Gameweek 9 · deadline Sat, 31 Oct 2026 11:00 GMT · updated Tue, 27 Oct 2026 17:05 GMT
FPL captain for Gameweek 9: Haaland is the top pick
Captain Haaland in Gameweek 9: our model gives 7.0 expected points against BHA (H), which is 14.1 with the armband. Next best are Tavernier (5.2) and Silva (5.1). The gap between the top picks is often small, so ownership matters too: picking the popular captain protects your rank, a lower-owned captain can win you places.
Top 10 FPL captain picks, GW9
| # | Player | GW9 opponent | Exp. pts | As captain | Owned |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Haaland MCI · FWD | BHA (H) | 7.0 | 14.1 | 78.1% |
| 2 | Tavernier BOU · MID | LEE (H) | 5.2 | 10.4 | 18.4% |
| 3 | Silva BOU · DEF | LEE (H) | 5.1 | 10.2 | 0.9% |
| 4 | Mbeumo MUN · MID | CHE (A) | 5.1 | 10.1 | 21.6% |
| 5 | Palmer CHE · MID | MUN (H) | 5.0 | 10.1 | 27.5% |
| 6 | Gabriel ARS · DEF | LIV (A) | 5.0 | 10.0 | 22.5% |
| 7 | Hill BOU · DEF | LEE (H) | 4.7 | 9.4 | 1.4% |
| 8 | Thiago BRE · FWD | NFO (H) | 4.6 | 9.2 | 8.8% |
| 9 | Rudoni COV · MID | SUN (H) | 4.6 | 9.1 | 0.6% |
| 10 | Barry EVE · FWD | NEW (A) | 4.6 | 9.1 | 7.4% |
Players flagged by FPL with less than a 75% chance of playing are left out. See FPL injuries.
How we rank captains
Each player's expected points come from our projection model: how many minutes he is likely to play, his expected goals and assists against this opponent, clean-sheet chances for defenders and goalkeepers, saves, bonus and defensive contribution points. The captain scores double, so a small lead in expected points becomes a bigger lead with the armband. In a double gameweek both matches are added together, which is why players with two fixtures often jump up the list.
Popular or different?
Haaland is owned by 78.1% of managers. If most of your mini-league captains him, choosing him protects you; choosing someone else is a bet that can win or lose you a lot of ground in one weekend. The free FPL planner picks the captain for your own XI and has a safe-or-bold setting in Pro.
Questions
Who is the best FPL captain for Gameweek 9?
Erling Haaland, with 7.0 expected points before doubling.
Should I pick a differential captain?
Only if you need to gain ground. A captain few managers own swings your rank more, in both directions.
What about the vice-captain?
Pick the second name on the list who plays in a different match, so one postponement does not hit both. This week that is often Marcus Tavernier.
Is triple captain worth it this week?
Triple captain is best in a week where your top pick has a double gameweek or a very soft fixture. The free planner can test it on your own team.