Captain Sensible

Who is the best captain for FPL Gameweek 5?

19 September 2025 1111 comments
FFScout Tom FFScout Tom
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In Gameweek 4, FPL managers who targeted the fixture and captained Mohamed Salah (£14.5m) were rewarded in stoppage time. All three of the Egyptian’s attacking returns have come after the 90th minute!

Erling Haaland (£14.2m) bagged his fourth and fifth goals of the season to continue his stellar record in the Manchester derby, while Cole Palmer (£10.4m) returned from injury against Brentford to remind us of his enduring quality.

Attention now turns to Gameweek 5 and whether there is a case to look beyond Salah, who hosts Everton in the early kick-off, in favour of a differential option.

Captain Sensible is here to help!

First, we will assess the on-site captaincy poll. We will then analyse player and team statistics, Rate My Team (RMT) and the Premier Fantasy Tools ratings ahead of Saturday’s 11am BST deadline.

Captaincy Poll

Gameweek 5 captain best

Among Fantasy Football Scout site users, Salah is the runaway leader in the captaincy poll, currently sitting on just over 50% of the vote. A goal and assist in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday has only increased his appeal. 

Haaland sits in second place once again with a little under 10% backing ahead of Man City’s heavyweight clash with Arsenal at the Emirates. The Norwegian scored in both league fixtures against the Gunners last season. 

Elsewhere, Antoine Semenyo (£7.5m) and Joao Pedro (£7.8m) are the only other players with over 5% of the vote.

Player Stats

FFScout Tom <p>Partnerships &amp; Community Manager. Previously Multimedia Manager and Deputy Social Media Manager.</p>

1,111 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Johnny too hotty
    • 14 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    I’ve just done Gakpo to Gibbs white and I’m not sure how I convinced myself to do this. Could this pay off ?

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    1. Dynamic Duos
      • 12 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      Was it beer that did it?

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    2. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      Have another beer

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    3. Tomerick
      • 11 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      Ah, the siren call of the inexplicable Scout Pick.

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    4. Dynamic Duos
      • 12 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      https://youtu.be/gql9220Qon8?si=pWO74AEnoftFIGzs

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  2. OptimusBlack
    • 12 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    Pedro porro >> Virgil (VVD)
    For Free
    YAAAY
    Noooo
    Already have VDV

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    1. Dynamic Duos
      • 12 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      Noooo

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    2. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      No

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    3. Mom, Butters just gave me a…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      Nope

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    4. Shark Team
      • 8 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      No

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  3. mr_jones
    • 6 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    g2go this week? dont expect much points but will WC next week

    Sanchez
    Porro, Murillo, Andersen
    Salah, Wirtz, Caicedo, Reijnders
    Watkins, Pedro, Bowen

    Petrovic, Johnson, Diouf, De Cuyper

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    1. Jstap94
      • 2 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      Yeah looks good. Been very unlucky with team value here clearly

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      1. mr_jones
        • 6 Years
        2 months, 15 days ago

        yeah. bowen, watkins and wirtz were big disappointments. going murillo to a palace-defender now because he seems to be out for this gw

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    2. JT11fc
      • 7 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      Gtg

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    3. Shark Team
      • 8 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      Johnson over Reijnders imo

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      1. mr_jones
        • 6 Years
        2 months, 15 days ago

        wont start probably

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  4. TyroneGAA
    • 8 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    Last week on a wild card the decision was salah and Gyökeres or palmer and halland .. went with the salah route and then this week took a hit to go back to what I wanted to do before bottling it .. mad?

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    1. Brosstan
      • 11 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      Why wouldn't you wait until GW6 go change Salah to Haaland?

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  5. Clueless Joker
    • 6 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    Caicedo or Paqueta agonizing over it all morning!

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    1. Dynamic Duos
      • 12 Years
      2 months, 16 days ago

      PacMan

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    2. mr_jones
      • 6 Years
      2 months, 16 days ago

      Caicedo defcon monster.

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    3. Miguel Sanchez
      • 9 Years
      2 months, 16 days ago

      Caicedo

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    4. Shark Team
      • 8 Years
      2 months, 16 days ago

      Caicedo

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  6. HarryFPL
    • 3 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    Start one:
    A) Harvey Barnes
    B) Van de Ven

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    1. Shark Team
      • 8 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      B

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  7. Bob.
    • 15 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    Start Murillo or Kudus? Cheers

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    1. mr_jones
      • 6 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      murillo seems off this week. so kudus

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    2. Shark Team
      • 8 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      Murillo

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  8. Weasel51
    • 9 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    Have 0.6 ITB and 1ft, anything worth a transfer here or just roll into next week?

    Dubravka
    Porro Diouf Gabriel
    Salah(c) Fernandes Rogers Semenyo Wirtz
    Pedro Wood

    Sanchez Esteve Guiu DeCuyper

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    1. OptimusBlack
      • 12 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      Roll

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    2. Warby84
      • 10 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      I deliberating over both keepers it’s a tough one

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  9. OptimusBlack
    • 12 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    If You have
    Watkins Pedro Gyökeres
    And one FT and WC next GW
    would u Sell Watkins ? And for Whom ?

