Captain Sensible
4 September 2026 357 comments
FFScout Tom FFScout Tom
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With the Gameweek 3 deadline of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) nearing, it’s time to have a good think about who to captain.

All three of last week’s top choices returned double-digit hauls, with Bruno Fernandes (£12.0m), Erling Haaland (£15.5m) and Bryan Mbeumo (£8.0m) notching at least two attacking returns. The decision for Gameweek 3 looks slightly more straightforward, with most managers expected to look towards Manchester City’s home fixture against newly-promoted Coventry City.

Is Haaland the standout Man City option or can a cheaper midfield teammate rival him for consideration? For those foolhardy managers willing to back against FPL’s most expensive player, who is the best alternative armband option? Plus, there’s the looming spectre of a potential Triple Captaincy, with legions of managers set to activate the chip.

We’ll consider all of that in the latest ‘Captain Sensible’ article of the season.

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 BST deadline.


Captaincy Poll

In a result that an authoritarian dictator would be proud of, Haaland has picked up almost two-thirds of the vote in the Fantasy Football Scout captaincy poll. Site users are unsurprisingly backing the Norwegian in their droves for Man City’s favourable home fixture against Frank Lampard’s Coventry.

In another site poll, 40% of users will be activating the Triple Captain chip. It doesn’t take a genius to work out who on!

Dominik Szoboslai (£7.0m) is the only other player to garner more than 5% support ahead of Liverpool’s away fixture against Ipswich Town – and that may be to do with him being the first option in the poll and picking up accidental votes! The Tractor Boys shipped five goals last time out, while Szoboslai appears to be on penalties for the Reds. His teammate, Alexander Isak (£9.0m), sits in third place after scoring his first goal of the season in Gameweek 2.


Player Stats – Gameweeks 1-2



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

357 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. FDMS All Starz
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Kinda stuck, which plan makes more sense for my team?

    A) Roll FT & Play WC gw4

    Or

    B)
    GW3: Rodon/Bruno —> O’Rielly/Cherki (2FTs)
    GW4: Mbeumo —> Palmer (1FT)
    GW6: WC

    Or

    C) Play WC

    Team:
    Kinsky
    Calafiori Mykolenko Shaw
    Bruno Mbeumo Odegaard Tzolis
    Haaland DCL Pedro

    (Verbruggen Himshelwood* Rodon* Diop)
    (2FTs & 0.0itb)

    1. BrockLanders
      1 month, 16 days ago

      B sounds sensible

    2. Sun God Nika
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Tough as you have two injured players so hope that all the starting 11 play

      would go B and assess the situation for gw4 wc or stick with your plan

    3. Boberella
      1 month, 16 days ago

      1FT for Hinshelwood to Sangare and play over Tzolis. Maybe Mbeumo to Cherki/Foden if you feel that could be fruitful for this week. Re-assess and probably WC GW4

  2. BrockLanders
    1 month, 16 days ago

    What's people's thoughts on triple Brentford defence on FH this GW?

    1. Saulus_maximus
      1 month, 16 days ago

      High risk high reward play - sunderland are a decent side

    2. Sun God Nika
      1 month, 16 days ago

      i personally feel brentford would concede may stick to one or two to spread the risk ,you could punt on a nottingham forest def?

    3. _Greg
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Yeah I would

    4. Warby84
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Go Collins

  3. Saulus_maximus
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Going TC Haaland this week, but not sure who to bench...

    1. Gomez (L)
    2. DCL (b)
    3. Joao Pedro (a)

    Currently on DCL to bench as I think a lot will bench Pedro and I reckon he'll score...

