Understanding Captaincy in Fantasy Premier League (FPL)

Our FPL: The Basics page provides all the essential information you need, including guides for complete beginners and tips for managers aiming to gain an edge to win their mini-leagues.

For tips on the best players and team reveals, visit our Latest Content section. While loads of our information is free, our best tools - including the Elite Team Reveal and AI recommended transfers - are available exclusively to fantasy football fix Premium members.

Get fantasy football fix Premium – check out the latest offers now!

Making the right captaincy choice in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) is crucial for a successful season. Each gameweek, the player you designate as captain will have their points doubled, making this decision one of the most important in FPL strategy.

The Importance of Your Captain in FPL

Selecting the correct captain can significantly impact your FPL performance. When your captain scores well, your team benefits greatly. Therefore, it's essential to choose the player who you believe will score the highest points that gameweek. If your captain starts on the bench but gets substituted into the game, the points they earn during their time on the field will still be doubled. Remember, you cannot assign the captaincy to a player who is on your bench.

Projected points for your captain and vice-captain for an upcoming gameweek can be viewed on in the Future Planner tool.

How the Vice-Captain Works in FPL

Your vice-captain plays a backup role in FPL. If your captain does not play at all in a gameweek, the points scored by your vice-captain will be doubled instead. This role is often overlooked, but it's essential to set your vice-captain every week as unexpected events can cause players to miss games. Like the captain, the vice-captain cannot be a player on your bench.

What Happens If Neither Captain Plays?

If both your captain and vice-captain do not play (for instance, if their games are postponed), you will receive zero points from both positions for that gameweek. Ensuring you have active players as captain and vice-captain is key to maximising your points potential in FPL.

If you're unsure about whom to give the captain's armband to, the Assistant Manager can help. It uses an algorithm to project your two highest-scoring players for you.