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. Johnny too hotty
    • 13 Years
    14 hours, 11 mins ago

    I’ve just done Gakpo to Gibbs white and I’m not sure how I convinced myself to do this. Could this pay off ?

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    1. Dynamic Duos
      • 12 Years
      14 hours, 9 mins ago

      Was it beer that did it?

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    2. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      14 hours, 9 mins ago

      Have another beer

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    3. Tomerick
      • 11 Years
      14 hours, 7 mins ago

      Ah, the siren call of the inexplicable Scout Pick.

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    4. Dynamic Duos
      • 12 Years
      14 hours, 6 mins ago

      https://youtu.be/gql9220Qon8?si=pWO74AEnoftFIGzs

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

    Pedro porro >> Virgil (VVD)
    For Free
    YAAAY
    Noooo
    Already have VDV

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    1. Dynamic Duos
      • 12 Years
      14 hours, 10 mins ago

      Noooo

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    2. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      14 hours, 9 mins ago

      No

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    3. Mom, Butters just gave me a…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      14 hours, 5 mins ago

      Nope

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    4. Shark Team
      • 8 Years
      13 hours, 56 mins ago

      No

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  3. mr_jones
    • 6 Years
    14 hours, 8 mins ago

    g2go this week? dont expect much points but will WC next week

    Sanchez
    Porro, Murillo, Andersen
    Salah, Wirtz, Caicedo, Reijnders
    Watkins, Pedro, Bowen

    Petrovic, Johnson, Diouf, De Cuyper

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    1. Jstap94
      • 1 Year
      14 hours, 3 mins ago

      Yeah looks good. Been very unlucky with team value here clearly

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      1. mr_jones
        • 6 Years
        13 hours, 57 mins ago

        yeah. bowen, watkins and wirtz were big disappointments. going murillo to a palace-defender now because he seems to be out for this gw

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    2. JT11fc
      • 6 Years
      14 hours, 3 mins ago

      Gtg

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    3. Shark Team
      • 8 Years
      13 hours, 55 mins ago

      Johnson over Reijnders imo

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      1. mr_jones
        • 6 Years
        13 hours, 31 mins ago

        wont start probably

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  4. TyroneGAA
    • 8 Years
    14 hours, 7 mins ago

    Last week on a wild card the decision was salah and Gyökeres or palmer and halland .. went with the salah route and then this week took a hit to go back to what I wanted to do before bottling it .. mad?

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    1. Brosstan
      • 11 Years
      13 hours, 38 mins ago

      Why wouldn't you wait until GW6 go change Salah to Haaland?

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  5. Clueless Joker
    • 6 Years
    14 hours, 7 mins ago

    Caicedo or Paqueta agonizing over it all morning!

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    1. Dynamic Duos
      • 12 Years
      14 hours, 5 mins ago

      PacMan

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    2. mr_jones
      • 6 Years
      14 hours, 3 mins ago

      Caicedo defcon monster.

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    3. Miguel Sanchez
      • 9 Years
      14 hours, 2 mins ago

      Caicedo

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    4. Shark Team
      • 8 Years
      13 hours, 54 mins ago

      Caicedo

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  6. HarryFPL
    • 2 Years
    14 hours, 6 mins ago

    Start one:
    A) Harvey Barnes
    B) Van de Ven

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    1. Shark Team
      • 8 Years
      13 hours, 54 mins ago

      B

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  7. Bob.
    • 15 Years
    14 hours, 5 mins ago

    Start Murillo or Kudus? Cheers

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    1. mr_jones
      • 6 Years
      13 hours, 57 mins ago

      murillo seems off this week. so kudus

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    2. Shark Team
      • 8 Years
      13 hours, 54 mins ago

      Murillo

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  8. Weasel51
    • 9 Years
    14 hours, 5 mins ago

    Have 0.6 ITB and 1ft, anything worth a transfer here or just roll into next week?

    Dubravka
    Porro Diouf Gabriel
    Salah(c) Fernandes Rogers Semenyo Wirtz
    Pedro Wood

    Sanchez Esteve Guiu DeCuyper

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    1. OptimusBlack
      • 12 Years
      14 hours, 4 mins ago

      Roll

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    2. Warby84
      • 10 Years
      13 hours, 58 mins ago

      I deliberating over both keepers it’s a tough one

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  9. OptimusBlack
    • 12 Years
    14 hours, 5 mins ago

    If You have
    Watkins Pedro Gyökeres
    And one FT and WC next GW
    would u Sell Watkins ? And for Whom ?

