Captain Sensible

Who is the best captain for FPL Gameweek 17?

19 December 2025 254 comments
FFScout Tom FFScout Tom
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Erling Haaland (£15.0m) notched his seventh double-digit haul of the season against Crystal Palace in Gameweek 16, delighting the 5.6 million+ Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers that handed him the armband.

This weekend, Manchester City host West Ham, no doubt making the captaincy decision straightforward for many. However, in Captain Sensible, we wouldn’t be doing our due diligence if we didn’t at least wonder whether there is a case to look beyond the Norwegian.

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 to determine the best captain for Gameweek 17 ahead of Saturday’s 11am GMT deadline.

Captaincy Poll

Some technical issues delayed the launch of the Fantasy Football Scout captaincy poll this week!

But unsurprisingly, since its late arrival, Haaland has soared to the top of the standings. Over 69% of site users believe the Norwegian, who was fully rested in midweek, is the best option for Gameweek 17.

The only other players to boast over over 10% of the vote (indeed, over 3%) are the in-form Phil Foden (£8.8m) and Antoine Semenyo (£7.6m), who faces Burnley at home this Saturday.

Player Stats – Last Six Gameweeks

price change predictions

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

254 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Smudger’s Dirty Dozen
    • 14 Years
    12 hours, 39 mins ago

    How urgently do I need to get Foden in?

    I can bring him in for Semenyo, Saka or Rice...

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    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      12 hours, 34 mins ago

      You have just over 2.5hrs before he rises again, so fairly urgent. Rice is the only one I’d consider selling of those though.

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      1. Mr. O'Connell
        • 13 Years
        12 hours, 13 mins ago

        He's risen 0.8 in a week. Another 0.1 isn't gonna hurt. I say let it ride.

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        1. RedLightning
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 15 Years
          11 hours, 37 mins ago

          No-one ever rises more than 0.3 in a week.
          He's risen 0.8 this season, but only 0.1 this week (and is forecast to rise another 0.1 tonight).

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          1. Gazwaz80
            • 6 Years
            11 hours, 28 mins ago

            This is true…

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    2. Stranger Mings
      • 5 Years
      12 hours, 13 mins ago

      For rice

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  2. Onz
    • 8 Years
    12 hours, 34 mins ago

    3 ft , 0 itb sv 104.7
    Petrovic
    Timber, O'Reilly, Senesi, Guehi
    Saka, Bruno, Semenyo
    Haaland, Ekitike, Theago
    Bench
    Dub, Reijders, Bruno G
    Hiding behind the sofa with no Foden, due to lack of cash and the risk of rotation over the busy period
    Betting against Newcastle at home as I am a Chelsea fan, could be a mistake, but any comments appreciated.

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    1. Onz
      • 8 Years
      12 hours, 28 mins ago

      Alderete 3rd on bench

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  3. Lennox142320
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    12 hours, 33 mins ago

    Which two would you bench from Timber, VVD, Guehi or Andersen?

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    1. Onz
      • 8 Years
      12 hours, 31 mins ago

      Play the money imo, but I see a lot of managers benching VVD.

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    2. Stranger Mings
      • 5 Years
      12 hours, 8 mins ago

      Vvd & gehi

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  4. Podorsky
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    12 hours, 32 mins ago

    C Foden over Haaland?

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    1. Podorsky
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      12 hours, 32 mins ago

      Chasing!

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    2. g40steve
      • 7 Years
      12 hours, 18 mins ago

      One pen & you’re toast

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      1. Mr. O'Connell
        • 13 Years
        12 hours, 14 mins ago

        Very fearful mindset. Haaland has blanked 4 of last 7. Foden averages 15 points in his last 4.

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    3. Bobby Digital
      • 8 Years
      12 hours, 6 mins ago

      Yeah West Ham has conceded more goals to midfielders than CFs, so it's a decent punt.

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      1. Bennerman
        • 7 Years
        12 hours ago

        And in the star sign of Sagittarius

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  5. Bobby_Baggio
    • 14 Years
    12 hours, 27 mins ago

    In two minds and need some advice. Most would say TC this week but feel like BB this week serves better as other weeks players rested etc.

    5FT & 0.4m ITB.

    Raya
    Andersen - Hinchape - O'Reilly
    Bruno - Saka - Wilson - Foden
    Thiago - Haaland - Raul

    (Verbruggen) - Bruno.G - Cash - Richards

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    1. Mr. O'Connell
      • 13 Years
      12 hours, 12 mins ago

      BB for sure.

