How to Play Fantasy Premier League: Complete FPL Guide for Beginners
- 20 hours ago
- 11 min read
Fantasy Premier League (FPL) is a free fantasy football game where you build your own squad of Premier League players and compete against millions of other managers.
The basic idea is simple: pick 15 players within your budget, select your starting XI each Gameweek, choose a captain, make transfers and score points based on how your players perform in real Premier League matches.
This complete FPL beginner's guide explains how Fantasy Premier League works, how to build your squad, how FPL points are scored, how transfers and captains work, what the chips do and how to start managing your team.
The guide applies to the current 2026/27 Fantasy Premier League season, with the core principles also useful for new managers in future seasons.
What is Fantasy Premier League?
Fantasy Premier League is the official fantasy football game of the Premier League.
You create a fantasy squad using real Premier League players. When those players score goals, provide assists, keep clean sheets or make other important contributions in real matches, your FPL team earns points.
The official game has more than 11 million players and is free to play.
Your objective is to score as many FPL points as possible over the course of the season.
You can compete in:
Global rankings
Overall leagues
Private mini-leagues
Cups
Leagues against friends, family and colleagues
How do you play Fantasy Premier League?
To play FPL, you need to:
Create an FPL account.
Pick a squad of 15 Premier League players.
Stay within the £100m starting budget.
Select your starting XI before each Gameweek deadline.
Choose a captain and vice-captain.
Arrange your substitutes.
Make transfers between Gameweeks.
Use FPL chips strategically.
Score points based on your players' real-life performances.
Try to finish as high as possible in the overall rankings and your mini-leagues.
The official FPL game gives every manager a £100m budget to select 15 players.
How many players do you pick in FPL?
You pick 15 players for your FPL squad.
Your squad consists of:
2 goalkeepers
5 defenders
5 midfielders
3 forwards
You then select 11 players to start each Gameweek.
The remaining four players form your substitutes.
Your starting XI must always contain:
At least 1 goalkeeper
At least 3 defenders
At least 1 forward
This means formations such as 3-4-3, 3-5-2, 4-3-3, 4-4-2, 4-5-1 and 5-3-2 are possible.
How much money do you get in FPL?
Every manager starts with a £100m budget.
You must use that budget to build your 15-player squad.
This is one of the most important parts of FPL strategy because you cannot simply select all of the best players.
You need to balance expensive premium players with cheaper options.
For example, spending heavily on several premium attackers might force you to select cheaper defenders or midfielders elsewhere in your squad.
This is why value for money is one of the most important concepts in FPL.
How does FPL scoring work?
Your players earn FPL points based on what they do in Premier League matches.
The basic scoring system includes points for:
Action | FPL points |
Playing up to 60 minutes | 1 |
Playing 60+ minutes | 2 |
Goal by a goalkeeper | 10 |
Goal by a defender | 6 |
Goal by a midfielder | 5 |
Goal by a forward | 4 |
Assist | 3 |
Goalkeeper/defender clean sheet | 4 |
Midfielder clean sheet | 1 |
Every 3 goalkeeper saves | 1 |
Penalty save | 5 |
Penalty miss | -2 |
Yellow card | -1 |
Red card | -3 |
Own goal | -2 |
Every 2 goals conceded by goalkeeper/defender | -1 |
The current FPL scoring system also awards Defensive Contribution points.
Defenders receive two points for reaching at least 10 combined clearances, blocks, interceptions and tackles in a match.
Midfielders and forwards can earn two points for reaching at least 12 combined clearances, blocks, interceptions, tackles and recoveries.
Why does player position matter?
A player's FPL position affects how many points they receive for goals and clean sheets.
For example, a defender scoring a goal receives six points, while a forward receives four.
This is one reason attacking defenders can be particularly valuable FPL players.
What are FPL bonus points?
The three best-performing players in every Premier League match can receive bonus points through the Bonus Points System (BPS).
The highest-ranked player receives three bonus points, the second receives two and the third receives one.
