Captain Sensible

Who are the best FPL captain options for Gameweek 9?

Ahead of Gameweek 9, a costly international break and tricky fixtures make for one of the most challenging Fantasy Premier League captaincy debates of the season so far.

Our teams are awash with multi-coloured flags representing injuries and positive coronavirus (COVID-19) tests, limiting our ability to trust assets we have regularly turned to for the armband in 2020/21.

Mohamed Salah (£12.3m) is set to miss at least the next Premier League game as he recovers from COVID-19 while this year’s top-scoring assets so far in Harry Kane (£11.0m) and Son Heung-min (£9.5m) face Manchester City.

But fear not, the Captain Sensible article is here to help you pick the best captain from the bunch this week.

As ever, this uses extensive data from the Fantasy Football Scout Premium Members Area so only those with a valid subscription can access it in full.

CAPTAIN POLL

For the first time since last season, Bruno Fernandes (£10.6m) is the runaway leader in a Fantasy Football Scout captain poll, fresh from a 17-point haul at Everton in Gameweek 8.

The Portuguese midfielder has gained more than a third of all votes ahead of Manchester United’s favourable fixture against relegation candidates West Bromwich Albion. 

Fernandes appears to be the only trustworthy Fantasy option among the alternatives for this particular fixture, as no other Manchester United player achieved more than 2% of votes.

Competing for the second and third-place spots are Jack Grealish (£7.5m) and Hakim Ziyech (£8.2m) with 11.9% and 10.3% of votes, respectively. 

The Aston Villa midfielder enjoyed a busy week with the English national team, starting all three of their international break matches, against Ireland, Belgium and Iceland. Deserved game-time considering the four goals and six assists Grealish has registered in the Premier League this season; only Salah (67) and Son (74) have more points among midfielders at this stage.

Ziyech, meanwhile, continued his great form by scoring three goals and providing two assist in two games for Morocco having put up double-figure hauls in both of his league starts for Chelsea in 2020/21.

The remaining players with more than 5% of votes are Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£7.8m, 9.9% of votes), as well as Chelsea’s left back Ben Chilwell (£6.0m, 8.4%) his team-mate, Timo Werner (£9.4m, 5.7%).

With so many premium assets not featuring at the top-end of the poll this week, is it possible Fantasy managers are overlooking options that still have potential for Gameweek 9? Let’s find out…

KEY MATCHES

Newcastle United v Chelsea

517 Comments Post a Comment
  1. OPTA FPL
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    FIRST time captain Bruno

    1. Buck The Trent
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Cheeky

  2. Assist me a river
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    WC active - Struggle city over here. Need some advice please

    McCarthy
    Cancelo - Targett - James
    Fernandes - KdB - Grealish - Ziyech
    Bamford - Vardy - DCL

    Bench: Forster, Lamptey, Coufal, Bissouma

    1. fpork
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I quite like it, but I think Chilwell is a must.

    2. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Good to go

  3. Jataganac
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Rashford or Ziyech for next 5 GW?

    1. fpork
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Ziyech because of price. I think they could be quite equal.

    2. linkafu
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Z like Zlatan, Z like Zidane, Z like Zoro, Z like Ziyech, do not hesitate

  4. Lutherc71
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    McCarthy
    Targett Chillwell Masuaku
    Rodriguez Grealish Bruno Zaha Son
    DCL Vardy

    Ryan Bamford Lamptey Dallas

    Who to bench?
    A) Son
    B) Bamford

    1. fpork
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Bamford

      1. thom830g
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        this

    2. Tcheco
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Jrod

      I think Bamford scores this week

      1. Tcheco
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Son if it’s only between those 2

      2. Lutherc71
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        I think James could have a great fixture to shine against Fulham, but I will think about that, thanks!

  5. fpork
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Play KWP (WOL away) or Soucek (SHU away)?

