Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers face a familiar dilemma every season—whether to splash the cash on premium players or spread the budget more evenly across the squad. With defenders underperforming this season, many managers are exploring the idea of stacking premium midfielders and forwards like Palmer, Saka, Salah, Haaland, and Mbeumo. The challenge? This often means sacrificing defensive depth, sometimes relying on a £4.0M defender week in and week out.
Is it a viable strategy, or are managers setting themselves up for trouble by prioritizing premiums at the expense of a balanced squad? By the way, have you seen the expected points for every player in your team? Well, you can find that here
The Appeal of Premium Stacking
There’s a clear allure to owning multiple premium players. These are the FPL heavy hitters, the ones most likely to rack up big points. Haaland and Salah, for example, are consistent performers who often justify their hefty price tags. However, packing your squad with players of this caliber typically leaves little room for depth in defense or attack.
The result is a squad filled with stars but supported by bargain-bin options, especially in defense. Managers attempting this approach may find themselves fielding £4.0M defenders—often the cheapest available—while banking on their premium players to carry the load.
The £4.0M Defender Dilemma
One of the biggest risks with stacking premiums is being forced to rely on budget defenders. While a few £4.0M defenders get regular minutes, the vast majority are rotation risks. Managers are often left choosing between players like Okoli or Van Den Berg, neither of whom can be relied upon for consistent game time.
A common solution is to rotate £4.0M defenders based on favorable matchups. But when key players are dropped due to rotation or injury, the lack of defensive depth can quickly become an issue.
Some managers opt to upgrade to a £4.4M or £4.5M defender, with options like Burn, Moreno, or Faes providing slightly more security. Faes, in particular, offers some attacking threat, but even he comes with risks—especially when you can’t predict which goal he might score in!
Is the Forward Line Too Weak?
Another challenge with a premium-stacking strategy is the inevitable weakening of the forward line. With so much of the budget invested in midfielders like Salah and Saka, and forwards like Haaland, there’s little left to spend on a solid second or third striker. Many managers running this setup are stuck with £4.5M forwards, which significantly limits flexibility.
One solution that’s been suggested is to drop one premium player—either downgrading Salah to someone like Foden or Haaland to a mid-range forward like Watkins or Solanke. This frees up budget to strengthen other areas of the squad, especially the forward line.
However, the fear of missing out (FOMO) on Haaland or Salah’s explosive returns can make this a tough choice. It often feels safer to strip back the defense rather than compromise on the big hitters.
Flexibility vs. High Risk, High Reward
The central trade-off in a premium-stacking strategy is flexibility. The more premiums you squeeze into your squad, the less room you have for players who can rotate in and out based on form and fixtures. In FPL, flexibility is key—especially when navigating the inevitable injuries, suspensions, and fixture swings.
A less flexible squad limits your ability to target favorable fixtures and respond to unexpected events. And with so much invested in a few players, even a short-term injury can disrupt your whole strategy.
That said, there’s no denying the potential upside. Premium players are premium for a reason, and their consistent point returns can often outweigh the headaches caused by a thinner squad. It’s a high-risk, high-reward strategy that can pay off handsomely if everything falls into place.
Should You Try It?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer here. Stacking premium players in FPL can work, but it comes with risks—especially in defense and attack. If you’re comfortable relying on rotation risks and £4.0M defenders, it might be worth a shot. However, if flexibility and balance are more important to you, a more evenly distributed squad might be the way to go.
Ultimately, it comes down to your risk tolerance. If you believe the upside of owning multiple premium players outweighs the downsides of a weaker defense or forward line, then stacking could be a viable strategy. But it’s certainly not for the faint-hearted.
What do you think? What’s your favourite strategy? Let me know on Instagram. Happy managing!
