStorm
          • 11 Years
          7 days, 21 hours ago

          Yep

      • Essem
        • 8 Years
        7 days, 21 hours ago

        Pedro to Thiago?

        1. Viper
          • 16 Years
          7 days, 21 hours ago

          Yes

        2. GunnerStorm
          • 11 Years
          7 days, 21 hours ago

          Yep

        3. PascalCygan
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          7 days, 21 hours ago

          Ye

      • BlzE_94
        • 11 Years
        7 days, 21 hours ago

        GTG?

        Kelleher
        Senesi Virgil O’Reilly
        B.Fernandes Semenyo Wirtz O.Dango
        Haaland Ekitike Thiago

        Dubravka Rogers Gabriel Diouf

        1. Viper
          • 16 Years
          7 days, 21 hours ago

          I'd be tempted to hit the bench boost on that!

          1. BlzE_94
            • 11 Years
            7 days, 21 hours ago

            Already used it

      • Viper
        • 16 Years
        7 days, 21 hours ago

        Hi all! Thoughts on this?

        Verbruggen Dub

        Gabriel Timber VVD Hill (Richards)

        Bruno (c) Rice Dango Rogers (Anderson)

        Haaland Thiago (Bowen)

        A. Start Rice & Hill. Roll to 3Fts

        B. Rice & Bowen -> Wilson & Ekitike (2Fts). Bench Hill.

        1. GunnerStorm
          • 11 Years
          7 days, 21 hours ago

          A

        2. PascalCygan
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          7 days, 21 hours ago

          A

      • GC123
        • 4 Years
        7 days, 21 hours ago

        Raya
        Chalobah Gabriel Munoz
        Mbeumo BrunoF Rice Garner
        Haaland Pedro Kroupi

        Dubravka Keane Van de Ven Miley

        2FT £0.2m ITB

        Definitely doing Chalobah > VVD. Which other transfer

        A. Munoz to Hill (allows Miley > Wilson next week)
        B. Pedro > Thiago

        Thanks in advance

        1. PascalCygan
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          7 days, 21 hours ago

          B

      • PascalCygan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        7 days, 21 hours ago

        Going to say thanks for the points, Joao Pedro, and sell for Ekitike I think. What do you reckon?

        2FT 1.7ITB
        Raya
        Gabriel Munoz Kadioglu Andersen
        Bruno F Mbeumo Rice Wilson
        Haaland Thiago

        Dubravka J Pedro Garner Esteve

        Cheers

        1. FC Hakkebøf
          • 9 Years
          7 days, 21 hours ago

          Yeah do it.

          1. PascalCygan
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            7 days, 21 hours ago

            Thanks

      • Henning
        • 11 Years
        7 days, 20 hours ago

        3 ft and no wilcard.
        Would you sell
        1. Munoz to O'Reily
        Or
        2. Enzo to Semenyo

      • choco27
        • 5 Years
        7 days, 20 hours ago

        Start Rogers (WOL) or Rayan (SUN)?
        Thanx

        1. Henning
          • 11 Years
          7 days, 20 hours ago

          I would start Rayan if I had him.

      • Supersonic_
        • 4 Years
        7 days, 20 hours ago

        Start Kroupi over Rice?

      • FC Hakkebøf
        • 9 Years
        7 days, 20 hours ago

        I am having second thoughts about Wirtz. Is he really a better pick than Semenyo (due to 31) and Mbeumo?

      • bso
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        7 days, 20 hours ago

        Who will bring in the most points in next three weeks, Semenyo or Wilson?

      • Stevie B
        • 15 Years
        7 days, 20 hours ago

        Which should I bench?

        A) Hill (SUN)
        B) Timber (CHE)
        C) Guehi (lee)

        Which is better?

        A) Enzo -> Semenyo or someone else (I can spend 10.2)
        B) Calvert-Levin -> Thiago

        Thanks and good luck!

        1. MShalkz
          • 5 Years
          7 days, 20 hours ago

          I'd lean towards B x2. Especially if you have Gabriel starting already

      • MShalkz
        • 5 Years
        7 days, 20 hours ago

        Joao Pedro owners, what is your plan? Want to get Thiago in and currently leaning towards keeping JP instead of Kroupi

        1. Stevie B
          • 15 Years
          7 days, 20 hours ago

          I will keep. He brought a lot points in the last weeks (8, 12, 10, 8, 10, 7). This is 55 points in 6 weeks. I do not understand why people transfer him out.

          1. Viper
            • 16 Years
            7 days, 20 hours ago

            Take the points & run. He had incredible fixtures. Time to bank the points!

        2. Weasel Boy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          7 days, 20 hours ago

          Was thinking JP to Thiago as I have 0.0 in the bank and 1ft.

          Another option is Enzo to O'Dango but that creates a benching headache.

          The way my season is going I'll make the wrong decision no matter what.

      • Viper
        • 16 Years
        7 days, 20 hours ago

        Bruno last 4 home starts in the PL

        10, 10, 10, 13

        1. Weasel Boy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          7 days, 20 hours ago

          This is why I selected Bruno (c) without hesitation but having doubts.

          Another thing going in Utds favour is CP are currently playing in Europa conference so will be tired.

