Pro Pundits

Should Fantasy managers ever ‘triple up’ on a team?

The 2014/15 FPL champion, Simon March, asks if owning three players from the same Premier League club is advisable.


Fantasy Premier League has seen plenty of iconic duos: Carroll and Barton, Drogba and Lampard, Vardy and Mahrez, the list goes on. These are players who, while playing in the same team, both managed to score substantial points and frequently combined to score those points by assisting each other’s goals. If you had both in your FPL team at their peak, chances are you were doing well. Everyone loves a good double-up.

But what about triple-ups? They’re popular, too, but is it really a good idea to select three players from the same team? That’s the question I’ll be discussing this week.

Among the few firm rules that I rigidly observe in FPL is this: ‘Never triple up on a team who are likely to finish mid-table or below’. I learned this lesson in the 2015/16 season when my title defence was upended early on by my now-curious decision to Wildcard in three Swansea players (though, in my defence, this was a popular move at the time) just before they went from surprise early-season title candidates to winning just two games in their next 17. In my opinion, mid-to-lower table teams will rarely, if ever, sustain the form required to justify owning three (non-bench fodder) players or, indeed, they would not be mid-to-lower table teams.

While I’m unlikely to be talked out of this position personally, the question of whether tripling-up on any team is a good idea is more controversial.

On one hand, you have the philosophy that, if a team tends to score more goals than anybody else, and/or keeps more clean sheets, as per Liverpool or Manchester City in the past few seasons, it’s a good idea to have as many players from that team as possible. There is no doubt that, at times, this is a good move and, those who do time it correctly will no doubt profit as a result. Where such a team has a Double Gameweek, there’s even more reason to believe in the potential of a triple-up.

There are, however, a few problems associated with tripling up with players from the top teams. Firstly, it tends to be expensive. Man City may, for example, score more goals than most teams this season and they might also keep more clean sheets, but to triple up on them could cost 25-30%+ of your overall budget. At that point, the question is no longer just: ‘Will they score me enough points?’ It becomes: ‘Will the rest of my team be good enough to compensate if they don’t?’ There’s usually a good chance that a savvy FPL manager can find similar returns for less if they shop around.

The big exception to all of this is when a team who were expected to be mid-to-lower table end up performing really well throughout the whole season. The most obvious example of this phenomenon is 2015/16 title-winners Leicester from which you could purchase three of the highest-scoring players in the game that season for roughly the price of a McDonald’s Happy Meal. Of course, such teams are most notable by their rarity.

Why else could tripling up be ill-advised? One suggestion lies in the mechanics of how scoring occurs in football generally. A player scoring is always the product of their own ability to score, their team’s ability to provide them with opportunities to score and their opposition’s ability (or inability) to stop them from scoring. However, there is also a temporal aspect to this equation. A match only has 90 minutes (or sometimes 100 minutes if you’re a certain Manchester-based club…) and, thus, your triple-ups are sharing that time between them. They cannot all score points at once even if two combine for a goal and, therefore, their ability to score is naturally limited. This might not be a problem if the team they play for scores loads of goals every match, but history tells us that this is not sustainable over time, even for the very best teams. Players and teams go in and out of form, fixtures become more difficult and, when you triple up, all three of your players are affected by these same conditions.

This issue may be less true of defenders as clean sheet points are attributed equally across a defensive line. However, as a result of this, their point-scoring potential is interdependent, one goal conceded affects them all. Over a long enough period of time, this might not matter in terms of points scored (i.e. Liverpool defenders may keep the most clean sheets in total over a season) but, again, this raises the question of value for money and, particularly, whether the funds tied up in expensive defenders could benefit your team more if invested elsewhere, or by being more liquid.

How Liverpool's defensive assets compare after their FPL price changes

Finally, while some believe that having multiple players from a single team means they are likely to get some points whatever happens, the opposite could actually be true. Because they share many of the same conditions, teammates may be more prone to rotation at the same time (e.g. ahead of a big Champions League match), illness (think Spurs and ‘Lasagna-Gate’), expected or unexpected match cancellations (…sigh), tough fixtures or even just teams losing form, as even the best ones will sometimes do. Tripling up will always compound these kinds of risks.

