FPL Gameweek 26 Recap: Double Gameweek Results & Captain Analysis (2025/26)

Gameweek 26 delivered drama, disappointment, and unexpected heroes as Arsenal and Wolves played twice in a unique double gameweek format. The average score of 58 points was respectable, but the gameweek's biggest story was the Triple Captain massacre - nearly 1 million managers activated their chip, with Gabriel TC holders suffering while Rice TC holders celebrated. Add in Liverpool's defensive dominance from Virgil van Dijk, and this was a gameweek that created massive rank swings.

GW26 Key Statistics at a Glance

• Average Score: 58 points
• Highest Score: 138 points
• Top Scorer: Virgil van Dijk (17 points)
• Most Captained (Regular): Erling Haaland
• Most Captained (Triple Captain): Arsenal players (Gabriel/Rice/Saka)
• Most Transferred In: João Pedro (215,350 transfers)
• Most Owned Player: Erling Haaland (68.0%)
• Biggest Flop: Dúbravka (32.7% ownership, 1 point)

---

GW26 Chip Usage: Record Triple Captain Plays

The Arsenal Double Gameweek triggered massive chip usage, with nearly 1 million managers going all-in on their chips:

Chip Play Statistics:

Chip	Managers Played	% of Active Managers
Triple Captain (3xc)	994,106	7.8%
Free Hit	199,177	1.6%
Wildcard	170,257	1.3%
Bench Boost	163,842	1.3%

Triple Captain Mania

The standout story was the 994,106 managers who activated their Triple Captain chip, hoping to maximize Arsenal's double gameweek fixtures. This represents:

• Nearly 1 million managers betting on Arsenal players
• 7.8% of all active teams using their TC chip in one week
• The highest TC usage in a single gameweek this season

Popular Triple Captain Targets:

1. Gabriel (DEF) - 43.1% ownership, scored 7 pts (21 with TC) ❌
2. Declan Rice (MID) - 35.1% ownership, scored 14 pts (42 with TC) ✅
3. Bukayo Saka (MID) - 7.7% ownership, scored 13 pts (39 with TC) ✅
4. Jurrien Timber (DEF) - 30.9% ownership, scored 3 pts (9 with TC) ❌
5. David Raya (GK) - 35.2% ownership, scored 3 pts (9 with TC) ❌

The Triple Captain Verdict:

✅ Rice TC holders - Massive success with 42 points
✅ Saka TC holders - Excellent 39-point return
❌ Gabriel TC holders - Disaster with just 21 points (expected 2 clean sheets)
❌ Raya/Timber TC - Failed to deliver with Arsenal's two draws

Key Takeaway: Arsenal's double gameweek produced two disappointing draws (1-1 vs Brentford, 2-2 vs Wolves), killing clean sheet potential and making Gabriel TC a massive flop. Rice and Saka delivered attacking returns that saved many teams, but the lack of clean sheets meant this wasn't the TC bonanza managers hoped for.

---

Gameweek 26 Fixtures & Results

Double Gameweek Fixtures

The headline of GW26 was the double gameweek for Arsenal and Wolves, creating massive transfer activity and captaincy debates.

All GW26 Results:

Home Team	Score	Away Team	Key Takeaways
Chelsea	2-2	Leeds	High-scoring draw; Palmer shines with 12 pts
Everton	1-2	Bournemouth	Bournemouth win away; Hill & Adli contribute
Spurs	1-2	Newcastle	Newcastle defense holds firm; Thiaw scores 11 pts
West Ham	1-1	Man Utd	B.Fernandes disappoints with just 2 pts
Aston Villa	1-0	Brighton	Clean sheet for Villa; Mings returns 12 pts
Man City	3-0	Fulham	Dominant City win but Haaland scores only 5 pts
Nott'm Forest	0-0	Wolves	Bore draw; José Sá saves the day with 13 pts
Crystal Palace	2-3	Burnley	Goal fest; Strand Larsen scores brace in defeat
Sunderland	0-1	Liverpool	Virgil clean sheet + goal = 17 pts!
Brentford	1-1	Arsenal	Arsenal's first DGW match ends in draw
Wolves	2-2	Arsenal	Arsenal's second DGW fixture; attacking returns

