the Best FPL Gameweek 36 Captains

With Man City and Crystal Palace both doubling up and Villa rotation risk lurking in the background, the FPL captaincy GW36 decision is pretty straightforward. There are around 3 or 4 options this week and the chances are most teams will have at least 3 of them. Make sure you check out our Predicted Line-Ups hub before locking anything in. Without further ado, let’s get stuck into the best Gameweek 36 Captains.

 

1. Erling Haaland vs Brentford (H) & Crystal Palace (H) – The Safe Pick

Let’s not dance around it, the Haaland captain choice is the bedrock of any sensible GW36 strategy. At 62.7% ownership, ignoring him while he bags a brace across two home fixtures is the kind of week that ends mini-league campaigns. With 25 goals, 7 assists, and an xGI of 26.11 this season, Haaland is simply the most reliable points machine in the game, and now he has two chances to deliver.

Guardiola’s rotation concerns are real, but with City now locked into a title race, it is hard to see a world where Haaland doesn’t get the lions share of minutes. Especially in the league. It is much more plausible to imagine a world where he starts both games but maybe gets a slightly earlier sub in the second game to prepare for the FA Cup final. Even if Haaland was playing only one game he’d still be an elite captaincy option so the fact he is playing 1+ should be all the doubt quelling anyone needs.

 

2. Rayan Cherki vs Brentford (H) & Crystal Palace (H) – Best Differential

Here’s the Cherki differential case, and it is a compelling one. Cherki now has 5 returns in his last 5 matches at an xGI clip of 0.65 xGI per 90 over that stretch. He seems to be the go-to man when City need a moment of magic and honestly looks like one of the best 10s in the world right now. Minutes are always a concern but like Haaland, he seems to integral to their success at the moment that it is hard not to picture him getting substantial minutes in both games.

Palace will also be doing plenty of rotating themselves given their European fixture this week. Which could present in even more opportunity for  City side currently chasing the Premier League.

 

3. Nico O’Reilly vs Brentford (H) & Crystal Palace (H) – The Super Differential

Nico O’Reilly slots in at three for a simple reason, he shares Haaland and Cherki’s double gameweek fixtures but naturally doesn’t quite have the attacking ceiling of either. However, that is not to say that he doesn’t, with his attacking prowess on full display in recent weeks. He has 7 returns in his last 11 games and all at an xGI per 90 of 0.58. Truly remarkable numbers for a player listed as a defender.

O’Reilly is a great differential option, especially if you back City’s chances to keep a clean sheet. However, with City slightly behind Arsenal on goal difference and their somewhat leaky performance against Everton, I would lean slightly more towards City being involved in high scoring affairs than low ones. Especially against a high calibre attack like Brentford.

 

4. Antoine Semenyo vs Brentford (H) & Crystal Palace (H)

Right now, Semenyo is the riskiest City captaincy option out of the big boys. Despite the fact I do believe he will play in both games. He did see some rotation in the FA Cup, where the likes of Cherki did not. He also is in the worst form of all the 3. Averaging just 0.26 xGI in his last 5 in the league to go with his 5 blanks in a row. City have plenty of options at that spot including Phil Foden who has just signed a new contract.

If any of these City big boys will be rotated, Semenyo is the strongest candidate given his FA Cup rotation and form.

 

5. Maxence Lacroix – Palace Defensive Double

Here’s the key piece of context on Maxence Lacroix, he is the only Crystal Palace outfield player who looks nailed to start both games in their double gameweek 36. Palace’s rotation risk across the rest of their squad is a genuine concern (more on that below), but Lacroix’s defensive consistency and Defcon potential, land him in ok stead as an outsider in the captaincy race. Even though they are subjected to rotate, Palace’s defence is no joke. conceding the 3rd least goals in the league all season. So do not count clean sheets out of the realms of possibility.

His appeal is volume rather than explosive upside, two clean sheet shots, potential set-piece involvement, and the kind of steady defcon accumulation that can sneak you a very decent score. He could provide a very cheeky differential route if Palace go heavy for Shaktar, rest big players for Everton, then return big players for City. Although with not much to play for in the league this is unlikely.

 

6. Dean Henderson – Same Story As Lacroix

Dean Henderson mirrors the Lacroix logic almost exactly, the Crystal Palace goalkeeper expected to feature in both GW36 fixtures, giving him double clean sheet potential and save points across two games. For a goalkeeper captain, that’s about as good as it gets this week.

He’s ranked sixth rather than higher because goalkeeper captains are inherently lower ceiling, but if you’re a Henderson owner in a defensive-heavy squad, he’s a perfectly sensible armband option for the Crystal Palace doublers. Not least given he will almost definitely be starting both games.

 

7. Danny Welbeck vs Wolves (H) – Outside Shot

Welbeck is the outside shot of the week, Brighton host Wolves in GW36, and his recent form has been ticking over nicely. It’s a favourable home fixture against a side with little to play for, and Welbeck’s presence in the box always gives him a fighting chance of a return.

He ranks seventh because it’s a single gameweek fixture, and in a week with five doublers on offer, that’s a significant limitation. He’s the pick for those who really want an outsider and are super scared of Palace and City rotation for their packed fixture schedules.

The Villa Warning

One final note before you lock in your armband, Villa rotation risk is very real this week, despite the Burnley fixture. Aston Villa are expected to rotate heavily in GW36, which makes any of their assets deeply unreliable for captaincy purposes regardless of underlying quality of fixture. However tempting Villa’s premium players look on paper, this is a week to look firmly elsewhere. The full rotation risk guide covers this in detail if you want to stress-test your squad.

Make sure you check out our Predicted Line-Ups and Team News hub before finalising your GW36 captaincy decision, City’s XI confirmation in particular will be crucial.

 

Check out our Game Week Tips section for more GW36 content.