The Hard Tackle lists the five best options to consider for the captain’s armband heading into FPL Gameweek 19 of the 2025/26 season.
In Gameweek 19, Erling Haaland feels like the default FPL captain, but the landscape is wider than usual, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Matheus Cunha, Nick Woltemade, and Hugo Ekitike all carrying genuine “haul” potential in favourable match-ups. The choice comes down to how much risk a manager is willing to take against a backdrop of tired legs, tricky fixtures and some brittle back lines across the league.
Setting the FPL Gameweek 19 stage
Gameweek 19 drops right in the middle of the festive crunch, when squads are rotated, presses get a yard slower, and even well-drilled defences start to creak. Manchester City travel to Sunderland, Leeds United face Liverpool, Manchester United host Wolverhampton Wanderers, Newcastle United meet Burnley, and Liverpool host Leeds United, giving FPL managers a mix of premium and mid-priced captaincy options in games that all carry attacking promise.
Managers are not just chasing the best player, but the best combination of form, fixtures and fatigue management. Another layer this week is the number of forwards and “forward‑like” midfielders in form at the same time.
Haaland remains high on the scoring charts, but Ekitike, Woltemade, and Calvert-Lewin are all near the top of the goal lists this season, while Cunha has quietly put together a very productive campaign in a new role at Old Trafford. That creates a rare scenario where going against the obvious pick is not just a desperate punt, but a calculated play with genuine upside.
The fixtures themselves invite aggression. Sunderland’s numbers show a side that defends deep, concedes pressure and relies heavily on last-ditch actions. Wolverhampton Wanderers and Burnley have both struggled for control in their own halves, allowing more shots and dangerous entries than teams around them. Leeds United’s improvement has largely been on the ball; off the ball, their structure still leaves space for a sharp, mobile striker to exploit.
In this context, the five FPL captaincy candidates stand out for slightly different reasons. Haaland offers sheer reliability, Calvert-Lewin brings form and talisman status, Cunha offers a midfield slot with forward output, Woltemade comes with a “flat-track bully” appeal, and Ekitike combines hot form with a leaky opponent in Leeds United.
Erling Haaland: the permanent FPL safety net
Even in a season where others have occasionally stolen headlines, Erling Haaland continues to set the pace in front of goal for Manchester City. In the 2025/26 league campaign, he has already scored 19 times in 18 appearances, maintaining a goals‑per‑game rate that very few in Premier League history can match over a sustained period.
Recent weeks underline that he is nowhere near cooling off, even though he blanked against Nottingham Forest. That consistency is why Haaland appears in virtually every serious captaincy discussion. In his last ten Premier League fixtures, he has blanked only a handful of times, with explosive returns in the others that can single‑handedly swing mini‑leagues.
Manchester City’s system is also built to feed him; his non‑penalty expected goals per 90 and shot volume both rank near the very top of the division, and he adds a sprinkling of assists to keep his floor high even when he does not explode. All of this combines to make him the “shield” pick: the captain who might not always outscore everyone else in a given week, but who will punish those who ignore him when the floodgates open.
On paper, an away trip to Sunderland is not the softest fixture Manchester City could ask for. The newly-promoted side have made a surprisingly solid start, losing only four of their first 18 Premier League matches and sitting mid-table on the back of disciplined defensive efforts. They rank among the best in the division for blocks and tackles in their own third, and their average of around one goal conceded per game underlines that this is not a side being routinely cut apart. At home, they have been tighter still, letting in fewer than a goal a match on average at the Stadium of Light.
But those same numbers hint at why Haaland can still thrive here. Sunderland are having to make so many defensive actions precisely because they spend long spells without the ball, absorbing pressure deep in their half. Over time, that kind of rearguard inevitably gives up chances, especially against an opponent like Manchester City who recycle possession and probe until a gap appears. That is exactly the scenario in which Haaland tends to rack up both chances and points.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin: riding the Leeds United wave
Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s move to Leeds United has been a timely career reset, and the numbers show he has embraced the responsibility of leading the line. In the 2025/26 Premier League season he has scored eight goals from 34 shots, outperforming a non‑penalty xG of just under six, and establishing himself as one of the most efficient centre‑forwards in the competition.
His work in the box stands out: 17 shots on target, strong aerial presence and double‑digit chances created despite being the primary finisher, all of which translate neatly into Fantasy points. Form is on his side as well.
Over his most recent run of Premier League games, he has been heavily involved, clocking more than 1,100 minutes and contributing goals in key wins and high‑scoring draws for Leeds United. In FPL terms, he feels like one of those strikers who can pick up six to nine points in an “ordinary” performance and is capable of a brace if the match tilts in Leeds United’s favour.
The case for Calvert-Lewin as captain is not just about his own output, but also about the opponent. Liverpool have been in excellent form in terms of results, but their defence has shown enough vulnerabilities to keep opposing attackers interested. While the raw goals‑against column is not disastrous, Liverpool have conceded in several recent matches, often from situations where their high defensive line has been caught by direct balls or clever movement.
A striker like Calvert-Lewin, who is strong in the air and happy attacking early crosses, is well placed to exploit that. If Leeds United can force transitions or put quality deliveries into the box, there is a clear route to Calvert-Lewin leaving Gameweek 19 with double‑digit points, making him a high‑upside alternative to the usual premium options.
Matheus Cunha: midfield slot, forward output
Matheus Cunha’s move from Wolves to Manchester United has given him a larger platform, and he has responded with a steady stream of contributions in the final third. In the Premier League this season he has three goals and one assist in 15 appearances, racking up over 1,100 minutes and posting strong match ratings in recent weeks.
