FPL Gameweek 29-captain-analysis tips: Haaland or Bruno?
By Arasi Rex · Updated 15 August 2026 · 6 min read
FPL Gameweek 29-captain-analysis tips start with one fixture: Man City's trip to Coventry. Erling Haaland has 27 goals and 8 assists in the FPL data, with 239 points and a 6.8 points-per-game average. He is the default captain call, and the only serious question is whether your mini-league position lets you move off him.
The fixtures table
| Home | Away | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Bournemouth | Newcastle | Vitality Stadium |
| Chelsea | Arsenal | Stamford Bridge |
| Coventry City | Man City | Coventry Building Society Arena |
| Crystal Palace | Fulham | Selhurst Park |
| Leeds | Brighton | Elland Road |
| Liverpool | Ipswich Town | Anfield |
| Man Utd | Everton | Old Trafford |
| Spurs | Nott'm Forest | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium |
| Sunderland | Brentford | Stadium of Light |
| Aston Villa | Hull City | Villa Park |
Captain picks (3 ranked): FPL Gameweek 29-captain-analysis
The ranking below weights fixture, season-long FPL output, and ownership. It does not punish Haaland for being popular.
1. Erling Haaland
Man City are the away side at Coventry, and Haaland is the highest-scoring FPL asset in the source data. His 27 goals and 8 assists give him a 239-point total, and his expected goals of 25.50 show the shot volume has been sustainable. Captaining him is not creative, but Gameweek 29 is not a week for creative. With 74.8% ownership, you lose rank only if he fails while a low-owned captain scores. That is a risk worth taking when the alternative is betting against the season's most productive forward.
2. Bruno Fernandes
Bruno Fernandes is the strongest alternative. Man Utd are third in the standings and host Everton, who sit 13th. Fernandes has 9 goals and 24 assists, giving him 235 points and a 6.7 points-per-game average. His expected assists of 12.28 understate the 24 real assists, which tells you the creation has been running hot, but even with regression he is involved in enough goals to match Haaland in a single gameweek. At 48.7% ownership he is not a differential, but he is the best armband for managers who want a Man Utd attacker without doubling up on the City fixture.
3. Ollie Watkins
Ollie Watkins is the punt captain. Aston Villa host Hull City, and Watkins has 16 goals, 4 assists and 167 points. His expected goals of 15.40 match his real output, so there is no regression flag. At 12.5% ownership he gives you rank protection if Haaland blanks and you need a captain outside the template. Hull City do not appear in the 20-team standings data, which is a soft fixture signal even before you look at Watkins' shot volume. He is not as safe as Haaland or Fernandes, but he is the most logical swing.
Players to bring in (4-5)
These picks are not all captain options. They are the players the Gameweek 29 fixtures point toward.
- Rayan Cherki: Cherki has 4 goals and 13 assists, with 135 points and only 9.3% ownership. Man City face Coventry, so he offers a route into the best fixture on the board without owning Haaland.
- Morgan Gibbs-White: Gibbs-White has 15 goals, 4 assists and 188 points for Nott'm Forest. His expected goals of 10.81 are well below his real output, but that kind of finishing is exactly what an FPL midfield spot rewards.
- Richarlison: Richarlison has 11 goals, 4 assists and 119 points, with only 1.9% ownership. Spurs host Nott'm Forest, and if you need a low-owned forward, he is the strongest differential available in that fixture.
- Bruno Guimarães: Bruno G. has 9 goals, 7 assists and 154 points, with a 5.3 points-per-game average. Newcastle travel to Bournemouth, and his midfield security gives you a high floor.
- Bryan Mbeumo: Mbeumo has 11 goals, 3 assists and 148 points for Man Utd. United host Everton, who sit 13th in the standings, making him a solid fourth or fifth midfielder addition.
Players to move on (2-3)
- Hugo Ekitiké: Ekitiké has 11 goals and 4 assists, but he carries an Achilles injury with an unknown return date and a 0% chance of playing in the source data. He needs to go.
- William Saliba: Saliba has 15 clean sheets this season, but a back injury and 0% chance of playing make him a dead spot. Arsenal travel to Chelsea, so this is not the week to hold a crocked defender.
- Jurriën Timber: Timber has 13 clean sheets, but his groin injury is listed as expected back 21 Aug. With a 0% chance of playing in Gameweek 29, he is a clear sell.
The differential
Rayan Cherki is the captain differential for Gameweek 29. Man City go to Coventry, Cherki has 4 goals and 13 assists, and his 135 points come from only 1,772 minutes. At 9.3% ownership, he is the kind of pick that wins a mini-league if Haaland has a quiet day. The data does not support him over Haaland, but the question is whether you need to make up ground. If you do, Cherki as captain is the strongest high-variance play in the Man City attack. For fpl gameweek 29-captain-analysis tips, the final call is between Haaland's floor and Cherki's ceiling.
Key takeaways
- Haaland leads all FPL assets in the source data with 239 points, 27 goals and 8 assists; the default Gameweek 29 captain is Man City's trip to Coventry.
- Bruno Fernandes is the strongest alternative with 235 points, 9 goals and 24 assists, and Man Utd host Everton.
- Ollie Watkins is the best swing captain with 16 goals and 167 points as Aston Villa host Hull City.
- Move on Ekitiké, Saliba and Timber, all carrying injury flags with a 0% chance of playing in Gameweek 29.
- Rayan Cherki is the differential captain: 13 assists, 135 points and only 9.3% ownership.
FAQ
Should I captain Haaland in Gameweek 29?
Yes, unless you are chasing a mini-league deficit. Haaland has 27 goals, 8 assists, 239 points and a 6.8 points-per-game average. Man City play Coventry, and no other FPL forward in the source data has scored more goals.
Who is the best differential captain for Gameweek 29?
Rayan Cherki is the best high-variance option. He has 4 goals and 13 assists, 135 points and 9.3% ownership. Man City's trip to Coventry gives him the same fixture as Haaland, without the ownership.
Which injured players should I move on?
Hugo Ekitiké, William Saliba and Jurriën Timber all carry injury flags in the source data with a 0% chance of playing. Ekitiké has an Achilles injury, Saliba has a back injury, and Timber has a groin injury.