Captain Sensible
16 January 2026 410 comments
FFScout Tom FFScout Tom
Share:

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>

410 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. aapoman
    • 12 Years
    6 hours, 38 mins ago

    Kind of want to sell Tarkowski to fund Cunha to Bruno. Does that make any sense? I have 4fts. If I do that who is the best defender up to 5.3m?

    1. Dazzler
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      6 hours, 16 mins ago

      No

  2. Gandalf
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    6 hours, 37 mins ago

    A. Bring in Roefs
    B. Bring in Sanchez
    C. Continue with Dubruvka (liv next)

    1. Bring in Rice
    2. Bring in Wirtz
    3. Continue with Cunha

    No need to WC anytime soon, albeit a GW24 one is tempting.

    1. WVA
      • 9 Years
      6 hours, 36 mins ago

      A
      2

    2. JBG
      • 7 Years
      6 hours, 34 mins ago

      B2(K)

    3. AF90
      • 13 Years
      6 hours, 26 mins ago

      I'm doing Raya & Cunha to Roefs & Rice

  3. Yes Ndidi
    • 6 Years
    6 hours, 37 mins ago

    B.

    1. Yes Ndidi
      • 6 Years
      6 hours, 37 mins ago

      Oh dear.

      1. The Night Trunker.
        • 2 Years
        6 hours, 33 mins ago

        No Ndidi.

  4. Saka White Rice
    • 11 Years
    6 hours, 34 mins ago

    Enzo over Wilson or Tavernier right?

    1. Heavy Cream
      • 10 Years
      6 hours, 34 mins ago

      Not yet

      1. Saka White Rice
        • 11 Years
        6 hours, 30 mins ago

        I get its a bit risky but the other 2 are simply "ok" and id be getting ahead of the curve with Chelsea assets. Also, Enzo xGI is significantly better

    2. F4L
      • 11 Years
      6 hours, 23 mins ago

      yes think so. corners are big, potential of pens if palmer is struggling. liked what ive seen from rosenior so far, looks abit more like how poch had chelsea playing rather than maresca slow passing build up

      1. F4L
        • 11 Years
        6 hours, 22 mins ago

        *just to add if rosenior does go down that abit more chaotic route, think that will benefit their attackers. the defence maybe not so much

      2. Sir Michael Taker
        • 11 Years
        6 hours, 20 mins ago

        Hes not on corners if James plays I dont think?

        1. F4L
          • 11 Years
          6 hours, 14 mins ago

          oh yeah you're right, my bad. forgot about that. just that first half vs fulham man enzo's corners were so precise and perfect, really stuck in my mind, shame for him to lose them. oh well, still happy enough owning for these fixtures then re-assess

    3. GCHILD2K16
      • 9 Years
      5 hours, 53 mins ago

      Nope. Neto is a better chelsea asset than enzo even with caicedo back. If palmer returns then even worse for enzo who gets pushed further back and loses penalties.

      Wilson over enzo all day
      Kroupi over taverner..

  5. Heavy Cream
    • 10 Years
    6 hours, 34 mins ago

    Bring in Thiago for Wolt or Bowen? Or neither!

    1. Yes Ndidi
      • 6 Years
      6 hours, 19 mins ago

      I'd bring him in (I did, for Bowen), but I don't know who I'd lose. Wolt isn't nailed, but Bowen plays for a crap team. They both need to go soon.

  6. Atimis
    • 9 Years
    6 hours, 30 mins ago

    Wirtz, Semenyo or Rogers?

    Can reassess before GW24 with 3FTs.

    1. GCHILD2K16
      • 9 Years
      5 hours, 57 mins ago

      If for this gamewk only the semenyo at man u over wirtz.
      if for next 2 then wirtz over semenyo and Rogers

      1. Atimis
        • 9 Years
        5 hours, 51 mins ago

        Cheers

  7. Jullepuu
    • 6 Years
    6 hours, 30 mins ago

    Keane to Alderete a no brainer?
    Other defenders are Gabriel, O'Reilly, Thiae and Esteve

    1. Yes Ndidi
      • 6 Years
      6 hours, 17 mins ago

      It's a move I'm likely to do.

      1. Jullepuu
        • 6 Years
        6 hours, 9 mins ago

        Cheers

    2. GCHILD2K16
      • 9 Years
      6 hours ago

      Save the transfer, he aint dropping in value and good fixtures on his return in 24 onwards

      1. Jullepuu
        • 6 Years
        5 hours, 53 mins ago

        Branthwaite is going to take his spot

  8. I have no Wirtz
      6 hours, 28 mins ago

      What are the chances Cherki will start? Was Palmer spotted in training?