          1. Viper
            • 16 Years
            7 days, 20 hours ago

            Yeah, also a very valid point

      • marpy016
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        7 days, 20 hours ago

        Which move with only 1FT:

        A) Enzo to Dango
        B) Pedro to Thiago

        1. Weasel Boy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          7 days, 20 hours ago

          Based on form recent form Enzo has done nothing so he seems like the logical choice.

          But Dango is hardly setting the world alight.

          Same dilemma

      • FCSB
        • 10 Years
        7 days, 20 hours ago

        To free up funds for VVD

        Rice >>

        1. Dango (have Thiago)
        2. Rayan (have Tavernier)
        3. Szobo

        Thanks

        1. OptimusBlack
          • 12 Years
          7 days, 20 hours ago

          3

        2. Weasel Boy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          7 days, 20 hours ago

          Szobo for Pool cover

      • OptimusBlack
        • 12 Years
        7 days, 20 hours ago

        Munoz & King >
        VVD & Wilson
        For free
        Yaaay
        Nope

        1. Viper
          • 16 Years
          7 days, 20 hours ago

          Yaaaaaaay

          1. OptimusBlack
            • 12 Years
            7 days, 20 hours ago

            Cheeers

      • Keane There Dunne That
        • 13 Years
        7 days, 20 hours ago

        2FT, best two moves to make…
        A) Timber -> Virgil
        B) Enzo -> Dango
        C) Strand Larsen -> Thiago

        1. jonnybhoy
          • 13 Years
          7 days, 20 hours ago

          BC

          1. Keane There Dunne That
            • 13 Years
            7 days, 20 hours ago

            Thanks, is double Brentford too much? Great fixtures

      • Stevie B
        • 15 Years
        7 days, 20 hours ago

        Best midfielder for the next weeks if you have B. Fernandes, Wilson, Rice and Rogers. Money is no issue.

        Thanks!

        1. jonnybhoy
          • 13 Years
          7 days, 20 hours ago

          Dango/writz

      • jonnybhoy
        • 13 Years
        7 days, 20 hours ago

        GW28 transfers? 1.7ITB 2FT. Lots of options depending on how much of hits I do. Sick of some players - Sanchez, Enzo and Timber to name a few.

        Sanchez
        Gabriel Timber Munoz
        Bruno F Rice Wilson Enzo Mbuemo
        Haaland Ekitike

        Dubravka Alderete Gudmundsson Guiu

        A) Guiu and Rice to Dango and Thiago
        B) Rice, Timber and Guiu to 6.7m mid (Dango), Virgil and Thiago -4pts
        C) Rice, Timber and Guiu to 6.7m mid (Dango), Hill and Thiago -4pts
        D) Rice, Sanchez and Guiu to Dango, Petrovic and Thiago -4pts
        E) Rice, Enzo, Guiu and Timber to Writz, Dango, Thiago and 5.1m defender (O'Reilly/Hill/VDB) -8pts

        1. Garfield1001
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          7 days, 20 hours ago

          A

        2. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
          • 8 Years
          7 days, 20 hours ago

          A

      • Saka Punch
        • 7 Years
        7 days, 20 hours ago

        A) Palmer + J Pedro -> Rayan + Thiago (-4)
        Kroupi -> Ekitike next week

        B) Palmer + Kroupi -> Rayan + Ekitike (-4)
        J Pedro -> Thiago next week

        C) J Pedro -> Thiago (no hit)

        Thanks!

      • Garfield1001
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        7 days, 20 hours ago

        Thoughts on:

        Rice > Stach/Tavernier
        Guiu > Thiago

        Thanks

        1. Stevie B
          • 15 Years
          7 days, 20 hours ago

          I think Guiu -> Thiago. Good luck!

      • OptimusBlack
        • 12 Years
        7 days, 20 hours ago

        Which is the best ?
        Play 4-4-2
        Gabriel Timber Munoz VVD (Gud)
        Bruno F Rice Mbeumo Semenyo
        Or
        3-5-2
        Gabriel

        1. OptimusBlack
          • 12 Years
          7 days, 20 hours ago

          3-5-2
          Gabriel Timber VVD
          Bruno F Rice Mbeumo Semenyo Wilson

      • IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
        • 8 Years
        7 days, 20 hours ago

        Team below guys have 3 fts 0itb

        Verbruggen
        Gabriel Timber Chalobah
        Bruno Rogers Rice Enzo Wirtz
        Haaland Ekitike

        Dubravka Richards Alderete Guiu

        A) Chalobah Rice Guiu to Hill Dango Thiago (bench Enzo)
        B) Richards Rice Enzo to Virgil Dango Wilson
        C) Something else

      • BBC_TF
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        7 days, 20 hours ago

        Should i sell Timber for Virgil with my 1 FT or roll? I have Gabriel too.

        Thanks!

        1. RealSocialDads
          • 9 Years
          7 days, 20 hours ago

          I've done that

        2. keefy59
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          7 days, 20 hours ago

          It's a good move reducing players that blank in gw31
          Plus VVD is now showing some form plus good fixtures up to gw35

        3. Revival
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          7 days, 19 hours ago

          Yes, I did the same move.