Bonus points can therefore provide an important additional source of FPL points, particularly for players who regularly contribute across multiple areas of the game.
What is an FPL Gameweek?
An FPL Gameweek is the period in which a group of Premier League fixtures counts towards your fantasy score.
You select your team before the Gameweek deadline.
Once the deadline passes, your selected starting XI, captain and substitutes are locked in for that Gameweek.
Your players then earn points based on their real-world performances.
The points are added to your Gameweek score and overall season total.
What is the FPL deadline?
The FPL Gameweek deadline is normally 90 minutes before the kick-off of the first match in that Gameweek.
However, deadlines can change, so managers should always check the official FPL game before making their final changes.
Missing the deadline can mean:
Your intended transfer doesn't happen.
Your new captain isn't selected.
Your starting XI isn't changed.
Your bench order remains unchanged.
Tip: Don't leave your FPL team until the last few minutes before the deadline.
How does the FPL captain work?
Your captain is one of the most important decisions you make each Gameweek.
Your captain receives double their normal FPL points.
For example, if your captain scores 10 points, you receive 20 points from that player.
Your vice-captain acts as a backup.
If your captain does not play during the Gameweek, the vice-captain normally receives the captaincy bonus instead, provided the vice-captain plays.
This makes captain selection one of the biggest weekly decisions in FPL.
When choosing a captain, consider:
Fixture difficulty
Expected minutes
Goal involvement
Assists potential
Penalties
Set pieces
Recent performances
Underlying statistics
Opponent defensive strength
Don't simply captain a player because they are the most expensive player in your squad.
How do FPL transfers work?
Transfers allow you to replace players in your squad.
Each Gameweek, managers receive free transfers according to the current FPL rules.
You can use a free transfer to replace one player with another player from the same position, provided you remain within your budget and squad restrictions.
You can also make additional transfers, but these can result in a points deduction unless you use a chip that allows unlimited free transfers.
This means you should avoid making transfers simply because you are bored with your team.
Before transferring a player, ask:
Why am I selling this player?
And:
Is the player I'm buying likely to score enough additional points to justify the move?
What is an FPL Wildcard?
The Wildcard allows you to make unlimited free transfers during a Gameweek while remaining within your available budget.
The current FPL rules provide two Wildcards during the season, with one available in the first half of the campaign and another available after the mid-season reset.
A Wildcard can be useful when:
Your squad has several injured players.
Your team structure needs major changes.
Several players have lost their starting places.
Fixtures have changed significantly.
You need to restructure your squad.
A major fixture swing is approaching.
Don't use your Wildcard simply because you dislike your Gameweek score.
What are FPL chips?
FPL chips are special tools that can significantly change how your team performs in a Gameweek.
The current game includes:
Wildcard
Free Hit
Bench Boost
Triple Captain
For 2026/27, each chip can be used twice during the season, with the first set applying to the first half of the season and the second set becoming available from Gameweek 20. Only one chip can be active in a Gameweek.
Wildcard
Make unlimited free transfers for the Gameweek.
Free Hit
Make unlimited transfers for one Gameweek, with your previous squad restored afterwards.
Bench Boost
Your substitutes also score points for that Gameweek.
Triple Captain
Your captain scores triple points instead of double.
Chip strategy can become particularly important during Double Gameweeks, when teams have more than one fixture in a Gameweek.
What is a Double Gameweek?
A Double Gameweek occurs when a Premier League team plays twice during one FPL Gameweek.
Players from that club can therefore score points from both matches.
For example, if a player scores eight points in one match and seven in another, they could score 15 points before captaincy, bonus and other effects are considered.
Double Gameweeks can therefore create attractive opportunities for:
Bench Boosts
Triple Captains
Captains
Premium players
Differential players
However, having two fixtures does not automatically make a player a good FPL pick.
Minutes, fixture difficulty and expected performance still matter.
What is a Blank Gameweek?