Key Observations:

• Liverpool's defense was rock-solid at Sunderland
• Man City dominated but Haaland blanked relative to expectations
• Arsenal's DGW produced mixed results with two draws
• Bournemouth's continued rise with another away win at Everton

---

Captain Picks Analysis: Triple Captain Chaos & Regular Captain Fails

The Triple Captain Story

With Arsenal's double gameweek, 994,106 managers played their Triple Captain chip - the biggest TC usage of the season. Here's how the popular TC picks performed:

Triple Captain Results:

Player	Team	Base Points	TC Points (x3)	Verdict
Declan Rice	Arsenal	14	42	✅✅✅ Elite
Bukayo Saka	Arsenal	13	39	✅✅ Great
Gabriel	Arsenal	7	21	❌ Flop
Jurrien Timber	Arsenal	3	9	❌❌ Disaster
David Raya	Arsenal	3	9	❌❌ Disaster

Analysis: Arsenal's two draws (1-1, 2-2) killed defensive returns, making Gabriel, Raya, and Timber terrible TC choices. Rice and Saka saved the day with attacking returns, but even they failed to deliver the 50+ points many hoped for.

---

Regular Captaincy Picks (Non-TC)

For managers who didn't use their Triple Captain chip, the captaincy decisions were heavily influenced by Man City's home fixture. Here's how the popular choices performed:

1. Erling Haaland - 5 Points (10 with Captaincy)

Ownership: 68.0% | Captain %: Highest in GW26

The most captained player of the gameweek, Haaland was the obvious choice facing Fulham at home. However, despite Man City's 3-0 victory, Haaland managed just 5 base points - a massive disappointment for the 68% of managers who own him.

Why He Flopped:

• Failed to score despite City's dominance
• Only registered an assist
• Looked rusty and lacked sharpness
• Played 90 minutes but limited clear chances

Captaincy Verdict: ❌ Major disappointment. Those who captained Haaland gained just 10 points, falling well below the average captain return of ~16 points.

---

2. Cole Palmer (Chelsea) - 12 Points (24 with Captaincy)

Ownership: 15.5% | Captain Choice: Differential

Palmer was a differential captain pick and those who backed him were handsomely rewarded with 12 points in Chelsea's entertaining 2-2 draw with Leeds.

Performance Breakdown:

• 1 goal + 1 assist = 11 points
• Additional bonus point
• Involved in all Chelsea attacks
• On penalties and set pieces

Captaincy Verdict: ✅ Excellent differential choice, outperforming Haaland by 2 base points.

---

3. João Pedro (Chelsea) - 10 Points (20 with Captaincy)

Ownership: 46.1% | Most Transferred In: 215,350

The most transferred in player for GW26, João Pedro rewarded his new owners with a solid 10-point haul against Leeds.

Performance Breakdown:

• 1 goal contribution
• Strong attacking display
• Bonus points earned
• Linked up well with Palmer

Captaincy Verdict: ✅ Decent captain choice for those seeking alternatives to Haaland.

---

4. Antoine Semenyo (Man City) - 14 Points (28 with Captaincy)

Ownership: 50.1% | Captain Choice: Rare differential

Semenyo was a rare but inspired captain choice for the brave few who backed the Man City midfielder at home to Fulham.

Performance Breakdown:

• 2 goals + 1 assist = elite returns
• 14 base points
• Bonus points secured
• Starred in Man City's dominant 3-0 victory

Captaincy Verdict: ✅✅ Outstanding captain pick for the differential seekers. Semenyo's 14 points made him one of the GW's highest scorers.

---

5. Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) - 17 Points (34 with Captaincy)

Ownership: 21.9% | Top Scorer of GW26

While not a common captain pick, those who took the ultimate differential punt on Virgil were rewarded with the gameweek's highest score.

Performance Breakdown:

• 1 goal (6 points)
• Clean sheet (4 points)
• Full bonus (3 points)
• 90 minutes played (2 points)
• Liverpool's defensive rock in 1-0 win

Captaincy Verdict: ✅✅✅ Ultra-differential captain that paid off massively with 34 points after doubling.

