Every Premier League formation, explained
38-0-0 gives you seven shapes to build in. The formation you choose sets the eleven positions you have to fill, so it shapes the whole draft. Here is what each one does and the players it asks for.
4-3-3
The modern standard, used by most of the top clubs of the last decade. A back four, a midfield three, and a front three with two wide forwards around a central striker. It is balanced and forgiving, which makes it a great default if you are unsure. You will need two wide attackers, so do not spend every early pick down the middle.
4-4-2
The classic English shape. Two banks of four with a front two. It is solid and easy to fill because wide midfielders can come from your winger pool. Strong if you draw a pair of good strikers early, since it gives both of them a home.
4-2-4
An attacking twist on the back four, with only two central midfielders behind four forwards. It is the shape to pick when you keep drawing attackers and want to use them all. The trade off is a light midfield, so the two central players you do pick need to be strong.
3-4-3
Three at the back, a midfield four and a front three. It packs the team with attacking talent and wide runners while keeping three central defenders. Good for an aggressive build, but you need three genuine centre backs, which is not always easy to draw.
3-5-2
Three centre backs, a busy five man midfield and a front two. It is midfield heavy, so it suits a draft where you keep landing strong central players. A reliable choice if your best draws are in the middle of the park rather than out wide.
5-3-2
The most defensive shape, with five at the back, three in midfield and two up top. The two wide slots are wing backs, which can be filled by full backs. Pick it when your strongest players are defenders and you want a low, hard to beat base.
5-4-1
Five at the back, four in midfield and a lone striker. It is the safest, most compact shape in the game and the easiest to fill in defence and midfield. The catch is a single striker, so make that one attacking pick count.
A note on positions
Across every shape, a player can only fill a position they actually play. Full backs and wing backs are treated as one family, so a left back covers left wing back and a right back covers right wing back. If you are still learning the rules, start with how to play.