Choosing the right captain for FPL Gameweek 29 feels like navigating a minefield—especially after Erling Haaland’s (£14.7m) unexpected absence in Gameweek 28 left countless managers scrambling for alternatives. But here’s where it gets controversial: with Haaland currently flagged as a doubt, is it time to ditch the usual favorite and look elsewhere? That’s the burning question we’re tackling in this edition of ‘Captain Sensible.’ While the upcoming midweek fixtures don’t exactly spoil us with dream home matchups, there are still standout options worth considering.
In Gameweek 28, vice-captains stepped up in Haaland’s absence, with four of the top five delivering attacking returns. Hugo Ekitike (£9.1m) shone brightly with a 15-point haul, while Bruno Fernandes (£10.0m) proved his worth as the most-picked deputy. And this is the part most people miss: even without Haaland, there’s fierce competition for the armband this week. Popular picks like Fernandes, Ekitike, and Igor Thiago (£7.2m) are all in contention, as is Antoine Semenyo (£8.2m), who could steal the show alongside Haaland if he plays.
To help you decide, we’re diving deep into the data. We’ll analyze the on-site captaincy poll (https://poll.fm/16697798), crunch player and team statistics (https://members.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/team-stats/defending/), and consult the Rate My Team (RMT) projections (https://rate-my-team.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/). By the end, we’ll crown our top three captaincy picks for the week.
READ MORE: Explore the FFScout Captaincy Matrix (https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2025/08/01/introducing-the-ffscout-captaincy-matrix)
Captaincy Poll Insights
Here’s where opinions start to clash. Despite Haaland’s reputation, Ekitike currently leads the Fantasy Football Scout captaincy poll, with nearly 25% of users backing him after his impressive three attacking returns against West Ham. Bold prediction: Could this be the week Ekitike outshines the big names? Haaland trails closely behind, with Semenyo not far off—19.5% and 16.6% of votes, respectively. Manchester City’s home fixture against struggling Nottingham Forest (winless in five) certainly boosts their appeal, especially since Haaland and Semenyo sit atop the FPL points charts this season.
Meanwhile, Thiago and Fernandes are the only other players with over 5% support. Both penalty-takers scored over the weekend and bagged bonus points, making them reliable alternatives. But here’s the question: Are you willing to bet against Haaland, even if he’s not at 100%, or is this the week to take a leap of faith with someone else?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments—is Haaland still your go-to, or are you backing an underdog this week? The deadline is Tuesday at 6pm GMT, so choose wisely!