---

Captain Pick Summary Table

Regular Captaincy (2x):

Player	Team	Points	Captain ROI	Verdict
Haaland	Man City	5	10 pts	❌ Flop
Palmer	Chelsea	12	24 pts	✅ Good
João Pedro	Chelsea	10	20 pts	✅ Solid
Semenyo	Man City	14	28 pts	✅✅ Great
Virgil	Liverpool	17	34 pts	✅✅✅ Elite

Triple Captaincy (3x):

Player	Team	Points	TC ROI	Verdict
Rice	Arsenal	14	42 pts	✅✅✅ Best TC
Saka	Arsenal	13	39 pts	✅✅ Good TC
Gabriel	Arsenal	7	21 pts	❌ Poor TC
Timber	Arsenal	3	9 pts	❌❌ Disaster TC
Raya	Arsenal	3	9 pts	❌❌ Disaster TC

---

Top 10 Highest Scorers of Gameweek 26

The top performers of GW26 were dominated by defenders and midfielders, with a notable lack of premium forward returns.

1. Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool DEF) - 17 Points

£5.9m | 21.9% Ownership

The gameweek's highest scorer, Virgil put in a commanding performance:

• ⚽ 1 goal
• 🛡️ Clean sheet against Sunderland
• 💎 3 bonus points
• 📊 Elite defensive display

FPL Takeaway: At just £5.9m with Liverpool's strong fixtures ahead, Virgil is a must-own defender for the run-in.

---

2. Hincapie (Arsenal DEF) - 15 Points

£5.1m | 0.6% Ownership

The ultimate hidden gem of GW26, Hincapie delivered across Arsenal's double gameweek:

• 2 attacking returns
• Strong defensive contributions
• Massive 15-point haul

FPL Takeaway: At 0.6% ownership, Hincapie is now firmly on the radar but faces rotation risk with Arsenal's squad depth.

---

3. Declan Rice (Arsenal MID) - 14 Points

£7.6m | 35.1% Ownership

Rice made the most of Arsenal's double gameweek:

• 1 goal + defensive contributions
• Played both matches fully
• Bonus points awarded

FPL Takeaway: Rice's consistency in a double gameweek shows his set-and-forget appeal, though better value exists in midfield.

---

4. Antoine Semenyo (Man City MID) - 14 Points

£8.0m | 50.1% Ownership

Semenyo continued his incredible form:

• 2 goals + 1 assist in Man City's 3-0 win over Fulham
• 7 goals + 5 assists this season
• Elite underlying stats (7.8 form)

FPL Takeaway: At 50% ownership and £8.0m, Semenyo is essential for the next few gameweeks with Man City's strong fixtures.

---

5. Noni Madueke (Arsenal MID) - 13 Points

£6.8m | 1.5% Ownership

Another Arsenal asset who benefited from the double gameweek:

• 2 attacking contributions across 2 games
• Excellent value at £6.8m
• Rotation risk remains

FPL Takeaway: Interesting differential but rotation concerns make him risky for long-term holds.

---

6-10: Other Notable Performers

Rank	Player	Team	Position	Points	Ownership	Key Stats
6	José Sá	Wolves	GK	13	1.2%	2 clean sheets in DGW
7	Nico O'Reilly	Man City	DEF	13	4.8%	Goal + CS in City's win
8	Jørgen Strand Larsen	Crystal Palace	FWD	13	1.9%	Brace despite 2-3 loss
9	Bukayo Saka	Arsenal	MID	13	7.7%	2 assists across DGW
10	Cole Palmer	Chelsea	MID	12	15.5%	G+A vs Leeds

---

Most Transferred In Players - Did They Deliver?

Ahead of the double gameweek and favorable fixtures, managers made significant transfer moves. Here's how the most transferred in players performed:

1. João Pedro (Chelsea) - 215,350 Transfers In

Returns: ✅ 10 points

The most popular transfer proved to be a good move with João Pedro delivering a solid return against Leeds.

---

2. Cole Palmer (Chelsea) - 201,465 Transfers In

Returns: ✅ 12 points

Palmer rewarded his new owners with an excellent 12-point haul including a goal and assist.

---

3. Antoine Semenyo (Man City) - 196,194 Transfers In

Returns: ✅✅ 14 points

Semenyo was an outstanding transfer with a 14-point haul, justifying his premium price tag.

