Captain Sensible
30 December 2025 355 comments
FFScout Tom FFScout Tom
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Erling Haaland (£15.1m) blanked for the fourth time in seven Gameweeks as the Norwegian’s feast-or-famine form continued against Nottingham Forest. In the other three matches in that run, he has returned at least 13 points.

On Thursday, Manchester City travel to Sunderland, a team that Haaland failed to score against just four Gameweeks ago.

In Captain Sensible, we consider whether there is a case to look beyond the top-scoring player in Fantasy. Players from Liverpool and Manchester United provide the competition: they enjoy favourable home fixtures against Leeds United and Wolverhampton Wanderers, respectively.

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 19 ahead of Tuesday’s 18:00 GMT deadline.


Captaincy Poll

Best captain 19

Haaland sits at the top of the Fantasy Football Scout captaincy poll standings, albeit it is closer than usual. Over a third of site users still believe the Norwegian is the best option for Gameweek 19.

Hugo Ekitike (£9.1m) and Matheus Cunha (£8.1m) are vying for second place in the poll, boasting 18% and 16% of the vote, respectively. Both players have been in impressive form, notching nine attacking returns between them over the last four Gameweeks.

Elsewhere, Cole Palmer (£10.4m) and Bruno Guimaraes (£7.0m) are the only other players to garner more than 5% support. Chelsea host Bournemouth, while Newcastle travel to relegation-threatened Burnley.

Again, Bruno being the top option in the sidebar poll has probably led to him receiving more votes than expected!


Player Stats – Last Six Gameweeks

price change predictions

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

355 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Gandalf
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    1 day, 13 mins ago

    A. Chalobah > Gabriel
    B. Semenyo > Rice
    C. Roll FT

    1. _Greg
      • 15 Years
      1 day, 11 mins ago

      C

  2. LS11
    • 1 Year
    1 day, 12 mins ago

    Final FH draft. Any changes on this?

    John
    Gabriel James Hall
    Cherki Palmer Wirtz Gordon Cunha
    Haaland Ekitike

    Dubs Dorgu Heaven Kroupi

    1. _Greg
      • 15 Years
      1 day, 10 mins ago

      I'd of tripled on a defence, possibly Forest.

      1. LS11
        • 1 Year
        1 day, 6 mins ago

        John in goal enough forest?

        1. _Greg
          • 15 Years
          1 day, 2 mins ago

          I'm saying no it's not enough.

  3. Letsgo!
    • 9 Years
    1 day, 12 mins ago

    High chance of barnes starting?
    Thinking of tavernier to barnes for-4

    1. _Greg
      • 15 Years
      1 day, 9 mins ago

      That's a really bad move, don't do that.

      1. Letsgo!
        • 9 Years
        1 day, 4 mins ago

        Then what about mount to cunha for -4?

        1. _Greg
          • 15 Years
          1 day, 2 mins ago

          Yeah i would do that.

  4. RealMadrid4Ever
    • 2 Years
    1 day, 8 mins ago

    I have used on WC chip. What will happen to other chips if I won’t use it? What is the advantage of using all before year end? Can someone explain?

    1. _Greg
      • 15 Years
      1 day, 7 mins ago

      First three chips (FH, TC, BB) expire today.

      1. RealMadrid4Ever
        • 2 Years
        1 day, 6 mins ago

        Oh ok. I didn’t know that. Thanks mate

  5. _Greg
    • 15 Years
    1 day, 8 mins ago

    I want Big John!

    1. SpaceCadet
      • 12 Years
      1 day, 6 mins ago

      Should settle for John Little

  6. Bobby Digital
    • 8 Years
    1 day, 6 mins ago

    Who to get rid of first (from GW20 ->)? BrunoF or Semenyo?

    1. _Greg
      • 15 Years
      1 day, 1 min ago

      Possibly keep both by then.

      1. Bobby Digital
        • 8 Years
        1 day ago

        Yeah I'm on my FH this week, so can't get rid of either now...

