FPL Triple Captain GW5: Who to Captain

TL;DR

Triple Captaining in Gameweek 5? Put it on a Man City attacker. City are at home to Sunderland on a fixture difficulty of 2, and the GW5 deadline is Friday 18 September at 6.30pm BST. That is two gameweeks away, so if you are deciding right now, the Triple Captain GW3 guide covers Gameweek 3, which currently projects slightly higher. The pitch above shows the exact armband on the latest projections.

Copilot verdictGW3 EDGES IT

“Gameweek 5 gives a premium captain a difficulty 2 home fixture, the same shape as Gameweek 3. Gameweek 3 currently projects the higher captain score, so treat Gameweek 5 as the backup window rather than the upgrade.”

Who to Triple Captain in GW5

The chip triples your captain instead of doubling them, so it is a ceiling bet on one player. Gameweek 5 is one of two soft home windows for a premium in the opening six, alongside Gameweek 3.

The pitch above is built on live projected points for the gameweek, so it reflects the current numbers rather than a preseason guess. Tap the captain to see the projection, then check your own squad with a free Copilot Score.

• Man City vs Sunderland (H), difficulty 2, one of only two difficulty 2 home fixtures Man City get in the opening six
• Gameweek 3 is the other one, and it currently projects the higher captain score, so read the Triple Captain GW3 guide before you commit to waiting
• You must already own the player. The chip does not include a transfer, so plan the move a gameweek early if you need it
• Two gameweeks of team news to come. Check the press conference before you commit

Getting the Most From It

• Confirm the start. City rotate, and a soft fixture is exactly when a premium gets rested. Wait for the team news if you can.
• Set a vice-captain who plays. If your captain sits out, the chip moves to your vice, so make it a genuine starter.
• Do not water it down. The chip pays for the highest ceiling in your squad, not the safest floor.
• Plan the transfer now. If your armband target is not in your squad yet, bringing them in during Gameweek 4 avoids a rushed hit.

Gameweek 5 is still a single gameweek, so this covers one fixture rather than two. That is the trade against holding for a double, and the 2026/27 chip strategy guide covers the hold case. Deciding this week instead? The Triple Captain GW3 guide, the Wildcard GW3 draft and the Free Hit GW3 XI all cover the Gameweek 3 deadline on Friday 4 September at 6.30pm BST. For the full captain ranking that week, see the GW5 tips.