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    1. _Ninja_
      • 15 Years
      14 hours, 3 mins ago

      I'd just play Watkins this week

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    2. Shark Team
      • 8 Years
      13 hours, 53 mins ago

      No

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    3. OptimusBlack
      • 12 Years
      13 hours, 50 mins ago

      Cheers

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  10. SpaceCadet
    • 11 Years
    14 hours, 5 mins ago

    Repost. Who would you start this gw?

    A. Reijnders
    B. Gudmundsson
    C. Johnson and hope he starts
    D. Johnson > Enzo or simons ft

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    1. OptimusBlack
      • 12 Years
      14 hours, 4 mins ago

      D

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    2. Shark Team
      • 8 Years
      13 hours, 53 mins ago

      B easily

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  11. _Ninja_
    • 15 Years
    14 hours, 4 mins ago

    Worth using BB on this?

    Dubravka (NFO) Diouf(CRY) Rodon(wol) Reijnders(ars)

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

      I think there are much better

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    2. Dynamic Duos
      • 12 Years
      14 hours, 3 mins ago

      I would

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    3. mr_jones
      • 6 Years
      14 hours, 2 mins ago

      cant see any CS here

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    4. Jstap94
      • 1 Year
      14 hours, 2 mins ago

      Not bad but also not great

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    5. Nightcrawler
      • 6 Years
      14 hours, 1 min ago

      no way. i think if u can easily figure out what ur bench for the week shd be its not worth a bench boost

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    6. g40steve
      • 7 Years
      14 hours, 1 min ago

      If you want to get rid of it.

      At least all play ๐Ÿ˜‰

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    7. Shark Team
      • 8 Years
      13 hours, 52 mins ago

      No

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  12. Fonz316
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 1 Year
    14 hours, 4 mins ago

    On WC:

    Isak and Enzo
    OR
    Gyokeres and Gakpo

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    1. Dynamic Duos
      • 12 Years
      14 hours, 3 mins ago

      GG

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    2. OptimusBlack
      • 12 Years
      13 hours, 59 mins ago

      GG

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    3. Shark Team
      • 8 Years
      13 hours, 52 mins ago

      B

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  13. Pieters 4 Wood
    • 5 Years
    14 hours, 4 mins ago

    Sitting on solid 261 points, top of most mini leagues and overall rank of 380k. This week a team is a bit dodgy. Done 3 transfers overall, all forced due to injuries. Still 2 injured players in line up but thinking to roll. Thoughts?

    Sanchez
    Porro
    VVD
    VDV
    Diouf
    Wirtz(c)
    Rogers
    Reijnders
    Joao Pedro
    Gyokeres
    Haaland (vc)

    Duvravka
    KDH
    De Cuyper (out)
    I Sarr (out)

    Set on Wirtz as a c, promising signs in CL. It is coming!

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    1. Mom, Butters just gave me a…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      14 hours, 1 min ago

      How did you get to 261 points with Diouf, Wirtz, and Rogers?

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      1. Jstap94
        • 1 Year
        13 hours, 59 mins ago

        Haaland has outperformed Salah big time. Pedro big scorer if started with him. Spurs double up defence started very well

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        1. Mom, Butters just gave me a…
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 4 Years
          13 hours, 55 mins ago

          Crazy. Everything still seems to be close.

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        2. Pieters 4 Wood
          • 5 Years
          13 hours, 51 mins ago

          That plus I have had Diouf 10, KDH 12 and VDV 14 on the bench going to waste...Rogers I only took as a forced sub last week.

          Unlucky with Cunha, Palmer, Sarr, De Cuyper injuries really

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    2. Mom, Butters just gave me a…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      13 hours, 53 mins ago

      Wirtz linked up well with Isak. So you might get rewarded for your patience.

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    3. Pieters 4 Wood
      • 5 Years
      3 hours, 13 mins ago

      8 points from 7 players so far. Tough

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  14. Biggsy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    14 hours, 4 mins ago

    Given Isak won't start, I should keep Ekitike right?

    Tempted to drop him for JP....

