Captain Sensible
23 January 2026 478 comments
FFScout Tom FFScout Tom
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It’s four blanks in five Gameweeks for Erling Haaland (£15.1m) – so is it time to back against him with the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) captaincy?

That’s what we’re considering in ‘Captain Sensible’, despite Manchester City’s favourable home fixture against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Brentford, Liverpool, Arsenal or perhaps even alternative Man City players are other 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

Unsurprisingly, Haaland is the runaway leader at the top of the Fantasy Football Scout captaincy poll standings. Over 60% of our site users believe the Norwegian is the best option for Gameweek 23, despite him scoring just one goal in five Gameweeks.

Another Man City player, Antoine Semenyo (£7.6m), sits in second place, currently boasting just over 12% of the vote. The January signing, who already has two goals for his new club, was ineligible to feature in the Champions League in midweek.

Elsewhere, Igor Thiago (£7.2m) is the only other player to garner more than 5% support ahead of Brentford’s clash with Nottingham Forest. The Brazilian sits second in the Golden Boot race and bagged a brace in his last home match.


Player Stats – Last Six Gameweeks


price change predictions

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

478 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. shirtless
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    1 day, 15 hours ago

    Made two trades this week swapped Nunes for Guehi and brought in Enzo. Will have two FT's next week.

    Sanchez
    Gabriel Guehi Aldarete
    Saka Foden Rogers Enzo Rice
    Haaland Thiago(c)

    1. Mr Turnip 1
        1 day, 14 hours ago

        Nice team

        1. shirtless
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          1 day, 14 hours ago

          I Wildcarded late in 17 which helped! Foden>Bruno next

    2. fgdu
      • 12 Years
      1 day, 15 hours ago

      Who to start?

      Timber, Guehi, Tarkowski, Chalobah
      Wirtz, Rice, Semenyo, Wilson
      Ekitike, Haaland, Thiago

      1. F4L
        • 11 Years
        1 day, 15 hours ago

        bench chalobah or wilson

    3. OffsidePenalty
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      1 day, 15 hours ago

      Foden to
      A) Cherki
      B) Semenyo
      C) Roll ft. Start Foden.

      1. BrockLanders
        • 10 Years
        1 day, 14 hours ago

        C

    4. gomez123
      • 12 Years
      1 day, 15 hours ago

      Start A) DCL or B) Garner
      I have Tarkowski

      1. BrockLanders
        • 10 Years
        1 day, 14 hours ago

        DCL is on pens. I'd be starting irrespective of Tark.

    5. Brosstan
      • 11 Years
      1 day, 15 hours ago

      Wish there was a good captain alternative this week other than Haaland

      1. The Bandit
        • 15 Years
        1 day, 15 hours ago

        Thiago or Semenyo?

      2. Miguel Sanchez
        • 9 Years
        1 day, 14 hours ago

        Palmer?

    6. F4L
      • 11 Years
      1 day, 15 hours ago

      no one tempted to captain an Arsenal player/Rice/Gabriel etc this gw? just have a feeling arsenal will put on a clinic this weekend. rice to run the match after a rest, i think he even got himself suspended for next week's CL match

      1. Dank Squid
        • 7 Years
        1 day, 14 hours ago

        If you have a feeling, go for it. "O Captain! my Captain!" Journey vs destination.

    7. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      1 day, 15 hours ago

      Bruno seems to rise in price tonight.

      A) Do Saka/Foden to Rice/BrunoF today to afford King to Enzo next GW
      B) Roll both FTs and not afford King to Enzo next week, max. 6.4, maby Ndiaye

      1. WVA
        • 9 Years
        1 day, 15 hours ago

        If you have 2FT GET Fruno on Enzo

      2. OverTinker
        • 7 Years
        1 day, 14 hours ago

        Hard to get anything for Bruno this GW

    8. BlzE_94
      • 11 Years
      1 day, 15 hours ago

      Which 3 would you bench guys? Appreciate any help!

