Chip Strategy
1 September 2026 69 comments
avfc82 avfc82
Share:

As Manchester City prepare to host Coventry City in Gameweek 3, many Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers are set to deploy the Triple Captain chip on Erling Haaland (£15.5m).

Indeed, the leading chip in our Gameweek 3 poll is the Triple Captain. Around 30% of responders say they’re playing that chip this week.

Here, we take a look at some of the pros and cons of using the Triple Captain chip on Haaland in Gameweek 3.


PROS

FPL notes: Cherki "s**t", Foden threat, Mateta injury + Haaland's back 1

ALREADY OFF THE MARK

Haaland is up and running.

He scored twice in the 4-1 away victory at Crystal Palace in Gameweek 2. First, he found the net with a looping header, before a powerhouse finish late on.

Prior to that, he blanked at home to Bournemouth, but on another day, he scores plenty.

With no signs of rustiness after the World Cup, Haaland has recorded nine shots in the box in the first two Gameweeks, the most of any player in FPL.

Above: Erling Haaland’s shot map in 2026/27

HOME COMFORTS

Haaland is usually a reliable option on home turf.

Under Pep Guardiola last season, he amassed 120 points, with 15 goals and four assists in 17 matches at the Etihad Stadium.

In that period, he supplied six double-digit hauls and averaged 7.4 points per match.

Paired with elite underlying numbers, the Norwegian penalty-taker probably has the best Triple Captain credentials of any player.

NEWLY-PROMOTED OPPOSITION

£4.0m defender boost, Sangare assist + Ampadu DefCons: FPL notes

Moreover, it’s newly-promoted Coventry at home in Gameweek 3.

Frank Lampard’s men have lost both of their first two matches, having conceded four times to Arsenal and Hull City.

They’ve failed to find the net, too.

In truth, Coventry’s start to the 2026/27 season hasn’t been terrible, but they have lacked physicality and goal threat, a concern ahead of Saturday’s trip to City.

It also sounds like playmaker Rayan Cherki (£7.7m) will be going all-out to assist Haaland in this match.

“When I saw Enzo [Maresca] was going to change me, I didn’t like that and I need to show them that I want to play and want to score and give assists for Erling. Today I didn’t give a lot of balls for him [Haaland]. The next time I want to give Erling a lot of balls.” –  Rayan Cherki in Gameweek 2

The chance that Haaland may get a Double Gameweek in the first half of the season is extremely unlikely, so using the Triple Captain chip at home to newly-promoted opposition looks like a solid play.

TAKE ON THE WILDCARDERS

This is a simple one.

Plenty of engaged Fantasy managers are on a Wildcard this week, mostly those who opted not to start with Haaland.

They can’t Triple Captain him because they are already playing a chip, so this could be an opportunity to take them on.

GOOD XMINS

Haaland has completed the full 90 minutes in both matches so far this season. That might not be the case later in the season, especially when you factor in Europe.

For example, City host Ipswich in Gameweek 7.

But on either side of that encounter, they have Champions League fixtures against Paris Saint-Germain and AEK Athens, followed by an early Saturday kick-off away at Aston Villa.

His minutes are probably going to be more uncertain, then.


CONS

FPL notes: Pep on Haaland's groin + his "bad selection"

 

 1



The rest of this article below is completely free to read but requires a Fantasy Football Scout user account for access – you can get yours at no cost here

 1


69 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Evasivo
    • 16 Years
    44 mins ago

    Top 19k in the world and pretty sure it’ll nosedive soon! Though it’s good to see I’m above all bar one of the 38 Mods & Cons and spanking the YouTube “content creators”

    1. Nosedive you will, for tis shameful to boast!

  2. H Dog
    • 16 Years
    41 mins ago

    Coventry are the best of the promoted sides but look to be a bit open defensively (maybe more tempted to open the game up more leaving space for Haaland)