  7. Hakawi4koora
      1 day, 5 mins ago

      Did Saka to Palmer and Foden to Cunha , whats your thoughts guys? im 400K OR thinking of captaining Palmer or Cunha this Gw

      1. Count Olaf
        • 1 Year
        1 day, 1 min ago

        Cunha

      2. _Greg
        • 15 Years
        1 day ago

        I'm going Palmer, I'm sensing a hat trick.

    • Buck The Trent
      • 14 Years
      1 day, 5 mins ago

      On FH ?

      A Gabriel (AVL)
      B Gvardiol (sun)

      1. SharkyT
        • 12 Years
        1 day, 3 mins ago

        A

      2. Pompel
        • 11 Years
        23 hours, 43 mins ago

        B

    • Count Olaf
      • 1 Year
      1 day, 5 mins ago

      A) Van Dijk to Gabriel (Semenyo to Rogers next week)
      B) O' Reilly to Gabriel and Semenyo to Cherki
      C) Rodon to Gabriel and Semenyo to a cheap mid, maybe Stach (commits to playing 4 at the back)

      1. SharkyT
        • 12 Years
        1 day, 4 mins ago

        C

      2. _Greg
        • 15 Years
        1 day ago

        B

      3. Pompel
        • 11 Years
        23 hours, 43 mins ago

        A

    • FPLMACKEM
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      1 day, 5 mins ago

      Raya
      Virgil, Gabriel, Andersen
      Bruno, Wilson, Foden, Saka, Anderson
      Thiago, Haaland (c)

      Dubravka, Richards, Rodon, Guiu

      3ft 1.6 itb

      A Richards to Keane
      B Richards to Hall
      C Richards and Rodon to Hall and Keane (bench Anderson and go 442)
      D Roll

      Or any other suggestions?

      1. SharkyT
        • 12 Years
        1 day, 4 mins ago

        A or B. Keane obviously at risk once Branth is fully fit

      2. _Greg
        • 15 Years
        23 hours, 59 mins ago

        Not enough Sunderland players, I don't trust you.

    • SharkyT
      • 12 Years
      1 day, 5 mins ago

      WC19 decisions:

      A) Keep Virgil
      B) City Def
      C) New Def

      1) Cherki
      2) Suboz
      3) Rogers

      Currently 4k OR 0.8m ITB:
      Sanchez Dub
      VVD Gab Dorgu Keane Gudmon
      Rice Foden Gordon Cherki Cunha
      Haaland Ekitike Guiu

      1. tuturututu
        • 4 Years
        1 day, 3 mins ago

        C1

      2. Biggsy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        1 day, 2 mins ago

        Not A. Probably B. 3

      3. Keane There Dunne That
        • 13 Years
        1 day, 1 min ago

        C3

      4. Count Olaf
        • 1 Year
        1 day ago

        B3 for me. A1 would be my second choice.

      5. _Greg
        • 15 Years
        23 hours, 57 mins ago

        D Saliba and Cherki

      6. Pompel
        • 11 Years
        23 hours, 42 mins ago

        C3

    • Absolutely Muñozed
        1 day, 4 mins ago

        Is Dorgu likely starting next 3 matches?

        1. Biggsy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          1 day, 3 mins ago

          There aren't many alternatives with the injuries and absentees

        2. SharkyT
          • 12 Years
          1 day, 2 mins ago

          Good chance but a guess, then after that his starts will diminish once AFCON players are back and Amorim goes back to a back 3

        3. _Greg
          • 15 Years
          23 hours, 57 mins ago

          Yes without a doubt.

        4. Pornchef
          • 2 Years
          23 hours, 55 mins ago

          Definitely very likely

      • GC123
        • 4 Years
        1 day, 4 mins ago

        Trying to arrest a horrendous December slide. Advice appreciated please

        1. Start Dubravka (NEW) or Verbruggen (whu)?

        2. Bench one from Thiaw, Gabriel or Keane

        Thanks in advance

        1. _Greg
          • 15 Years
          23 hours, 56 mins ago

          Verbruggen and Thiaw

      • Atimis
        • 9 Years
        1 day, 3 mins ago

        Tempted by Cunha (c) but probably Haaland would punish me, like GW14, after his GW13 blank?

