Why FPL managers might want to skip captainting Erling Haaland in Gameweek 10
Fantasy Premier League managers will probably want to captain Erling Haaland in Gameweek 10, but here’s why you might want to think twice and consider someone else.
The last FPL gameweek before the next international break is coming up fast, with the deadline for Gameweek 10 at 6:30 pm on Friday before the Everton vs Coventry City match. That means managers will be rushing to make transfers and pick captains before time runs out. But there’s a good reason why Haaland might not be the best choice for captain this week.
Haaland is currently the second-highest scorer in FPL, just behind Brighton’s Maxim De Cuyper, who is having a fantastic season. Haaland has scored nine goals in nine games, leading the golden boot race and earning a total of 68 points so far. He’s been the most popular captain pick every week this season.
In Gameweek 10, Haaland faces Nottingham Forest away at the City Ground, a match that many will think makes him an obvious captain choice again. But the stats tell a different story. Despite Forest’s slow start this season, they have the second-best expected goals against in the Premier League at just 9.2, only behind Arsenal. Last week, they allowed only 0.45 expected goals in an away game against strong attackers Brentford.
Of course, expected stats don’t always tell the full story—Forest have actually conceded 12 goals in nine games, averaging 1.33 per match, and only have one clean sheet. Plus, Haaland hasn’t scored against Forest in the last two seasons. So, it might be worth considering another captain pick this week.
If not Haaland, who should you captain in Gameweek 10? Haaland will likely still be the top choice for most, and going against him is a bit of a gamble. But with risk comes reward—picking a different captain who scores big while Haaland doesn’t could boost your rank a lot.
Here are three great captain options if you want to try someone else:
One standout player to think about is Calafiori. He’s been among the best so far this season, racking up 51 points with one goal, two assists, and five clean sheets. In Gameweek 10, he faces Hull City at the Emirates—a fixture that should bring him lots of points, especially since he was rested during the Champions League midweek. Arsenal have the best chances for a clean sheet (60%) and are expected to score the most goals (2.7) this week. Calafiori is ranked 5th among defenders for expected goal involvement (2.22). His teammate Gabriel Magalhaes is also a good captain pick because of his set-piece threat and defensive contributions, but Calafiori’s attacking style makes him stand out.
Another strong option is Isak, who’s been scoring really well this season with six goals in eight games and averaging 6.6 FPL points per match. He faces Crystal Palace, one of the easiest teams right now as they’ve conceded the most goals (21) and shots inside the box, with the worst expected goals against. Isak was rested at the start of the week during the Champions League and came on to score later, so he should be fresh and ready to start on Sunday. Plus, he’s owned by less than 25% of managers, so captaining him could really move your rank up.
There are also other players worth considering as outside picks. Chelsea play Sunderland, so both Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers could score well. Meanwhile, De Cuyper, despite facing Brentford in a tougher match, is always a threat to haul given his great form.
So, while Haaland looks like the safe bet, don’t be afraid to take a chance on another captain this week!