    Ipswich upside is again early in the season and on an easier team, downside they may be more inclined to sit back, particularly having been trounced by United, and waiting for later in the season means Haaland could pick up an injury. Plus a tie against PSG beforehand is more worrying than Porto after

    Hull best fixture by some distance, but will be very likely to park the bus, and even greater chance of an injury/rest scuppering plans (especially as the fixture is week before Christmas)

    Fulham at home GW11 other temptation but again a risk leaving it later and later

    I’m not playing wildcard so currently leaning TC GW3

  3. Jack Burton
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    40 mins ago

    Afternoon all seeing Foden in for Cherki moves this week im on WC and have Cherki, why are people doing it, minutes concern now Ndiye has moved

    1. Karan_G14
      • 10 Years
      11 mins ago

      All City mids except Anderson seem like one GW punts. Who knows who will start once CL kicks in.

      1. Jack Burton
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        1 min ago

        Yeah that will be interesting it's only for Coventry not bothered about a city mid then

    2. nico05
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      10 mins ago

      Wondered this myself, currently have Foden ad wondering whether to hold or switch him to Cherki

      1. Jack Burton
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        just now

        I'm on Cherki may have talked myself out of it to be fair

    3. H Dog
      • 16 Years
      9 mins ago

      Ndiaye isn’t going to come in straight away, and has always been a minutes concern before him. The numbers don’t quite reflect Foden’s output, he could have had cherki’s points

      Just look what Cherki done with the mins and he’s clearly the better punt, but on WC Foden maybe better medium term

      1. Jack Burton
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        just now

        Yeah unsure thanks for the reply

  4. WVA
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    38 mins ago

    Ok to give Tzolis one more week or is that him dropped?

    1. H Dog
      • 16 Years
      13 mins ago

      Anderson if no other city midfielder, one more week otherwise

      1. WVA
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        1 min ago

        He doesn’t look great and minutes aren’t great either

    2. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      8 mins ago

      It was a bad half

      I think that you can roll, rather than knee jerk

      Well, that's what I'm telling myself after avoiding the pre season hype and bringing him in for want a way Sarr last week.

      1. WVA
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        just now

        Ouch

  5. Pep Roulette
    • 8 Years
    38 mins ago

    Tzolis & Grimes to Foden & Yalcouye for free?

    Kinsky
    Calafiori DeCuyper Hume
    Bruno Mbeumo Foden Yalcouye
    Haaland(TC) Isak JP

    Dubravka Maguire Slater VanEwijk

    1. H Dog
      • 16 Years
      23 mins ago

      Relying on yalcouye week in week out is very risky

      Unless you’re planning a wildcard soon I’d go for a more balanced option (Sangare, gross, Gomez, garner)

      1. Pep Roulette
        • 8 Years
        21 mins ago

        I'm planning to punt on Yalcouye for next 2? Or simply Barnes & Gross instead of Foden & Yalcouye?

        1. H Dog
          • 16 Years
          19 mins ago

          Next 2 is tricky - arguably Barnes is even better looking at next 5-10

          1. Pep Roulette
            • 8 Years
            15 mins ago

            Leeds at home & Coventry away look good, don't they?

            1. H Dog
              • 16 Years
              5 mins ago

              Sorry yeah Gross would be one option just not sure on Barnes for next two, boring pick would be Sangare or schade

    2. nico05
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      21 mins ago

      I would. Tzolis is far from nailed now & Foden looks sharp!

      1. Pep Roulette
        • 8 Years
        just now

        Tzolis is 100% sell for me

  6. Karan_G14
    • 10 Years
    35 mins ago

    Better option?

    A) Start Pedro, Bench Ndiaye & get both Rogers & Palmer next week
    B) Sell Ndiaye for Sangare/Anderson, Bench Pedro & get one of Rogers or Palmer next week

    1. Pep Roulette
      • 8 Years
      11 mins ago

      I wouldn't bench a Chelsea attacker in any game. The front 3 looks very likely to score in every game this season.

