FPL Captaincy Conundrum: Gameweek 21

The Hard Tackle lists the five best options to consider for the captain’s armband heading into FPL Gameweek 21 of the 2025/26 season.

FPL managers love a good headache, and Gameweek 21 delivers exactly that. With several premium attackers facing obliging defences, the armband could go in a few different directions without feeling reckless. This is one of those weeks where going “safe” and going “punty” can both be justified, depending on how much ground needs to be made up in mini-leagues.

The fixtures themselves almost invite aggressive captaincy. Manchester City host a Brighton & Hove Albion side that have turned chaos into an art form, Newcastle United welcome an adventurous Leeds United team, and Fulham take on a Chelsea defence that has not always mirrored their league position. Add Aston Villa’s clash with an inconsistent Crystal Palace and Manchester United’s meeting with a Burnley unit that leak chances, and the board is set for a high‑ceiling week.

This is also the point in the season where FPL rank starts to harden a little. Those who have lived in the top 100k for months often default to Erling Haaland and move on, while chasers begin to eye explosive differentials to flip their fortunes. The trick in Gameweek 21 is to understand that the “template” captain is appealing for very real statistical reasons, but several alternative armband candidates have both the form and fixture to genuinely rival him.

So, instead of just listing a safe top pick and a couple of wild punts, this piece dives into five standout options: Erling Haaland, Bruno Guimaraes, Harry Wilson, Morgan Rogers, and Matheus Cunha. Each of them has a strong case built on recent output, underlying numbers, and the specific weaknesses of their Gameweek 21 opponents.

Erling Haaland: the evergreen default

When the captaincy conversation starts, it almost always begins with Erling Haaland, and Gameweek 21 is no exception. Manchester City’s star striker has already hit 19 goals in 20 Premier League appearances this season, sitting just under a goal a game at 0.98 strikes per 90 minutes. He has split his haul fairly evenly between home and away, with 11 of those goals coming at the Etihad, underlining how routinely he punishes visiting sides.

The Gameweek 21 fixture is the big kicker. Brighton’s reputation for brave, expansive football has increasingly come with a defensive bill to pay; their high line and aggressive build‑up regularly leave space in behind for direct runners and penalty‑box predators. Across recent outings, they have been involved in high‑scoring contests, conceding bundles of chances and often failing to protect leads or shut down pressure.

A side that invites pressing and risks turnovers in deep areas is precisely the sort of opponent Manchester City love to dissect, and Haaland’s movement between centre‑backs is made for those slipped passes and cut‑backs.

Put simply, Haaland offers the classic FPL captain profile: elite volume of shots, penalties, relentless minutes, and a home fixture against a team that defends with courage but not always control. For managers looking to protect rank or avoid overthinking the armband, he remains the most sensible, low‑risk route in Gameweek 21.

Bruno Guimaraes: the home‑comforts gamble

If Haaland is the safe door, Bruno Guimaraes is the intriguing side entrance for managers chasing upside. Newcastle United’s Brazilian playmaker has quietly put together a very productive campaign, contributing to over 10 goals and hauling 106 FPL points so far. He has already collected 17 bonus points while crossing the five‑point threshold in six different matches, underlining how often he converts decent performances into meaningful fantasy returns.

Crucially, Guimaraes has been a different animal at St. James’ Park. In home fixtures this season he has averaged roughly 7.3 FPL points per game, driven by a blend of goals, assists and bonus‑friendly all‑round numbers such as key passes and defensive work.

The Magpies, as a team, have also been strong going forward recently while ranking among the league’s best for shots and expected goals over that stretch. That combination of team volume and individual importance makes him a genuine captaincy candidate whenever the home fixture is right.

Leeds United, for all their resurgent form, provide exactly the kind of opponent that can make Bruno shine. Their return to the top flight has been built on front‑foot pressing, but it has also left them exposed, with defensive frailties still visible despite an improved points tally. They concede plenty of shots and space between the lines, inviting technically secure midfielders to dictate tempo and slip attackers into dangerous areas.

Guimaraes’s tendency to arrive at the edge of the box, shoot from medium range and thread passes into runners means he will see plenty of the ball in these zones. On top of this, his all‑action style often yields DEFCON-enabled auxiliary points (bonus and clean‑sheet potential) when Newcastle United control games, which increases his captaincy appeal beyond just goals and assists.

For FPL managers who want a captain with a high ceiling, strong home form and a fixture against a defence that can be dragged around by clever midfield play, the Brazilian is a compelling alternative to the usual suspects.

Harry Wilson: exploiting Chelsea’s cracks

Chelsea sit high up the table, but the badge is doing more defensive heavy lifting than the back line at times. Their season has been punctuated by lapses in concentration, chaotic spells, and a tendency to concede in clusters when games turn against them. Even in matches they have dominated territorially, the Blues have struggled to keep things truly tight, often giving up good chances in transition or from wide areas.

That is exactly where Harry Wilson comes into the picture for Gameweek 21. The Fulham winger has been one of their most productive attacking outlets this season, having been in the form of his life while sitting among the team’s leaders for shots on target and passes into the box. His 2025/26 numbers show a player who is heavily involved whenever Fulham build attacks down his flank, mixing set‑piece threat with open‑play creativity.