---

4. James Hill (Bournemouth) - 136,087 Transfers In

Returns: ✅ 9 points

Budget enabler Hill delivered excellent value with 9 points including clean sheet contributions.

---

5. Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) - 118,560 Transfers In

Returns: ✅✅✅ 17 points

The best transfer of the gameweek, Virgil's 17-point haul was massive for those who brought him in.

---

Transfer Flops

Not all transfers worked out:

❌ Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool) - 91,246 transfers in, 0 points

• Blanked completely at Sunderland
• Major disappointment given Liverpool's fixture

❌ Thiago (Brentford) - 112,433 transfers in, 2 points

• Failed to deliver in home fixture vs Arsenal
• Heavily transferred out already

❌ Bruno Fernandes (Man Utd) - 84,814 transfers in, 2 points

• Disappointed in 1-1 draw with West Ham
• Lost more captaincy points for managers

---

Flops of Gameweek 26

Several highly-owned players severely underperformed, causing significant rank drops:

1. Martin Dúbravka (Burnley GK) - 1 Point

Ownership: 32.7% | Points: 1

The biggest flop of the gameweek, Dúbravka conceded 3 goals at Crystal Palace and earned just 1 point. With 32.7% ownership, this was a massive rank killer.

---

2. Erling Haaland (Man City FWD) - 5 Points

Ownership: 68.0% | Points: 5

While 5 points isn't terrible, for a player owned by 68% of managers and captained by most, this was a huge disappointment. The template captain failed to deliver.

---

3. Bruno Fernandes (Man Utd MID) - 2 Points

Ownership: 36.8% | Points: 2

Bruno's blank in the 1-1 draw with West Ham was particularly painful for the 84,814 managers who transferred him in this week.

---

4. Hugo Ekitiké (Liverpool FWD) - 2 Points

Ownership: 25.7% | Points: 2

Despite Liverpool's win, Ekitiké failed to return, managing just 2 points and disappointing his 25.7% ownership base.

---

5. Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa MID) - 2 Points

Ownership: 30.8% | Points: 2

With 100,233 transfers in for GW26, Rogers was one of the most popular additions. His 2-point return in Villa's 1-0 win was a major letdown.

---

6. Gabriel (Arsenal DEF) - 7 Points

Ownership: 43.1% | Points: 7 | Popular TC Target

Perhaps the biggest flop of GW26 from a chip perspective. Gabriel was one of the most popular Triple Captain picks with 43.1% ownership and two fixtures to play. Many managers expected two clean sheets (16+ points), but Arsenal's draws against Brentford (1-1) and Wolves (2-2) killed his potential.

TC Holders: Just 21 points (7 x 3) was a disaster when Rice delivered 42 points and Saka 39 points.

Why He Flopped:

• Zero clean sheets in the double gameweek
• No attacking returns despite set-piece threat
• Arsenal's defensive struggles in both matches
• One of the worst TC picks of the season

Impact: Gabriel TC holders likely dropped tens of thousands of ranks compared to Rice/Saka TC holders.

---

Hidden Gems & Differentials of GW26

Low-owned players who delivered massive hauls and could be worth considering:

1. Hincapie (Arsenal DEF) - 15 Points

Ownership: 0.6% | Price: £5.1m

The ultimate differential of GW26. Hincapie's 15 points from Arsenal's double gameweek came at just 0.6% ownership, making him a potential league winner for those who took the punt.

Should You Transfer Him In? ⚠️ Rotation risk is high with Arsenal's squad depth, but at £5.1m he's worth monitoring.

---

2. José Sá (Wolves GK) - 13 Points

Ownership: 1.2% | Price: £4.2m

Sá's two clean sheets in Wolves' double gameweek earned him 13 points at bargaining basement price.

Should You Transfer Him In? ✅ Yes, if you need a budget keeper. Wolves' fixtures are decent and Sá is nailed.

---

3. Jørgen Strand Larsen (Crystal Palace FWD) - 13 Points

Ownership: 1.9% | Price: £6.1m

Strand Larsen's brace in Palace's 2-3 home loss to Burnley was a differential manager's dream despite the result.