    1. Captain Scarlet
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Soucek

    2. Tcheco
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Soucek easy

    3. ElChapo
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Soucek, by some distance aswell.

  6. Gandalf
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    My main WC decision boiled down to:

    A. Mané + Bamford (leaving cash in bank to do Mané > Salah when his return confirmed)

    B. Ziyech + Vardy (and waiting until GW12 to get Salah back in)

    Which do you prefer?

    1. waltzingmatildas
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Tough. A for me

    2. KDB4PREZ
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      B

    3. Bobby's Teeth
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      A

    4. caldracula
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      B and it’s not even close

  7. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Good write up. Grealish or fernandes is a tough call.

  8. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    got all my chores lined up for tomorrow morning before settling in for a big day of football rom 2pm onwards

    don't want to watch a boring 0-0 between Chelsea and Newcastle anyway !

    1. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I'll take the zouma clean lol

    2. ElChapo
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      get jamal lewis in this case

  9. Weeb Kakashi
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Salah Rashford Ziyech Son
    Kane Jimenez Watkins

    Best Salah Replacement?

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Bruno imo

    2. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Nice front line. City mid should be target to add to that imo.

    3. ElChapo
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Bruno for a one week (C), any longer, probably KDB

  10. El Presidente
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    I just dont like KO time for Chelsea after an IB... there is something telling me to... avoid!

    1. ElChapo
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      agreed, partly the reason i've just gone for one CHE def

  11. EL_FENOMENO
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Werner to Vardy or keep Werner or try fitting both

    1. Jonesfromthere
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      defo not worth a transfer, I'm considering captaining Timo now puli is ruled out.

  12. Maddamotha
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Salah >

    A) Ziyech
    B) KDB

    I own Rashford, so don't wanna double upon Man Utd attack.

    1. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      De bruyne

    2. waltzingmatildas
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      B

    3. ElChapo
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      B

  13. mrtapio
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    DCL or Mané captain? Also got Watkins/Grealish, but DCL or Mané for me this GW.

    1. Jonesfromthere
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      dcl

  14. Karan14
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Wilson owners keeping or selling?

    1. Jonesfromthere
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      i'd sell for bam or watkins, depending if you have other pressing issues

      1. Karan14
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Will be for a hit and I can't get Watkins.

    2. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Sold for Watkins here mate!!

    3. Pacer.
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      80% goal involvement and keeping up with all the massive overperformers at a canter.

      If you can bench, bench

      1. Karan14
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Yup sounds he may be fit for this week but definitely from next week onwards and Newcastle do have 5-6 good fixtures from next week.

        1. Captain Scarlet
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          This.

  15. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Martinez (Button)
    Zouma,Lamptey,Konsa,Chilwell (Kilman)
    Salah*,Son,Bruno,Grealish (Bissouma)
    Kane,DCL (Brewster)

    Sterling or KDB as replacement for Salah?

    1. The Son-dance Kid
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      KDB safer a bet

  16. Aubamewho
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Thoughts on moves, please?

    A) Son, Jrod, Maupay > Ziyech, Grealish, DCL? (- 4)
    B) Jrod, Maupay > Ziyech, Watkins

    Mccarthy | Steer
    Chilwell | KWP | kilman | Justin | Mitchell
    Salah | Sterling | Son | Zaha | Jrod
    Kane | Maupay | Brewster

    2FT, 0.2 itb

    1. ElChapo
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      B - team is good enough to not take a hit, also stop yourself scrambling to get Salah back in next week.

  17. AlpoShearer
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Ziyech for Foden - 4
    Yes or no?

    1. Captain Scarlet
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Not for me.

    2. linkafu
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Are you with us?

    3. Tcheco
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Not for -4

      1. linkafu
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Not even for +4

        1. AlpoShearer
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Cheers

  18. RubeRx
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    I brought in Alex Telles on WC

    Feels good.

    Anyone else?

    1. Saïss Doesn't Mat…
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      could be a good diff

    2. Tcheco
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Nice move. Crossing machine & looked to be on a few set pieces when he played

    3. linkafu
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Good move

  19. Bielsa Murderball
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    is klich to ziyech worth a hit?

    1. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Probs

    2. _Ninja_
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I think so yes.

