Captain Sensible
20 March 2026 186 comments
FFScout Tom FFScout Tom
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Four different players were captained by over one million Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers in Gameweek 30, only the second time that has happened in 2025/26.

Our pick, Bruno Fernandes (£10.2m), was the big winner, and the only one of the four to return. The Portugal international recorded his sixth consecutive double-digit haul in home matches.

Attention now turns to Blank Gameweek 31, with usual suspect Erling Haaland (£14.5m), his Manchester City team-mate Antoine Semenyo (£8.3m) and Arsenal’s resolute defence all without a fixture. With the many millions of Haaland backers looking for an alternative, is there a case to look beyond Fernandes? That’s what we’re considering in ‘Captain Sensible’.

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, ahead of Friday’s 6.30pm GMT deadline.


Captaincy Poll

Best captain 31

In a result similar to Haaland’s early-season dominance, Fernandes boasts a clear lead in the Fantasy Football Scout captaincy poll. The in-form Manchester United talisman has picked up well over 50% of votes cast ahead of the Red Devils’ trip to Bournemouth. In the reverse fixture, Fernandes returned a 13-point haul.

In second and third spot are Harry Wilson (£6.0m) and Joao Pedro (£7.8m), respectively. Both players blanked last time out but have been in brilliant recent form

Elsewhere, Hugo Ekitike (£9.2m) is the only other player to garner more than 5% support, currently sitting just ahead of Anthony Gordon (£7.3m) in the standings. The former scored in the UEFA Champions League in midweek, while Gordon notched a double-digit haul in Gameweek 30.


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

186 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. BR510
    4 months, 25 days ago

    1. Salah to Gordon
    2. Salah to Palmer, Rayan to Gordon
    3. Salah to any mid below 8millin, Rayan to Gordon, Barnes to Joao Pedro
    4. Haaland out? Haapy wit team excepet Rayan Salah Haalnd (Barnes is bench fodder)
    3ft

  2. OverTinker
    • 8 Years
    4 months, 25 days ago

    1. Play Keane and save FT
    2. Keane to VVD for free

  3. Alli
    • 9 Years
    4 months, 25 days ago

    Chalobah, Semenyo, Mané > Thiaw, Gordon, J.Pedro for -4?

    Sanchez
    Hill - Esteve - VVD
    Bruno F - Semenyo* - Wilson - Mbuemo - Rice*
    Haaland* - Thiago

    Dúbravka - Gabriel* - Chalobah* - Mané*

  4. Gudjohnsen
    • 9 Years
    4 months, 25 days ago

    Should I use FH?
    No FT

    Kelleher
    Alderete, Van Dijk, Van De Ven
    Rogers, Bruno, Gordon
    Ekitike, Tiago

    Subs: semenyo, Haaland, Bajetic, Gabriel, Dubravka, M.Nunes

    1. OverTinker
      • 8 Years
      4 months, 25 days ago

      Never. Just get one more player if it's worth the hit

  5. Three Badgers on a Shirt
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    4 months, 25 days ago

    What to do with this team? I have 2 FT, no WC, so my plan is to just do Mane to Thiago, as I can just afford it, and save 1FT. Planning to Free Hit in DGW33. Looking at my mini league, the players that could hurt me in the current GW are H Wilson, Joao Pedro and DCL. Any other suggestions?

    Kelleher, Dubravka;
    Maguire, Konsa, Andersen, Virgil, Gabriel*
    Fernandes, Stach, Dango, Mbeumo, Semenyo*;
    Ekitike, Mane*, Haaland*

    1. GCHILD2K16
      • 9 Years
      4 months, 24 days ago

      Replace mane for 31 or play with 10 given great fixture run in.

      Can you upgradd stach from 34 aka j.gomes or garner etc

      Replacd mbuemo with Goron or Bowen

      Not sold on konsa but fixtures are good

  6. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 12 Years
    4 months, 25 days ago

    Finally came to the decision of saving transfer, play with 10 men and having 3 FTS to help with the uncertainty of FPL over the next few weeks. Gl all

    1. OverTinker
      • 8 Years
      4 months, 25 days ago

      Thinking the same but I don't have Gordon and Thiago so I might save only one

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 12 Years
        4 months, 25 days ago

        Depends of your plans . Am planning FH GW32 so I won't get Gordon. Gl

  7. Eric Banternaaa
    • 12 Years
    4 months, 25 days ago

    Dubravka
    Shaw | Hill | Andersen
    Palmer | Sboz | Bruno | Wilson | Rogers
    Ekitike | Thiago

    Raya | Esteve | Haaland | Munoz

    2FT 0.5ITB. All chips left.

    Correct decision to roll transfer or bring in a newcastle defender?

    Chip Strategy: WC GW32, BB DGW33, FH BGW34, TC GW36/DGW36

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

    One week only - Harry Wilson or João Pedro?

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 12 Years
      4 months, 25 days ago

      Hw

      1. xtremesid
        • 10 Years
        4 months, 25 days ago

        This

  9. Rbyrne95
    • 10 Years
    4 months, 25 days ago

    Weird to think a -4 for a def could make more sense than a Mid/Str now due to probability of defcon.