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    1. _Ninja_
      • 15 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      I'd just play Watkins this week

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    2. Shark Team
      • 8 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      No

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    3. OptimusBlack
      • 12 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      Cheers

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  10. SpaceCadet
    • 11 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    Repost. Who would you start this gw?

    A. Reijnders
    B. Gudmundsson
    C. Johnson and hope he starts
    D. Johnson > Enzo or simons ft

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    1. OptimusBlack
      • 12 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      D

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    2. Shark Team
      • 8 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      B easily

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  11. _Ninja_
    • 15 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    Worth using BB on this?

    Dubravka (NFO) Diouf(CRY) Rodon(wol) Reijnders(ars)

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    1. OptimusBlack
      • 12 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      I think there are much better

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    2. Dynamic Duos
      • 12 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      I would

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    3. mr_jones
      • 6 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      cant see any CS here

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    4. Jstap94
      • 2 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      Not bad but also not great

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    5. Nightcrawler
      • 6 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      no way. i think if u can easily figure out what ur bench for the week shd be its not worth a bench boost

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    6. g40steve
      • 7 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      If you want to get rid of it.

      At least all play 😉

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    7. Shark Team
      • 8 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      No

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  12. Fonz316
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 1 Year
    2 months, 16 days ago

    On WC:

    Isak and Enzo
    OR
    Gyokeres and Gakpo

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    1. Dynamic Duos
      • 12 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      GG

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    2. OptimusBlack
      • 12 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      GG

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    3. Shark Team
      • 8 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      B

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  13. Pieters 4 Wood
    • 5 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    Sitting on solid 261 points, top of most mini leagues and overall rank of 380k. This week a team is a bit dodgy. Done 3 transfers overall, all forced due to injuries. Still 2 injured players in line up but thinking to roll. Thoughts?

    Sanchez
    Porro
    VVD
    VDV
    Diouf
    Wirtz(c)
    Rogers
    Reijnders
    Joao Pedro
    Gyokeres
    Haaland (vc)

    Duvravka
    KDH
    De Cuyper (out)
    I Sarr (out)

    Set on Wirtz as a c, promising signs in CL. It is coming!

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    1. Mom, Butters just gave me a…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      How did you get to 261 points with Diouf, Wirtz, and Rogers?

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      1. Jstap94
        • 2 Years
        2 months, 15 days ago

        Haaland has outperformed Salah big time. Pedro big scorer if started with him. Spurs double up defence started very well

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        1. Mom, Butters just gave me a…
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 4 Years
          2 months, 15 days ago

          Crazy. Everything still seems to be close.

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        2. Pieters 4 Wood
          • 5 Years
          2 months, 15 days ago

          That plus I have had Diouf 10, KDH 12 and VDV 14 on the bench going to waste...Rogers I only took as a forced sub last week.

          Unlucky with Cunha, Palmer, Sarr, De Cuyper injuries really

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    2. Mom, Butters just gave me a…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      Wirtz linked up well with Isak. So you might get rewarded for your patience.

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    3. Pieters 4 Wood
      • 5 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      8 points from 7 players so far. Tough

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  14. Biggsy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    Given Isak won't start, I should keep Ekitike right?

    Tempted to drop him for JP....

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    1. Jstap94
      • 2 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      Maybe not the Pedro transfer this week but would look to do next week. I dont think Isak starts but could come on like 55/56

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    2. Mom, Butters just gave me a…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      I assume tired Ekitike will play 58 minutes, then rested Isak in for his two goals at least.

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    3. agueroooooney
      • 10 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      Keep for this week

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  15. dshv
    • 8 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    WC

    Vicario 4
    Calafiori VDV Guehi Cucurella 4
    Xavi Gakpo Enzo Semenyo 4.5
    Gyokeres Haaland J.Pedro

    2.2 itb .. what to change here?
    any chance to bring in Palmer? , otherwise there is money to bring eze/mbeumo for Enzo in future

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  16. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    Which 2 would you play?

    A) Esteve H NFO
    B) Diof H CRY
    C) Neco A BUR

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    1. Jstap94
      • 2 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      A and C. Feels like a 0-0

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    2. Dynamic Duos
      • 12 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      Electronic Neco

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    3. cfc_andrew4
      • 2 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      A C
      Pray for a 0-0, which isn’t so far fetched. I would say Diof at home but West Ham don’t look good

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    4. Gizzachance
      • 11 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      A C

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    5. sminkypinky
      • 14 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      A
      C

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    6. OptimusBlack
      • 12 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      C

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    7. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      Cheers!

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  17. cfc_andrew4
    • 2 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    Feel like I need to get Semenyo in,
    Only person I can swap out is Grealish, worth doing?

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    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      Yes

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    2. Jstap94
      • 2 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      No, ride it out. Newcastle are very good defensively

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      1. Warby84
        • 10 Years
        2 months, 15 days ago

        Schar and Tripps off midweek due to injury can see a 3-1 Bournemouth win, get him in..

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        1. Jstap94
          • 2 Years
          2 months, 15 days ago

          Still have a backline of Hall, Livramento, Botman, Burn. Bournemouth also do not rack up goals that much.