      1. Karan_G14
        • 10 Years
        1 min ago

        Agreed but Arsenal away the only game out of the 38 where you could consider it although for Sangare/Anderson I get it, it doesnt sound promising.

    2. H Dog
      • 16 Years
      7 mins ago

      A

  7. nico05
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    31 mins ago

    Hold Palestra or shift on? Any Chelsea fans know if he'll start when back from his niggle I presumed he would.

    Tzolis - Elanga a good move?

    1. H Dog
      • 16 Years
      16 mins ago

      He’ll start if back but probably not worth the risk (shaky defensively, best route to points is open play attacking threat only)

      I’ve done le Fee to Elanga, but fully recognise he’s probably a bubble. Think I’d hold off one week

      1. nico05
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        15 mins ago

        Thanks mate, he does look very sharp Elanga though & nice fixtures too

      2. Pompel
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        13 mins ago

        Why you think Elanga is a bubble? Looks like having a good PL pedigree last seasons

        1. nico05
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          12 mins ago

          Yeah finally coming of age.
          Would Wissa as 3rd forward be better or is Tzolis - Elanga a good move?

          1. Pompel
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            7 mins ago

            I think Elanga is good - Newcastle better than expected and have good fixtures for a good while

            1. nico05
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 8 Years
              6 mins ago

              Thanks mate, agreed they've surprised me. Nice fixtures too as you say

        2. H Dog
          • 16 Years
          4 mins ago

          Elanga thrives on the break, and you’d think there will be less space in transition against teams such as Leeds United, Hull City and Coventry. Both goals this season have come on the counter-attack

    2. nico05
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      15 mins ago

      or wissa as 3rd forward & drop tzolis to fodder

  8. Pompel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    28 mins ago

    Everyone and his dog getting Cherki or Foden this gw. Tempted to follow the herd (1 FT):

    A) Mbeumo -> Cherki
    B) Tzolis + Shaw -> Foden + Egan -4pts
    C) strap those knees firmly to the chair

    1. nico05
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      14 mins ago

      A or Mbuemo - Foden maybe

      1. Pompel
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        11 mins ago

        txs - Mbeumo to Foden also an option. I have no idea who'll be the better option of Jerki and Foden going forwards. Minutes is the key I guess

        1. nico05
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          6 mins ago

          Yeah I have Mbuemo too and he's looking underwhelming. I think Foden is possibly more nailed.

  9. WVA
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    28 mins ago

    Konsa in scout picks but not predicted to start?

    1. nico05
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      1 min ago

      He'll start now surely?

  10. hazza44
    • 13 Years
    23 mins ago

    What to do with Tzolis? 1FT £0.3
    A) Hold, or trade for:
    B) Anderson
    C) Elanga
    D) KDH
    E) Schade

    1. Zoostation
      • 12 Years
      10 mins ago

      Anderson would be the play for me but Chelsea is leaking goals, if he starts he could get in on the action

    2. Fuddled FC
      • 14 Years
      9 mins ago

      Elanga while he's hot out of those

    3. nico05
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 mins ago

      C

  11. Fuddled FC
    • 14 Years
    22 mins ago

    Would you do (2 FH)

    a) Szobo & Tzolis > Cherki & Sangare
    b) Mbeumo & Maguire > Cherki & £5.3m (defender)
    c) nothing..just hold Szobo, Tzolis, Maguire this week

    1. H Dog
      • 16 Years
      1 min ago

      I’d want to hold Szobo as long as possible, so B possibly if planning a wildcard soon, or Maguire would be you’re third defender

  12. Jordan.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    21 mins ago

    0.5 itb shaw to hall and t/c haaland to pay for it ??

    1. H Dog
      • 16 Years
      just now

      Shaw to Hall pays for it itself, assess if TC Haaland works for you

  13. Statulis
    • 3 Years
    20 mins ago

    Which 2 out of 3 Man City mids you'd take on Wildcard - Semenyo, Foden & Cherki?

    1. H Dog
      • 16 Years
      just now

      Semenyo more likely to price you out of Palmer/Bruno/having a well rounded team

  14. SpaceCadet
    • 12 Years
    18 mins ago

    Better option here?

