FPL Captain PicksGW232025/26 GW23 Captain Picks the one to trust
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The pickSafety36.5% owned
Thiago. The quintessential safe choice for reliable returns.
Nottingham Forest continues to struggle defensively on the road, particularly against teams that play direct football and press high. Brentford's home advantage, combined with Thiago's strong recent form, positions him perfectly to exploit these weaknesses.
NFO (H)FixtureCompare the three
| Role | Player | Fixture | Owned | Profile | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top | ThiagoBRE | NFO (H) | 36.5% | Risk low · ceiling high | Safety |
| Alternative |  Bruno G. NEW | AVL (H) | 23.7% | Risk medium · ceiling medium | Balanced |
| Differential |  Cherki MCI | WOL (H) | 14.0% | Risk high · ceiling high | Rank chasers |
Bruno G.: Bruno G.
Cherki: For those looking to climb the ranks, Cherki represents a high-upside differential pick.
The fork
If you're protecting rank or seeking reliable points, Thiago (BRE) against Nottingham Forest is your strongest candidate, offering a high floor with significant upside.
If you're chasing rank and need a bold move, Cherki (MCI) provides the explosive potential from Manchester City's attack against Wolves, despite the inherent rotation risk.
Avoid the armband
- While Gabriel boasts an impressive PPG, captaining a defender, even a high-scoring one, against a competitive attacking side like Man Utd carries a higher risk profile for attacking returns compared to dedicated forwards or midfielders. His upside is capped by clean sheet dependency.
Gabriel
ARS - Wirtz has shown flashes of quality, but an away fixture against Bournemouth (difficulty 4) is not ideal for a captaincy punt, especially when stronger home fixtures are available for other candidates. Liverpool's attacking returns can be less consistent on the road against mid-table teams.
Wirtz
LIV - Although Collins shares the excellent Brentford home fixture against Nottingham Forest, his primary route to points is through clean sheets and occasional attacking contributions. As a defender, his ceiling is inherently lower than an attacking teammate from the same fixture.
CollinsBRE
The case
Welcome to our elite FPL captaincy briefing for Gameweek 23. This week demands sharp analysis as managers navigate a diverse fixture list with potential for both safe hauls and explosive differential returns. Our rigorous data-driven approach aims to arm you with the insights needed to make the optimal captaincy decision and climb those mini-league ranks.
Gameweek 23 presents a mixed bag of fixtures, with several teams enjoying favourable home matchups against lower-half opposition. This mid-season period often sees rotation considerations intensifying, particularly for teams still involved in multiple cup competitions or battling European qualification. Identifying players with both fixture advantage and guaranteed minutes is paramount to navigating potential pitfalls.
Thiago stands out as the standout safe captaincy option for Gameweek 23. His excellent form is matched by a prime home fixture against a Nottingham Forest side consistently leaky away from home. As Brentford's primary forward, he's central to their attacking output, ensuring a high likelihood of involvement in any goal-scoring opportunities. This matchup provides an ideal environment for him to deliver a significant FPL haul.
Nottingham Forest's defensive shape often gets stretched by direct forward runs, leaving gaps between their centre-backs and full-backs. Thiago's ability to time his runs and link up with wide players makes him an ideal candidate to capitalize on these spaces.
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