His underlying data shows why FPL managers should pay attention. Cunha has one of the highest shot volumes among forwards in recent seasons, and he remains involved in set-pieces, which boosts both his goal and assist potential.
Manchester United as a team have been inconsistent, swinging from heavy‑scoring draws to frustrating defeats. Yet across his last five league matches, Cunha has rarely gone missing, delivering influential performances versus Wolves, Bournemouth, Aston Villa, and Newcastle United.
In FPL terms, his classification as a midfielder (while playing a very advanced role) adds extra value, since every goal is worth more and clean‑sheet points are a bonus on days when Manchester United do keep things tight at the back. The fixture adds another layer of appeal.
Wolves, Cunha’s former club, have struggled without him, particularly in defensive organisation. Their season has been marked by matches where they concede multiple goals, often allowing opponents too much space between the lines and failing to protect the centre‑backs from runners from deep. Those weaknesses suit Cunha’s movement.
Manchester United’s own volatility means there is always some risk, but that is largely baked into a captaincy pick who is capable of big hauls when the game opens up. For managers wanting to use the midfield slot rather than a forward on their armband, Cunha offers a blend of fixture, role, and underlying numbers that is hard to ignore.
Nick Woltemade: the emerging finisher
Nick Woltemade has quietly become one of the most effective penalty‑box strikers in the Premier League this season. For Newcastle United in 2025/26, he has seven league goals and one assist, with 21 shots on target and an expected‑goals tally a little over six, showing he is not just getting on the end of half‑chances but consistently finding high‑quality opportunities.
This productivity has come in just 14 matches, a scoring rate that places him close to the top of the Premier League’s scoring charts behind only the very elite names. He may not yet carry the brand power of a Haaland, but his eight direct goal involvements show that when Newcastle United create, he is usually at the centre of it.
For FPL managers, that translates into an attractive mid‑priced captaincy differential: a player with a strong ceiling who is likely owned by far fewer rivals. Newcastle’s trip to face Burnley is exactly the sort of fixture that suits Woltemade. He thrives on crosses, cutbacks and quick attacks after turnovers, all of which are areas where Burnley have looked vulnerable.
If Newcastle United can assert control and pin Burnley back, Woltemade could see a high volume of chances, making him a strong candidate for a surprise brace and, therefore, a bold but justifiable FPL captaincy pick.
Hugo Ekitike: form plus fixture
Among the chasing pack behind the very top scorer, Hugo Ekitike has been one of the standout strikers in the division for Liverpool. In the 2025/26 Premier League season, he has eight goals and two assists in 17 appearances, placing him in the top handful of scorers and giving him a goal involvement in well over half of his league outings. This form has not come in less time either.
Ekitike has been involved in important matches across domestic and European competitions, and his underlying stats support the idea that this is sustainable rather than a hot streak from limited touches. With Liverpool still a high‑volume attacking side, his role as their line‑leading forward gives him multiple routes to FPL points: goals, assists, bonus points, and the occasional double‑digit haul when the attack clicks.
What really elevates Ekitike into the captaincy conversation this week is the match-up. Leeds United, for all their attacking improvement and energetic pressing, remain vulnerable without the ball. Recent matches have seen them concede in end‑to‑end games, and their defensive record over the season is that of a mid‑table side that can be cut open by elite forwards.
Liverpool at Anfield against this kind of opponent is traditionally a recipe for chances, and Ekitike is ideally placed to reap the rewards. Leeds United’s aggressive approach can leave pockets of space between centre‑backs and full‑backs, exactly where a quick, sharp striker can dart to receive through balls or low crosses.
If Liverpool get on top early, Ekitike could be looking at one of those afternoons where he collects returns even before the hour mark, making him a high‑reward armband option for managers ready to chase upside.
Key FPL captaincy options at a glance
| Player | Club | Opponent (GW19) | Main appeal | Risk level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erling Haaland | Manchester City | Sunderland (A) | Elite goalscorer with 19 goals in 18 games and huge xG volume. | Low |
| Dominic Calvert-Lewin | Leeds United | Liverpool (A) | Eight league goals and focal point of an improving attack. | Medium |
| Matheus Cunha | Manchester United | Wolves (H) | High shot volume, advanced role and facing a leaky former club. | Medium |
| Nick Woltemade | Newcastle United | Burnley (A) | Seven goals, two assists and strong finishing against an inconsistent defence. | Medium–High |
| Hugo Ekitike | Liverpool | Leeds United (H) | Eight league goals, in hot form and up against an open backline. | Medium |
Honourable mentions
A few other names deserve at least a passing thought, even if they sit a tier below the main five. Lewis Hall has continued his rise at Newcastle United, contributing at both ends of the pitch and offering attacking threat from left‑back or midfield, which in some formats makes him a cheeky defensive armband shout. Patrick Dorgu has impressed with his energy and forward runs from full‑back, adding a bit of creative spark and the odd attacking return from defence.
In midfield, Phil Foden remains a reliable source of goals and assists for Manchester City, building on a 2025/26 campaign where he has already contributed in both domestic and European competitions. Rayan Cherki and Florian Wirtz both bring flair and end product in advanced roles, with Wirtz in particular continuing to rack up goal involvements for club and country.
Finally, Joao Pedro’s versatility and penalty‑taking duties keep him on the radar; even when starting wider or slightly deeper, he finds ways to get shots away and influence the scoreline. For most managers, these names will remain strong FPL differentials rather than captaincy favourites in Gameweek 19, but they are worth tracking as the season’s Fantasy narrative continues to twist and turn.