        1. tuturututu
          • 4 Years
          23 hours, 59 mins ago

          I'm on Cunha with same fears lol

          Sunderland are ok defensively, especially at home, and Wolves are terrible

        2. _Greg
          • 15 Years
          23 hours, 56 mins ago

          Don't captain Cunha.

      • Il Capitano
        • 5 Years
        1 day, 2 mins ago

        FH 0 ITB
        Lammens
        Frimpong Hall Dorgu
        Saka Palmer Wirtz Cunha Cherki
        Haaland Ekitike

        Lammens + Frimpong to John + Gabriel?

        1. Biggsy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          1 day ago

          Gabriel going to have minutes managed, wouldn't go there on a FH. Not sure about John's prospects of keeping his spot.

        2. tuturututu
          • 4 Years
          23 hours, 58 mins ago

          Would go for Woltemade or Foden over Palmer

        3. _Greg
          • 15 Years
          23 hours, 55 mins ago

          Yes

        4. RamaJama
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          23 hours, 54 mins ago

          I’m taking a chance on that one

      • Keane There Dunne That
        • 13 Years
        1 day, 1 min ago

        Gtg? Save 1FT?
        Verbuggen
        Hall VVD OReilly
        Wirtz Foden Rice Cunha
        Ekitike (C) Haaland Bowen

        Dubravka Miley Clyne Alderete

        1. _Greg
          • 15 Years
          23 hours, 54 mins ago

          Looks fake

          1. Keane There Dunne That
            • 13 Years
            23 hours, 52 mins ago

            A wildcard last week helped…

            1. _Greg
              • 15 Years
              23 hours, 50 mins ago

              Haha, fair enough

        2. tuturututu
          • 4 Years
          23 hours, 48 mins ago

          Not sure for Bowen as I doubt he's a good FPL asset currently due to WH bad form, no matter they got great fixtures

      • Biggsy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        1 day, 1 min ago

        Bench Bruno G or Minteh?

        Newcastle terrible away, Minteh just terrible.

        1. _Greg
          • 15 Years
          23 hours, 53 mins ago

          Bruno G

      • tuturututu
        • 4 Years
        1 day, 1 min ago

        Gtg?

        Raya
        Dorgu, Guehi, VdV
        Saka, Foden, (C)unha, Kudus
        Haaland, Ekitike, Woltemade

        Guehi will become Gabriel next week.

        1. Il Capitano
          • 5 Years
          23 hours, 56 mins ago

          GTG

        2. Keane There Dunne That
          • 13 Years
          23 hours, 51 mins ago

          Gtg

      • el polako
        • 8 Years
        23 hours, 59 mins ago

        What’s the rush with selling Semenyo?
        Surely whichever club he ends up at he’ll be a starter.
        Chelsea, Spurs or City are not going to be him as back up option.

        1. tuturututu
          • 4 Years
          23 hours, 54 mins ago

          If he goes to Spurs I think will be productive as Kudus is now minus corners and pens. In both Chelsea and City he will be rotated often. Imo his best option is City and there he would be a starter over Doku and produce. In Chelsea he would fall into same pit of mediocrity as Neto, Garnacho, Gittens, Estevao

      • I have no Wirtz
          23 hours, 58 mins ago

          Start Rogers or Chalobah?

          Always the forward?

          1. _Greg
            • 15 Years
            23 hours, 53 mins ago

            Not anymore

            1. I have no Wirtz
                23 hours, 39 mins ago

                Would you start Chalobah instead of Rogers?

          2. Óró Sé…
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            23 hours, 58 mins ago

            Trying to decide, play Semenyo and Senesi (at Chelsea) or take a hit (can’t afford straight swap) for Chunha and Dorgu (only 4.4 for defender)

            1. _Greg
              • 15 Years
              23 hours, 52 mins ago

              Decent - 4

          3. Pornchef
            • 2 Years
            23 hours, 56 mins ago

            Cunha in for

            A. Semenyo free
            B. Witz free
            C. -4 hincappe to dorgu & Wilson to Cunha

            1. MIGHTY JOE
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 6 Years
              23 hours, 54 mins ago

              A

            2. tuturututu
              • 4 Years
              23 hours, 53 mins ago

              C but I like to play risky

            3. _Greg
              • 15 Years
              23 hours, 52 mins ago

              What's cooking

          4. MIGHTY JOE
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            23 hours, 55 mins ago

            Having my best season ever. Inside top 2k!