    1. Sir Michael Taker
      • 12 Years
      4 months, 25 days ago

      Still only a net zero transfer potentially. Despite last weeks craziness there are typically only 4-5 teams cleaning in a given week and 50% of the time that includes Arsenal. Wouldnt shock me if there are zero cleans this week

      1. Rbyrne95
        • 10 Years
        4 months, 25 days ago

        Yeah that’s very true. Seems to be frustrating with 0 cleans but then only 1-2 goals

  10. BusbySwede
    • 9 Years
    4 months, 25 days ago

    I've made my FTs, would you take a -4 hit to get Wilson or Gordon and sell Rice/Rayan?

    Dubravka
    Virgil, Thiaw, Senesi
    Bruno, Mbuemo, Rogers, Rayan
    Thiago, Pedro, Etikite

    Raya, Gabriel, Rice, Gudmundsson

    1. xtremesid
      • 10 Years
      4 months, 25 days ago

      I would get Wilson. But depends when you plan to wildcard as well.

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

        Forgot that small detail.. I already used my wildcard

  11. Taegugk Warrior
    • 8 Years
    4 months, 25 days ago

    Start Cash or Hill:.?

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 12 Years
      4 months, 25 days ago

      Cash

      1. xtremesid
        • 10 Years
        4 months, 25 days ago

        This

  12. xtremesid
    • 10 Years
    4 months, 25 days ago

    I have 10 starting players. Any hits worth it?

    I plan to Wildcard in 32, BB in 33 and FH 34.

    Dubravka
    VVD-Anderson-Van Hecke
    Bruno(C)-Wilson-Gordon-Anderson
    Thiago-Joao Pedro

    Others are not playing.
    Donnarumma-Semenyo-Strand Larsen-Saliba-Gabriel

    1. cfc_andrew4
      • 3 Years
      4 months, 25 days ago

      Stick as is

      1. xtremesid
        • 10 Years
        4 months, 25 days ago

        Cheers

  13. Jinswick
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    4 months, 25 days ago

    Best use of my FT here?

    A) Save FT
    B) Guehi -> Andersen (bench Keane)
    C) Semenyo -> Gordon (bench Stach)
    D) Something else

    Verbruggen
    Thiaw, Keane, Alderete
    Bruno, Palmer, Wilson, Stach
    Ekitike, Pedro, Thiago

    Dubravka, Gabriel, Guehi, Semenyo
    Bank 3.3m, 1FT, all chips
    32WC, 33BB, 34FH

    1. xtremesid
      • 10 Years
      4 months, 25 days ago

      A

    2. Podorsky
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 17 Years
      4 months, 25 days ago

      Depends on your chip availability and who you want to buy next coupe of weeks. I would only use FT if I was not able to filed 11 players.

      1. Jinswick
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        4 months, 25 days ago

        Still have all chips and planning 32WC, 33BB, 34FH

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

        If I knew for sure my 11 all start then I think A makes most sense. But having 1 bench player this week could be handy.

    3. cfc_andrew4
      • 3 Years
      4 months, 25 days ago

      C if all chips to play

  14. Podorsky
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 17 Years
    4 months, 25 days ago

    If chasing, is Thiago (leeds) over Bruno a risk worth taking? Others offensive players are: Ekitike, Mbuemo, Enzo, Dewsbury Hall.

    1. Ausman
      • 3 Years
      4 months, 25 days ago

      I think alot of people will captain Bruno, so leaving him out is not a risk I would take.

  15. TheBiffas
    • 5 Years
    4 months, 25 days ago

    Got £4.8m for a defender for one week only (already got Andersen). Any suggestions?

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 months, 25 days ago

      IMO quite hard to recommend a defender that price this week that isn't another Fulham player.

      Lewis-Potter is 4.8m exactly. He should play, but as a LB. Does get the odd goal involvement, and Leeds haven't scored in the last three. But Leeds defenders have better clean sheet odds, and likely better for DefCon!

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

        I was just looking at him actually! Seems like as good a punt as any

  16. Chrisaa87
    • 4 Years
    4 months, 25 days ago

    Not sure what to do here, Salah injury was not part of my plan. Thinking of Salah and kroupi to szabolslai and jp. Or any other ideas? Rayan?

    Kelleher (dub)
    hill Rodon vvd (gab guehi)
    Rayan Salah b. Fernandes Anderson o.dango
    Thiago kroupi (Haaland)

  17. Whiz40
    • 4 Years
    4 months, 25 days ago

    Is Dan Ballard expected to play this weekend??
    Or is he still injured

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 months, 25 days ago

      He's a doubt. So not sure currently.

  18. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 months, 25 days ago

    Surprisingly/luckily well set-up for this gameweek with how the cards have landed:

    Dubravka
    VVD Thiaw Hill Alderete
    Bruno Mbeumo Wilson KDH
    Pedro Thiago
    Raya* / Haaland* Gabriel* Rice*

    Can field a full XI assuming no random benchings, but only really lack Fulham defense/Liverpool attack from a big EO perspective. Even KDH looks appealing now given how poor at the back my Chelsea are 🙁

    Considering:
    - Rice > Gordon (bench Alderete)

    Covers me if any random benching. Good odds, on pens, at home. Could be a cagey game again is the only worry.

