A Guide to FPL Team Structure | 2022-23 FPL Season

In FPL, the term “team structure” gets thrown around a lot. Some managers believe it is an important way to plan, others believe it is an overused and unhelpful concept. Regardless of which side you stand on, team structure can be a useful tool for conceptualizing FPL squad building, especially for players who are newer to the game.

“FPL Team structure” describes the organization of an FPL team relative to positions and prices. Generally, team structure is important because it can be difficult to shift a large amount of funds from one position to another. Being aware of your team structure allows you to be aware of the potential limitations of your squad.

Likewise, team structure is important in pre-season planning when we have the most unknown variables in the game. It allows us to be proactive with squad flexibility and can be used as a means of comparing the pros and cons of multiple drafts. In this article, I present 12 drafts that highlight different team structures, ranging from a one-premium to a three-premium structure. I will discuss the potential benefits and limitations of each draft, relative to the initial phase of the 22-23 FPL season.

*Disclaimer: The following drafts are guides, they are not strict recommendations. Within each structure, there is lots of flexibility in selecting assets. Those selected here are generally highly owned, but you should feel free to interchange these selections at your own discretion. While I aim to assist your FPL tinkering, understand that the following suggestions are just my opinion.

Link to all our 2022/23 Pre Season articles including a transfer tracker of all new signings, all team pre-season friendly updates, team previews, fixture analysis, position-wise analysis, and more. Completely free to access as well!

My FPL Squad-Building Approach

Before we get into the drafts, I’d like to describe my general approach to building a solid FPL team:

First, decide your captaincy approach. Premium assets (mids/fwds >10.0 m) are only value for money when you captain them, so you shouldn’t throw in three of them with no plan. The defining characteristic for each of the 12 drafts will be whether it’s a 1-premium, 2-premium, or 3-premium structure.
Second, decide your “locks.” Who are the no-brainers? Which assets are too good of value to go without? There should be several picks that you can set in stone early on. There are some assets that show up in most, if not all, of the following drafts.
Third, determine your preferred formation and price points. This is the most difficult part of squad-building, figuring out how to fill in the rest of the team. I prioritize formation and price points as the two key variables for doing so. This will help narrow your field of view when selecting assets.

Further Read: All 20 Teams Pre-Season Friendlies Tracker (In Form Teams and players)

FPL Price Points

“Price points” describes the 0.5 million increments of prices, identifying prices that have multiple viable FPL assets opposed to others which lack viable assets. In the beginning of the season, all assets are priced at intervals of 0.5 million, so the concept is more pertinent for consideration during preseason planning than later in the season. This period is also when we know the least amount of information. Therefore, it is necessary to be flexible and open to change, ready to jump on an asset if they look better than expected. When it comes to team structure, we can use price points to assess the flexibility of a squad. It is generally best to choose a team structure that targets key price points while being able to adjust to (and perhaps anticipate) emerging assets.

Relative to position, here are my thoughts about the price points to target and avoid:

FPL Goalkeepers

n/a, there are a range of keepers between 4.5 m and 5.5 m. The 5.5 m keepers are more consistent, but there will be value that emerges at 4.5 m and 5.0 m. This is by far the most flexible position when it comes to pricing.

Further Read: Best FPL Goalkeepers at each price point for 2022/23 Season

FPL Defenders

7.5 m – TARGET. Trent is on a price island but should be in every team. He is included in each of the twelve drafts, he is that essential
7.0 m – TARGET. Unless something goes wrong, Cancelo and Robertson will be two of the best defenders this season; it makes sense to include at least one of them, though it could be unbalanced to target both.
6.5 m – AVOID. Van Dijk is on an island here. While he will be a good asset, it is likely better to use your Liverpool spots elsewhere.
6.0 m – TARGET. There are only 5 assets here but most of them have massive potential. Chilwell, Dias, and James are the three standouts; selecting 1-2 of them seems to be a good idea.
5.5 m – AVOID. There are only 5 assets here and the one with the most potential (Perisic) has some question marks. He may be a great asset, but the 5.5 m spot is generally one to avoid.
5.0 m – TARGET/WAIT AND SEE. Lots of potential assets: Cash, Cucurella, Doherty, Gabriel, Trippier, Walker, Zinchenko. Many of these have great fixtures to start, so it could be a good move to start with 1-2.
4.5 m – WAIT AND SEE. Lots of potential assets, though it’s not clear who the best picks are. Finding the best asset(s) at the 4.5 m point will be a huge advantage, but it will likely take several weeks to figure out. This is a spot that will be key for early wildcard teams.
4.0 m – TARGET. We don’t often get a nailed defender at 4.0 m, but it looks like we did this year. Neco Williams could be an FPL star and at 4.0 m, he seems to be a no-brainer bench option.

