Connect with us

FPL

FPL 2025/26: The New Rules

Published

on

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.

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement

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!

Continue Reading
Advertisement

FPL

FPL Gameweek 12: Key Picks, Prices and the Deadline

FPL Gameweek 12 preview: recommended goalkeepers, defenders and attackers plus deadline details.GW12

Published

on

The international break has given Fantasy Premier League managers a breather, but the scramble resumes for Gameweek 12 with a full slate of fixtures and a handful of injury concerns carrying over from November’s internationals.

Goalkeepers to consider start with David Raya (£5.9m). Arsenal face a strong away Spurs side in the north London derby on Sunday, but Raya’s consistency is evident: seven clean sheets from 11 games. Robin Roefs (£4.7m) has been a standout signing for Sunderland and is currently FPL’s top-scoring goalkeeper ahead of a trip to Fulham, a side only four teams have scored fewer goals than this season. Emiliano Martínez (£5.0m) is another option after a 14-point haul that included a penalty save in the 4–0 win over Bournemouth; Aston Villa travel to Leeds United.

Defenders: Marc Cucurella (£6.1m) offers attacking threat and recent form, with six or more points in four of his last five outings and a start at Burnley in Saturday’s early match. The absence of Gabriel frees funds in many squads, making Jurriën Timber (£6.2m) and William Saliba (£6.0m) viable Arsenal defensive replacements. For Crystal Palace, Daniel Muñoz (£5.8m) combines attacking and defensive potential against winless Wolverhampton Wanderers, while Chris Richards (£4.5m) is a budget route into Palace’s backline. Virgil van Dijk (£5.9m) remains a value pick for Liverpool against Nottingham Forest at home. Marcos Senesi (£5.0m) is attractive for Bournemouth managers; only five defenders have more points than his 58.

Midfield and attack: Bukayo Saka (£10.1m) is Arsenal’s principal attacking threat, scoring in four of his last six games and with six goal contributions in his last ten clashes with Spurs. Bryan Mbeumo (£8.5m) has hit six or more FPL points in four of his last five matches. Jérémy Doku (£6.5m) impressed recently with 11 points versus Liverpool and three goal contributions for Belgium during the break. Ismaïla Sarr (£6.7m) could be productive at Wolves, while Enzo Fernández (£6.7m) should be rested and available for Burnley after missing international duty. Yankuba Minteh (£6.0m) offers a differential for Brighton against Brentford, with four goal contributions and the highest chance-creation numbers at his club.

Strikers: Erling Haaland (£14.9m) is the obvious captaincy pick after his season tally rose to 32 goals for club and country during the international period. Jean-Philippe Mateta (£8.1m) has two goals and an assist in his last four matches, including a France strike, and João Pedro (£7.5m) returned 16 points across his last two games. Igor Thiago (£6.3m) scored twice and earned 13 points against Newcastle before the break and faces Brighton away.

The GW12 deadline is 11 a.m. GMT (6 a.m. ET) on Saturday, Nov. 22.

Continue Reading

FPL

Gameweek 10 FPL: Goalkeepers, Defenders, Midfielders and Forwards to Consider

GW10 FPL guide: top goalkeeper, defender, midfielder and forward picks ahead of Saturday deadline GW

Published

on

Gameweek 10 brings a fresh set of fixtures and clear FPL options across every position. Below are the players backed by recent returns and upcoming opponents to consider before the Saturday deadline.

Goalkeepers: David Raya (£5.7m) is a reliable option after helping Arsenal keep six clean sheets in nine Premier League matches. He offers steady six-point returns despite limited save and bonus returns and will face Burnley (A) this weekend. Sunderland stopper Robin Roefs (£4.7m) leads the goalkeepers for points, with 52 from nine matches and four clean sheets; Everton (H) is his next fixture. Nick Pope (£5.2m) is level on points with Raya and provides clean-sheet potential as Newcastle, who have five this season, travel to West Ham United (A).

