Choosing the right captain for FPL Gameweek 29 feels like navigating a minefield, especially after Erling Haaland’s (£14.7m) unexpected absence in Manchester City’s clash against Leeds United left countless Fantasy Premier League (FPL) 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 explore other options? That’s the burning question we’re tackling in ‘Captain Sensible.’ While the upcoming midweek fixtures don’t exactly spoil us with dream home matchups, there are still standout candidates worth considering before Tuesday’s 6pm GMT deadline.
In Gameweek 28, vice-captains stepped up in Haaland’s absence, with four of the top five ‘VCs’ delivering attacking returns. Hugo Ekitike (£9.1m) shone brightly, racking up 15 points, 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 names like Fernandes, Ekitike, and Igor Thiago (£7.2m) are strong contenders, as is Haaland’s teammate, Antoine Semenyo (£8.2m), who could capitalize on City’s favorable fixture against a struggling Nottingham Forest side winless in five games.
To help you decide, we’re diving deep into the data. We’ll analyze the on-site captaincy poll (https://poll.fm/16697798), dissect player and team statistics (https://members.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/team-stats/defending/), and consult the Rate My Team (RMT) points projections (https://rate-my-team.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/) to narrow down our top three picks. Here’s the bold take: while Haaland remains a tempting choice, Ekitike’s recent form and Nottingham Forest’s defensive woes make him a seriously compelling alternative.
In the Fantasy Football Scout captaincy poll, Ekitike currently leads Haaland, with nearly 25% of users backing the Frenchman after his three attacking returns against West Ham. Haaland and Semenyo trail closely, with 19.5% and 16.6% of the vote, respectively. Meanwhile, Thiago and Fernandes, both penalty-takers who delivered over the weekend, are the only other players with more than 5% support. But here’s the question we’re posing to you: Is sticking with Haaland a safe bet, or is this the week to take a leap of faith with someone like Ekitike? Let us know in the comments—we’re eager to hear your take!
For a deeper dive, check out the FFScout Captaincy Matrix (https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2025/08/01/introducing-the-ffscout-captaincy-matrix) and stay ahead of the curve.