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FPL Midfielders

13.0 m – TARGET. Mo Salah, no brainer.
12.0 m – TARGET. The primary point of contention for this price point will be if you have enough space in your squad. Both Son and KDB should be great picks, but do you want them as one of your captaincy options?
10.0 m – WAIT AND SEE. Both Sterling and Bruno could be interesting at 10.0 m, but there are far too many questions to justify going there straight away.
8.5 m – AVOID. Bowen is on an island here. He could be solid, but it is difficult to justify spending 0.5 more than the plethora of 8.0 m options.
8.0 m – TARGET. This is one of the key price points this season. So many assets with explosive potential, you surely want at least one of them in your team. This could be a price point you look to rotate given fixtures.
7.5 m – AVOID/WAIT AND SEE. Only two options, both could be good long term but to start the season it is an easy avoid.
7.0 m – TARGET. This may be unpopular, but I think this is a price to target. A mixture of proven and high-ceiling assets. Though the 8.0 m mids have a strong case, saving 1.0 m here could be worth it.
6.5 m –WAIT AND SEE. Some potential here in Rashford and Odegaard, but not enough to necessarily justify going there to start.
5.5 and 6.0 m – TARGET. Several good options and certainly more to emerge, finding value here will be key. It may take a few weeks to identify the right picks here.
5.0 m – AVOID. Bailey has picked up some steam as an option recently, but I don’t see the allure at this price point. There will likely be more value at 4.5 or 5.5/6.0 m.
4.5 m – TARGET. Similar to the 4.0 def slot, it is not often we get a nailed attacking asset at 4.5 m. This year, we have Andreas Pereira as the stand-out option, with several other good picks. These are great bench options for making a solid squad.

Further Read: Best £5 & £5.5 Million FPL Midfielders for the 2022/23 FPL Season

FPL Forwards

11.5 m – TARGET. Both Haaland and Kane should be great options. Like the 12.0 m mid spot, it will be a matter of finding space in the squad and picking between them.
10.5 m – AVOID. Ronaldo might not even be in the game in a week, just don’t think about going here and you’ll be better off.
9.5 m – AVOID. Though Vardy is on an island here, he could be a good pick. There are some explosive fixtures to begin, but he is a bit of a risk and limits squad flexibility.
8.5 and 9.0 m – AVOID/WAIT AND SEE. Only three assets and too many questions. Each of the three could be value at some point but to start the season it’s an easy no-go.
8.0 m – TARGET. Jesus looks to be a no-brainer, but even besides him there are plenty of options here. Should Jesus not work out, it is an easy spot to pivot to a 7.5/8.0 m option.
7.0 and 7.5 m – WAIT AND SEE. There will surely be value to emerge from here, but it’s difficult to see who that will be. It is easier to go with the options at 6.0 or 8.0 m to start the season here.
6.5 m – AVOID. There aren’t many options here and there will likely be more value at 6.0 m. Mitrovic will be a steady pick, but probably won’t be a must-own at any point.
6.0 m – TARGET. Lots of potential options here. A lot of them have poor fixtures to begin with, but this will likely be a key price point throughout the season.
5.0 and 5.5 m – AVOID/WAIT AND SEE. Some potential options here but there’s nothing to bite on at the moment. Easy to wait and see if anything happens (injuries/transfers) before going here.
4.5 m – NEUTRAL. Though there aren’t value assets here, the 4.5 m slot is often key to a good bench.

