FPL
FPL 2025/26: The New Rules
The Premier League is almost back, and so is the addictive chaos of Fantasy Premier League. Pre-season form has given us a taste of who might deliver big in GW1, but this year, even the most experienced managers need to do a little homework.
The 2025/26 season comes with a set of new rules that could seriously impact how we pick our squads, use our chips, and chase those all-important green arrows. Let’s break them down, and more importantly, figure out how you can use them to your advantage.
Defensive Contributions: Points for Getting Stuck In
For the first time, outfield players can score bonus FPL points purely through their defensive work.
- Defenders will earn 2 extra FPL points if they make a combined 10 clearances, blocks, interceptions, and tackles (CBIT) in a single match.
- Midfielders and forwards also get rewarded, but they need 12 defensive contributions (ball recoveries included) to claim the same 2-point bonus.
Tactical takeaway:
This boosts the appeal of defensive-minded midfielders and budget defenders who rack up these stats even without goals or assists. Think of those tireless ball-winners who always seem to be in the right place at the right time.
Assists Made Simpler (and More Generous)
Assist rules have been overhauled to make them fairer and less subjective.
The Big Changes:
- Intended destination is no longer relevant for passes into the box, as long as there’s only one defensive touch before the goalscorer receives the ball. Even if it’s deflected to a different teammate, you still get the assist.
- No assist if:
- The defensive touch is a deliberate pass (like a bad backpass).
- The goalscorer loses and then regains possession.
- There are two defensive touches before the goal.
- Outside the box? Intended destination matters again.
- Assists will now be given if a goal comes from a free-kick or penalty awarded for handball, even if the handball wasn’t “forced.”
- One special twist: an attempted defensive pass that leads to a goal can still count as an assist, provided there’s only one defensive touch.
Tactical takeaway:
Creative players, especially wingers and full-backs, could get more assists from scrappy, deflected plays. This could boost the value of some mid-tier assist machines.
Two Sets of Chips: Double the Fun, Double the Pressure
We’re used to five chips: 2xWildcard, Free Hit, Triple Captain, and Bench Boost. This season, you get two full sets, one for each half of the campaign.
- First half chips must be used before GW19 (30 December 2025, 6:30 pm GMT).
- No chips can roll over to the second half.
Gone for good: The Assistant Manager chip introduced last year has been scrapped.
Tactical takeaway:
You can now be more aggressive with early chip use without fearing you’ll be left short later. Just don’t waste them in low-upside weeks.
Extra Transfers for AFCON Chaos
The Africa Cup of Nations (21 Dec 2025 – 18 Jan 2026) is going to hit hard, with key players heading off mid-season.
To help:
- In GW16, your free transfers will be topped up to a maximum of 5.
Tactical takeaway:
Plan now. If you own AFCON-bound stars, you’ll have the flexibility to pivot without a points hit.
Bonus Points System (BPS) Tweaks
The BPS, which decides post-match bonus points, has been refined:
- Ties resolved more fairly: If players tie for 1st, both get 3 points; ties for 2nd or 3rd follow similar logic.
- Goalkeeper saves: Now worth 3 BPS points for saves inside the box (previously 2 for any save) and 2 points for saves from outside. Penalty save BPS drops from 9 to 8.
- Goalline clearances: Up from 3 to 9 BPS points.
- Penalty goals: All players now earn 12 BPS points (previously higher for forwards and midfielders).
- Tackles: Each tackle won earns 2 BPS points, no deduction for tackles lost.
Tactical takeaway:
Keepers facing lots of close-range shots just became more appealing. Players with a knack for last-ditch defending could also sneak into BPS contention.
What This Means for Squad Building
With these changes, certain player types could rise in value:
- Budget midfield terriers like defensive mids could become bonus point magnets with the defensive contribution rule.
- Attacking full-backs might get more assists under the new pass-deflection rules.
- Reliable penalty takers benefit from the more balanced BPS system.
- High-save goalkeepers with poor defenses in front of them could earn more BPS from close-range stops.
And remember: chips are no longer a one-shot weapon. You have two Wildcards and two Free Hits in a season, use them well.
Final Word
The FPL 2025/26 changes might look like small tweaks on paper, but they’re going to shake up how points are earned and which players are worth your budget. Managers who adapt early and take advantage of the defensive contribution points, the new assist interpretations, and the doubled chip sets could be the ones topping mini-leagues come May.
Download the We Play FPL app to plan your transfers, compare players, and get points predictions so you can make smarter moves all season long.
May your arrows be green. Happy managing!