      Sanchez Dubravka
      Gabriel Timber Chalobah Frimpong Alderete
      B.Fernandes Rice Gakpo Enzo Wilson
      Haaland Watkins Thiago

      1. -GK22-
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        1 day, 15 hours ago

        Frimpong, Alderete, gakpo

      2. F4L
        • 11 Years
        1 day, 15 hours ago

        alderete gakpo watkins

    9. gomez123
      • 12 Years
      1 day, 15 hours ago

      Would you sell DCL for Pedro for -4? Y/N

      1. -GK22-
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        1 day, 15 hours ago

        No

      2. bobicek92
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 1 Year
        1 day, 15 hours ago

        not even for +4

      3. BrockLanders
        • 10 Years
        1 day, 15 hours ago

        Goodness, no

    10. -GK22-
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      1 day, 15 hours ago

      2FT and £1.3m not sure what to do, ditch the pool players or Foden

      Raya
      Gabriel, Andersen, Chalobah
      Foden, Cherki, Rice, Garner, Rogers
      Thiago (c), Haaland

      Dubravka, Ekitike, VVD, Rodon

      1. BrockLanders
        • 10 Years
        1 day, 15 hours ago

        Starting Garner over Ekitike???
        I'd personally ditch Cherki & Foden for Bruno & Enzo.

      2. Mr Turnip 1
          1 day, 14 hours ago

          Bournemouth defence is not good. You should keep and start all Liverpool attackers

      3. Dutchy
        • 7 Years
        1 day, 15 hours ago

        Start Timber or Collins

        1. -GK22-
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          1 day, 15 hours ago

          Timber

        2. F4L
          • 11 Years
          1 day, 15 hours ago

          thats tough. if you really cant start both, collins at a push. i guess if you have gabriel it softens the blow of an arsenal cs somewhat

        3. BrockLanders
          • 10 Years
          1 day, 15 hours ago

          Timber

      4. BrockLanders
        • 10 Years
        1 day, 15 hours ago

        Start one folks:

        1/ J. Andersen
        2/ Mukiele

        1. bobicek92
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 1 Year
          1 day, 14 hours ago

          I am on Andersen personally, always prefer the home fixture when 50/50

      5. FPLMACKEM
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        1 day, 15 hours ago

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

        Dubravka, Andersen, Rodon, Guiu

        4ft 2.2 itb.

        Will Foden and Ekitike start?

        Is it worth doing Foden to Bruno now? Ekitike to Thiago?

        1. BrockLanders
          • 10 Years
          1 day, 15 hours ago

          Neither transfer is essential this week if truth be known. But both are good moves and will pay off long term.

      6. Nightf0x
        • 10 Years
        1 day, 14 hours ago

        Alison (dub)
        Richards mukiele gabriel (clyne keane)
        Bruno rice enzo gordon (king)
        Tiago haland watkins

        which ?

        A) clyne alison -4 to timber sanchez
        B) king alison -4 to rogers sanchez
        C) gordon clyne -4 to rogers timber
        D) king to rogers (have watkins)
        E) clyne to timber (can wait & get cala later & save some funds)

      7. rozzo
        • 12 Years
        1 day, 14 hours ago

        Mane or Kroupi to sit on the bench or doesn't it really matter?

        1. Miguel Sanchez
          • 9 Years
          1 day, 14 hours ago

          Mane for me, more minutes and potential double gameweek soon

        2. Dank Squid
          • 7 Years
          1 day, 14 hours ago

          Mane reverse oop, playing behind two strikers atm, scored a few goals from outside the box.

          Kroupi might get less minutes, assuming Bournemouth spend money on new attackers, but pops up inside the box more often/better chances.

          Preference - minutes/ticking along vs haul potential.

        3. Mr Turnip 1
            1 day, 13 hours ago

            If this is true get a cheap non playing forward. Mane and Kroupi only if you will play them

        4. doppelganger
          • 7 Years
          1 day, 14 hours ago

          Play 1 of this 3:
          A.Senesi
          B.Cash
          C.Dorgu

          1. Miguel Sanchez
            • 9 Years
            1 day, 14 hours ago

            AB

          2. F4L
            • 11 Years
            1 day, 14 hours ago

            a

          3. BrockLanders
            • 10 Years
            1 day, 14 hours ago

            B

        5. Buck The Trent
          • 14 Years
          1 day, 14 hours ago

          Which cheap striker ? Will only play if fixtures are good.

          A Mane
          B Kroupi Jr
          C Brobbey

          1. waltzingmatildas
            • 15 Years
            1 day, 14 hours ago

            A

          2. Miguel Sanchez
            • 9 Years
            1 day, 14 hours ago

            A

        6. waltzingmatildas
          • 15 Years
          1 day, 14 hours ago

          Which one to bench?
          A) Dorgu (ars)
          B) Lacroix (CHE)
          C) Kayode (NFO)

          1. Miguel Sanchez
            • 9 Years
            1 day, 14 hours ago

            A

          2. F4L
            • 11 Years
            1 day, 14 hours ago

            a

          3. waltzingmatildas
            • 15 Years
            1 day, 14 hours ago

            Yeah feels obvious, except I'm worried about an attacking return again!