    • F4L
      • 11 Years
      6 hours, 26 mins ago

      wow didnt realise Gabriel now has a higher points per start (7.9) than Haaland (7.8). i wish gabriel had never got injured, imagine a defender pushing 300 points. even 250 would've been wild

    • Lukakuna
      • 8 Years
      6 hours, 24 mins ago

      Play one:

      A) Rodon
      B) Mane
      C) Cunha

      1. F4L
        • 11 Years
        6 hours, 23 mins ago

        cunha

      2. The Iceman
        • 3 Years
        6 hours, 11 mins ago

        B

    • Nightf0x
      • 10 Years
      6 hours, 19 mins ago

      Alison (dub)
      Richards mukiele gabriel (clyne keane)
      Saka rice foden gordon (king)
      Tiago haland watkins

      Intial thoughts, 2ft, which ?

      A) saka clyne to wilson timber
      B) foden king to enzo wilson
      C) saka king clyne -4 to enzo wilson timber

      1. GCHILD2K16
        • 9 Years
        6 hours, 2 mins ago

        A
        If neto over enzo then C.

    • Fernandito
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      6 hours, 18 mins ago

      Cunha to:
      A Rice
      B Enzo
      C Bruno

      1. F4L
        • 11 Years
        6 hours, 12 mins ago

        rice

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

        A

    • F4L
      • 11 Years
      6 hours, 18 mins ago

      Rice ppg away from home 7.5, gabriel higher points per start than haaland. im not entirely confident in haaland this gw, the exhausted comments by pep werent ideal after newcastle

      i think rice and gabriel have a very good chance of both getting defcon away to forest. and of course many other avenues to points for the pair of them. worth considering captaining 1 of them over haaland? im kinda tempted. at least on the rice front he was subbed midweek with 10 mins to go for abit of a breather

      1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
        • 9 Years
        6 hours, 8 mins ago

        I'm going for Gabriel, sounds fun

        1. F4L
          • 11 Years
          6 hours ago

          nice, good luck 🙂

      2. The Night Trunker.
        • 2 Years
        6 hours, 7 mins ago

        Arse Defcon will be minimal in that park the bus game.

        1. F4L
          • 11 Years
          6 hours ago

          fair, think rice at least will hoover up alot of loose balls

    • LarryDuff
      • 10 Years
      6 hours, 18 mins ago

      Any midfielder for next two gws only?

      1. adstomko
        • 9 Years
        6 hours, 16 mins ago

        Mitoma or Wirtz

      2. F4L
        • 11 Years
        6 hours, 13 mins ago

        wirtz/rogers

    • adstomko
      • 9 Years
      6 hours, 18 mins ago

      Here’s the finalised WC team. Thoughts?

      Kelleher
      Gabriel - Ballard - Van Hecke
      Fernandes - Semenyo - Rogers - Rice - Enzo
      Haaland - Watkins
      (Dubravka - Thiago - Collins - Guehi)
      0.0m ITB

      1. The Bandit
        • 15 Years
        6 hours, 13 mins ago

        Why ask if it’s finalised? 😉 Good luck picking your bench each week.

        1. adstomko
          • 9 Years
          6 hours, 3 mins ago

          To force myself not to tinker anymore, somehow.
          Next week I'll be benching Watkins

    • Abaddon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      6 hours, 18 mins ago

      Evening. Buy Mukiele/Ballard or just play Andersen? For free

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

        If for free, muk or ballard against cry with no guehi.

    • Garfield1001
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      6 hours, 13 mins ago

      Play one:

      Andersen (lee)
      O’Reilly (mun)

      Thanks!

      1. GCHILD2K16
        • 9 Years
        6 hours, 7 mins ago

        Andersen for cs and defcon potential v O'Reilly may not start, concede at man u derby etc but score

      2. Mr.K
        • 11 Years
        6 hours, 7 mins ago

        O'

    • FPLMACKEM
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      6 hours, 13 mins ago

      Raya
      Virgil, Gabriel, Hall
      Enzo, Wilson, Foden, Saka, Anderson
      Ekitike, Haaland (c)

      Dubravka, Andersen, Rodon, Guiu

      4ft 2.5itb

      Start?

      A Anderson
      B Rodon

      1. F4L
        • 11 Years
        6 hours, 10 mins ago

        a

    • Mr.K
      • 11 Years
      6 hours, 8 mins ago

      Start
      A) Thiago (CHE A)
      B) Cash (EVE H)
      C) Xhaka (CRY H)

      1. GCHILD2K16
        • 9 Years
        6 hours, 6 mins ago

        C

      2. Boxwoods
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 hours, 58 mins ago

        A

      3. Mr.K
        • 11 Years
        5 hours, 46 mins ago

        Thank you lads!

    • The Senate
      • 7 Years
      6 hours, 6 mins ago

      Rice or Timber as 3rd Arsenal?

      1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
        • 9 Years
        6 hours, 3 mins ago

        Rice

      2. Boxwoods
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 hours, 58 mins ago

        Rice has to be at least second Arsenal!