A Blank Gameweek is a Gameweek in which a Premier League team does not have a fixture.
Players from that club therefore cannot score FPL points during that Gameweek.
Blank Gameweeks can be caused by:
Domestic cup fixtures
European competition
Postponed matches
Fixture rearrangements
They are particularly important when planning transfers and chips.
What is FPL Fixture Difficulty Rating?
The Fixture Difficulty Rating (FDR) is an official FPL tool designed to help managers assess the difficulty of upcoming fixtures.
The FDR uses a formula incorporating Opta data and recent home and away form to rank the perceived difficulty of opponents. It is reviewed and updated as the season progresses.
FDR can help answer questions such as:
Which teams have favourable fixtures?
Which defenders should I consider?
Which attackers have good upcoming matches?
When should I consider transferring a player out?
Which teams have a difficult run coming up?
However, FDR should be treated as one piece of information rather than an automatic transfer signal.
How should beginners choose FPL players?
The biggest mistake new managers make is selecting players based purely on reputation.
A famous player isn't necessarily a good FPL asset.
Instead, consider:
1. Expected minutes
A player cannot score many points if they rarely play.
2. Goals and assists potential
Look for players who regularly get into dangerous positions or create chances.
3. Set pieces
Penalties, corners and free-kicks can create additional opportunities.
4. Fixtures
A strong run of fixtures can improve a player's prospects.
5. Price
A player needs to provide sufficient output for their cost.
6. Underlying statistics
Statistics such as xG, xA, shots, chances created and touches in the box can help identify players who are generating genuine opportunities.
7. Ownership
A highly owned player can be important because avoiding them may create significant rank risk.
A low-owned player can become an FPL differential if they have strong underlying prospects.
What is an FPL differential?
An FPL differential is a player with relatively low ownership who could outperform their popularity level.
For example, if a player is owned by only 5% of managers but has strong fixtures, secure minutes and excellent attacking statistics, they could become a useful differential.
However, low ownership alone does not make a player a good pick.
The best differentials combine:
Low ownership + good fixtures + secure minutes + strong expected output.
How do you build a good FPL team?
A good FPL squad should give you flexibility.
Instead of spending almost all your money on a handful of premium players, consider how the entire 15-man squad works together.
A balanced squad typically contains:
Reliable starters
Cheap bench options
Premium captaincy options
Mid-priced players
Players with strong fixtures
Players with secure minutes
You should also avoid having too many players from clubs with difficult fixture runs.
The goal isn't to build the perfect squad on the first day.
The goal is to build a squad that gives you multiple routes to points and flexibility for future Gameweeks.
How important is FPL ownership?
Ownership tells you what percentage of FPL managers own a particular player.
It can be useful when assessing risk.
If a highly owned player performs well and you don't own him, your rank can fall relative to managers who do.
Conversely, a low-owned player who performs exceptionally well can help you gain rank.
This is why experienced FPL managers often consider both:
Expected points and expected ownership.
What is FPL expected points?
Expected points is an estimate of how many FPL points a player could score over a particular period.
It can incorporate factors such as:
Expected minutes
Goals
Assists
Clean sheets
Fixture difficulty
Defensive contributions
Bonus potential
Expected points should not be treated as a prediction of exactly what will happen.
Football is unpredictable.
Instead, it is a way of comparing players and identifying potentially attractive options.
Should beginners pick a template FPL team?
There is nothing wrong with starting with popular players.
In fact, a new manager may benefit from owning several highly owned players because it reduces the risk of falling behind immediately.
You don't need to find 15 obscure differentials.
A sensible strategy is often:
Reliable popular players + a few carefully selected differentials.
As you gain experience, you can become more aggressive with your squad structure.
Common FPL mistakes beginners should avoid
1. Picking players because they are famous
FPL is about fantasy output, not reputation.
2. Chasing last week's points
A player scoring 15 points doesn't automatically mean they will score heavily again.
3. Ignoring fixtures
Fixtures can significantly affect a player's short-term prospects.