Should You Transfer Him In? ⚠️ Wait and see. Palace's fixtures turn difficult, and consistency is questionable.

---

4. Amin Adli (Bournemouth MID) - 10 Points

Ownership: 0.4% | Price: £5.4m

With just 0.4% ownership, Adli delivered a 10-point haul in Bournemouth's 2-1 away win at Everton.

Should You Transfer Him In? ✅ Potential budget enabler with Bournemouth's good form and fixtures.

---

Key Takeaways & GW27 Planning

✅ What Worked in GW26:

1. Rice Triple Captain - 42 points was the best TC pick, delivering elite returns
2. Saka Triple Captain - 39 points rewarded those who went attacking over defensive
3. Liverpool defensive assets - Virgil's 17 points show their clean sheet potential
4. Chelsea attackers - Palmer and João Pedro both delivered
5. Man City attackers - Semenyo continues his hot streak with 14 points
6. Differential captains - Avoiding Haaland (C) paid off handsomely
7. Arsenal attacking DGW picks - Rice, Saka, and Hincapie over defensive options

❌ What Flopped:

1. Gabriel Triple Captain - Just 7 points (21 with TC) in a DGW was a disaster
2. Arsenal defensive TCs - Raya and Timber both returned just 3 points (9 with TC)
3. Haaland regular captaincy - Just 5 points despite City's dominance
4. Man Utd assets - Bruno's 2 points in an uninspiring draw
5. Liverpool attackers - Ekitiké and Szoboszlai both blanked
6. Budget keepers - Dúbravka's 3 goals conceded hurt many teams
7. Thiago & Rogers transfers - Popular moves that didn't pay off
8. Arsenal clean sheet hopes - Two draws killed defensive returns

---

Looking Ahead to GW27

With GW26 in the books, managers should focus on:

Transfer Priorities:

1. ✅ Consider Chelsea attackers - Palmer and João Pedro showing consistency
2. ✅ Hold Semenyo - Man City's form and his output is too good to sell
3. ❌ Monitor Haaland - His continued poor form is concerning
4. ⚠️ Be cautious with Arsenal DGW assets - Many will now be rotated

Captain Picks for GW27:

Early favorites include:

• Cole Palmer - continuing his excellent form
• Antoine Semenyo - differential option in red-hot form

---

Final Verdict on GW26

Gameweek 26 will be remembered as the Triple Captain massacre where nearly 1 million managers activated their chip, hoping Arsenal's double gameweek would deliver jackpot returns. The reality? Arsenal's two frustrating draws (1-1, 2-2) killed defensive returns and created massive rank swings.

The Real Winners Were Those Who:

✅ Triple captained Rice or Saka - 42 and 39 points respectively
✅ Avoided Gabriel TC - Saved themselves from a 21-point disaster
✅ Brought in Liverpool defenders - Virgil's 17 points was elite
✅ Held Semenyo through his hot streak - 14 points delivered
✅ Captained differentials over Haaland - Any non-Haaland (C) likely gained rank

The Real Losers Were Those Who:

❌ Triple captained Gabriel - Just 7 points when Rice got 14
❌ TC'd Raya or Timber - 3 points each was a catastrophe
❌ Regular captained Haaland - 5 points was below average
❌ Expected Arsenal clean sheets - Both fixtures ended in draws

The average score of 58 points means that if you hit 65+, you likely gained rank. If you fell below 50, Gabriel TC or Haaland captaincy probably destroyed you.

Chip Play of the Week: 🌟 Rice Triple Captain - 42 points separated the risers from the fallers.

Biggest Disaster: 💔 Gabriel Triple Captain - 43.1% ownership, 7 points, massive rank drops.

---

Community Discussion

How did your GW26 go? Did you use your Triple Captain? Gabriel or Rice? Did Haaland captaincy hurt you? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Quick Poll:

• Did you Triple Captain an Arsenal player? 🎯
• Gabriel or Rice TC - which camp were you in? 🔴⚪
• Did Virgil save your gameweek? 🛡️

---

Stay tuned to FPL Lab for GW27 captain picks, fixture analysis, and transfer tips to help you climb the ranks!

Data sourced from the official Fantasy Premier League API - All statistics accurate as of February 19, 2026.