Captain Sensible

Who is the best captain for FPL Gameweek 5?

19 September 2025 1111 comments
FFScout Tom FFScout Tom
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In Gameweek 4, FPL managers who targeted the fixture and captained Mohamed Salah (ยฃ14.5m) were rewarded in stoppage time. All three of the Egyptian’s attacking returns have come after the 90th minute!

Erling Haaland (ยฃ14.2m) bagged his fourth and fifth goals of the season to continue his stellar record in the Manchester derby, while Cole Palmer (ยฃ10.4m) returned from injury against Brentford to remind us of his enduring quality.

Attention now turns to Gameweek 5 and whether there is a case to look beyond Salah, who hosts Everton in the early kick-off, in favour of a differential option.

Captain Sensible is here to help!

First, we will assess the on-site captaincy poll. We will then analyse player and team statistics,ย Rate My Team (RMT) and the Premier Fantasy Tools ratings ahead of Saturdayโ€™s 11am BST deadline.

Captaincy Poll

Gameweek 5 captain best

Among Fantasy Football Scout site users, Salah is the runaway leader in the captaincy poll, currently sitting on just over 50% of the vote. A goal and assist in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday has only increased his appeal.ย 

Haaland sits in second place once again with a little under 10% backing ahead of Man Cityโ€™s heavyweight clash with Arsenal at the Emirates. The Norwegian scored in both league fixtures against the Gunners last season.ย 

Elsewhere, Antoine Semenyo (ยฃ7.5m) and Joao Pedro (ยฃ7.8m) are the only other players with over 5% of the vote.

Player Stats

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

1,111 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Mizzzza
    • 15 Years
    14 hours, 30 mins ago

    Would you bench boost this?

    Raya/Elliot/Gudmunsson/Tosin

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    1. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      14 hours, 29 mins ago

      Yes

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    2. cigan
      • 7 Years
      14 hours, 29 mins ago

      Big yes

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  2. Zimppa
    • 12 Years
    14 hours, 29 mins ago

    Final spots on my WC:
    A) Romero and Ndiaye
    B) Van de Ven and Grealish
    Thinking Ndiaye on pens swings it towards A.

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    1. JBG
      • 7 Years
      14 hours, 28 mins ago

      B

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    2. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      14 hours, 28 mins ago

      A

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    3. Stranger Mings
      • 4 Years
      14 hours, 24 mins ago

      B

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  3. JBG
    • 7 Years
    14 hours, 29 mins ago

    Start Kudus (Brighton away) or Calafiori (City home)?

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    1. Studs Up
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      14 hours, 28 mins ago

      Kudus

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    2. cigan
      • 7 Years
      14 hours, 27 mins ago

      Kudus

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    3. Stranger Mings
      • 4 Years
      14 hours, 26 mins ago

      K

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    4. ignado
      • 10 Years
      14 hours, 7 mins ago

      Kudus

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  4. davewg59
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    14 hours, 28 mins ago

    BB?
    Dubravka Burn Reijnders Rodon

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    1. Bggz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      14 hours, 23 mins ago

      yeah

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  5. Il Capitano
    • 4 Years
    14 hours, 28 mins ago

    1FT 0 ITB

    Dubravka
    Munoz Porro Konsa
    Salah (C) Wirtz Semenyo Rogers
    Watkins JPed Wood

    Sanchez - Reijnders Diouf Esteve

    BB?

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  6. Garfield1001
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    14 hours, 27 mins ago

    Bench two:

    Porro
    Esteve
    Reijnders
    Strand Larsen

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    1. FPL Virgin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      14 hours, 26 mins ago

      Esteve. Larsen.

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      1. The FPL Units
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        14 hours, 25 mins ago

        This

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    2. Il Capitano
      • 4 Years
      14 hours, 25 mins ago

      Esteve and JSL

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  7. byatsenyuk
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    14 hours, 27 mins ago

    Choose 2 for start:
    Ekitike, Calafiori, Eze, Grealish, Chalobah.

    Tend to Ekitike, Calafiori.

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    1. nolard
      • 11 Years
      14 hours ago

      Eki and Eze for me.

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  8. FPLMACKEM
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    14 hours, 26 mins ago

    Sanchez
    Andersen, Porro, Richards, Neco Williams
    Salah (c), Wirtz, Fernandes, Semenyo
    Mateta, Watkins

    Dubravka, KDH, Rodon, JSL,

    1ft 0.1M ITB.

    Would you BB with this?

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  9. Sid07
    • 11 Years
    14 hours, 26 mins ago

    1) de cupyer to senesi
    or
    2) play vdv

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    1. Biggsy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      14 hours, 23 mins ago

      I'm on VdV over Senesi, so on that basis, 2

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  10. Snoop Udogie Dogg
    • 5 Years
    14 hours, 26 mins ago

    Morning all

    Should I

    A: Win

    B: Lose

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    1. FPL Virgin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      14 hours, 26 mins ago

      Draw?