    1. BrockLanders
      1 month, 16 days ago

      I'd bench Gomez

      1. Saulus_maximus
        1 month, 16 days ago

        Should have said I'm playing 2 BRI def

    2. Sun God Nika
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Gomez

      i still think chelsea will get a goal with how much firepower they have

      1. Saulus_maximus
        1 month, 16 days ago

        Should have said I'm playing 2 BRI def

        1. Sun God Nika
          1 month, 16 days ago

          hmm so gk and def combo im guessing?
          whats your benched defs options

          1. Saulus_maximus
            1 month, 16 days ago

            Shaw and diop

  4. Sun God Nika
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Okay hello humans

    What would you think is more optimal for a medium hold

    Currently leading to D as it will give me BB benefits around gw9 unless injuries breaks my plans

    a) 4.5 forward + hall + konsa
    b) 4.5 forward + hall + white
    c) 4.5 Forward + Konsa +Gvardiol
    d ) Barry + Dedic + Konsa

    (other defenders are cala, thomas, ajayi and of course 4.5 will be stuck to the 3rd bench spot , barry can be swapped between sangare and grob dependent on matches/injuries)

    1. Rhae
      1 month, 16 days ago

      b just because of mins.

  5. ididnt
    1 month, 16 days ago

    which moves for free:

    A: Tzolis + Rodon > Foden + Egan
    B: Tzolis + Maguire > Foden + Ajer/Dedic
    C: Tzolis + Mbeumo > Cherki + Gross
    D: Tzolis + Mbuemo > Foden + Szob (have Wirtz)

    1. Saulus_maximus
      1 month, 16 days ago

      B but foden/dedic, don't go chasing missed points and look at the upside of those picks over the next 5.

    2. ebb2sparky
      1 month, 16 days ago

      A since Rodon is out for a while

      1. Deulofail
        1 month, 16 days ago

        Seems the sensible play if this information is correct. Hard to pick an option without knowing the team for context. If Rodon is typically 3rd on bench anyway, he’s not a priority sale, but spending all you FTs while keeping him, plus buying a potential liability for Man City, seems risky unless you plan to WC in a few weeks

    3. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 16 days ago

      C looks okay on paper too, holding Mbeumo could also be a strong play.

      Especially if Everton are in disarray.

      1. ididnt
        1 month, 16 days ago

        agree. Ajer or Dedic?

        1. Deulofail
          1 month, 16 days ago

          😆

          1. ididnt
            1 month, 16 days ago

            Cryptic emoji use

            1. Deulofail
              1 month, 16 days ago

              Laughing

              1. ididnt
                1 month, 16 days ago

                At what

                1. Deulofail
                  1 month, 16 days ago

                  A: I think C
                  B: I agree. So elaborate on B

                  Lightly amusing. Go into my brain and come back out and tell me I’m wrong

    4. _Greg
      1 month, 16 days ago

      A get rid of potential problems

  6. leo_messi
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Dubravka - XXX
    Calafiori - Dedic - Gvardiol - Egan - XXX
    Saka - Gibbs White - Szoboszlai - Slater - XXX
    Haaland - Wissa - Pedro

    A) Raya - De Cuyper - Cherki ( then Rogers in GW4)

    B) Verbruggen - Konsa - Cherki (then Palmer in GW4)

    Thank you

    1. terranullius
      1 month, 16 days ago

      A for me.

    2. ebb2sparky
      1 month, 16 days ago

      If arteta gives any indication that mosquero is not fit to start then definitely B

    3. Rhae
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Who will you captain in 4? Pedro or Saka?

  7. Deulofail
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Good morning. Do you enjoy my team?

    Kinsky (nfo)
    Gabriel, Calafiori, White (CHE) | O'Reilly (COV)
    Bruno[c], Mbue (eve) | Semen[v] (COV) | Szob (ips) | Schade (SUN)
    Thiago (SUN)

    Palmer || Pedro (ars), Konsa (CHE), Egeli (LIV)

    2FTs. 0.0 ITB

    1. Deulofail
      1 month, 16 days ago

      E G E L I.

      You Egeli

    2. LangerznMash
      1 month, 16 days ago

      You're gonna be hiding behind the sofa every time Chelsea break forward.
      Also, the last two matches between Everton and Man Utd both finished 1-0 so Bruno captain isn't very appealing this fixture.

      1. Deulofail
        1 month, 16 days ago

        Jokes on you. I don’t own a sofa…

        1. Conners
          1 month, 16 days ago

          Chaise Longue?

          1. Deulofail
            1 month, 16 days ago

            Pouffe

    3. _Greg
      1 month, 16 days ago

      I do

    4. Boberella
      1 month, 16 days ago

      I enjoy your team. Can see it performing well for you.
      Kinsky a weak link this week and no Haaland could hurt, but otherwise watertight.