FPL
FPL Gameweek 3 Dream XI: Haaland, João Pedro and a Forest trio
FPL Gameweek 3 picks: a Nottingham Forest trio, two Manchester United options and Haaland to captain
Gameweek 3 brings a final Fantasy Premier League decision before the September international break. Liverpool vs. Arsenal will unnerve managers, but several attractive home fixtures mean there are still clear options for big returns.
Goalkeeper
Matz Sels (£5.0m) remains a budget pick thanks to Nottingham Forest’s strong defensive record. The Midlands side have conceded once in both opening matches, and Sels should benefit when Forest host hopeless West Ham United in Gameweek 3.
Defence
Marc Cucurella (£6.1m) has returned in both gameweeks, beginning with a clean sheet and an eight-point haul against Crystal Palace and following that with an assist against West Ham. Fulham visit Chelsea and Cucurella’s attacking potential makes him an appealing option.
Pedro Porro (£5.6m) has prospered from Tottenham Hotspur’s improved defensive performances under Thomas Frank, recording two clean sheets so far. He offers attacking threat against a Bournemouth side that conceded four to Liverpool in their opener and that remain unsettled after summer exits.
Patrick Dorgu (£4.5m) is a low-cost pick despite Manchester United’s embarrassing Carabao Cup exit to Grimsby Town midweek. He should have license to attack newly-promoted Burnley at Old Trafford and could even help to a clean sheet.
Midfield
Bruno Fernandes (£9.0m) is still an excellent asset despite his wayward penalty at Fulham. He managed 13 defensive contributions at Craven Cottage and remains a set-piece taker and chief creator for United at home to Burnley.
Mohammed Kudus (£6.6m) produced two assists on his Spurs debut for ten points and impressed at Manchester City. At home to Bournemouth he is a creative, cheaper alternative to Brennan Johnson (£7.1m).
Morgan Gibbs-White (£7.5m) has created four chances, recorded 0.49 expected goals and registered an assist across the opening two matches. He faces a West Ham defence that have conceded three or more in all three competitive games this term.
Morgan Rogers (£7.0m) is at home to Crystal Palace and could exploit fatigue after Palace’s Europa Conference League qualifying trip to Norway on Thursday.
Attack
Chris Wood (£7.7m) has two goals from the opening weekend against Brentford and should target West Ham’s disjointed defence.
João Pedro (£7.6m) produced a 15-point haul with two assists and a goal in the 5–1 win over West Ham; with Cole Palmer (£10.5m) absent again, João Pedro can drop deeper and influence play and is a strong captain candidate.
Erling Haaland (£14.1m) remains a premium option. After two in the opener against Wolverhampton Wanderers and an inefficient display versus Tottenham, he faces Brighton & Hove Albion, who have conceded in both opening matches. Haaland scored at the Amex Stadium last season and should be in contention for further returns.
FPL
FPL Gameweek 3 Transfer Tips: Forwards, Midfielders, and Who to Hold
FPL GW3 transfer tips: Best forwards, midfield gems, and who to hold or sell for the weeks ahead.
Gameweek 2 has given us plenty to think about. We’ve already seen early price rises, some surprise performances, and a number of popular picks who’ve started slowly. As we head into Gameweek 3, the big question is who to bring in, who to hold, and who to move on. Let’s break it down.
Forwards Around £7.5m: Pedro, Wood, or Mateta?
A lot of managers are hunting for a forward in the £7.5m bracket. The three names leading the conversation are João Pedro (7.6m), Chris Wood (7.7m), and Jean-Philippe Mateta (7.5m).
João Pedro
Pedro absolutely smashed it in Gameweek 2 with three attacking returns. But let’s not forget how Gameweek 1 looked: hooked on 72 minutes, no returns. His minutes are the main concern.
- If Cole Palmer is out for an extended period, Pedro becomes a much stronger pick. He could play in the number 10 role, remain first-choice striker, and maybe even get penalties.
- If Palmer is fine, Pedro is still decent, but expect the odd frustrating early sub.
Chelsea’s fixtures are fine, not great. United away in GW5 and Liverpool at home in GW7 could be tricky, but Liverpool’s defense currently looks open.
Chris Wood
Wood looks appealing, especially if you’re considering a Free Hit in GW4.
- GW3: West Ham (H) – excellent.
- GW4: Arsenal (A) – can be avoided with a Free Hit.
- GW5: Burnley (A).
- GW6: Sunderland (H).
Those four look brilliant. Minutes seem secure for now, but with Europe coming, his long-term game time might be tested.