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      1. Bobby_Baggio
        • 14 Years
        11 hours, 32 mins ago

        Cheers

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    2. NZREDS
      • 12 Years
      9 hours, 59 mins ago

      That BB looks tasty

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  6. Ronnies
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    12 hours, 25 mins ago

    Play one;

    A) VVD
    B) Szobo

    Bench Szobo due to him being s doubt?

    Cheers.

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  7. Dangles
    • 3 Years
    12 hours, 23 mins ago

    Bench for this week?

    A) Fulham Andersen
    B) VVD

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    1. Stevie B
      • 15 Years
      12 hours, 10 mins ago

      I think Andersen.

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    2. Stranger Mings
      • 5 Years
      12 hours, 10 mins ago

      B

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  8. Stevie B
    • 15 Years
    12 hours, 11 mins ago

    Is now the best time to play the Triple Captain chip with Haaland?

    Thanks!

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    1. Belli2007
      • 15 Years
      12 hours, 8 mins ago

      Defo

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    2. Stranger Mings
      • 5 Years
      12 hours, 4 mins ago

      Yes

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    3. Tonyawesome69
      • 7 Years
      11 hours, 59 mins ago

      Which options in 18 and 19 are better than Haaland TC17?

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      1. Bobby_Baggio
        • 14 Years
        11 hours, 37 mins ago

        Bruno GW19

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        1. Tonyawesome69
          • 7 Years
          11 hours, 25 mins ago

          He's an option, not sure if he's better than Haaland. I think we need to see how United setup with Amad/Mbeumo on the RHS

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          1. Tonyawesome69
            • 7 Years
            11 hours, 21 mins ago

            Without*

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  9. Bruno G
    • 3 Years
    12 hours, 11 mins ago

    Is it crazy to play Mateta in a free hit team?

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    1. Stranger Mings
      • 5 Years
      12 hours, 9 mins ago

      Yes

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      1. Bruno G
        • 3 Years
        12 hours, 6 mins ago

        Just tempted by the potential differential against a poor Leeds team

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        1. Bennerman
          • 7 Years
          12 hours, 4 mins ago

          Only two defeats at home out of six, to be fair – Elland Road makes a difference.

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    2. Tonyawesome69
      • 7 Years
      12 hours ago

      Don't see the appeal.

      Look at his mins and Leeds home form

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      1. Bennerman
        • 7 Years
        11 hours, 59 mins ago

        That's what I was getting at, Tony, but being a bit polite

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  10. Belli2007
    • 15 Years
    12 hours, 7 mins ago

    Play Tete (home v Forest) or Guehi (away v Leeds).....can't bring myself to bench Timber

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    1. Stranger Mings
      • 5 Years
      12 hours, 7 mins ago

      Tete

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    2. Tonyawesome69
      • 7 Years
      12 hours, 2 mins ago

      CS odds are close, probably lean towards Palace, the better defence.

      FUL: 30%
      CRY: 29%

      https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2025/12/18/fpl-gameweek-17-differentials-3-low-owned-picks-to-consider/#hc_comment_27461577

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      1. Belli2007
        • 15 Years
        11 hours, 57 mins ago

        thanks for that, nothing in that....normally go for home team def but Guehi been quite good for attacking returns .....and still smarting after flicking between Bassey and Tete all last week and of course the one I didn't pick scored....

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  11. Stevie B
    • 15 Years
    12 hours, 3 mins ago

    Which one you would bench from this front line?

    Foden, B. Fernandes, Saka, Rice, Bruno G.
    Haaland, Thiago, Calvert-Lewin

    Thank you!

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    1. Stranger Mings
      • 5 Years
      12 hours, 1 min ago

      Rice or dcl

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      1. g40steve
        • 7 Years
        11 hours, 55 mins ago

        These

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      2. Belli2007
        • 15 Years
        11 hours, 53 mins ago

        this

        Everton have lost Ndaye and Gueye to AFCON so will suffer for that I reckon

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  12. Count Olaf
    • 1 Year
    11 hours, 55 mins ago

    Is Ekitike a worse option if Liverpool play with two strikers? He scored 4 goals in the 2 games he played as a lone striker.

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    1. Bennerman
      • 7 Years
      11 hours, 48 mins ago

      That isn't how they play, though is it? Unless I'm behind the times, don't think I've watched a full 90 of them this term.

      I always see a 4-3-3, so a central striker and a sometimes-wideish-but-often-inside-striker on each side (like a lot of current players).