      1. Deulofail
        1 month, 16 days ago

        Nice to have a couple of enjoyers

        Also good to know that Kinsky won’t be a weak link every week

        I’ll leave this post up so people can come back to it. Keep on enjoying!

  8. RedJive79
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Is Cherki or Foden essential this week? Can only get to them with a -4 or by starting Tzolis.

    1. ididnt
      1 month, 16 days ago

      i like Foden personally

    2. Deulofail
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Essential if they are going to score 36 points each or more. Can’t tell you if they will. Or won’t?

      1. Deulofail
        1 month, 16 days ago

        Update: magic 8 ball says mind your business 🙁

    3. Deulofail
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Starting at solid ain’t so bad is it? Saving 4 points and getting a cherkoden sounds all right to me. Personally going without a foderki this week and letting my other players pick up the slack. Also no Haaland. Don’t listen to me

      1. Deulofail
        1 month, 16 days ago

        Starting Tzolis ain’t so bad*

    4. ebb2sparky
      1 month, 16 days ago

      One of them probably will be. Only problem is which one and do you want them after this week. I doubt I'd take a hit for either though. I dont see a problem starting Tzolis but who would you lose to get one of the city mids for free?

      1. RedJive79
        1 month, 16 days ago

        Mbeumo. I can do Ndiaye and Mbeumo to Sangare and Foden/Cherki.

        1. ebb2sparky
          1 month, 16 days ago

          I'm keeping Mbeumo for this week but I can see the appeal in moving to a city midfielder. If you need to start Ndiaye then id make the moves but if you can bench him id probably roll the transfers

          1. RedJive79
            1 month, 16 days ago

            Could be benched for Slater (AVL).

            1. ebb2sparky
              1 month, 16 days ago

              I dont think starting slater is really an option, I'd probably prefer a 20 min cameo from ndiaye. I think you'll need to make at least one transfer. Regarding city midfielders, its a bit of a lottery. If you buy the wrong one you need to accept it could easily backfire if they dont start and mbeumo scores.

    5. FourLokoLeipzig
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 16 days ago

      I don’t think so because it’s a coin flip (a) which one will haul this week and (b) who will be more secure for minutes after this week when the new signings join the party. So an easy swerve in my view unless you’re on FH

  9. FlyingCanary
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Monring guys!
    Who do you think will score more points?
    1. Bruno (united)
    2. Thiago (brentford)

    Thanks

    1. DA Minnion (Former great)
      1 month, 16 days ago

      1

    2. jthmt
      1 month, 16 days ago

      1

    3. FlyingCanary
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Ah sorry i mean this GW only....my bad

      1. DA Minnion (Former great)
        1 month, 16 days ago

        Still 1

        1. FlyingCanary
          1 month, 16 days ago

          Cheers

    4. Rhae
      1 month, 16 days ago

      1 and it could very well be close

      1. FlyingCanary
        1 month, 16 days ago

        Cheers!

    5. _Greg
      1 month, 16 days ago

      2

      1. FlyingCanary
        1 month, 16 days ago

        Thanks...Swapping bruno for thiago on my FH does allow VVD in defence too...

  10. jthmt
    1 month, 16 days ago

    play

    a) ndiaye
    b) JP

    i have double arsenal defence

    1. Sun God Nika
      1 month, 16 days ago

      JP - as i assume A will be on the bench to start with surely?

    2. Deulofail
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Ndiaye could be fun. Imagine if it works. The glory. Ndiaye

    3. LAMELA_AND_CONSUELA
      1 month, 16 days ago

      JP I do not think that Ndiaye will start

    4. Kinder Mbueno
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 16 days ago

      I've ditched Ndiaye, play JP for me

  11. FCSB
    1 month, 16 days ago

    On WC, best defence:

    1. Verbruggen Gvardiol Calafiori Konsa Dedic DeCuyper
    2. Raya Egan Calafiori Konsa Dedic DeCuyper

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Presumably you're not playing 5 at the back?