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      1. Snoop Udogie Dogg
        • 5 Years
        14 hours, 22 mins ago

        you pose an intriguing dilemma

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  11. Eastman
    • 8 Years
    14 hours, 26 mins ago

    I have Johnson who looks a non starter. Best Spurs replacement under 7.4 who I’d keep on a WC?

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    1. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      14 hours, 24 mins ago

      Sarr

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    2. Stranger Mings
      • 4 Years
      14 hours, 17 mins ago

      Xavi

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  12. HAMMERTIME107
    • 7 Years
    14 hours, 26 mins ago

    Completely bottomed out this week!

    1 free transfer & £2.2mil in the bank.

    Happy to take one hit if it helps improve! Please help!

    Kelleher
    Cash | VDV | Cucurella
    Gakpo | Rodgers | Semenyo | Ndoye
    Haaland | Pedro | Ekitike

    Sanchez | Reindjers | Guehi | Livramento |

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    1. Bggz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      14 hours, 22 mins ago

      looks fine. i like rodgers -> Eze next week

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  13. hannesdela
    • 14 Years
    14 hours, 25 mins ago

    Very much doubting about getting Haaland or Isak from next GW. Already own Salah.

    Would have to further downgrade midfield and/or defence for it though, certainly for Haaland.

    Worth it?

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    1. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      14 hours, 23 mins ago

      I think so and will be doing it

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      1. hannesdela
        • 14 Years
        14 hours, 21 mins ago

        Interesting, thanks. Haaland and Salah then?

        My current team with 3.2M in the bank and a free transfer. Thinking about saving the transfer and forking out another 3.4M next week somewhere for Haaland, might mean two transfers + Haaland in and thus a 4 point hit. Worth it? Or any other tips?

        Sanchez
        Van de Ven, Porro, Diouf
        Salah, Semenyo, Kudus, Rogers
        Gyökeres, J. Pedro, Wood

        Dubravka, Dewsbury-Hall, Estève, De Cuyper.

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    2. Bggz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      14 hours, 20 mins ago

      next week i might do mateta, watson, palmer -> caideco, haaland, isak

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      1. hannesdela
        • 14 Years
        14 hours, 19 mins ago

        Interesting. 4 point hit then as well? And also owning Salah or not?

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        1. Bggz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          14 hours, 14 mins ago

          yep a hit. no Saaland atm

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  14. ignado
    • 10 Years
    14 hours, 25 mins ago

    Would you BB this: Dubravka/Calafiori/Reijnders/Dorgu?
    Thanks.

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    1. Biggsy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      14 hours, 24 mins ago

      No

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    2. Prinzhorn
      • 4 Years
      14 hours, 21 mins ago

      Nope

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    3. Bggz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      14 hours, 20 mins ago

      no

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  15. Bonus magnet
    • 8 Years
    14 hours, 25 mins ago

    Ait-Nouri -> which DEF that actually gets decent points

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    1. cigan
      • 7 Years
      14 hours, 21 mins ago

      Arsenal, Munoz, Timber, Virgil, Cucurella, Tarkowski, Livramento, Porro

      Pick your favourite depending on your other defenders, fixtures and personal preference

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      1. Bggz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        14 hours, 19 mins ago

        porro isnt worth it anymore, VDV is tho, but otherwise agree

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        1. cigan
          • 7 Years
          14 hours, 12 mins ago

          Yeh he's a bit expensive but still gets points fairly consistently. I am a bit bitter I didn't switch him to VDV on wc last week tho

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          1. cigan
            • 7 Years
            14 hours, 11 mins ago

            Reckon he's deffo off set pieces with Simons arrival too?

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  16. Biggsy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    14 hours, 24 mins ago

    Morning all, have I got these right? Play...

    1. Raya over Dubravka
    2. VdV over Senesi
    3. King over Reijnders

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    1. Bggz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      14 hours, 18 mins ago

      im going dub
      i dont see newcastle scoring

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  17. KostaK
    • 4 Years
    14 hours, 24 mins ago

    Bench boost?

    Dubravka (NFO), Williams (bur), Anderson (bur), Esteve (NFO)

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    1. Prinzhorn
      • 4 Years
      14 hours, 21 mins ago

      Just two teams, I wouldnt.

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  18. hannesdela
    • 14 Years
    14 hours, 23 mins ago

    Free transfer, 3.2M in the bank. Save it or change sth?

    Sanchez
    Van de Ven, Porro, Diouf
    Salah, Semenyo, Kudus, Rogers
    Gyökeres, J. Pedro, Wood

    Dubravka, Dewsbury-Hall, Estève, De Cuyper.

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    1. Biggsy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      14 hours, 22 mins ago

      Depends how much you want to give Rogers one last chance

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      1. hannesdela
        • 14 Years
        14 hours, 18 mins ago

        Yes, that's true. SUN (A) is not a bad fixture and I am not really fancying too much the alternatives.