In conclusion, while I am not personally a big fan of tripling up on players from a single team, I can see that there are instances when it can pay off, if timed correctly. There are also exceptional circumstances where it can be a practically essential, no-brainer, value move (e.g. Leicester 15/16) to have three players from the same team. Tripling up in a Double Gameweek or Blank Gameweek may also be well worthwhile and, finally, some of the limitations that apply to attacking players in a triple-up may not apply as much to defenders, making a defensive double or triple-up arguably more of a viable move. 

However, by virtue of the players all sharing the same conditions and constraints on scoring and the typically high cost of tripling up on the best teams, the practice of tripling up in FPL will almost always be a higher-risk strategy that, as a result, is less likely to pay off over time than a broader and more flexible strategy.

In my eyes triple-ups are a lot like buying an expensive goalkeeper; it makes sense at the time, they’ll probably score you some points, but give it a few weeks and you’ll always start to think whether you could be doing something better with the money.


Simon is a former FPL world champion, claiming the coveted price in 2014/15. But there is more to this man than one season of good fortune. Since 2009, Simon has finished in the top 7k four times, only ending up outside the world’s top 60k once in an 11-campaign career.

2,478 Comments Post a Comment
  1. yanky
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Son Podence > KDB(c) Mahrez for -4pt hit, sound ok???

    1. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      It sure does

    2. JJeyy
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      would rather just get mahrez for Podence and captain him

      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Yeah this makes good sense

    3. The_J_Squad
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Yeah good move.

    4. MikeS
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Solid move

    5. brixtonBob
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Keep son, buy mahrez.

  2. Gandalf
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    What are you thoughts on this plan?
    A. Yes
    B. No
    C. Yes but Jota rather than Mahrez in gw11 as a potentially longer term option

    Gw11 Grealish + Cancelo > Mahrez + Bednarek

    GW12 Ziyech (or Mahrez) > Salah + Wilson -4

    Grealish then 1 transfer away if feel like downgrading which of Mahrez/Ziyech remains.

    For this gw would get a team out of:
    McCarthy
    Dias Chilwell Bednarek Justin
    KDB Bruno Mahrez Ziyech
    Vardy DCL

    4.0 Coufal Watkins 4.4

    1. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      This is back to front

    2. MikeS
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Crap transfers

      1. Gandalf
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Assuming Cancelo doesn't start, then would be a 5-3-2 with a non starting defender and Coufal Vs Man Utd. So you agree surely something needs to be done?

  3. Whats the Mata?
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Do y'all think Mahrez(vs Fulham) scores 4 points more than Jota (vs Wol)?

    1. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      If he repeats his score from last week.

    2. The Train Driver
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Yes

    3. MikeS
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      No chance

  4. JJeyy
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Pep Guardiola: "Riyad Mahrez scored three goals against Burnley and tomorrow he’s going to play. Because he scored a lot of goals. The guys who score goals are going to have more chance to play. The guys who don’t make mistakes behind are going to play..."

    1. yanky
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      bringing him in for a hit, will have dias kdb mahrez, need another city smash

    2. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      So if he doesn't score tomorrow he's out!

    3. MikeS
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      He will score 2 points. Book mark this

      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Nah a goal at least

      2. JJeyy
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        I couldnt care less what Mikes on fantasy football scout thinks

  5. The Train Driver
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Johnstone, Messlier or McCarthy worth - 4 as 2nd keeper. That is, do you think any of them will score 4 or more?

    1. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      No

    2. MikeS
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      No way jose

    3. Bad Kompany
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Not worth a -4

    4. Deeney-is-a-god
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Nah, I brought in meslier this round for free, but thinking it is wise long term, do mot think he will score that much this week

    5. Lord.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Johnstone has a chance, but there is also the potential benefit of having a second playing keeper during this turbulent and busy period, whilst hanging onto Martinez for two DGWs

  6. Silecro
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Ziyech > Mahrez for free? Yes or No?

    1. yanky
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      hell yeah

    2. MikeS
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Transfer of the season

    3. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Yep

    4. Silecro
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Done. That was fast, thanks guys!

    5. fridge
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      That's what I just did

    6. Amartey Partey
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Chelsea v Leeds very good chance of us seeing a lot of goals in that game. Just saying.

  7. yanky
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Play Bissouma (SOU) or Cresswell (MUN)?