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    3. Mom, Butters just gave me a…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      No way

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    4. mr_jones
      • 6 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      dont see the semenyo thing this week. wondering why so many captaining him. but newcastle is defensive solid.

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  18. HarryFPL
    • 3 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    Bench one:
    A) Harvey Barnes
    B) VDV
    C) Konsa
    D) Gabriel

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    1. Nightcrawler
      • 6 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      b

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  19. Kantelele
    • 3 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    Best mid for this GW only ? Max 5.4 $

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    1. Jstap94
      • 2 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      PM Sarr

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  20. Gizzachance
    • 11 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    BB? 1 ft

    Dubravka esteve reijnders murrillo*

    Murillo to Munoz and bb?
    Also have wood v Burnley!

    Cheers

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    1. BrockLanders
      • 10 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      I've a similar quandary with Murillo. Think I'm just gonna roll and play Wood myself

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      1. Gizzachance
        • 11 Years
        2 months, 15 days ago

        Cheers
        Need two transfers if want Haaland next week, or it’s a hit or w/c

        Just wanted bb outta way, as no doubt down line there will be other issues, already had palmer sarr now Murillo injuries

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  21. Chris_l25
    • 8 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    Start Dubravka or Sanchez?

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    1. Mainoo Magic
      • 10 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      I’m going dubravka but it’s a hard choice

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  22. Mainoo Magic
    • 10 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    Hi all team is below, I have 1ft and £0.7m itb. I’m also considering activating the WC next week.

    Is any transfer worth doing this week with my ft or should I just roll giving me 2 free transfers from GW7 after the wildcard?

    Dubravka

    Andersen Porro Murillo

    Salah Rogers Paqueta fernandes

    Watkins mateta wood

    Bench: Sanchez, dorgu, reijnders, esteve

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    1. Jstap94
      • 2 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      If you wildcard right you wont need to the transfers. That said, there's no obvious punts this week. So yeah maybe roll

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    2. OptimusBlack
      • 12 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      Roll

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  23. Big W
    • 7 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    Bench 1
    A) Cucu
    B) Porro
    C) Gabri
    D) Guehi

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    1. welshbenny
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      Guehi

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  24. welshbenny
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    Start Grealish or Rodon?

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    1. BrockLanders
      • 10 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      Close that

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      1. BrockLanders
        • 10 Years
        2 months, 15 days ago

        Grealish for attacking threat

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    2. Mom, Butters just gave me a…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      Grealish will teach Bradley some lessons today.

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      1. welshbenny
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        2 months, 15 days ago

        It feels the more fun pick but Rodon with CS potential and defcon? Hmmm

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    3. Jstap94
      • 2 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      Liverpool conceding for fun and Grealish up against Frimpong. Relatively easy one IMO

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      1. welshbenny
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        2 months, 15 days ago

        True. Ta.

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    4. Brosstan
      • 11 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      Grealish for sure. Liverpool aren't that solid defensively

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  25. BrockLanders
    • 10 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    Morning folks.

    QQ: Start 1

    1/ Van De Ven (own Porro too)
    2/ Murillo

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    1. welshbenny
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      Van de Ven. Forest will concede and there’s zip defcons from their defence it seems.

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      1. BrockLanders
        • 10 Years
        2 months, 15 days ago

        True. Very true

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  26. AllArnaut
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 2 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    I’m an Everton fan, had Salah captain all week but have to change. Who do you think out of these? Is Chris wood maybe a punt having been rested?

    A. Semenyo
    B. Wood
    C. Haaland
    D. JP

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    1. BrockLanders
      • 10 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      Dont let Everton bias get in your way. Salah is the best pick this week

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      1. AllArnaut
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 2 Years
        2 months, 15 days ago

        Yeah you’re right, aah

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  27. Bobbyg1
    • 14 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    Play 2 out of these 3 please guys
    A- Reinders
    B- KDH
    C- Esteve

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    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      AB

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  28. The Frenchie
    • 9 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    Would you guys bench boost to win against my rival ?

    Rival team :
    Sanchez (Manchester United) A
    Gabriel (Manchester City) H
    Milenkovic (Burnley) A
    Cash (Sunderland) A
    Enzo (Manchester United) A
    Watkins (Sunderland) A
    Joao Pedro (Manchester United) A

    My team :
    Raya (Manchester City) H
    Virgil (Everton) H
    Munoz (West Ham) A
    Senesi (Newcastle) H
    Paqueta (Crystal Palace) H
    Etikite (Everton) H
    Gyokeres (Manchester City) H

    Bench Boost ? :
    Dubravka (Nottingham) H
    Burn (Bournemouth) A
    Gudmundsson (Wolves) A
    King (Brentford) H

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    1. agueroooooney
      • 10 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      Don't think it's worthy of a BB for me. You're not a guaranteed winner there but if you BB you could still lose.

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  29. dshv
    • 8 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    captain?

    Pedro or Semenyo ?

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    1. AllArnaut
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      2 months, 15 days ago

      Vote for Pedro

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  30. Nightf0x
    • 10 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    Start 2 defs of
    Burn konsa vdv dorgu

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