Captain Sensible
16 January 2026 412 comments
FFScout Tom FFScout Tom
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Following three consecutive blanks, Erling Haaland (£15.1m) did at least find the back of the net in Gameweek 21 to reward the millions of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers who captained him.

But is the Norwegian the cut-and-dried top choice for Gameweek 22?

Once again in ‘Captain Sensible’, we consider whether there is a case to back against Haaland as the Premier League returns following a domestic cup hiatus. Liverpool, Chelsea or perhaps even alternative Manchester City players are options ahead of Saturday’s 11am GMT deadline.

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.


Captaincy Poll

Haaland sits at the top of the Fantasy Football Scout captaincy poll standings. Close to half of our site users believe the Norwegian is the best option for Gameweek 22, despite him scoring just one goal in four Gameweeks.

Despite being sold by over 350,000 managers, Hugo Ekitike (£8.9m) sits in second place, currently boasting just under 19% of the vote. The Frenchman notched a goal and an assist off the bench in the FA Cup on his return from injury.

Elsewhere, Antoine Semenyo (£7.6m), now of Man City, is the only other player to garner more than 5% support. Bruno Fernandes (£9.1m) is teetering around that mark after picking up an assist on his comeback last time out.


Player Stats – Last Six Gameweeks


price change predictions

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

412 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 9 Years
    10 hours, 54 mins ago

    Thoughts on Keane >> VdV and benching Thiago? I have Sanchez and Chalobah playing too.

    Cheers!

    1. Bonus magnet
      • 9 Years
      10 hours, 53 mins ago

      Why would you bench the most inform player

      1. RAFA THE GAFFA
        • 9 Years
        10 hours, 50 mins ago

        Just for the double CHE defence I mention

      2. RAFA THE GAFFA
        • 9 Years
        10 hours, 50 mins ago

        Alternative is to bench Chalobah

        1. Four Letter Wirtz
          • 10 Years
          10 hours, 24 mins ago

          I'm benching Chalobah. Looking at how Rosenior is asking Sanchez to play out from the back, in the short term I expect them to leak some silly goals.

    2. The Senate
      • 7 Years
      10 hours, 51 mins ago

      Don’t bench Thiago

  2. Bonus magnet
    • 9 Years
    10 hours, 54 mins ago

    Hello. Any body home?

    1. Bonus magnet
      • 9 Years
      10 hours, 53 mins ago

      Ahhhhh. Missed the top post

    2. Brosstan
      • 11 Years
      10 hours, 52 mins ago

      Dead site

  3. The Senate
    • 7 Years
    10 hours, 52 mins ago

    (A) risk keeping Martinez (Dubravka on bench)
    (B) get Roefs
    (C) get Verbruggen

  4. joeynse99
    • 10 Years
    10 hours, 51 mins ago

    Good to go? Any changes?

    Donnaruma,

    Cash, Timber, Mukiele
    Cunha, Bruno Guimaraes, Saka, Enzo
    Haaland, Calvert-Lewin (c), Thiago

    Subs: Dubravka, Foden, Andersen, Mitchell

  5. LS11
    • 1 Year
    10 hours, 51 mins ago

    Play Thiago or Foden?

    1. The Senate
      • 7 Years
      10 hours, 49 mins ago

      Not both?

      1. LS11
        • 1 Year
        10 hours, 48 mins ago

        Good fixtures all around. Other option is drop Wilson

        1. The Senate
          • 7 Years
          10 hours, 30 mins ago

          Ah that’s a tough one

          1. LS11
            • 1 Year
            10 hours, 27 mins ago

            This is my predicament, 8 attackers and not sure which to bench:

            Foden BrunoG Rice Rogers Wilson
            Haaland Ekitike Thiago

            1. The Senate
              • 7 Years
              10 hours, 22 mins ago

              Is defence good enough for BB?

              A good bench isn’t necessarily a bad thing, better than a bad bench!

