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. chilli con kone
    • 12 Years
    6 hours, 41 mins ago

    Even with the injury niggles I am a little suprised that nobody at all seems to be buying Palmer this week.

    He’s trained the last two days and it’s Cole Palmer with those fixtures. Brentford is a better entry point than people think. They’ve shipped 18 goals away from home which is third worst in the league

    1. chilli con kone
      • 12 Years
      6 hours, 40 mins ago

      Top post - has to be a sign

    2. The Night Trunker.
      • 2 Years
      6 hours, 29 mins ago

      I'm all for being ahead of the curve but with Chelsea I would look harder before you leap.

  2. FPLMACKEM
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    6 hours, 36 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

  3. abaalan
    • 9 Years
    6 hours, 34 mins ago

    Cunha ->
    a) Rice
    b) Rogers
    c) Enzo
    d) other?

    1. OptimusBlack
      • 12 Years
      6 hours, 29 mins ago

      Wirtz for next two

      1. abaalan
        • 9 Years
        6 hours, 22 mins ago

        am tempted. Actually think Liv mid term fixtures are being overlooked how strong they are

    2. FPLMACKEM
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      6 hours, 24 mins ago

      C

  4. KostaK
    • 4 Years
    6 hours, 34 mins ago

    Start Tarko (Avl) or Andersen (Lee)

    1. OptimusBlack
      • 12 Years
      6 hours, 30 mins ago

      Andersen

  5. OptimusBlack
    • 12 Years
    6 hours, 33 mins ago

    If you have Cherki would u sell him ?
    I feel he may start after he rest Cup match

    1. ball c
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      6 hours, 33 mins ago

      Keep
      I
      Don’t have him

      1. OptimusBlack
        • 12 Years
        6 hours, 29 mins ago

        Thxx

  6. Moneymar
    • 3 Years
    6 hours, 33 mins ago

    Who should be my 5th mid?

    A) Le Fee
    B) Stach
    C) Ayari

  7. Atimis
    • 9 Years
    6 hours, 32 mins ago

    Any mid over Wirtz for next two?

    1. Pep Roulette
      • 8 Years
      6 hours, 27 mins ago

      Semenyo

  8. Pep Roulette
    • 8 Years
    6 hours, 31 mins ago

    This has to be Saka's last chance. Saka to Rice happening very soon.

    1. keefy59
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      6 hours, 24 mins ago

      Another one who's finally seen the light
      Saka does not justify his price & blocks an Arsenal spot in your squad
      Gab Timber & Rice is the way to go
      Get Roefs instead of Raya Dubravka covers his difficult fixtures .

      1. Dokdok666
        • 11 Years
        6 hours, 5 mins ago

        is timber nailed? White lurking and apparently the only arse player who has figured out that gyok needs to be played in behind oppo def

  9. adstomko
    • 9 Years
    6 hours, 29 mins ago

    Would you bench boost the following in GW23?

    Watkins (new)
    Ballard (whu)
    Van Hecke (ful)
    Dubravka (TOT)

    1. Pep Roulette
      • 8 Years
      6 hours, 27 mins ago

      I'd wait for a DGW

      1. adstomko
        • 9 Years
        6 hours, 25 mins ago

        I should've mentioned I've already used WC for this gameweek. Would you still wait though?

        1. Pep Roulette
          • 8 Years
          6 hours, 12 mins ago

          Yes I'd still wait

  10. Tmel
    • 15 Years
    6 hours, 28 mins ago

    FPL Draft question- which two would you rather have in the medium-term?

    a) Cunha (MCI, ars, FUL, TOT, whu)
    b) Mitoma (BOU, ful, EVE, CRY, avl)
    c) Schade (che, NFO, avl, new, ARS)

    1. ball c
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      6 hours, 25 mins ago

      B and C

  11. OptimusBlack
    • 12 Years
    6 hours, 27 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
    E- Rice

    1. ball c
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      6 hours, 23 mins ago

      A & E
      But wouldn’t get rid of Saka just yet

      1. OptimusBlack
        • 12 Years
        6 hours, 22 mins ago

        Okay Cheers

    2. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 16 Years
      6 hours, 18 mins ago

      E is essential
      C great for this GW
      A is next choice

    3. OptimusBlack
      • 12 Years
      3 hours, 43 mins ago

      Cheers

  12. FantasyClub
    • 5 Years
    6 hours, 25 mins ago

    Just eat the price drop on Foden and roll?

    Would lock me out of a straight swap to Bruno although i do have 2FT...3 if i roll.

    Vic/Petrovic
    Chalobah/Gab/Timber/Hall/Alderete
    Saka/Foden/Cherki/Wilson/Gordon
    Eki/Haaland/Guiu

    0.7itb

    1. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      6 hours, 13 mins ago

      Roll, plenty of points in there for this week

  13. Ronnies
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    6 hours, 22 mins ago

    Sanchez
    Gabriel O'Reilly Thiaw
    Saka Foden Rice Szobo Wilson
    Haaland (C) Ekitike

    Dubravka Gudmundsson Tarko Guiu

    1 FT, 0.2m ITB

    A) Roll to two frees next week

    B) Any suggestions to improve the team?