4. Selecting players who don't regularly start
Minutes are one of the most important factors in FPL.
5. Making transfers for no reason
Every transfer should have a clear purpose.
6. Ignoring the bench
Your substitutes matter, particularly during busy periods and Double Gameweeks.
7. Using chips too early
Chips are limited resources, so think about when they can provide the greatest benefit.
8. Overreacting to one bad Gameweek
A player can blank in a good fixture and still be an excellent FPL asset.
9. Following every FPL expert blindly
Use other managers' opinions as information rather than instructions.
10. Forgetting the deadline
The simplest mistake is sometimes the most costly.
How to improve at Fantasy Premier League
Once you understand the basics, your next step should be developing a repeatable decision-making process.
Before each Gameweek, check:
Team news
Is your player expected to start?
Fixtures
Which teams have favourable opponents?
Form
Who has been producing points recently?
Underlying statistics
Are the player's performances supported by chances, shots, xG and xA?
Set pieces
Who takes penalties, corners and free-kicks?
Ownership
Could a player represent a useful differential or create rank risk if you don't own them?
Expected minutes
Is the player likely to play enough minutes to justify their price?
Price
Does their expected output justify the money you're spending?
This approach is much more sustainable than simply chasing whichever player scored the most points last Gameweek.
How to start playing FPL in 2026/27
If you're new to Fantasy Premier League, you don't need to understand every advanced statistic before creating your team.
Start with the basics:
Register for Fantasy Premier League.
Build your 15-player squad within the £100m budget.
Pick your starting XI.
Choose your captain and vice-captain.
Set your substitute order.
Check your team before every deadline.
Monitor injuries and team news.
Make transfers when they improve your squad.
Learn how the FPL chips work.
Review your decisions rather than simply looking at your score.
The official FPL game is free to play and provides the tools needed to create your team and compete in leagues.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fantasy Premier League
Is Fantasy Premier League free?
Yes. The official Fantasy Premier League game is free to play.
How many players do you pick in FPL?
You select a squad of 15 players: two goalkeepers, five defenders, five midfielders and three forwards.
What is the FPL starting budget?
The standard starting budget is £100m.
How many players start in FPL?
You select 11 starting players for each Gameweek.
How many substitutes do you have in FPL?
You have four substitutes: one goalkeeper and three outfield players.
How does the FPL captain work?
Your captain scores double points for the Gameweek. If your captain doesn't play, the vice-captain can receive the captaincy bonus if they play.
What is an FPL Wildcard?
A Wildcard allows you to make unlimited free transfers during a Gameweek while staying within your budget.
What is a Double Gameweek?
A Double Gameweek occurs when a team plays twice during one FPL Gameweek, giving its players two opportunities to score points.
What is a Blank Gameweek?
A Blank Gameweek is when a team has no fixture during an FPL Gameweek.
What is FPL FDR?
FDR stands for Fixture Difficulty Rating. It is an official FPL tool designed to help managers assess fixture difficulty.
What is an FPL differential?
An FPL differential is generally a low-owned player who could outperform their ownership and help managers gain rank.
Can beginners be good at FPL?
Absolutely. FPL rewards consistent decision-making rather than simply having extensive football knowledge. Understanding fixtures, minutes, player roles, prices and expected output can give a new manager a strong foundation.
Final FPL beginner's advice
You don't need to predict every Premier League match correctly to succeed at Fantasy Premier League.
The best FPL managers generally focus on making good decisions repeatedly.
Build a balanced squad.
Prioritise players who are likely to play.
Look for strong fixtures.
Consider expected goals and assists.
Understand ownership.
Think carefully about captaincy.
Use your transfers with a purpose.
And don't panic after one bad Gameweek.
FPL is a long season.
The objective isn't to win every Gameweek. It's to make better decisions than your rivals over the course of the season.
For the latest FPL rules, player data and official game information, always check the official Fantasy Premier League website alongside your own research.
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