The international break is behind us, and it’s time to dust off those fantasy manager hats once again. Gameweek 4 brings a number of intriguing fixtures, and with them, some standout captaincy options worth considering. Let’s dive into a few top contenders for the armband this week.
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Jean-Philippe Mateta (£7.5m, Crystal Palace v Sunderland)
Mateta heads into back-to-back fixtures against Sunderland and West Ham with momentum on his side, offering FPL managers a tempting mid-priced forward option.
He’s already found the net three times across all competitions
this season, most recently scoring in Palace’s 3-0 win over Aston Villa.
In terms of underlying stats, Mateta stands well clear of his teammates, with six shots and four shots on target over the opening three gameweeks, both at least double that of any other Palace player.
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Joao Pedro (£7.7m, Brentford v Chelsea)
Joao Pedro has made an impressive start to the season, repaying early interest with four goal contributions in the first three gameweeks, the highest in the league so far.
The absence of Liam Delap due to a hamstring injury could further solidify Pedro’s place in the starting XI, especially after completing the full 90 minutes in both GW 2 and 3.
With fixtures against Brentford, Manchester United, and Brighton coming up, he’s quickly becoming a near-essential option for FPL managers looking to strengthen their forward line, and he could be an great GW4 captain with a fixture against Brentford.
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Bruno Fernandes (£9.0m, Man City v Man Utd)
Despite having just one goal, through a penalty, Fernandes has been a standout creative force, leading all FPL players with 12 chances created over the first three gameweeks.
The new defensive contribution points have also added to his appeal, with the Portuguese midfielder earning bonus returns from this metric in two of the three matches.
Looking ahead, Fernandes could prove a valuable differential gameweek four captain in the Manchester derby. He’s enjoyed a strong recent record against City, with three goals and three assists in his last eight appearances against them across all competitions.
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Alexander Isak (£10.4m, Burnley v Liverpool)
After weeks of speculation, Isak’s blockbuster move to Liverpool was finally confirmed on deadline day, setting a new British transfer record.
The switch has already caused major ripples in the FPL community, with over half a million managers bringing him in ahead of Gameweek 4, making him the most transferred-in forward this week.
With favourable fixtures against Burnley and Everton on the horizon, Isak is not just a top captain pick for this gameweek, but also for subsequent weeks. However, it’s worth keeping an eye on his game time as he settles into a new system under Slot.
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Erling Haaland (£14.1m, Man City v Man Utd)
Erling Haaland has lived up to expectations at the start of the 2025/26 campaign, finding the net three times in as many matches.
Known for hitting the ground running in early-season fixtures, he’s maintained that trend this year, topping the charts with 14 shots and six big chances so far.
However, City’s form has been less convincing, with two defeats in their opening three games. Adding to the uncertainty, their upcoming fixtures are far from easy; a derby clash with United followed by a visit to Arsenal could test both Haaland and City, making his appeal as a captain significantly lower.