              1. LS11
                • 1 Year
                9 hours, 36 mins ago

                I’m not sure it’s the best week.

                Bench would be something like:

                Dubs Wilson Andersen Gudmunsob

                1. The Senate
                  • 7 Years
                  9 hours, 35 mins ago

                  Yeah I’d keep BB for later

                  1. LS11
                    • 1 Year
                    9 hours, 31 mins ago

                    Cheers. I think I might put on benching Wilson. Thiago in form and Foden against a shaky United

                    1. GCHILD2K16
                      • 9 Years
                      9 hours, 17 mins ago

                      Bench Thiago..Wilson has easier game than thiago

                      1. LS11
                        • 1 Year
                        8 hours, 13 mins ago

                        Cheers mate

  6. Junks
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    10 hours, 49 mins ago

    2FT 0.9ITB
    Kelleher Dubravka
    Cash Gabriel LewisPotter Keane Alderete
    Rogers Wilson Wirtz Foden Garner
    Woltemade Haaland Ekitike

    A. Keane to Lacroix / Chalobah / VanHecke / Richards??
    B. Roll & start Alderete (3fts next GW to downgrade Wolt and upgrade Garner and Keane)

    1. The Senate
      • 7 Years
      10 hours, 48 mins ago

      Alderete is perfectly fine, rollllll

      1. Junks
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        10 hours, 45 mins ago

        This feels good. Thanks

  7. Scapegoat Salah
    • 9 Years
    10 hours, 48 mins ago

    Evening boys, any early ideas for next gameweek?

    Roefs
    Gabriel | Guehi | Andersen
    Saka | Foden | Rogers | Semenyo | Cherki
    Haaland | Thiago

    Dubravka | Senesi | Gundmundsson | El Kroupi

    Thanks

    1. Tinmen
      • 12 Years
      10 hours, 42 mins ago

      Are you confident Cherki will start?

    2. fedolefan
      • 11 Years
      10 hours, 42 mins ago

      Showing off 5 City, are we?

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        10 hours, 40 mins ago

        Knowing him, he's probably taken hits to get them in

        If that's his actual team

        1. Scapegoat Salah
          • 9 Years
          10 hours, 37 mins ago

          😆

  8. Ray85
    • 8 Years
    10 hours, 47 mins ago

    Would you play Tark or Reinaldo this week?

  9. Drop Dead Tsimikas
    • 14 Years
    10 hours, 47 mins ago

    BBing, crap rank, so YOLOing a bit. Any transfers I should be thinking of? 1 FT, 0.7 ITB

    Roefs - Dubravka
    Timber - Chalobah - Senesi - Mukiele - VdV
    Semenyo - Foden - Gruno - Wirtz (c) - Wilson
    Ekitike - Haaland - Thiago

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      10 hours, 38 mins ago

      I'd probably captain Ekitike there

      But good luck

      1. Drop Dead Tsimikas
        • 14 Years
        10 hours, 33 mins ago

        Yeah, kinda going back and forth here. Might switch to him in the end.

  10. marpy016
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    10 hours, 46 mins ago

    Cunha to

    A) Rogers
    B) Enzo

    1. Ray85
      • 8 Years
      10 hours, 45 mins ago

      Rogers until we see how Chelsea set up.

    2. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 9 Years
      10 hours, 42 mins ago

      A

  11. jonnybhoy
    • 13 Years
    10 hours, 46 mins ago

    Best Keane replacement?

    A) Senesi
    B) Cash
    C) Mukiele

    1. Ray85
      • 8 Years
      10 hours, 45 mins ago

      Senesi has good fixtures coming up

    2. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 9 Years
      10 hours, 43 mins ago

      VdV, Senesi

  12. SomeoneKnows
    • 9 Years
    10 hours, 45 mins ago

    What would you do with this team and 2.1 itb?