        Thinking more about Haaland and Isak from next GW on + already owning Salah so would mean downgrading midifield and/or defence. Or bad idea?

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    2. The Tinkerman
      • 10 Years
      14 hours, 18 mins ago

      Save

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  19. Prinzhorn
    • 4 Years
    14 hours, 22 mins ago

    Pino as a one week pun?

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  20. HD7
    • 8 Years
    14 hours, 22 mins ago

    Hi mates,
    any changes in order I should make or G2G?

    Petrovic
    Richards Konate VdV
    Semenyo Rejnders Kudus Salah(C)
    Watkins Evanilson Haaland

    Dubravka King Gudmundsson Esteve

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  21. cigan
    • 7 Years
    14 hours, 21 mins ago

    Munoz(c) the ultimate maverick gamble this week?

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    1. FantasyClub
      • 4 Years
      14 hours, 20 mins ago

      That’s what I’m on

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  22. FPL Blow-In
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    14 hours, 19 mins ago

    Line up correct? Can’t decide between Semenyo or Salah

    Vicario
    Gabriel, Caliaflori, Munoz
    Salah, Gakpo, Semenyo, Xavi
    Pedro, Munoz, Woltemade

    Petrovic, Elliot, Senesi, De Ligt

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  23. The Tinkerman
    • 10 Years
    14 hours, 18 mins ago

    How is this WC6?

    Raya, Dubr
    Gabriel, Romero, Senesi, Andersen, Rodon
    Palmer, Semenyo, Xavi, Reijnders, KDH
    Haaland, Gyokores, Strand Larsen

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    1. Biggsy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      14 hours, 17 mins ago

      Lacking Liverpool attack

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      1. The Tinkerman
        • 10 Years
        14 hours, 15 mins ago

        I’ll probably go Isak over Salah longer term. Expecting points to be even more shared out now with Isak, Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo, Ekiteke all heavily contributing

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    2. Bggz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      14 hours, 16 mins ago

      not sold on Xavi, Reijnders, KDH, Strand Larsen

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      1. The Tinkerman
        • 10 Years
        14 hours, 13 mins ago

        The kind of sacrifices required for Haaland, Palmer, Gyokores and double Arsenal defence. I’d prefer Bruno over Xavi but no cash. Strand is best value cheaper forward when fit imo, good fixtures too, KDH could be Xhaka but bench either way. Reijnders is a shaky pick I admit, not sure who I prefer at that price point, don’t think Caicedo keeps up scoring as he has.

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        1. Bggz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          14 hours, 7 mins ago

          Brunos a no go now, hes stinking up my team. i might bring in caicedo for palmer to enable haaland and isak, i think caicedo is a set n forget until i wc.
          for me id just go a 4.4 over strand larsen and upgrade the 7th attacker.
          what about eze? at 7.5 i think hes a a great pick from next week at least.

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  24. TochanMama
    • 13 Years
    14 hours, 17 mins ago

    Would you start Gudmundson (WOL away) over Bruno considering how terrible United has been playing?

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    1. Bggz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      14 hours, 15 mins ago

      im considering rondon too but bruno has pens at least.

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    2. Punned It
        14 hours, 15 mins ago

        Bruno seems to attract an alright return anyway, while Gudmundsson is a bit unsure. Am playing Rodon myself, though.

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    3. Punned It
        14 hours, 17 mins ago

        Vicario, Dubs
        Senesi, Lacroix, Porro, Rodon, Chalobah
        (S)alah, Semenyo, Gakpo, Enzo, Stach
        JP, Mateta, Wood

        Got one FT, 3.3itb, BB activated. Planning Haaland in GW6, not sure if Salah out to enable it.

        Any glaring errors? Or kind suggestions?

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      • ididnt
        • 14 Years
        14 hours, 16 mins ago

        Xavi Simons. Is he likely to start today?

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      • Hoof It and Hope
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        14 hours, 16 mins ago

        Fernandes ranked second by Rate My Team ???!
        It’s really not working very well anymore

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        1. Jimmy B
          • 11 Years
          14 hours, 6 mins ago

          I've never used it but that doesn't surprise me. These machine model things are always going to churn out good minutes, penalty takers, occasional defcon.

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      • hannesdela
        • 14 Years
        14 hours, 15 mins ago

        Sanchez MUN (A) or Dubravka NFO (H)?

        And Diouf CRY (H) or Estève NFO (H)?

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        1. Punned It
            14 hours, 12 mins ago

            Sanchez more of a chance for a clean sheet, I think. And Diouf more of a chance for an attacking return.

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

          Any b boosters with the likes of Dubravka esteve reijnders etc?

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        3. Jimmy B
          • 11 Years
          14 hours, 12 mins ago

          Lots of questions about BB on here. I think if your bench is normally very cheap just use it while they are fit and playing probably. You might have earmarked an 'optimum' week to use Esteve and Rodon and whoever else and they get injured before then.

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