            Too greedy thinking about going for Cunha (C)? Would you guys rather play it "safe" with Haaland this gameweek?

            1. Pornchef
              • 2 Years
              23 hours, 53 mins ago

              It's worth it if you're prepared to take a calculated risk

            2. _Greg
              • 15 Years
              23 hours, 51 mins ago

              Captain Haaland, Cunha is not the one. Palmer is the one.

              1. Lanley Staurel
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 15 Years
                23 hours, 50 mins ago

                Palmer may not play 70

            3. tuturututu
              • 4 Years
              23 hours, 51 mins ago

              Go with your guts and pick Cunha, you only live once and this is just a game.

            4. Pompel
              • 11 Years
              23 hours, 49 mins ago

              Too 2k that's awesome!
              I'd play safe in your position. And if going differential, I think Ekitike would beca better pick.

              1. Lanley Staurel
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 15 Years
                23 hours, 47 mins ago

                Not on pens whereas Cunha probs is. One less point for a clean sheet and one less point for a goal. Cunha is playing Wolves….

            5. Lanley Staurel
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 15 Years
              23 hours, 49 mins ago

              Playing it safe won’t win you the thing. This is your best chance ever. Go with your gut and if it goes wrong at least you tried. Regret of a missed opportunity will be far worse.

              1. tuturututu
                • 4 Years
                23 hours, 46 mins ago

                This

              2. MIGHTY JOE
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 6 Years
                23 hours, 14 mins ago

                Inspirational! No guts, no glory. Let's go for it 😀

          5. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
            • 10 Years
            23 hours, 50 mins ago

            Needing some help here, struggling to choose.

            Start two:
            A) Keane
            B) H.Wilson
            C) Rogers
            D) Tavernier

            1. KUNingas
              • 9 Years
              23 hours, 44 mins ago

              AB

              1. Pompel
                • 11 Years
                23 hours, 41 mins ago

                ^this

          6. ZeBestee
            • 11 Years
            23 hours, 50 mins ago

            Start 1

            1) Minteh
            2) Wilson

            1. Udogie-style
              • 2 Years
              23 hours, 48 mins ago

              2

            2. Pompel
              • 11 Years
              23 hours, 41 mins ago

              2

          7. Redranger
            • 11 Years
            23 hours, 49 mins ago

            Which duo on FH? Cheaper pair will be on bench

            A) Bruno G & Kroupi
            B) Woltemade & Miley

            1. Udogie-style
              • 2 Years
              23 hours, 48 mins ago

              B

            2. KUNingas
              • 9 Years
              23 hours, 45 mins ago

              B

          8. Pornchef
            • 2 Years
            23 hours, 49 mins ago

            Is hincappe likely to start is he a sell?

            Any news on Califori

            Currently have both them in starting 11

          9. Udogie-style
            • 2 Years
            23 hours, 49 mins ago

            Who would you bench from Wilson, Bruno G, DCL?

            I've currently got Bruno G benched.

            Cheers.

          10. Pompel
            • 11 Years
            23 hours, 47 mins ago

            Guys, need help with benching headache: which two to play out of :

            A) VVD
            B) Semenyo
            C) Dorgu
            D) Timber*

            Cheers

            1. Udogie-style
              • 2 Years
              23 hours, 46 mins ago

              A, C

            2. KUNingas
              • 9 Years
              23 hours, 46 mins ago

              BC

          11. KUNingas
            • 9 Years
            23 hours, 47 mins ago

            Weak knees for Dorgu but only 1FT and 1.4 ITB.

            A) Play Andersen (cry)
            B) Clyne -> Dorgu and bench Andersen

            Raya
            VVD, Keane, Andersen
            Foden, Cunha, Semenyo, Rice
            Haaland, Ekitike, Thiago

            Dubravka, Anderson, Richards, Clyne

            1. Pompel
              • 11 Years
              23 hours, 41 mins ago

              B

            2. I have no Wirtz
                23 hours, 35 mins ago

                B