Gameweek 26 in the Premier League is right around the corner, and for FPL managers, it is captaincy time again. That little armband choice can make or break your mini-league dreams, boosting one player’s points by double. With some juicy fixtures on the slate, including a double gameweek for one big club, there is no shortage of tempting options.
We have zeroed in on five standout candidates who could haul big. Manchester City’s goal machine Erling Haaland, Liverpool’s sharp finisher Hugo Ekitike, Chelsea’s penalty king Cole Palmer, Manchester United’s midfield maestro Bruno Fernandes, and Arsenal’s rock-solid Gabriel Magalhaes all have paths to glory. Picking the right one means digging into their form, their team’s attack, and, crucially, the weaknesses of their opponents.
It is not just about goals or clean sheets; it is the full package, complete with bonuses, assists, and clean sheets if you are sneaky. Gameweek 26 kicks off with eye-catching matches and ends with Arsenal’s Double Gameweek clash. Managers are already buzzing in the forums about whether to triple-captain or just safely band.
Forget the bandwagon jumps; let us break down why these five rise above the rest. We shall look at their season stories, recent dips or peaks, and why their next opponent is primed for punishment. By the end, you will have the info to lock in confidently before the deadline hits.
Erling Haaland might have hit a mini-slump lately, bagging just two goals in his last eight outings, but do not sleep on him for Gameweek 26. Manchester City travel to Fulham, a side that has been leaking goals in recent weeks, conceding in bunches from set pieces and open play alike. Fulham’s backline has shipped six goals in the three most recent games, leaving Haaland with a feast ahead.
This season, Haaland has been a points monster overall, averaging over seven points per game and sitting top of the FPL roost despite the dry spell. He has hauled 20+ points multiple times from braces and bonuses, owned by nearly everyone for good reason. Against Fulham’s soft centre, expect him to rediscover that ruthless edge and deliver captaincy gold.
Hugo Ekitike: Liverpool hotshot takes on wobbly Sunderland
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Hugo Ekitike has quietly become a Liverpool force this term, and Gameweek 26 pits him against Sunderland, whose defence swings wilder than a pendulum. The Black Cats have mixed it up badly: rock-solid one week, torn apart the next.
Ekitike’s points history screams value: double-digit hauls in fuor games this season, with goals and bonuses piling up. His recent form has been sketchy, but his quality makes him primed to exploit Sunderland’s up-and-down back four. If Liverpool click, he is your differential captaincy rocket.
Cole Palmer: Chelsea wizard faces Leeds United’s leaky defence
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Cole Palmer is red-hot after that wild hat-trick against Wolves last weekend, burying three in the first half to fire Chelsea to victory. Now, in Gameweek 26, he eyes Leeds United at home. The West Yorkshire outfit’s defenders have been inconsistencies, and it may lead to goals galore and a Palmer party.
Palmer’s recent FPL returns are chef’s kiss: that hat-trick netted 20 points, building on a stop-start season that can end superbly. The Englishman is the guy for penalties, free-kicks, and magic moments against rattled defences like Leeds United’s. Captain him, and watch the points flood in as Chelsea dominate.
Bruno Fernandes: Manchester United engine powers past West Ham woes
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Bruno Fernandes is Manchester United’s heartbeat, dictating play and chipping in goals or assists week in, week out. West Ham United await in Gameweek 26, and their defence has been a joke this season. Nuno Espirito Santo’s men have been porous at the back, hammered by pace and creativity. Fernandes thrives against such chaos, pulling strings from deep.
This 2025/26 season, the Portuguese playmaker has been gold, especially of late, after racking up 42 points in his last five outings. With Fernandes one of the most in-form players in the Premier League, expect him to rack up more points against a wobbly West Ham backline.
Gabriel Magalhaes: Arsenal wall doubles up big
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Arsenal’s double gameweek in 26 changes everything for Gabriel Magalhaes, their towering defender who has nailed clean sheets and set-piece threats all season long. With two bites against softer opponents like Wolves and Brentford, his haul potential skyrockets. Arsenal’s backline is the Premier League’s stingiest, conceding peanuts.
Gabriel’s season stats pop, as he has blended shut-outs with bonus magnets and [five goal contributions](https://fantasy.premierleague.com/statistics). Since returning from a groin injury-enforced layoff, the Brazilian has blanked only twice and racked up 54 points in eight outings. Expect him to produce a monster haul in Gameweek 26.
Key FPL Captaincy Options at a Glance
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Player
Club
Opponent(s)
Main Appeal
Risk Level
Erling Haaland
Manchester City
Fulham (H)
Goal threat vs leaky home defense
Medium
Hugo Ekitike
Liverpool
Sunderland (A)
Form vs inconsistent backline
Medium
Cole Palmer
Chelsea
Leeds United (H)
Hat-trick heat, pens vs soft D
Low
Bruno Fernandes
Manchester United
West Ham United (A)
Streaky returns vs porous Hammers
Low
Gabriel Magalhaes
Arsenal
DGW (2)
Clean sheets + attacks, double fix
Very Low
Honourable Mentions
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If those five do not fit your squad, peek at Jurrien Timber for Arsenal’s DGW defensive solidity, Declan Rice bossing midfield doubles, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s sneaky hauls, Bryan Mbeumo’s sting, Matheus Cunha’s firepower, Morgan Rogers’s Villa vibes, Joao Pedro’s all-round play, Viktor Gyokeres’ recent form, and Evanilson’s spark. There is plenty more fish in the GW26 sea.