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    1. Jstap94
      • 1 Year
      14 hours ago

      Maybe not the Pedro transfer this week but would look to do next week. I dont think Isak starts but could come on like 55/56

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    2. Mom, Butters just gave me a…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      13 hours, 59 mins ago

      I assume tired Ekitike will play 58 minutes, then rested Isak in for his two goals at least.

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    3. agueroooooney
      • 10 Years
      13 hours, 46 mins ago

      Keep for this week

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  15. dshv
    • 8 Years
    14 hours, 2 mins ago

    WC

    Vicario 4
    Calafiori VDV Guehi Cucurella 4
    Xavi Gakpo Enzo Semenyo 4.5
    Gyokeres Haaland J.Pedro

    2.2 itb .. what to change here?
    any chance to bring in Palmer? , otherwise there is money to bring eze/mbeumo for Enzo in future

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  16. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    14 hours, 1 min ago

    Which 2 would you play?

    A) Esteve H NFO
    B) Diof H CRY
    C) Neco A BUR

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    1. Jstap94
      • 1 Year
      13 hours, 58 mins ago

      A and C. Feels like a 0-0

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    2. Dynamic Duos
      • 12 Years
      13 hours, 58 mins ago

      Electronic Neco

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    3. cfc_andrew4
      • 2 Years
      13 hours, 58 mins ago

      A C
      Pray for a 0-0, which isn’t so far fetched. I would say Diof at home but West Ham don’t look good

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    4. Gizzachance
      • 10 Years
      13 hours, 57 mins ago

      A C

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    5. sminkypinky
      • 14 Years
      13 hours, 56 mins ago

      A
      C

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    6. OptimusBlack
      • 12 Years
      13 hours, 55 mins ago

      C

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    7. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      13 hours, 46 mins ago

      Cheers!

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  17. cfc_andrew4
    • 2 Years
    13 hours, 59 mins ago

    Feel like I need to get Semenyo in,
    Only person I can swap out is Grealish, worth doing?

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    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      13 hours, 58 mins ago

      Yes

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    2. Jstap94
      • 1 Year
      13 hours, 58 mins ago

      No, ride it out. Newcastle are very good defensively

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      1. Warby84
        • 10 Years
        13 hours, 54 mins ago

        Schar and Tripps off midweek due to injury can see a 3-1 Bournemouth win, get him in..

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        1. Jstap94
          • 1 Year
          13 hours, 51 mins ago

          Still have a backline of Hall, Livramento, Botman, Burn. Bournemouth also do not rack up goals that much.

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    3. Mom, Butters just gave me a…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      13 hours, 57 mins ago

      No way

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    4. mr_jones
      • 6 Years
      13 hours, 55 mins ago

      dont see the semenyo thing this week. wondering why so many captaining him. but newcastle is defensive solid.

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  18. HarryFPL
    • 2 Years
    13 hours, 59 mins ago

    Bench one:
    A) Harvey Barnes
    B) VDV
    C) Konsa
    D) Gabriel

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    1. Nightcrawler
      • 6 Years
      13 hours, 58 mins ago

      b

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  19. Kantelele
    • 3 Years
    13 hours, 58 mins ago

    Best mid for this GW only ? Max 5.4 $

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    1. Jstap94
      • 1 Year
      13 hours, 56 mins ago

      PM Sarr

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  20. Gizzachance
    • 10 Years
    13 hours, 58 mins ago

    BB? 1 ft

    Dubravka esteve reijnders murrillo*

    Murillo to Munoz and bb?
    Also have wood v Burnley!

    Cheers

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    1. BrockLanders
      • 10 Years
      13 hours, 52 mins ago

      I've a similar quandary with Murillo. Think I'm just gonna roll and play Wood myself

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      1. Gizzachance
        • 10 Years
        13 hours, 17 mins ago

        Cheers
        Need two transfers if want Haaland next week, or it’s a hit or w/c

        Just wanted bb outta way, as no doubt down line there will be other issues, already had palmer sarr now Murillo injuries

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  21. Chris_l25
    • 8 Years
    13 hours, 57 mins ago

    Start Dubravka or Sanchez?

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    1. Mainoo Magic
      • 10 Years
      13 hours, 56 mins ago

      I’m going dubravka but it’s a hard choice

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  22. Mainoo Magic
    • 10 Years
    13 hours, 56 mins ago

    Hi all team is below, I have 1ft and £0.7m itb. I’m also considering activating the WC next week.

    Is any transfer worth doing this week with my ft or should I just roll giving me 2 free transfers from GW7 after the wildcard?