      So it's the Raya team but you sacrifice on no Arsenal attack and get hit when Chelsea score etc.

    2. Christina.
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Im thinking Raya team, but not Konsa as I have Saka

      1. Christina.
        1 month, 16 days ago

        Im not concerned with Ars vs Chelsea this wk as a WC is long term

    3. Deulofail
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Depends

    4. Kinder Mbueno
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Prefer A myself but never did like a premium GK. B has it's merits

  12. DagheMunegu
    1 month, 16 days ago

    A Bruno Gvardiol
    B O'Reilly Mbeumo

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 16 days ago

      A

    2. Kinder Mbueno
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 16 days ago

      A

  13. Jam0sh
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Hello guys. Would you save a FT here? Contemplating Odegaard to Foden.

    Verbruggen
    Shaw, Hall, Calafiori
    Bruno, Schade, Odegaard, KDH, Mbeumo
    Haaland, Joao Pedro

    Kinsky, Aina, Hume, SWE, 1 FT, 0,5 itb

  14. Kinder Mbueno
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Mosquera v Konsa - we're just guessing who starts, right?

    Tempted to offload Mosquera to Gvardiol to take the headache away, but that's for a hit. Wouldn't lose any places in my ML taking a -4 at this stage though...

    1. The Knights Template
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Is there a problem doing it next week?

      1. Kinder Mbueno
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        1 month, 16 days ago

        Well if Mosquera doesn't play, all I've got on the bench is Van Ewijk and Rodon

  15. Stoic
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Play 1 of
    A) JP (ars)
    B) Tzolis (CHE)
    C) Gomez (LEE)

    1. Kinder Mbueno
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Even though they playing ARS, I'd play JP - on form and with a lethal front 3. I wouldn't bet against CHE winning the match

    2. Ratatouille
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 16 days ago

      A

  16. Brunsvigeren
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Should I WC this? Im concerned Haaland will punish me

    Verbruggen
    Tarkowski, Dijk, Gabriel
    Szoboszlai, Semenyo, Gross, Mbeumo
    Isak, JP, Thiago
    Raya, Maguire, Davis, Tzolis

    1. Deulofail
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Nope. Too late to WC u less your team is a disaster, but yours is good. I’m in a similar boat made from similar players/planks and decided against the FH. People on WC could even be envious of your Pool planks this week

      1. Brunsvigeren
        1 month, 16 days ago

        Yeah, I dont really have the time to sit down and make it 🙂

        Any transfers, that could help, Mbeumo - >Cerki maybe?

        1. Deulofail
          1 month, 16 days ago

          Ahhh struggling to get this reply typed and sent for some reason. Try again…

          That move is fine, popular, but would scare me a little.

          Can also do Tzolis to Buendia/Sangare/Schade or Maguire to Thiaw

          Or 2FTs to upgrade Tzolis.

          But perfectly valid to save the FTs as well. I probably would. I am!

    2. LAMELA_AND_CONSUELA
      1 month, 16 days ago

      take hit if neccessary and get Haaland

      1. Brunsvigeren
        1 month, 16 days ago

        Hmm, No hits for me, but have 2 FT

    3. Ausman
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Don’t see the point of spending 6 million on a premium GK and then benching him??

      1. The Knights Template
        1 month, 16 days ago

        It’s to show them who’s boss!

        1. Ausman
          1 month, 16 days ago

          Of course! Silly me.

      2. Deulofail
        1 month, 16 days ago

        I think the problem is spending an extra 0.5 on a second keeper then find things for him to do so he doesn’t upset the dressing room

  17. Gandalf
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Which to prioritise?
    A. One of Cherki/Foden for upcoming gameweeks

    B. Palmer (C) for next gameweek

  18. BR510
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Wildcard final thoughts?
    Verbruggen Lecomte
    De Cuyper Calafiori Dedic Konsa Egan
    Bruno Palmer Cherki Sangare Yalcouye
    Haaland Pedro Wissa

    Play Egan Konsa Pedro or Talcouye? The other three benched

  19. Ratatouille
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Bench Diego Gomez or Igor Jesus? Thanks

  20. Garfield1001
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Would you FH out of this team?

    Verb
    Muha Maguire Calafiori
    Le Fee Gross Bruno Mbuemo
    DCL Haaland Pedro

    Very tempted to to try and attack the Liverpool, City and Brentford fixtures (only have Haaland out of these in original team)

  21. TeddiPonza
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    1 month, 16 days ago

    On FH

    A. Wirtz/Szobo and Bruno
    B. Isak and Saka

    Thanks

  22. Rhodes your boat
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Kinsky or Verbruggen is bugging me, thoughts?

    1. Drizzle
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Verbruggen

  23. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Which Brentford defender do you think offers the most goal threat?