Further Read: Best FPL Forwards to Consider Ahead of the 2022/23 FPL Season

FPL Team Structure #1: One Premium(Salah)

There is not much that needs to be said about Mo Salah as an FPL asset. No one will call you crazy if you captain him every single week. Premium assets are most valuable when they are being captained, especially until we know which budget assets are the best value. Until that point, it could make sense to go with a singular captain and spread the funds. Upgrades such as 5.0 def to 6.0/7.0 def or 6.0 mid to 8.0 mid allows for proven FPL assets and provides assurance across the board. This structure easily allows for big-at-the-back teams, a crowd favorite at the moment.

The three drafts I made show three different formations: 541, 442, and 532. They are all big-at-the-back with two 8.0 m mids and Jesus. The price points around that vary, having one premium allows for lots of flexibility. The extra funds and general squad stability allows for a few selections that are somewhat punty with high upside: Perisic, Grealish, and Martial.

FPL Team Structure one for 2022/23 fpl season: One Premium(Salah)

Further Read: Best 8.0 Million FPL Midfielders- Stats, Comparison & Verdict

FPL Team Structure #1.5: One-and-a-half Premiums

(Salah + Vardy/Sterling/Bruno)

Speaking of punty picks with high upside, we have the semi-premiums. There’s a chance that these guys could perform like the actual premiums, but it is a big risk to take. If you are going to punt on one to start, it should probably be Vardy, but it’s likely not the optimal choice. This structure is bang or bust, assuming the other premiums perform like we expect. However, if one of these guys looks to be on it after a few weeks, we could very well consider this structure during our first Wildcard.

There are two drafts for this, one with Vardy and one with Sterling. Both are a 442 formation and are big-at-the-back with one 8.0 m mid and Jesus. Compared to Structure #1, the punty picks are replaced with lower-priced assets such as Bruno G, Neto, and Solanke.

FPL Team Structure #1.5: One-and-a-half Premiums for 2022/23 FPL Season

Further Read: Talisman Theory – 2021/22 Report | Who Got The Assist(WGTA)

FPL Team Structure #2: Two Premiums

(Salah + Kane/Son/Haaland/KDB)

In theory, it is optimal to find two premium captains whose fixtures rotate well. Ideally, you hit more hauls and avoid more blanks, though it’s not as easy in practice. Both City and Spurs have great fixtures to start, so they make good captaincy partners with Salah. This structure is very balanced on paper, though it forces some punty budget picks. While the budget spots are generally low-risk, this structure could be more difficult to navigate than the one premium because of the lack of depth. Once we better understand the 4.5-5.0 m def and 5.5-7.0 m mid/fwd slots, this structure will become even stronger.

There are four drafts, each premium alternative appears alongside Salah once. The 11.5 m fwd drafts (Haaland/Kane) are a 532 and a 442. Both have one 7.0 m and two 6.0 m defs, plus one 8.0 m mid and Jesus. Around those picks are a variety of budget choices. The 12.0 m mid drafts (KDB/Son) are a 541 and a 442. Both have one 7.0 m and 6.0 m def, with one 8.0 m mid and Jesus. Around those picks are a variety of budget choices.

FPL Team Structure #2: Two Premiums for 2022/23 FPL Season

Further Read: FPL Fixture Swing Analysis & Best Player Rotation for 22/23 FPL Season

FPL Team Structure #2.5: Two Premiums

(Kane/Son + Haaland/KDB)

A viable double captaincy alternative is to rotate one City asset with one Spurs asset, ignoring Salah. The two key upsides to this are the extra million to spend and the ability to triple-up on Trent, Robbo, and Diaz. Although that is a tasty alternative, we know how well Salah can perform. If Diaz ups his minutes and stats, which some expect, then this could be the optimal choice. Even then, if your captaincy alternative doesn’t perform and Salah continues to be Salah, you will not have a fun time. The singular draft is a 442 (could easily become 532) with big-at-the-back of Liverpool and City, plus Diaz, Jesus, and the popular budget picks.