    1. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Biss

      1. Amartey Partey
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Cresswell. He gets more assists than Bissouma.

    2. AnfieldLad
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Easily Cresswell.

  8. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Why are people acting like these Pep comments change anything? Mahrez was always going to play after 0 minutes mid week. And now Pep said he would play..? The issue with Mahrez is that he could start on the bench (unlikely) and if he starts hes in that category of player who could be taken off at 58' if he has a bad game.

    I own Mahrez fwiw..

    1. MikeS
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Kdb will go off after 60 if man city comfortable

      1. JJO
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Why would he?

        1. MikeS
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Will be kept fresh if city comfortable

        2. Brosstan
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          I think this is very likely to happen. If they are say 3-0 up KDB is the player Pep will be most wanting to rest.

    2. JJeyy
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      never changed anything, I was always getting in and captaining. Just noteworthy

    3. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      It's worth a lot knowing you own him. It means your advice is based on direct ownership experience.

  9. MikeS
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    No man city at all, no transfers left. What to do with this..

    Martinez/steer
    Zouma, chilly,vestergaard, Justin (Mitchell)
    Son-bruno-salah-jota-grealish
    Vardy-dcl-(bam)

    O.3mn in bank

    A. Leave
    B. Son to Mahrez -4
    C. Salah and son to Mahrez and kdb (c) -8
    D. Free hit

    1. Meme2011
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      looks fine??

      A

    2. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      This team is just fine to leave alone.

    3. nicksilver
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Nearly same team as mine aside I’ve got Kane for Vardy. Leave it alone.

      Who’s captain?

      1. MikeS
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Salah (c)

  10. Salah’s Sonnet
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Mahrez is worth it this week i you’re then going to switch him to KDB the next GW isn’t it? That’s my plan and can just about afford it. Gotta take advantage with Mahrez even if it’s just for one gameweek.

    1. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Strike while the Mahrez is hot!

      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Indeed my ten pole Tudor friend!

  11. tinear
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Hectic week for me. Only able to read the news today.

    Martinez
    Chilwell, Fuchs, Zouma, Ayling
    Son, Bruno, Ziyech
    Vardy, Kane, DCL

    Steer, Bissouma, Mitchell, Grealish

    1ft, 0.2itb

    Nothing much I can do without taking a hit. Thinking of save and carry ft.
    What’s your thought?

    1. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Save

  12. brixtonBob
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Who should I start between Lamptey and Bamford ?

    1. MikeS
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Bam

    2. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Clearly the forward.

    3. Werner Bremen
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Bam-bam

  13. Mr. Chimes
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    What’s more important right now

    A. Getting Chelsea defender
    B. Getting Man City player

    I have neither.

    1. MikeS
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      B

    2. FPL Blow-In
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      B. I think Leeds score this week.

      1. Mr. Chimes
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Would Días/Walker be enough?
        I would have to take a -8 to get KDB and idk if I wanna get Mahrez in. Would be selling Ziyech.

      2. Mr. Chimes
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Would be

        Kane > 4.3/4
        McGinn > Bruno
        Ziyech > KDB
        Robertson > Lamptey

    3. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      B

  14. Demba Demba
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Literally just did my first ever "Triple Up" with Southampton then come on here and see this article...fate but not sure in a good or bad way...

    1. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Bad way

  15. FPL Blow-In
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    How is my decimated team looking?

    Cresswell, Dias
    Bruno, Son, Rodriguez
    Vardy(c), Kane, DCL

    1. MikeS
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Weak

      1. FPL Blow-In
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Yep... going to be a low scoring weak for me for sure. I have just accepted it now.

        1. FPL Blow-In
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          *week

    2. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Very funny, in a tragic way. At least you have your humour intact

      1. FPL Blow-In
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Yep...

  16. The_J_Squad
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Can Mahrez provide a good cover for KDB for the month of December?
    I consider owning Mahrez and using the extra money to better my bench, even for a hit. Thoughts?

    1. MikeS
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Yes

    2. Silecro
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      He certainly has the ability to. I've owned him GW 38 last season and he entered from the bench at 80min mark and given me goal and asist in those 10 mins

    3. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      I dont think so, he is much much more rotatable than KDB.

  17. Firmino
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Triple Villa, bench is Mitchell, Stephens and Branthwaite. 1 free transfer and 0.8ITB. What would you do here?