    Would you do anything different?

    Note: I have WC, FH, BB chips remaining.

    1. Sir Michael Taker
      • 12 Years
      4 months, 25 days ago

      Would you not say the chance of the odd benching is highest for Gordon of your proposed squad?

      1. Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        4 months, 25 days ago

        Don't think so. Gordon and his positional change has been a big part of the uptick in Newcastle's recent form. It's a derby match at home, he's in decent form - there's no reason why he shouldn't start.

        If anything, a minor doubt on Mbeumo or Pedro (due to mins accrued) but I doubt either play 0.

  19. Sam (Team Sam)
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 17 Years
    4 months, 25 days ago

    One free hit. Need to choose 2 from this list for the final positions:

    A) Joao Pedro
    B) Bowen
    C) Ekitike
    D) Rogers
    E) Szoboszlai

    Which two?

    1. Sam (Team Sam)
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 17 Years
      4 months, 25 days ago

      *on free hit

    2. Hibbopotamus
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 months, 25 days ago

      A + E for me.

  20. Hibbopotamus
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 months, 25 days ago

    I'm one of the morons who punted on Salah last week. Now stuck with him + 2 playing DEFs, with only 1 FT.

    A. Richards + Salah > Thiaw + Wilson (-4)
    B. Salah > Wilson, just play with 10 men to avoid hits

    Do we trust Newcastle's defence enough for Thiaw to make up for a -4?

    1. Qaiss
      • 10 Years
      4 months, 25 days ago

      Wasn’t moronic. He got injured

      A

    2. Sir Michael Taker
      • 12 Years
      4 months, 25 days ago

      Thats bad luck regards Salah. I don't personally trust that no but I'm a pessimist and a Thiaw owner and I'm more pessimistic about players I own. What do you think about his chances? Obviously more routes to points now than previous to consider too. I'd make him fairly likely to DC at least

    3. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 months, 25 days ago

      I mean the answer to your last question is "no" considering they played midweek and shipped 7.

      But it's likely effectively -2 vs. playing 10 men. Decent clean sheet odds, DC is possible. Personally I would probably at least roll the dice. If it doesn't work out, you'll only be a couple of points worse off really.

    4. Hibbopotamus
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 months, 25 days ago

      Cheers guys

  21. -GK22-
    • 14 Years
    4 months, 25 days ago

    Semenyo and Summerville (assume injured)

    To

    Gordon and Iwobi -4

    Rest of mid is Wilson, Bruno and Dango

  22. Jinswick
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    4 months, 25 days ago

    Is Keane going to start?

  23. Traction Engine Foot
    • 8 Years
    4 months, 25 days ago

    What striker should I get for GW31? WC32 so don't mind taking a punt.

    A Thiago
    B Bowen
    C Jimenez
    D Richarlison

    1. Lenred
      • 10 Years
      4 months, 25 days ago

      Depends how punty. I’d be keen on C though. Huge upside and best fixture even with possible low ish mins.

  24. Kante Touch This
    • 8 Years
    4 months, 25 days ago

    Just did Munoz > Thiaw, now have 2FTs left over

    Should I transfer out Guehi or play with 10 men and roll the 2?

    No WC, Plan to FH in 34

    1. Traction Engine Foot
      • 8 Years
      4 months, 25 days ago

      I would get 11 if you can do it for free

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

    Who would you start, Hill or Rodon?

    1. JBG
      • 8 Years
      4 months, 25 days ago

      Hill, Bournemouth might frustrate MU and actually get a CS

  26. dansmith1985
    • 4 Years
    4 months, 25 days ago

    Pick one from each

    A)Gordon
    B)Szobo

    1)Thiaw
    2)Andersen

    1. JBG
      • 8 Years
      4 months, 25 days ago

      A2

  27. Fuddled FC
    • 14 Years
    4 months, 25 days ago

    Which 3 priority to target?..no WC left
    I can have a combination but need at least 1 defender...any other suggestions?

    Defenders
    a) Thiaw
    b) Andersen

    Mids
    a) Gordon
    b) Wilson
    c) Szoboslai

    Forwards
    a) Etikite
    b) Bowen

    1. G Banger
      • 8 Years
      4 months, 25 days ago

      A b b

  28. JBG
    • 8 Years
    4 months, 25 days ago

    Eid Mubarak to everyone that celebrates!

  29. G Banger
    • 8 Years
    4 months, 25 days ago

    Need DEF / MID / FWD combo to field 11, which one:
    A) Thiaw / Palmer / Thiago
    B) Anderson / Gordon / Pedro
    C) Recommended better mix of the above

    1. Hibbopotamus
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 months, 25 days ago

      B for me

  30. Lenred
    • 10 Years
    4 months, 25 days ago

    Have 11 players but no Wilson or Gordon.
    Enzo to Wilson is a no brainer right? Only 1 FT but all chips left.