FPL Gameweek 26 Tips: Is Now the Time to Triple Captain? 🧢

With Double Gameweek 26 here, the focus for Fantasy Premier League managers has shifted from who to buy, to how aggressive to be.

The big question this week: is this the best opportunity to deploy the Triple Captain chip?

One player is standing out head and shoulders above the rest. Gabriel currently tops the projected points for the double with 10.7, while also averaging 7.11 points per game this season — second only to Haaland. Arsenal’s defensive numbers remain elite, with 13 clean sheets in 25 matches, including four in their last five, and Gabriel himself has already collected 18 bonus points — more than any other Gunners player.

With uncertainty around which teams will receive Double Gameweeks later in the season, many managers are weighing up whether this represents the clearest and safest Triple Captain window available.

In this guide, we break down the key stats, projected points and chip considerations ahead of the Double Gameweek 26 deadline — and reveal whether the Elite XI: Team Reveal managers are pulling the trigger on Triple Captain. 👇

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Top FPL Tips for Double Gameweek 26

⏰ Gameweek Deadline

Tuesday 10 Feb at 18:00

📈 Most Popular FPL Transfers

1️⃣ Gyökeres - 402,536
2️⃣ Zubimendi - 342,785
3️⃣ Rice - 330,225
4️⃣ B. Fernandes - 310,740
5️⃣ João Pedro - 288,746

👉 Double Gameweek 26: The FPL Transfers Everyone Is Making Right Now

🚩 Key FPL Injury Updates

Jean-Philippe Mateta (8.3% ownership) – Mateta won’t be involved in Gameweek 26, but the good news is that he doesn’t require surgery, according to Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner.

Granit Xhaka (3.7% ownership) – Xhaka remains sidelined for Sunderland, as confirmed by manager Régis Le Bris.

Destiny Udogie (0.3% ownership) – Udogie has joined the injury list and is expected to be sidelined for the next month or so, according to Thomas Frank.

🧢 FPL Gameweek 26 Captaincy Candidates

1️⃣ Gabriel - 10.7 predicted points
2️⃣ Rice - 8.4 predicted points
3️⃣ J. Timber - 8.2 predicted points

👉 Top 3 Captaincy Picks - Including a Differential

🤔 What’s the Best Free Hit FPL Team for Gameweek 26?

The Algorithm has crunched the numbers and revealed its optimal squad — built to maximise points.

There’s no surprise to see Gabriel get the armband, with his 10.7 projected points. 🧢

Rice and J. Timber make up the rest of the Arsenal trio. With the Gunners conceding in just 1 of their last 5 games, backing the defensive double-up makes a lot of sense. 🔒

The Algorithm is clearly backing Palace to do well against Burnley with a triple-up. 🦅

The Clarets haven’t won a game since Gameweek 9 and, since then, have scored just 13 goals (2nd fewest in the league), conceded 32 (2nd highest) and kept just 1 clean sheet (joint-worst). 😬

Sarr stands out as the top differential. 🌟

Since returning from AFCON, he’s scored 2 goals in 3 games, taken 7 shots and amassed an xG of 2.49 — the most of any Palace player in that time. 📊

You can also optimise your own team now using the Assistant Manager tool.

©️ Are the Elite Managers Playing Their Triple Captain Chip?

It seems they’re certainly considering it — but not all are 100% convinced… yet!

“I am still debating Triple Captaining Gabriel, but this will be a late call.”
Tarek Balbaa — 10× top 10k finisher, current rank: 16,313

“Currently 60/40 leaning towards using the Triple Captain on Gabriel this week.”
Tom Dollimore - The World Number 1 FPL Manager — current rank: 32,737

“Additionally, I am undecided on whether to Triple Captain Gabriel this week. It’s a 50/50 call imo.”
Philman — 9× top 10k finisher

“The captaincy will likely go to Gabriel, and I don’t think there’s a whole lot wrong with the reasoning behind playing the Triple Captain on him either.”
Mark Mansfield — 7× top 10k finisher, current rank: 45,982

It seems likely that at least some will pull the trigger — but don’t forget, you can get push notification updates on any changes via the Elite XI: Team Reveal tool.

⭐ Top FPL Players for Gameweek 26

Check out some of our other must-read FPL content for this week:

👉 FPL Double Gameweek 26: Top Five Key Players

👉 Going Against the Template? Why Sarr & Muñoz Could Explode in DGW26

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