    Button
    Robbo Chilwell Dallas Mitchell
    Salah Mane KdB Stephens
    DCL Adams

    Martinez; Branthwaite, Grealish, Watkins

    A) Grealish -> Mahrez (got Grealish at 7.4 so could get him back almost the same price)
    B) Watkins -> Bamford
    C) Mitchell -> Lamptey

    1. MikeS
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      A

  18. tbhogal
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Who’s done son for KDB on here ?

    1. yanky
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      got mahrez for free but debating this for a hit...

  19. brixtonBob
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Anyone know which keeper rotates well in the fixtures with Martinez ?

    1. Lord Flashheart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Johnstone

    2. PascalCygan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Johnstone and McCarthy

  20. Ozzy smith
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Who makes way for Mahrez(c)? 1ft 1.9itb

    A) Grealish
    B) Son
    C) Jota

    *Martinez*
    Chilwell Dias Lamptey
    Bruno(c) Son Jota *Grealish*
    Kane Werner DCL

    (Steer KWP CTaylor Bissouma)

    1. MikeS
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      A

  21. Right In The Stanchion
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Any United fans know if Alex Telles is likely to play this weekend?

  22. Fiona B
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Hello DeadZone

    I have 2 FT and no real needed moves to make, so want to shift out Mitchell if I can (as it looks like he isn't a starter).

    Best 4.0 - 4.7 defender for bench fodder?

  23. bobfredbob
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Any advice on when is best to play your wc if you still have it? Cheers

    1. Lionac
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      I'll most likely use mine after GW14

  24. FPL Alaska
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Is Kilman dropped from starting for good? Any idea?

    1. Demba Demba
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Looks like its dependant on Nuno's formation for each match. So best guess is he'll start some and not others but looks like its pot luck at the moment

  25. YLK13
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Grealish for Mahrez for this week for -4, then bring him back in next week for free to replace Rodriguez?

    1. Demba Demba
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Mahrez would need to at least score to just about make that worth it and only then just...seems unnecessary and you'll potentially lose out if you have any value locked in Grealish too.

      1. YLK13
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Really good shout, although I think Grealish is going down and Mahrez up tonight... but perhaps I should sit tight this week and let the double GWs pay me back.

  26. Nightf0x
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Will liverpool philips start this gw ? Need a 4.2 def. For this gw only

    1. FPL_Crisis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Depends on Robbo but I’ll say not because matip rested midweek and liv don’t need to win champs league next week

  27. Meme2011
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    over next few GW which 3?

    A) Mahrez, Kane, DCL
    B) Mahrez, Werner, Jesus
    C) Walcott, Vardy, Kane
    D) Mahrez, Vardy, Ings

    please feel free to offer alternative i'm struggling here

    1. FC Hakkebøf
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      A.. Bamford over DCL after this week though. Wouldn't get Jesus with King Aguero looming around

  28. JakeTheRed
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    A) Werner, Welbeck, Dias
    B) DCL, Cavani, Vestergaard

    this week only

    1. FC Hakkebøf
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Flip a coin

    2. FC Hakkebøf
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Actually more tempted by B as Diaz not a certain starter

  29. Lionac
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Need advise for 2-3 weeks strategy before I WC.

    Have on FT. Have Sterling & Jesus. No Liverpool players.

    Would you do A or B?

    A) Grealish -> Mahrez (-4) & in GW12 Sterling -> Salah (c)
    B) Play Brewster GW11 & in GW12 James -> Jota (c)

    1. AnfieldLad
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      I’d probably just get Salah in for Sterling now tbh

  30. AnfieldLad
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    McCarthy
    Chilwell Cresswell Cancelo*
    KDB(c) Bruno Soucek Bissouma
    Kane DCL Werner
    (Steer, Kilman* Grealish* Ferguson*)
    1FT 0.0ITB

    Leaning towards saving FT to give flexibility to get Salah next week, but is it silly to save FT when I’m likely fielding 10 including Bissouma?

    Could ditch Cancelo but I’m looking at Dallas and don’t expect him to get more than 1 point this week anyway ?

    1. dezille
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      See no reason to not downgrade Cancelo now, allowing you to bench Bissouma. Have you considered Lamptey as a Dallas alternative?

      1. AnfieldLad
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Yeah I have considered that but I don’t like the idea of picking Lamptey over Dallas just because of the fixture this week. I want Dallas, which brings me back to thinking is it worth it this week rather than just hope Cancelo plays and have 2FT next week with more info