  24. Drizzle
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Morning all. Play two out of the following four.

    A) Maguire
    B) Muharemovic
    C) Dango
    D) J Pedro

    1. denial
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 16 days ago

      C and D

  25. FantasyFooty01
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Verbruggen
    Calafiori, Maguire, O’Reilly
    Grob, B. Fernandes (V), Mbeumo, Ndiaye
    Haaland (C), Brobbey, João Pedro

    Kinsky, Gomez, Davis, Rodon

    2 FT, £0.0m ITB

    Ideally, I would have swapped Mbeumo for Cherki on Friday. I want to avoid wildcarding this early. Any suggestions?

    1. Rbyrne95
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Mbuemo to Foden? Different choice and apparently more favoured by Maresca in general & for mins.

      1. FantasyFooty01
        1 month, 16 days ago

        I have Ndiaye there so will mean 4 city players, unless I take Ndiaye out for szoboszlai

        1. Rbyrne95
          1 month, 16 days ago

          Don’t think Ndiaye will play so IMO would swap him for Szobo or Foden

  26. Scotty Dog
    1 month, 16 days ago

    On wc which is best combo:-

    A)Hall & Foden or Semenyo
    B)NOR & Elanga

    Already have Cherki & Dedic.

    Cherki/Semenyo/Foden/Elanga are for 1 to 2 gws only and will become Hall, Saka, Rogers or Mgw.

    1. Scotty Dog
      1 month, 16 days ago

      NOR would be 1 gw only aswell

  27. FCSB
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Final dilemma:

    1. Verbruggen Dedic Gross
    2. Raya Egan Yalcouye

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 16 days ago

      1

      But does that mean 2 Arsenal?

      1. FCSB
        1 month, 16 days ago

        Cala and Konsa, yeah mate

  28. denial
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Would like to bring in Gross but would mean then benching Rogers.

    Daft?

    1. Rbyrne95
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Nope. Gross overall good pick and better fixture. On pens too.

  29. Rbyrne95
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Worth making a 2nd FT for DCL > Wissa this week before price rise?

    Wildcarding next week.

    Always the option to WC, not play TC and have 3FT next week

    1. denial
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 16 days ago

      I made that move earlier in the week.

      1. Rbyrne95
        1 month, 16 days ago

        Only slight thing stopping me is not having 2FT next week but also the possibility of Barry to fund up more.

    2. Deulofail
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Not if you’re WCing next week. Diminishes the value of your FT, which can otherwise impact your team for many GWs. The price rise is likely to have less of an impact, I would posit.

      1. Rbyrne95
        1 month, 16 days ago

        Yeah, that’s what I’m thinking.

        I guess it’s just with me trying to keep in Bruno every .1 counts.

        1. Deulofail
          1 month, 16 days ago

          If you think Wissa out scores DCL by 6+ points this week, you have my permission to make the move. The value of a FT minus the value of the 0.1 plus the value of TC Haaland now minus the value of TC Haaland later. So no, I wouldn’t recommend it personally, but I can see the temptation, and might do it myself because I don’t have good impulse control

          1. Rbyrne95
            1 month, 16 days ago

            I think I’m going to just keep.

            A fun game to play though is when you narrow your choices down to 50/50. Note down the points made from the other side, so you can enjoy hindsight bias and hate yourself more at the end.

            1. Deulofail
              1 month, 16 days ago

              I love to hate myself. Thanks for the tip!

  30. Tibbs
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Play 1 Tzolis or Gross?

    1. Rbyrne95
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Gross