Defenders: Gabriel (£6.5m) is an Arsenal mainstay with 62 points this term; he has posted nine-plus points in five of his last six games and was used only from the bench in the Carabao Cup midweek. Jurriën Timber (£6.1m) offers double-up value in the Arsenal backline. Dan Burn (£5.1m) is Newcastle’s highest-scoring defender. Crystal Palace defenders Daniel Muñoz (£5.7m) and Marc Guéhi (£4.9m) are attractive with Brentford (H) up next, while Nordi Mukiele (£4.1m) has produced two double-digit hauls in the past six games and looks nailed for the clash with Everton on Monday evening.

Midfielders: Bryan Mbeumo (£8.2m) returned 15 points last weekend and sits as the second-highest scoring midfielder, with Nottingham Forest (A) his next test. Bruno Fernandes (£8.9m) has 40 points and remains central to Manchester United’s attacking output despite a four-point return at Brighton. Arsenal’s Declan Rice (£6.7m) and Bukayo Saka (£10.0m) are their key attacking assets versus Burnley; both were substitutes midweek and Saka scored on his arrival. Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh (£6.0m) has one goal and two assists and faces Leeds United (H). Ismaïla Sarr (£6.5m) impressed with a midweek brace in the Carabao Cup and has three goals and an assist in seven league matches.

Advertisement




Forwards: Erling Haaland (£14.8m) was blanked only for the second time this season against Aston Villa and was rested midweek; he faces Bournemouth (H). Jean-Philippe Mateta (£7.7m) scored three at Selhurst Park in his last home league appearance and played one half in the midweek win. Hugo Ekitiké (£8.6m) has six goals this term and was rested on Wednesday, with Aston Villa (H) to come. Nick Woltemade (£7.5m) has six in 11 for Newcastle and has recorded six or more points in four matches, while Danny Welbeck (£6.4m) has five goals this season, including three in his last two league appearances.

There is no Friday night or early Saturday kick-off this week. The Gameweek 10 deadline is 1.30 p.m. GMT on Saturday, Nov. 1.

Continue Reading

Arsenal

2025/26 FPL: Gameweek 9 player picks and the Oct. 24 deadline

FPL Gameweek 9 picks: goalkeepers, defenders and forwards to consider for the Oct. 24 deadline. BST.

Published

on

Gameweek 9 offers few standout heavyweight clashes, which can make it an ideal week for FPL managers hunting steady returns. Below are considered selections drawn from the current form and fixtures ahead of the Oct. 24 deadline.

Goalkeepers: David Raya (£5.7m) is highlighted for clean sheet potential after conceding just three times in all competitions this season and is described as a set-and-forget option. Nick Pope (£5.2m) sits as FPL’s second-highest scoring goalkeeper through the opening eight rounds and has kept three clean sheets in his last four matches in all competitions, with Newcastle hosting Fulham on Saturday. Robert Sánchez (£4.9m) is the cheaper alternative; he will be aiming for a shutout at home to Sunderland, who have scored in only one of their four away games.

Defenders: Marc Cucurella (£6.1m) offers attacking and defensive upside, having delivered 15 points across his past two matches and creating 11 chances for Chelsea this term. Gabriel (£6.4m) is the leading defensive candidate, having provided more points than any other defender this term and 45 in his last five Premier League matches. Marcos Senesi (£5.0m) is the obvious Bournemouth route into defence at home to Nottingham Forest, with 48 points this term. Dan Burn (£5.1m), Kieran Trippier (£5.0m) and Joe Rodon (£4.1m) are also noted as solid defensive choices.

Midfield and attack: Antoine Semenyo (£8.1m) has outscored other midfielders by 24 points and is a must-have at home to Forest, having produced five-plus points in all his home games. Declan Rice (£6.6m) could benefit from Arsenal’s set-piece threat at home to Palace. Bukayo Saka (£10.0m) remains a reliable long-term option despite fitness setbacks.

Forwards: Erling Haaland (£14.7m) remains a must-have after 11 goals in eight league games and is primed to score as Manchester City visit Aston Villa. Cody Gakpo (£7.5m) has scored in his past five matches for club and country and faces Brentford. Igor Thiago (£6.1m) is a budget gamble after five league goals in eight matches.

Reminder: The Gameweek 9 deadline is 6:30 p.m. BST (1:30 p.m. ET, 10:30 a.m. PT) on Oct. 24.

Continue Reading

Trending