    Gabriel, Lacroix, Andersen
    Saka, Rice, BrunoG, Foden, Wilson
    Haaland, Eketike

    (Dubravka, Gudmundsson, Keane*, Guiu)

  13. Smudger’s Dirty Dozen
    • 14 Years
    10 hours, 44 mins ago

    Play 1
    A Tark
    B Senesi
    C Anderson (Ful)

    1. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 9 Years
      10 hours, 43 mins ago

      C

  14. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 9 Years
    10 hours, 44 mins ago

    How does this look then: Keane+Stach >> Bijol+Barnes look?

    Sanchez
    Gabriel Thiaw Chalobah
    Saka Rogers Semenyo Stach
    Haaland Ekitike Thiago
    (Dubs, Senesi, Potts, Keane*)

    1. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 9 Years
      10 hours, 29 mins ago

      Anyone? Got to log off in 5

    2. Boxwoods
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      10 hours, 20 mins ago

      Just hold, imo

  15. Tinmen
    • 12 Years
    10 hours, 43 mins ago

    Is Neto a good long term pick folks?

    1. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 9 Years
      10 hours, 39 mins ago

      Don’t think so

  16. toerag
    • 15 Years
    10 hours, 43 mins ago

    hi alllll
    i have 4 city now, cos of semenyo. do i have to get rid of one??

    1. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 9 Years
      10 hours, 42 mins ago

      When you make a move you do

    2. People in Preston
      • 15 Years
      10 hours, 38 mins ago

      Yes. You next transfer must be selling one of the MCI boys.

    3. toerag
      • 15 Years
      10 hours, 7 mins ago

      ty

  17. Garfield1001
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    10 hours, 41 mins ago

    Play one:

    Andersen (lee)
    O’Reilly (mun)

    Thanks

    1. Cowboy John
      • 13 Years
      10 hours, 32 mins ago

      O'Reilly.

  18. adstomko
    • 9 Years
    10 hours, 40 mins ago

    Who to bench?

    A) Enzo
    B) Thiago

    1. Boxwoods
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      10 hours, 19 mins ago

      Can’t be B

  19. thom830g
    • 8 Years
    10 hours, 40 mins ago

    Save FT?

    Raya
    Gabriel - thiaw - James
    Semenyo - foden - rodgers - Wilson
    Haaland - thiago - Calvert Lewin

    Dubravka - O’Reilly - esteve -

    O’Reilly

  20. Smudger’s Dirty Dozen
    • 14 Years
    10 hours, 38 mins ago

    My new midfielder to join Saka, rice and semenyo should be
    A Rogers
    B Bruno G
    C Enzo

    1. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 9 Years
      10 hours, 35 mins ago

      All 3 are decent. We have awful fixtures soon though (for B)

    2. Cowboy John
      • 13 Years
      10 hours, 33 mins ago

      A

    3. Il Capitano
      • 5 Years
      10 hours, 31 mins ago

      A

    4. The Mighty Hippo
      • 9 Years
      10 hours, 19 mins ago

      Rogers

  21. Il Capitano
    • 5 Years
    10 hours, 38 mins ago

    0FT 0.3m ITB

    Raya
    Gabriel Chalobah Alderete
    Saka Foden Rogers Bruno G Enzo
    Haaland (C) Ekitike

    Dub - Andersen Senesi Guiu

    Bench order, captain etc. GTG?

    1. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 9 Years
      10 hours, 35 mins ago

      Why not (C) Ekitike ?

    2. Cowboy John
      • 13 Years
      10 hours, 33 mins ago

      Yep. All set.

  22. marpy016
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    10 hours, 35 mins ago

    Who to bench here, genuinely confused:

    A) Rogers
    B) Foden
    C) Bruno G
    D) Wilson
    E) Thiago
    F) Rice

    1. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 9 Years
      10 hours, 34 mins ago

      Tough. B or E. Probs B

      1. Drop Dead Tsimikas
        • 14 Years
        10 hours, 28 mins ago

        Foden loves a goal against United, though.