        7. Weasel Boy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          1 day, 14 hours ago

          Any chance O'Reilly starts this GW?

          Currently have O'Reilly Guehi Foden Haaland from city.

        8. OverTinker
          • 7 Years
          1 day, 14 hours ago

          Is any team getting dgw before GW 30?

          1. JoeSoap
            • 12 Years
            1 day, 14 hours ago

            Possibly Arsenal

        9. -GK22-
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          1 day, 14 hours ago

          Foden, Cherki and VVD

          To

          Bruno, Semenyo, Collins -4?

          1. BrockLanders
            • 10 Years
            1 day, 14 hours ago

            I wouldn't go Semenyo personally. Too much risk with rotation. Bruno & Enzo?

        10. Skout
          • 6 Years
          1 day, 14 hours ago

          Any suggestions on this team? 2 FTs, 0.3itb

          Dubravka
          Gabriel Thiaw Reinildo
          Saka Foden Cherki Cunha
          Haaland Thiago Watkins

          Petrovic Timber Stach Rodon

          1. JoeSoap
            • 12 Years
            1 day, 14 hours ago

            Cunha>Enzo/Ndiaye

        11. JoeSoap
          • 12 Years
          1 day, 14 hours ago

          A. Bruno G>Enzo
          B. Save and have 2 FTs nxt week

          Verbruggen
          Guehi, Timber, Gabriel,
          Saka, Bruno G, Foden, Wilson, Rogers
          Ekiteke, Haaland,
          Dubravka, Mukiele, Cash, Guiu

        12. how now brown cow
          • 11 Years
          1 day, 14 hours ago

          Pope
          O'Reilly Gabriel VDV
          Saka Rice Foden Bruno G
          Haaland Thiago Jimenez

          (Dubravka Xhaka Mukiele Truffert)

          With 1 ft, what should I do?

          A- save
          B - Foden to Semenyo
          C - o'Reilly to guehi
          D - something else?

          1. JoeSoap
            • 12 Years
            1 day, 14 hours ago

            Maybe c

        13. OverTinker
          • 7 Years
          1 day, 14 hours ago

          3.7 itb. 1ft.
          Pickford Dub
          Gabriel Timber Thiaw (Dorgu Keane)
          Rice Wilson BrunoG Rogers Foden
          Ekitike Haaland (Guiu)
          Is there any transfer worth utilizing an FT here?

        14. abaalan
          • 9 Years
          1 day, 14 hours ago

          A. Tavernier to Enzo this week
          B. Tavernier to max 5.9 this week. Then foden -> Bruno next week.
          C. Save. Then tavernier & thiago -> Bruno & kroupi next week.
          D. A this week, then Foden & Thaigo -> Bruno & Kroupi next week (-4)

          1. BeaversWithAttitude
            • 7 Years
            1 day, 14 hours ago

            B

        15. jonnybhoy
          • 13 Years
          1 day, 14 hours ago

          GTG?

          Sanchez
          Gabriel Timber Alderete
          Bruno F Saka Bruno G Wilson Foden
          Haaland Ekitike

          1. F4L
            • 11 Years
            1 day, 14 hours ago

            gtg

        16. F4L
          • 11 Years
          1 day, 14 hours ago

          could do with a goal from big dan ballard tomorrow

        17. el polako
          • 8 Years
          1 day, 14 hours ago

          Cole Palmer.
          No form for probably a year now, clearly carrying and injury yet still in people’s minds to bring in.

          Blinded by the fixtures?
          Or just too few premiums worth owning hence too much money to spend?

          1. Tripswich
              1 day, 14 hours ago

              People are struggling to adapt to the post premium defcon DCL new world order. Very understandable.

          2. F4L
            • 11 Years
            1 day, 14 hours ago

            bournemouth are so decimated, losing semenyo, kluivert, brooks, tavernier just like that in a blink of an eye. oof. gotta feel for iraola

            1. I have no Wirtz
                1 day, 14 hours ago

                I feel for him. But he shall get a seat at the big soon.

                1. F4L
                  • 11 Years
                  1 day, 14 hours ago

                  yeah deserves it. hopefully clubs go for him and leave silva alone (please sign a new contract 🙂 )