    3. linkafu
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Everyday

    4. ElChapo
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      would Klich be starting for your team this week? if no hold, if yes, probably.

  20. dbeck
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Vardy, Werner or Jesus on WC, alongside Bamford and DCL, any strong views?

    1. _Ninja_
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Vardy

    2. waltzingmatildas
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Of those, Vardy

  21. Miguel Sanchez
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Fernandes to score his Premier League first open play goal at Old Trafford this weekend?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Correction - Fernandes has yet to score at OT in open play in any competition

    2. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Sure, small sample size and quality player - matter of time

    3. ElChapo
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      maybe not, we are absolutely awful at breaking teams down, especially at home. a 1-0 either way wouldn't surprise me.

  22. zøphar
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Quality article as always

  23. waltzingmatildas
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Which front 8 do you prefer?
    A)
    Mane KDB Bruno Grealish Soucek
    DCL Bamford Watkins

    B)
    Mane KDB Bruno Soucek Bissouma
    DCL Bamford Vardy

    1. ElChapo
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      tough one for me. not too keen on a villa double up, but also not massive on Vardy.

      probably B

  24. Aladdin Sané
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Would you wildcard this lot? Few issues (Saiss, Salah, Podence) and looking to take advantage of fixture swings. Thanks

    McCarthy Steer*
    Chilwell Saiss* Justin Coufal Mitchell*
    Salah* Son* Grealish Podence* Bissouma
    Kane* Werner DCL

    1. Captain Scarlet
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I'd wait. I reckon Saiss will play and I can see Kane getting a goal against City, with a high likelihood that Son could get at least something also. Only change I'd consider is Salah to Bruno.

    2. ElChapo
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      think it's a hold, have you got any transfers?

      Salah > Bruno is obvious for one week atleast

  25. GrandGaming
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    (1) Bamford, Martinez and Cancelo
    (2) Jota, Martinez and Cancelo
    (3) Ziyech, McCarthy, Kilman

    Essentially comes down to Bamford or Jota (allowing slightly better defence) or Ziyech.

    1. arkom
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      1

    2. waltzingmatildas
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Hmm, I like 1

  26. arkom
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Chilwell / Cancelo / Coufal / Justin / XXX

    A) Lewis
    or?
    B) Kilman

    And why?!

  27. Pulp Minion
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Best cheap (4.3 or less) defender? I prefer a playing one over 3.9 non playing

    1) Kilman
    2) Lewis
    3) Other?

    1. Buck The Trent
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      2

    2. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Kilman plays for the far better team, although Lewis is more nailed & better short-term fixtures. (Although they're still Newcastle - not fixture is great.)

      1. Pulp Minion
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        It will probably come down to "How did I get a Newcastle player in my team!!"

    3. linkafu
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Lewis for me. After Chelsea, Newcastle has a nice run of fixtures.

  28. Slitherene
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Martinez Fodder
    PvA Lamptey Taylor
    KdB Bruno | X | | X |
    Vardy Richarlison Watkins
    Soucek Justin Lewis

    A. Get Mane & Berge now, Sterling for Mane in GW 11, then Salah for Sterling in GW 12

    Mane (LEI, bha(c))
    Berge (wba)
    Sterling (FUL(c))
    Soucek (shu)
    Taylor (EVE)

    B. Get Grealish & Ziyech, then both out for Salah & Berge whenever Salah is back.

    Grealish (BHA, whu, NEW)
    Ziyech (new, TOT, LEE)

    1. Captain Scarlet
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      B and then reassess next week.

  29. Teror
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    If there was a women's FPL would you play it?

  30. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Salah news anyone?

    1. linkafu
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Still hangover since his brother's wedding

    2. FPL_Motty
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      On a plane to London today, getting tested on arrival. No idea what this means for his availability - Jurgen may have some updates at 12pm

    3. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Mentioned a cough