    Cheers

    1. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      6 hours, 16 mins ago

      A

  14. Van der Faart
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    6 hours, 20 mins ago

    3FT

    Verbruggen
    Timber O'Reilly Alderete
    Saka Semenyo Foden Garner
    Ekitike Haaland Thiago

    Dubravka Anderson Truffert Dalot

    Need to shift one or two City players

    Timber to Gabriel
    Semenyo to Wilson
    Roll the third or Dalot to Van de Ven?

  15. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 16 Years
    6 hours, 19 mins ago

    Saka or Foden to Wirtz?
    Foden more obvious but the WOL fixture next week worries me

    1. ball c
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      6 hours, 18 mins ago

      Keep both man

    2. Pep Roulette
      • 8 Years
      6 hours, 10 mins ago

      Foden always scores against United

      1. x.jim.x
        • 11 Years
        5 hours, 34 mins ago

        1 goal in 7 at Old Trafford - funny definition of “always”

  16. ball c
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    6 hours, 18 mins ago

    Which move:
    2 ft’s

    A) Cunha & Gordon to Wirtz & Rice
    B) Cunha to Wirtz - roll the other transfer

    Other mids: Saka - Rogers - Foden

    1. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 16 Years
      6 hours, 17 mins ago

      A imo

      1. ball c
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        6 hours, 12 mins ago

        Thanks

  17. SanderM94
    • 3 Years
    6 hours, 18 mins ago

    Bench one of:

    A) B. Fernandes
    B) Enzo Fernandez

    Thanks!

    1. Bleh
      • 9 Years
      6 hours, 17 mins ago

      Reluctantly A

    2. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      6 hours, 17 mins ago

      Chelsea better fixture, but Bruno F probably more likely to score a goal

    3. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 16 Years
      6 hours, 17 mins ago

      B. And I own him

    4. SanderM94
      • 3 Years
      6 hours, 6 mins ago

      Thanks, not an easy one

  18. Bleh
    • 9 Years
    6 hours, 17 mins ago

    Is this GTG? Want Foden for the Wolves game but will probably move him and Bowen on for Thiago and Bruno F over the next two weeks.

    Sanchez
    Gabriel, Timber, Mukiele
    Foden, Bruno G, Rice, Rogers, Wilson
    Haaland, Ekitike

    (Dubravka, Bowen, Sendai, Lacroix)

    1. Moneymar
      • 3 Years
      6 hours, 13 mins ago

      Gtg

  19. AD105
    • 9 Years
    6 hours, 14 mins ago

    Play 1

    A) Tark (avl)
    B) Andersen (lee)
    C) Alderete (CRY)

    1. Moneymar
      • 3 Years
      6 hours, 13 mins ago

      C

  20. Moneymar
    • 3 Years
    6 hours, 14 mins ago

    Paqueta and Dalot to Garner and Konate for free?

    1. Pep Roulette
      • 8 Years
      6 hours, 9 mins ago

      For Konate? No

  21. THFC4LIFE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    6 hours, 14 mins ago

    Best Bowen replacement upto 8.5m? Own Haaland and DCL.

    A. Thiago
    B. J.Pedro
    C. Someone else

    1. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      6 hours, 11 mins ago

      A for a couple more weeks
      B longer term

  22. Kiyoshi
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    6 hours, 13 mins ago

    What would you do?

    A: Cherki, Bowen -> Wilson, Ekitike
    B: Cherki, Tarkowski -> Wirtz, Van de Ven
    C: No changes

    Thank you!

  23. Pep Roulette
    • 8 Years
    6 hours, 13 mins ago

    https://x.com/i/status/2012282995839844642

    You'll be missed Matetaaa!

    1. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      6 hours, 12 mins ago

      Palace being ripped apart

  24. Kiyoshi
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    6 hours, 13 mins ago

    anyone thinking about captaining Rogers? Need a lot of points to catch up in mini league.. Or will Haaland destroy Manu? What about Ekitike or Witz?

    1. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      6 hours, 12 mins ago

      Ekitike if going against Haaland

  25. ball c
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    6 hours, 11 mins ago

    Any Gordon owners? What are your plans?

  26. FPLMACKEM
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    6 hours, 10 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

  27. Royal5
    • 14 Years
    6 hours, 10 mins ago

    Wish I didn’t own Saka. Not even close to be worth his price tag.

    1. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      6 hours, 7 mins ago

      Same, yet I can't bring myself to sell him either

      1. Royal5
        • 14 Years
        6 hours, 3 mins ago

        I know. One final chance for me. Watch Arteta bech him for Madueke.

        1. Van der Faart
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          6 hours, 2 mins ago

          Honestly wouldn't be a surprise with CL midweek

  28. fedolefan
    • 11 Years
    6 hours, 10 mins ago

    Got to keep Cunha this week for the inevitability of that goal given the transfers out.

    1. Cruyff's Eleven
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      6 hours, 2 mins ago

      You've lost me champ.

      1. fedolefan
        • 11 Years
        5 hours, 41 mins ago

        It's fine, you'll get it after the derby.

        1. Cruyff's Eleven
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          1 hour, 7 mins ago

          Oh. Cunha transfers. Dûh. Sorry champ, long week.

          I'm betting Semenyo transfers in, will better Cunha transfers out.

  29. Athletic Nasherbo
    • 8 Years
    6 hours, 6 mins ago

    Play Andersen or Alderete?

    1. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      6 hours, 2 mins ago

      Alderete

  30. matthew_1991
    • 11 Years
    6 hours, 1 min ago

    That’s five City players I have now FFS..