Wilson’s recent form adds fuel to the argument. Against a Chelsea side that can be opened up by quick switches of play and runners attacking the far post, his left‑footed deliveries and late runs into the box feel especially relevant.

From an FPL perspective, Wilson also benefits from being slightly under the radar compared to the bigger names discussed here. His combination of set‑pieces, direct goal threat and a high‑profile but fragile opponent gives him a double‑digit haul profile if Fulham have one of their better attacking nights. For managers in need of a differential who still offers logical numbers‑based backing, he deserves serious consideration.

Morgan Rogers: Aston Villa’s live‑wire in a soft fixture

Crystal Palace find themselves in that awkward middle ground: not a disaster, but far from watertight. Their season has been defined by swings in performance, where disciplined, compact outings are followed by games in which they concede multiple goals and cannot cope with sustained pressure. That inconsistency, particularly away from a deep defensive shell, makes them a tempting target for attackers from more fluid, high‑tempo sides.

Aston Villa, powered by Morgan Rogers, are exactly that. Rogers has become a central figure in Villa’s attack, with his 2025/26 numbers showing heavy goal contributions and multiple double‑digit goal contributions so far. Recent match logs tell the same story: multiple braces, several games with five or more shots, and a steady stream of chances either finished by him or created for teammates.

The key with Rogers is his influence in the final third rather than just his headline numbers. He drifts into central zones, attacks the half‑spaces and happily runs at defenders, forcing mistakes and drawing fouls in dangerous areas. That also suggests why he is popular in the market, with Chelsea and Liverpool among his suitors.

Crystal Palace’s habit of switching off when play is recycled, combined with their struggles to track runners from wide positions, suits his movement perfectly. If aston Villa establish control and pin them back, Rogers is likely to be on the end of cut‑backs, second balls and broken‑play chances.

For FPL managers, he offers an exciting blend of form, fixture and centrality to his team’s attacking plan. Rogers already has several big individual hauls this season and looks set for further spikes whenever Villa face mid‑table opponents who do not sit too deep. Gameweek 21 against an up‑and‑down Palace side ticks that box, making him one of the most appealing “non‑template” captaincy plays.

Matheus Cunha: Manchester United’s new spearhead vs Burnley

Burnley’s name alone is enough to spark FPL memories of tough, low‑scoring scraps, but this version of Burnley is very different. Their attempts to play a more progressive brand of football have often left them exposed, and their defensive record reflects a team still adjusting to the demands of the league. They concede a lot of territory, allow too many shots, and rarely look completely comfortable when forced to defend in and around their own box for long spells.

That sets the scene nicely for Matheus Cunha, whose move to Manchester United has given the attack a new focal point. Across the current campaign he has five league goals, with underlying metrics showing more than four expected goals and over 50 shots, indicating that his actual return could easily have been higher.

Recent weeks have been especially encouraging: Cunha has scored three times in his last five league outings and has been posting strong match ratings around the 8‑out‑of‑10 mark. His shot map shows a healthy spread of efforts inside the penalty area, reflecting a forward regularly getting on the end of moves rather than snatching at low‑quality chances from distance.

Manchester United themselves have become far more dangerous going forward since the summer rebuild in attack, which included Cunha alongside other high‑profile signings. The Brazilian’s work rate, hold‑up play and willingness to drop in and link moves make him central to almost every serious attack, and that influence is vital when assessing captaincy candidates.

Against a Burnley side that struggle when dragged around and forced to defend quick passes into their box, Cunha’s blend of movement and physicality looks like a tough match‑up for their centre‑backs.

For FPL, the picture is simple: recent goals, solid underlying shot volume, and a home fixture against one of the weaker defences in the division. Managers willing to step away from the usual Haaland‑centric armband approach could find Cunha delivering exactly the kind of double‑digit haul that transforms a gameweek.

Key FPL captaincy options at a glance

Honourable mentions

A week this rich in attacking fixtures inevitably throws up other names who could reward brave managers. Morgan Gibbs‑White, a transfer suggestion heading into Gameweek 21, continues to be the creative heartbeat for Nottingham Forest and can explode when their counter‑attacking game clicks. Enzo Fernandez’s role at Chelsea is evolving, and his share of set‑pieces keeps him in the conversation for those who like a left‑field shout.

Jarrod Bowen rarely goes more than a couple of games without a return for West Ham United, and he has long been one of the Premier League’s most reliable wide forwards. Tijjani Reijnders brings late‑run threat from midfield and is increasingly influential in his side’s attacking patterns.

Benjamin Sesko, meanwhile, offers explosive, low‑owned appeal as a goals‑first striker still finding his full rhythm in England, and Ollie Watkins remains a proven Premier League scorer capable of punishing any defence on his day.

In a gameweek loaded with strong options, the armband choice comes down to appetite for risk. Haaland is the sensible play, but for those looking to change their season in one swing, Bruno Guimaraes, Harry Wilson, Morgan Rogers, or Matheus Cunha all have the form and fixtures to turn FPL Gameweek 21 into a statement.