    Dubravka

    Andersen Porro Murillo

    Salah Rogers Paqueta fernandes

    Watkins mateta wood

    Bench: Sanchez, dorgu, reijnders, esteve

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    1. Jstap94
      • 1 Year
      13 hours, 55 mins ago

      If you wildcard right you wont need to the transfers. That said, there's no obvious punts this week. So yeah maybe roll

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    2. OptimusBlack
      • 12 Years
      13 hours, 52 mins ago

      Roll

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  23. Big W
    • 7 Years
    13 hours, 55 mins ago

    Bench 1
    A) Cucu
    B) Porro
    C) Gabri
    D) Guehi

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    1. welshbenny
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      13 hours, 54 mins ago

      Guehi

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  24. welshbenny
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    13 hours, 54 mins ago

    Start Grealish or Rodon?

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    1. BrockLanders
      • 10 Years
      13 hours, 53 mins ago

      Close that

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      1. BrockLanders
        • 10 Years
        13 hours, 53 mins ago

        Grealish for attacking threat

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    2. Mom, Butters just gave me a…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      13 hours, 51 mins ago

      Grealish will teach Bradley some lessons today.

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      1. welshbenny
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        13 hours, 50 mins ago

        It feels the more fun pick but Rodon with CS potential and defcon? Hmmm

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    3. Jstap94
      • 1 Year
      13 hours, 50 mins ago

      Liverpool conceding for fun and Grealish up against Frimpong. Relatively easy one IMO

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      1. welshbenny
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        13 hours, 50 mins ago

        True. Ta.

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    4. Brosstan
      • 11 Years
      13 hours, 35 mins ago

      Grealish for sure. Liverpool aren't that solid defensively

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  25. BrockLanders
    • 10 Years
    13 hours, 53 mins ago

    Morning folks.

    QQ: Start 1

    1/ Van De Ven (own Porro too)
    2/ Murillo

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    1. welshbenny
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      13 hours, 51 mins ago

      Van de Ven. Forest will concede and there’s zip defcons from their defence it seems.

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      1. BrockLanders
        • 10 Years
        13 hours, 50 mins ago

        True. Very true

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  26. AllArnaut
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 2 Years
    13 hours, 52 mins ago

    I’m an Everton fan, had Salah captain all week but have to change. Who do you think out of these? Is Chris wood maybe a punt having been rested?

    A. Semenyo
    B. Wood
    C. Haaland
    D. JP

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    1. BrockLanders
      • 10 Years
      13 hours, 50 mins ago

      Dont let Everton bias get in your way. Salah is the best pick this week

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      1. AllArnaut
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 2 Years
        13 hours, 47 mins ago

        Yeah you’re right, aah

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  27. bobbyg
    • 13 Years
    13 hours, 51 mins ago

    Play 2 out of these 3 please guys
    A- Reinders
    B- KDH
    C- Esteve

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    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      13 hours, 45 mins ago

      AB

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  28. The Frenchie
    • 9 Years
    13 hours, 47 mins ago

    Would you guys bench boost to win against my rival ?

    Rival team :
    Sanchez (Manchester United) A
    Gabriel (Manchester City) H
    Milenkovic (Burnley) A
    Cash (Sunderland) A
    Enzo (Manchester United) A
    Watkins (Sunderland) A
    Joao Pedro (Manchester United) A

    My team :
    Raya (Manchester City) H
    Virgil (Everton) H
    Munoz (West Ham) A
    Senesi (Newcastle) H
    Paqueta (Crystal Palace) H
    Etikite (Everton) H
    Gyokeres (Manchester City) H

    Bench Boost ? :
    Dubravka (Nottingham) H
    Burn (Bournemouth) A
    Gudmundsson (Wolves) A
    King (Brentford) H

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    1. agueroooooney
      • 10 Years
      13 hours, 44 mins ago

      Don't think it's worthy of a BB for me. You're not a guaranteed winner there but if you BB you could still lose.

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  29. dshv
    • 8 Years
    13 hours, 46 mins ago

    captain?

    Pedro or Semenyo ?

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    1. AllArnaut
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      13 hours, 40 mins ago

      Vote for Pedro

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  30. Nightf0x
    • 10 Years
    13 hours, 45 mins ago

    Start 2 defs of
    Burn konsa vdv dorgu

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