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>Deputy General Manager. Forever chasing the top 10K. Chelsea fan.&nbsp;</p> Follow them on Twitter

322 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Obi 1 Kenobi 0
    4 months, 25 days 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
      4 months, 25 days ago

      if wirtz fit, yes

  2. how now brown cow
    • 11 Years
    4 months, 25 days ago

    a - enzo to dango
    b - pedro to thiago

    1. Obi 1 Kenobi 0
      4 months, 25 days ago

      B and bench Enzo for me

  3. The Philosopher
    • 5 Years
    4 months, 25 days 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
      4 months, 25 days ago

      A1

      1. The Philosopher
        • 5 Years
        4 months, 25 days ago

        Thanks, space voyager.

        1. SpaceCadet
          • 12 Years
          4 months, 25 days ago

          Enjoy your voyage to the liquid skies

    2. Rasping Drive
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      4 months, 25 days ago

      B3

  4. Doozer2008
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 1 Year
    4 months, 25 days 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
      4 months, 25 days ago

      Who's the fifth mid?

      1. Doozer2008
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 1 Year
        4 months, 25 days ago

        Enzo

        1. Norco
          • 11 Years
          4 months, 25 days ago

          Bench Enzo surely ...

          1. DARE TO BISCAN
            • 7 Years
            4 months, 25 days ago

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

    2. DARE TO BISCAN
      • 7 Years
      4 months, 25 days 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
        4 months, 25 days ago

        You being the guy, who has a gut feeling ofc

        (damn you, auto-incorrect)

    3. Doozer2008
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 1 Year
      4 months, 25 days ago

      Is benching Gabriel madness?

  5. FC Hakkebøf
    • 9 Years
    4 months, 25 days ago

    A) Rice + Wirtz
    B) Palmer + Tavernier

    1. aapoman
      • 12 Years
      4 months, 25 days ago

      A for sure

  6. PGR
    • 14 Years
    4 months, 25 days ago

    Start Andersen or Munoz?

    1. aapoman
      • 12 Years
      4 months, 25 days 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
      4 months, 25 days ago

      Andersen

  7. aapoman
    • 12 Years
    4 months, 25 days 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

  8. mr_jones
    • 7 Years
    4 months, 25 days ago

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

  9. _Gunner
    • 11 Years
    4 months, 25 days ago

    Which is better? 2 FTs

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

    1. SpaceCadet
      • 12 Years
      4 months, 25 days ago

      B

  10. Norco
    • 11 Years
    4 months, 25 days 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
      4 months, 25 days ago

      No

    2. Doozer2008
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 1 Year
      4 months, 25 days 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
        4 months, 25 days ago

        Agree and if Wirtz is out id definitely avoid Eki

      2. RamaJama
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 months, 25 days ago

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

  11. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 months, 25 days ago

    Captain

    A) Haaland
    B) Bruno F

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

    1. SpaceCadet
      • 12 Years
      4 months, 25 days ago

      A

      1. RamaJama
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 months, 25 days ago

        Cheers, on him atm

  12. FantasyClub
    • 5 Years
    4 months, 25 days ago

    Lads serious question here...

    Play Kroupi bench JPedro?
    A) Yes
    B) No

    1. FantasyClub
      • 5 Years
      4 months, 25 days ago

      Kroupi at Home to SUN

  13. Little Frank
    • 15 Years
    4 months, 25 days ago

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

    1. FantasyClub
      • 5 Years
      4 months, 25 days ago

      B

  14. IvanGeorgiev
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 1 Year
    4 months, 25 days ago

    Fernandes

    1. The Hunt
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 17 Years
      4 months, 25 days ago

      Mbeumo

  15. SIMBOBIANTHEIII
    4 months, 25 days ago

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

  16. Wengers Apprentice
    • 3 Years
    4 months, 25 days 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.

  17. SIMBOBIANTHEIII
    4 months, 25 days ago

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

  18. trinzoo
    • 11 Years
    4 months, 25 days ago

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

    1. GE
      • 9 Years
      4 months, 25 days ago

      B or C, maybe V

      1. GE
        • 9 Years
        4 months, 25 days ago

        C 🙂

  19. GE
    • 9 Years
    4 months, 25 days 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
      4 months, 25 days ago

      1

  20. Tambling5
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 months, 25 days ago

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

    1. Jet5605
      • 11 Years
      4 months, 25 days ago

      B

  21. dshv
    • 9 Years
    4 months, 25 days ago

    Any news on Wirtz?

  22. Powers106
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 months, 25 days ago

    Which of the FT’s looks best? Thanks!

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

  23. Pringle
    • 12 Years
    4 months, 25 days ago

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

    1. Brosstan
      • 11 Years
      4 months, 25 days ago

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

    2. Powers106
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 months, 25 days 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
      • 13 Years
      4 months, 25 days 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.

  24. Keane There Dunne That
    • 14 Years
    4 months, 25 days ago

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

    1. Jet5605
      • 11 Years
      4 months, 25 days ago

      B on the back of SUN conceding three to Fulham

  25. Brosstan
    • 11 Years
    4 months, 25 days ago

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

    Will probably be close..

  26. Jet5605
    • 11 Years
    4 months, 25 days 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
      4 months, 25 days ago

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

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

  27. Fpl K!d
    • 5 Years
    4 months, 25 days ago

    Would go for salah this week as a differential.

  28. joeynse99
    • 10 Years
    4 months, 25 days 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?