    A. Maguire > gvardiol
    B. Tzolis > Foden

    Verbruggen
    White maguire Hume
    Bruno Wirtz cherki tzolis
    Haaland Pedro dcl

    Kinsky slater Davis van ewijk

    1. nico05
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      7 mins ago

      B

    2. H Dog
      • 16 Years
      1 min ago

      B

  15. Pep Roulette
    • 8 Years
    16 mins ago

    Elanga a better option than Barnes? I know he's scored in the first 2 games but we know how explosive Barnes can be. He even scored a brace in the cup game and looks like a 90 minutes man without Europe.

    1. H Dog
      • 16 Years
      9 mins ago

      Comment above - Elanga thrives on the break, and you’d think there will be less space in transition against teams such as Leeds United, Hull City and Coventry

      On WC Barnes is probably the safer pick, I’ve gone Elanga because I plan to wildcard in 3 weeks so can get rid of Elanga was a bubble

      1. Pep Roulette
        • 8 Years
        6 mins ago

        Isn't the next set of fixtures suited more to Barnes then making him a better pick?

        1. H Dog
          • 16 Years
          3 mins ago

          Yeah probably

          If I were on a wildcard, I’d want Stach and Wissa over Elanga/Barnes and DCL, because I think both are inconsistent

  16. Pompel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    12 mins ago

    With Ndiaye off to City, penalties should increase Barry appeal, no?

    1. H Dog
      • 16 Years
      9 mins ago

      Would have though KDH gets them, plus Balogun joining might mean Barry not starting long term?

  17. Fiasco da Gama
    • 1 Year
    11 mins ago

    Liking this wildcard.
    Any thoughts please?

    Raya
    Gvardiol/Gabriel/Konsa/Hall
    Sangare/GroB/Anderson/Szob
    Haaland/Wissa

    4m/Palmer/Pedro/4m

    Dropping Gabriel is not something I will consider fwiw. Risky to bench the the Chelsea attackers with how well they have clicked but I feel confident backing this notoriously stingy Arsenal defence vs anyone not named Haaland, and even then two vs him seems fine.

    I've based this squad around nailed players with excellent minutes and set-pieces etc, hence swerving the likes of De Cuyper, Elanga, Tzolis, Cherki ....

    Might be slightly lacking in DC options though which is my only concern. Gabriel, Sangare, Anderson should be good but I'd like one more. Hard to find though.

    Cheers.

    1. H Dog
      • 16 Years
      6 mins ago

      Think I’d play one of palmer/pedro instead of Konsa, even how stingy their defence is three feels high

      Hall and szob could be Defcon magnets so think the strategy is right on a wildcard

  18. Pringle
    • 13 Years
    10 mins ago

    What are your thoughts on this? Thanks in advance!

    Tzolis + Mitchell --> Foden + Egan/Mendy?

    1. H Dog
      • 16 Years
      6 mins ago

      Yep

  19. Nutmeg Ninja
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    8 mins ago

    Are we overreacting to Tzolis yesterday?
    Yes, he had a poor match and yes he went off at half...
    ...He also was arguably their best player in MD1 and throughout preseason and was on a yellow which could explain the early hook. Martinelli is gone and they haven't signed a replacement (to my knowledge).
    Chelsea def has been very leaky. I wouldn't be surprised if he returned big vs them.

    1. H Dog
      • 16 Years
      5 mins ago

      If one can get Foden without a points hit I think it wouldn’t be an overreaction. Otherwise i think you’re right, in isolation he should get one more week

    2. No Luck
      • 14 Years
      4 mins ago

      If Eze starts or subs in early again against Chelsea then he's a sell

  20. JELLYFISH
    • 14 Years
    3 mins ago

    Who to bench out Tzolis, Pedro and Gross? Currently benching Gross but after last nights game tempted to bench Tzolis and play Gross (H to Leeds) and Pedro.