    • Tinfoil Deathstar
      • 5 Years
      6 hours, 6 mins ago

      Start one of these underwhelming options:

      A) Gudmundsson (FUL)
      B) Andersen (lee)
      C) Tarkowski (avl)

      1. The Night Trunker.
        • 2 Years
        5 hours, 52 mins ago

        Tough A

    • Fifa las vegas
      • 13 Years
      6 hours, 4 mins ago

      Where to turn with this lot and 2 FT?

      Sanchez
      Gabriel, VdV, Mukiele
      Saka, Foden, Rogers, Gordon
      Haaland, Ekitike, DCL

      Dub, Garner, O’Reilly, Keane

      Do I just get rid of Foden and Gordon now, or give them this week given the fixtures? Feel like I’ve missed Thiago and BrunoG now, although I’ve said that for a few weeks after dropping Thiago in 18, and I’m too stubborn to change that notion.

      1. Fifa las vegas
        • 13 Years
        6 hours, 4 mins ago

        Who to get then, get Rice back maybe?

        Or get another more assured defender alongside Gabriel?

        1. Fifa las vegas
          • 13 Years
          6 hours, 3 mins ago

          The boring Wilson option is also there too I guess

      2. Tinfoil Deathstar
        • 5 Years
        6 hours, 2 mins ago

        Your team looks good for this week. Easy roll

      3. The Night Trunker.
        • 2 Years
        6 hours, 1 min ago

        Roll, team looks good this week.

        1. Fifa las vegas
          • 13 Years
          5 hours, 59 mins ago

          Cheers both!

          I stick for now. Even though it looked alright for the last couple of GWs until Thiago and BrunoG ruined me. Hopefully the luck swings back again.

    • Pedersen
      • 7 Years
      6 hours, 4 mins ago

      Is semenyo a keep or sell?

      1. OptimusBlack
        • 12 Years
        6 hours, 3 mins ago

        Keep

      2. F4L
        • 11 Years
        6 hours, 2 mins ago

        probably keep and just hope he starts wolves at least if not tomorrow

        1. Pedersen
          • 7 Years
          6 hours ago

          I just worry he is bought to fill the squad and not to be starter... He comes from different soccer philosophy system so I fear it might take time before he get a spot (if at all)

          1. Boxwoods
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            5 hours, 56 mins ago

            Obviously this is the risk, but surely give it at least this week if you already have him.

    • F4L
      • 11 Years
      6 hours, 3 mins ago

      really looking forward to this manchester derby, think it might end up being more competitive than people think

    • Feanor
      • 16 Years
      6 hours, 2 mins ago

      Start DCL or Wilson?

      1. Tinfoil Deathstar
        • 5 Years
        6 hours ago

        DCL. Home fixture and on pens

      2. Feanor
        • 16 Years
        6 hours ago

        Pickford (Dub)
        Gab, Nunes, Senesi (Tark, Esteve)
        Saka, Rogers, Rice, BrunoG, Wilson
        Haaland (c), Thiago (DCL)

      3. The Night Trunker.
        • 2 Years
        5 hours, 59 mins ago

        Leeds 3 Fulham 1
        Dominic.

    • Pedersen
      • 7 Years
      6 hours, 1 min ago

      4 FT. Thinking of Raya + Woltemade + Senesi to Roefs + Gabriel + DCL. Worth it?

    • Feed tha Sheep
      • 13 Years
      5 hours, 59 mins ago

      Best option this week? Cunha >

      A. Wilson
      B. Rogers
      C. Enzo
      D. Tavenier
      E. Save

      1. The Night Trunker.
        • 2 Years
        5 hours, 57 mins ago

        Rogers.

      2. OptimusBlack
        • 12 Years
        5 hours, 56 mins ago

        B

    • Moneymar
      • 3 Years
      5 hours, 58 mins ago

      Would you do…

      Foden and Dalot to Semenyo and Frimpong for free?

      1. Feanor
        • 16 Years
        5 hours, 57 mins ago

        Yeah

      2. OptimusBlack
        • 12 Years
        5 hours, 56 mins ago

        Wouldn't sell Foden

    • OptimusBlack
      • 12 Years
      5 hours, 57 mins ago

      If you have 2 FT and want to sell Both Cunha and Saka who would u get ?
      A- Rogers
      B- Palmer
      C- Wirtz
      D- Wilson

    • AD105
      • 9 Years
      5 hours, 56 mins ago

      Best MID for a 2 week punt? Planning to WC after

      A) Wirtz
      B) Gakpo
      C) Enzo
      D) Other

      1. OptimusBlack
        • 12 Years
        5 hours, 55 mins ago

        Wirtz & Palmer ?

      2. ball c
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        5 hours, 46 mins ago

        A & C
        Or
        D - Mitoma