FPL Team Structure #2.5: Two Premiums for 2022/23 FPL Season

Link to all Our FPL Team Analysis Series for all 20 PL Teams from our team correspondents

FPL Team Structure #3: Three Premiums

(Salah + Kane/Son + Haaland/KDB)

There are five alluring captaincy options from three teams, going with two premiums means ignoring one team. So, why not go for all three? While we know that captaincy options are generally only valuable when we captain them, we are also playing a game to score the most points. In order for this structure to succeed, you need to surround the premiums with the best value budget assets. This is most difficult to do at the beginning of the season, therefore I don’t believe this is a viable structure. However, if we can identify those assets quickly and three of the premiums are performing exceptionally, then this could be a solid move for the first Wildcard.

There are two drafts, one a 442 and the other a 532. Both have a noticeably weaker defense, with one 6.0 m and two 5.0 m assets. There is only room for one 8.0 m asset, so Jesus is selected in both. There are several budget choices, with a 4.5 m def or 5.0 m mid as the final spot. One option that isn’t shown is the potential to rotate Neco Williams and Andreas Pereira as the 11^th spot.

FPL Team Structure #3: Three Premiums for 2022/23 FPL Season

Further Read: Man City Midfielders/Forwards Analysis for 2022/23 FPL Season

Conclusion

Looking at the five potential structures, the safest options to start the 22-23 season are: Structure #1 (Salah only), Structure #2 (Salah + Spurs/City attacker), or Structure #2.5 (Spurs + City attacker). While each of these have their pros and cons, they cover the optimal captaincy choices. Structure #1.5 has too many questions to justify choosing it over #1 or #2 and Structure #3 is difficult to succeed with if you don’t make the right budget selections. For the initial stage of the season, it is likely better to stick with the crowd and play it safe, rather than taking a volatile risk.

Within each of these structures, there are countless permutations. Even if two people choose the same structure, there are many ways their squads can differ still. It is the overall selection of assets that makes your team unique, team structure is simply a concept to aid in that process. As you select your team, you want to be aware of the strong and weak price points, using this knowledge to help guide your selections. Being aware of this will allow you to understand the flexibility and limitations of your squad, narrowing your field of view for the first phase of the season.

Team structure is a concept that is most important at this time of the season, so it is necessary that we think through it whilst selecting our teams. Regardless of FPL experience, I hope you found something to take away from this article.

Thank you for reading! Feel free to reach out over twitter (@4lex_mcfc) with any questions. Check out my Man City preview articles, analyzing Man City’s FPL assets ahead of the 22-23 season!

This Wednesday, I will be releasing the Erling Haaland Special, covering all things related to Haaland’s move to the Etihad. Out Wednesday, July 27 at 12 pm EST!

Further reads from ALLABOUTFPL ahead of the 2022/23 FPL Season

Link to all our 2022/23 Pre Season articles including transfer tracker of all new signings, all team pre-season friendly updates, team previews, fixture analysis, position-wise analysis, and more. Completely free to access as well!

Link to all our FPL Forwards, FPL Midfielders, FPL Defenders, and FPL Goalkeepers series of blogs including the best 4.0 million defenders, and 4.5 Million midfielders.

Link to all Our FPL Team Analysis Series for all 20 PL Teams from our team correspondents

If you’re new to FPL, here is a link to all our FPL Beginners Guide including FPL Beginner’s Guide- How to play?, Bench boost, Team value, Triple captain, Effective ownership, Price Changes, Free Hit, Bonus Points, and more.

All our Best Pre Season Reads:

Team Previews:

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Set-Piece & Penalty Takers of All Premier League Clubs
FPL GW1 Scout Picks | FPLDaggaFC & AllAboutFPL
FPL GW1 Preview: Breaking Down FPL Dilemmas for Gameweek 1
FPL GW1 Differential Picks to Consider Ahead of GW 1 Deadline
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One FPL Differential Pick From Each Team Ahead of GW1
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FPL Player in Focus: Mason Mount | Perhaps The Best 8M Asset?
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Fixture Analysis

FPL Fixture Swing Analysis & Best Player Rotation for 22/23 FPL Season
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A Guide to FPL Team Structure | 2022/23 FPL Season
Rotation Free FPL Assets Based on Previous Season Minutes
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FPL Players to Target From The Top Six Till GW16 | 22/23 Player Watchlist
Initial Reaction to FPL Player Price Reveals for the 2022/23 FPL Season
FPL Ultimate Pre-season guide for 2022/23 season: Tips, Previews & more
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