Jean-Philippe Mateta
Mateta is quietly the cheapest of the three and arguably has the best run of fixtures if you’re looking beyond the next four.
- GW3: Villa (A).
- GW4: West Ham (A).
- GW5: Bournemouth (H).
- GW7: Everton (A).
- Both Mateta and Wood are on penalties. The question marks lie with Palace’s attack after losing Eze, but the fixtures are kind.
Verdict:
- Short-term: Chris Wood edges it.
- Longer-term: Mateta looks safer.
- João Pedro could become the standout if Palmer is sidelined, but otherwise he feels riskier than his ownership suggests.
Midfield Dilemmas: Bowen and Wirtz
Two popular names who haven’t delivered yet: Jarrod Bowen (7.9m) and Florian Wirtz (8.4m).
Jarrod Bowen
- Two blanks to start, price drop already.
- Fixtures: Forest (A), Spurs (H), Palace (H).
- Not sparkling form-wise, but he always plays 90 minutes and has been consistent in past seasons.
If you want to move him on, that’s fine. But he’s not a “must sell.” Only move him if you’ve got a second free transfer or a stronger priority like replacing an injured player.
Florian Wirtz
A lot of hype pre-season, but no goals or assists yet. He doesn’t look especially threatening around the penalty area either.
- Fixtures: Arsenal (H), Burnley (A), Everton (H).
- His minutes are safe, and a benching in GW3 seems unlikely despite speculation.
Like Bowen, he’s not an urgent sell, but patience is wearing thin. The Arsenal fixture is tough, but selling before Burnley (A) feels risky.
Verdict: Both Bowen and Wirtz are holds if you have fires elsewhere. If you’re restructuring or chasing form, moving them is reasonable.
Midfield Replacements: Who to Buy
If you are selling Wirtz, Palmer, or Saka, here are some strong options:
Around £8.0 – 7.0m
- Cunha (8.0m) Excellent one-week punt vs Burnley (H). Could even be a cheeky captain shout. But beware: Man City (A) and Chelsea (H) follow.
- Semenyo (7.2m) Always shoots, plays close to 90 minutes, and has a strong run of fixtures. Could be a “buy and hold” until your Wildcard.
- Morgan Rogers (7.0m) Fixtures are good, but he’s wide rather than central. Hold if you already own him, but buying now feels less appealing than cheaper options.
Around £6.5 – 6.6m
- Sarr (6.5m) Nailed, good fixtures, huge differential under 5% ownership.
- Kudus (6.6m) Very popular, safe for minutes right now, and Spurs have good fixtures. Only slight worry is whether Spurs sign another winger.
Budget Options
- Tielemans (6.0m) Always starts, steady but not explosive. Safer as a filler, but Sarr and Kudus look more exciting.
- Reijnders (5.7m) A Manchester City attacker for under £6m. Inconsistent but the price is too good to ignore.
Spurs Attackers: Which One?
Spurs are flying under Thomas Frank and many managers are eyeing up their attackers.
- Kudus (6.6m): The standout pick. Minutes look strong, and he’s central to their attack.
- Brennan Johnson (7.0m): Gets great chances but minutes are less secure. A new signing could reduce his starts.
- Richarlison (6.7m): Currently starting as number nine, but Solanke will threaten his spot long term.
Verdict: Kudus is the one.
Final Thoughts
- Forwards: Wood for the short term, Mateta for the longer run. Pedro if Palmer is out.
- Midfielders: Bowen and Wirtz aren’t urgent sells, but plenty of exciting options are emerging. Sarr and Kudus stand out.
This is one of those weeks where patience could pay off. But if you’re itching to make a move, the £6.5–7.5m midfield bracket is where the real value lies.
Download the We Play FPL app for transfer planning, player comparisons, and points predictions to give yourself the best chance of climbing the ranks.
May your arrows be green. Happy managing!
FPL
FPL Gameweek 2: Should You be Making Transfers?
Should you transfer in FPL Gameweek 2? Patience is key, but some players may already be sells.
Gameweek 1 is always chaos. Plans get ripped up, bandwagons appear, and patience gets tested right away. So, the big question now is: should you transfer a player out in Gameweek 2?
The short answer: maybe. But it really depends on why you want to move them on. Let’s break it down.
When It Makes Sense to Sell a Player Early
I can think of three main reasons managers transfer a player out this week:
- Unexpected minutes: you thought your player was nailed, but they didn’t start or got hooked early.
- Poor performance (player or team): they looked bad, or their team did.
