Part of our Rate My FPL Team guide
Captain Matrix GW5
Ranked captaincy options by form, reliability, ownership pressure, and fixture quality.
For Gameweek 5, Groß leads the captain matrix with a composite score of 63.8, combining elite form, strong points-per-game returns, and a favourable fixture rated at FDR 3. Close behind are Tarkowski (52.3) and Schade (50.6), offering viable alternatives depending on your risk appetite and mini-league position. The matrix below ranks 30 outfield players who have logged at least 200 minutes this season, filtering out goalkeepers and unavailable assets to focus on realistic captaincy options.
| Rank | Player | Club | Pos | Fixture | FDR | Form | Pts/G | Owned | Captain Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Groß |
 BHA |
Midfielder |  SUN (A) |
3 | 15.5 | 9.4 | 30.1% | 63.8 |
| 2 |  Tarkowski |
 EVE |
Defender |  HUL (A) |
2 | 11.0 | 8.6 | 17.0% | 52.3 |
| 3 |  Schade |
 BRE |
Midfielder |  AVL (A) |
3 | 12.0 | 7.8 | 12.3% | 50.6 |
| 4 |  Haaland |
 MCI |
Forward |  LIV (A) |
4 | 7.5 | 7.8 | 73.9% | 44.6 |
| 5 |  De Cuyper |
BHA |
Defender | SUN (A) |
3 | 8.5 | 7.6 | 28.3% | 43.7 |
| 6 |  Bogle |
 LEE |
Defender |  ARS (A) |
5 | 10.0 | 8.4 | 7.5% | 43.2 |
| 7 |  João Pedro |
 CHE |
Forward |  BOU (H) |
3 | 6.0 | 8.2 | 64.5% | 42.9 |
| 8 |  Semenyo |
MCI |
Midfielder | LIV (A) |
4 | 10.0 | 6.6 | 15.0% | 42.0 |
| 9 |  Kostoulas |
BHA |
Forward | SUN (A) |
3 | 10.0 | 5.6 | 4.9% | 40.6 |
| 10 |  Schuster |
BRE |
Defender | AVL (A) |
3 | 8.5 | 7.0 | 0.4% | 39.7 |
| 11 |  Gvardiol |
MCI |
Defender | LIV (A) |
4 | 7.5 | 7.4 | 26.9% | 39.1 |
| 12 |  Belloumi |
HUL |
Midfielder | EVE (H) |
3 | 8.5 | 6.2 | 5.3% | 38.5 |
| 13 |  Mykolenko |
EVE |
Defender | HUL (A) |
2 | 8.0 | 5.4 | 4.1% | 37.4 |
| 14 |  Hall |
 NEW |
Defender |  COV (A) |
2 | 6.5 | 6.2 | 17.8% | 37.0 |
| 15 |  Brobbey |
SUN |
Forward | BHA (H) |
3 | 9.0 | 4.8 | 6.8% | 36.9 |
| 16 |  Davis |
 IPS |
Defender |  FUL (H) |
2 | 8.0 | 5.0 | 7.1% | 36.8 |
| 17 |  Vuskovic |
BHA |
Defender | SUN (A) |
3 | 7.0 | 6.4 | 3.8% | 35.3 |
| 18 |  Branthwaite |
EVE |
Defender | HUL (A) |
2 | 7.0 | 5.4 | 2.5% | 34.9 |
| 19 |  Emersonn |
IPS |
Forward | FUL (H) |
2 | 7.0 | 5.2 | 3.7% | 34.6 |
| 20 |  Virgil |
LIV |
Defender | MCI (H) |
4 | 8.0 | 5.0 | 16.2% | 34.1 |
| 21 |  Rogers |
CHE |
Midfielder | BOU (H) |
3 | 5.0 | 5.8 | 41.0% | 33.2 |
| 22 |  Cunha |
 MUN |
Midfielder |  TOT (H) |
2 | 6.0 | 5.2 | 5.8% | 32.5 |
| 23 |  Barnes |
NEW |
Midfielder | COV (A) |
2 | 5.5 | 5.6 | 6.0% | 32.2 |
| 24 |  Saka |
ARS |
Midfielder | LEE (H) |
3 | 5.0 | 6.4 | 14.4% | 31.8 |
| 25 |  Jacquet |
LIV |
Defender | MCI (H) |
4 | 7.5 | 4.8 | 3.5% | 31.3 |
| 26 |  Isak |
LIV |
Forward | MCI (H) |
4 | 5.0 | 6.6 | 21.9% | 31.2 |
| 27 |  Dasilva |
COV |
Defender | NEW (H) |
3 | 7.5 | 4.0 | 0.7% | 31.1 |
| 28 |  Cherki |
MCI |
Midfielder | LIV (A) |
4 | 4.5 | 6.8 | 28.5% | 31.1 |
| 29 |  Dunk |
BHA |
Defender | SUN (A) |
3 | 6.0 | 5.5 | 1.5% | 30.9 |
| 30 |  Calafiori |
ARS |
Defender | LEE (H) |
3 | 3.5 | 5.8 | 50.6% | 30.7 |
How This Works
The captain score is calculated as (form × 2.3) + (points per game × 2.1) + (ownership × 0.1) + (FDR boost × 1.8), where FDR boost equals 6 minus the fixture difficulty rating. Form (weighted at 2.3x) captures recent performance over the last 5 gameweeks. Points per game (2.1x) rewards season-long consistency. Ownership (0.1x) adds a small premium for highly-owned players who carry captaincy risk if you do not captain them. The FDR boost (1.8x) tilts the score toward players with easier upcoming fixtures. Only outfield players with more than 200 minutes played are eligible. Data is sourced from the official FPL API.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the best FPL captain for GW5?
What is the FPL captain matrix?
Who are the safe captain options for GW5?
Who are the differential captain picks for GW5?
Should I captain a midfielder or forward in GW5?
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