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    2. Tonyawesome69
      • 7 Years
      11 hours, 45 mins ago

      A quick check and they have only started together twice this season

      Frankfurt
      Inter Milan

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      1. Bennerman
        • 7 Years
        11 hours, 43 mins ago

        And I would presume in the (somewhat nominal, concededly) three arrangement in attack?

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  13. Nightf0x
    • 10 Years
    11 hours, 54 mins ago

    Dub alison
    Clyne richards cala oriely mukiele
    Saka rice foden neto king
    Haland tiago ekitke

    BB active, Which ? 2 fts

    A) g2g
    B) neto to semenyo/tavernier
    C) neto king to tavernier wilson

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    1. ball c
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      11 hours, 44 mins ago

      A. If considering B Keep in mind Semenyo on 4 yc’s. Bournemouth fixtures do get tricky after Burnley.

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  14. Richm
    • 4 Years
    11 hours, 50 mins ago

    Start 1
    A Raul
    B Bruno G

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    1. ball c
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      11 hours, 48 mins ago

      A

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    2. Bobby_Baggio
      • 14 Years
      11 hours, 34 mins ago

      A by a small margin

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  15. ball c
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    11 hours, 45 mins ago

    Start one:

    A) Virgil
    B) Andersen
    C) Van Den Berg

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  16. Manani
    • 14 Years
    11 hours, 42 mins ago

    A. Kudus > Rice
    B. Kudus > Rogers
    C. Play kudus/VVD/Anderson

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    1. Bobby_Baggio
      • 14 Years
      11 hours, 34 mins ago

      Rice steady ship - do you have saka and ars Def?
      Rogers explosive

      I'd be tempted to play Anderson

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  17. Richm
    • 4 Years
    11 hours, 40 mins ago

    Bruno G to Wilson?
    Allows Raul to Bowen next week.

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    1. Bobby_Baggio
      • 14 Years
      11 hours, 35 mins ago

      Yes

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    2. nico05
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      11 hours, 24 mins ago

      Yeahh

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  18. Bobby_Baggio
    • 14 Years
    11 hours, 36 mins ago

    If BB this week and have 5FT where would you burn one? 0.4m ITB.

    Raya
    Andersen - Hinchape - O'Reilly
    Bruno - Saka - Wilson - Foden
    Thiago - Haaland - Raul

    (Verbruggen) - Bruno.G - Cash - Richards

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    1. nico05
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      11 hours, 26 mins ago

      Awesome team mate.
      Maybe downgrade Verb with having Raya. I have BB too was unsure whether to use with Thiago doubt

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      1. Bobby_Baggio
        • 14 Years
        11 hours ago

        If I do use BB verb has Sunderland. Other cheaper options fixtures aren't great IMO. Cheers for reply and feedback

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  19. adstomko
    • 9 Years
    11 hours, 28 mins ago

    Based on from GW18, how’s this looking?

    Raya
    Timber - Virgil - O’Reilly - Lacroix - Alderete
    Saka - Fernandes - Foden
    Haaland - Isak (C)*
    (Dubravka - Miley - Potts - Guiu)

    *Will stay as Ekitike if Isak not likely to stars vs WOL

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  20. nico05
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    11 hours, 27 mins ago

    Got Thiago, do I BB or hold.
    Also have Free hit to burn what are the best weeks please

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    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 7 Years
      11 hours, 23 mins ago

      Prioritise FH over BB.

      Have a look at the teams to target in 17-19, compare to your non-FH team and see where you can make the most gains.

      For BB, play it when you think you have 15 starters.

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      1. nico05
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        11 hours, 20 mins ago

        Was thinking to FH next week to get pool players v Wolves. Was gobs BB this GW just worried about Thiago missing

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  21. Bob B
    • 12 Years
    11 hours, 23 mins ago

    Need to make any changes here?

    3FT, 0.7ITB

    Raya (Dubravka)
    Senesi Hincapie Lacroix (Burn* VVD)
    Saka Bruno Foden Anderson (King)
    Haaland Thiago Jimenez

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    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 7 Years
      11 hours, 22 mins ago

      Burn to O'Reilly and bench Anderson

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      1. nico05
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        11 hours, 19 mins ago

        Sound advice. I didn’t see it myself but I like it

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  22. New article
    RedLightning
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 15 Years
    11 hours, 18 mins ago

    https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2025/12/20/afcon-2025-exits-which-players-could-benefit-in-fpl

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  23. dimitros
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 hours, 11 mins ago

    Start:
    A) Harry Wilson
    B) Raul Jimenez

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