- A shiny alternative looks better: someone else caught your eye in Gameweek 1.
Let’s dig into each one.
1. Lower Than Expected Minutes
If your player didn’t get the minutes you expected, ask yourself: did you see this coming?
- If they were a known rotation risk before Gameweek 1, then nothing has changed. Be patient.
- If you genuinely thought they’d be nailed, but they didn’t start, that’s different. Your assumption was wrong.
For example, Omar Marmoush is a problem. He didn’t start, and when he came on, he looked poor. His system fit is questionable, and he’s competing with Erling Haaland. That’s not what you want from an 8.5m asset. In his case, moving to someone like Tijani Reijnders, Antoine Semenyo, or even Morgan Rogers makes sense.
But if your player came off early for tactical reasons, like Strand Larsen when his team was struggling, that’s explainable. Don’t be too hasty.
2. Poor Team or Player Performance
We saw some shocking results in Gameweek 1. West Ham losing 3–0 to Sunderland was the big one. Many of us owned Jarrod Bowen or Niclas Füllkrug for that exact fixture.
- Bowen: Proven FPL gold. He’s been involved in over 40% of West Ham’s goals in recent seasons. Yes, the Hammers looked poor, but I don’t think this is panic time. Label this as a possible transfer, you could do it, but there’s no rush.
- Füllkrug: Different story. He’s not proven in the Premier League, and his FPL ceiling looks low. Selling him is more justified, but I wouldn’t say it’s urgent either. If you move him, know where you’re going—maybe to Thiago(on penalties) or a punt on Mayenda, but the fixtures suggest waiting until Gameweek 3 is smarter.
Elsewhere, Iliman Ndiaye blanked for Everton, but he played 90 minutes and is on penalties. That’s not a sell for me yet, especially with decent fixtures.
And remember: not every poor Gameweek 1 is representative. Last season, people jumped on Zirkzee after a goal off the bench, but it wasn’t a sign of things to come. Don’t fall into the same trap this year.
3. An Alternative Looks Better
This is the trickiest one. You might be tempted by a new star like Reijnders or Semenyo, but ask yourself:
- Did you want them before Gameweek 1?
- Are they nailed for minutes?
- Was their performance sustainable, not just a one-off?
If all three are true, then go for it. If not, one good game shouldn’t rewrite your preseason thinking.
Take João Pedro, for example. His minutes were never going to be 90 each week, but at 7.5m he’s still value. Moving him to Evanilson could work, but Pedro isn’t a must-sell.
The 8.5 Million Assets: Wirtz vs Marmoush
- Florian Wirtz: Keep. He looked excellent in Liverpool’s 4–0 win, taking set pieces and linking play beautifully. The returns will come.
- Omar Marmoush: Sell if you want. He’s not nailed, doesn’t suit the system, and you don’t pay 8.5m for a bench risk.
Cole Palmer: On Thin Ice
Palmer is the trickiest call of the lot.
- The good: on penalties, massive ceiling, capable of explosive hauls.
- The bad: poor form carried over from last season, looked flat in Gameweek 1, and Chelsea’s fixtures toughen after West Ham in gameweek 2.
I’d give him two more weeks. But if he’s still blanking by Gameweek 4, it’s time to move on.
Pedro Porro: Start or Bench?
Porro is one of the best long-term defensive assets in the game, but away to Manchester City in Gameweek 2 is brutal. Numbers suggest that Spurs have only a 10% clean sheet chance.
If you’ve got a decent bench, I’d sit him. If not, don’t panic, he could still nick an attacking return.
Don’t Waste Chips in Gameweek 2
Some are considering Free Hit or Bench Boost this week. I’d strongly advise against it.
- Free Hit: only helps for one week, and you get your “bad” team back. If your squad really is that bad, just Wildcard later with a bit more information.
- Bench Boost: benches like Dubravka, Esteve, Guiu, and Porro are relying on low-probability outcomes. You’ll likely get 4 to 10 points. Save it for a better chance.
Final Thoughts
Gameweek 2 is not the time to panic. Transfers this week should be made for clear, justified reasons: unexpected benchings, genuinely poor assets, or moving to someone you already rated highly pre-season.
Download the We Play FPL app to take your decision-making to the next level. Compare players, plan transfers, and get accurate points predictions—all in one place.
May your arrows be green. Happy managing!
Agent: Liverpool Called Ekitiké After Agreement Reached with Eintracht and Newcastle
Tottenham and ENIC Dismiss Takeover Approaches After Levy Leaves