        1. Tinfoil Deathstar
          • 5 Years
          10 hours, 27 mins ago

          This. Probably E for me. Tough one though

    2. The Mighty Hippo
      • 9 Years
      10 hours, 19 mins ago

      C

    3. Boxwoods
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      10 hours, 18 mins ago

      C

    4. Drop Dead Tsimikas
      • 14 Years
      10 hours, 1 min ago

      C or D for me. I was on D myself (though I don't have A or F), but BBed in part because I couldn't call it.

  23. Tinfoil Deathstar
    • 5 Years
    10 hours, 27 mins ago

    What to do here? 3FT £0.2 ITB

    Raya
    Gabriel Thiaw Andersen
    Saka Foden Cunha Le Fee
    Haaland Ekitike Thiago

    Dubravka; Anderson, Gudmundsson, Tarkowski

  24. Old Wulfrunian
    • 9 Years
    10 hours, 23 mins ago

    Start two please.

    a)Andersen
    b)Truffert
    c)Mukiele
    d)Konsa

    1. Boxwoods
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      10 hours, 18 mins ago

      CA

  25. The Mighty Hippo
    • 9 Years
    10 hours, 20 mins ago

    Start one:

    a) Tarkowski (avl)
    b) O'Reilly (mun)
    c) Gudmunsson (FUL)

  26. Kodap
    • 8 Years
    10 hours, 20 mins ago

    Current WC is this, im super happy with it.. but only slight doubts i have are with Semenyo as my final and 5th mid, any suggestions? Budget of 8.2m if I take him out?

    Sanchez
    Gabriel - Tarkowski - Chalobah
    Saka - Rice - Bruno F - Enzo - Semenyo
    DCL - Haaland

    Dubravka - Kroupi - Mukiele - Senesi

    1. Boxwoods
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      10 hours, 14 mins ago

      Good looking team.

    2. Fitzy.
      • 14 Years
      10 hours, 12 mins ago

      I'd prefer Wilson and Thiago over Semenyo and Kroupi

      1. Boxwoods
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        9 hours, 24 mins ago

        Good shouts.

  27. JoeSoap
    • 12 Years
    10 hours, 15 mins ago

    Best Keane replacement for £4.9m. No bench cover

    A. Cash
    B, Van Hecke
    C. Other

    Have Gabriel, Timber, Guehi, Mukiele

    1. Yes Ndidi
      • 6 Years
      10 hours, 11 mins ago

      Can't go wrong with either of them, or Senesi. Van Hecke has done me very well.

    2. The Night Trunker.
      • 2 Years
      10 hours, 11 mins ago

      Get Gud for 3.8 and pocket the change, as you are never likely to play him with that strength you have already.
      He's BB worthy too in the nr future.

    3. JoeSoap
      • 12 Years
      9 hours, 15 mins ago

      Thanks

  28. Atimis
    • 9 Years
    10 hours, 14 mins ago

    Wirtz, Semenyo or Rogers?
    Can reassess before GW24 with 3FTs?

    1. The Iceman
      • 3 Years
      9 hours, 42 mins ago

      I’m going to bring in all 3 on WC. But I prefer Wirtz for the next few if only one.

  29. Yes Ndidi
    • 6 Years
    10 hours, 8 mins ago

    Two questions if I may

    1. Is Reinildo returning from AFCON a threat to any of the Sunderland back line (Alderete, Ballard or Mukiele)?

    2. Would you bring in Enzo (BRE) and play him over any of these?:-
    Foden Wilson Gordon Rice (benching Cunha)

    Thank you.

    1. JoeSoap
      • 12 Years
      9 hours, 18 mins ago

      I would probably save and assess Chelsea

  30. OffsidePenalty
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    10 hours, 8 mins ago

    start one:
    A) O'Reilly (MUN, A)
    B) Van Hecke BOU, H)
    C) Rodon (FUL, H)

    1. Yes Ndidi
      • 6 Years
      10 hours, 4 mins ago

      b