FPL is back….and bigger than ever! This season, we see the best fantasy football game receive a long-awaited update to almost every single section. From a revamped bonus points system to simplifying how assists are awarded and doubling the amount of chips to play this season, FPL feels fresher & more competitive than ever.

Whether you are a seasoned pro or brand new manager creating your first squad, this article will assist you (pun included) in understanding what this means for our teams, ensuring you get the jump on your rivals in that mini league. Buckle up, because the 2025/26 FPL season is set to be the most competitive yet.

You can also follow our Fantasy Premier League Football Tips throughout the season for weekly insights and opinions.

The 25/26 season is on its way, and our experts will begin to roll out their Premier League Predictions soon, so now is the perfect time to get involved. We will remain across all the action on the continent, the EFL, and in Scotland in our various Football Betting Tips & Predictions, with fresh tips available here on Andy's Bet Club every day.

♜ Defensive Contributions

By far the biggest change this season is the introduction of rewarding players for defensive contributions alongside attacking returns. Clearances, blocks, interceptions & tackles(CBIT) are used as the metric; defenders need to score a combined 10 of these actions, with midfielders and forwards requiring 12. Once players reach that target, they receive an extra two points... no more, no less.

The following are the top players who would have received the most DC points for last season. There aren’t many names there you would have expected to see or even had in your squad.

With ball recoveries also included there are too many factors to describe here. Before the start of the season, head over to the FPL website and familiarise yourself with all the ins and outs. 

Top tip –  With only 2 capped points up for grabs, don’t get all out of shape worrying about factoring this into the majority of your players. As an extremely experienced fantasy player, currently, I am not overvaluing this addition. 

Verdict -  8.7/10 – Ensures less chance of a ‘template’ team & keeps FPL competitive.

⚽ Scoring - Updated

Assists

Great news, it’s now easier for one of our players to register an assist. In order for an assist (3pts) to be awarded, last season, it had to be decided by FPL HQ that the player who received the ball was the original intended target.

Now this brought much heartache or jubilation when those conditions were not deemed to have been met, and it was either chalked off or added. Ultimately, a few incorrect decisions were made on both sides last season, so it makes sense to streamline the process.

Now that the intended target can just be an area of the pitch, and even if a defender touches it(max 1 defensive touch)inside the penalty box, it’ll still count. Outside the box, as long as the ball is not significantly altered, the assist will also be given. It now means more points will be awarded to more players & in turn increase the player selection pool, only a good thing for the game. Penalties, Rebounds & own goals see no changes. 

Top tip –  Try to watch highlights of games and improve your ‘eye test’ for player selection. Sometimes in FPL, assists are achieved by luck.

Verdict:  9.1/10  Long overdue

🌍 Global Leagues & Cups

Yes, we all know the vast majority of us play FPL for a low finishing rank, but this season our rank has a purpose. Starting this season, players who qualify will compete in highly coveted 10% & 1% overall leagues, ensuring even more bragging rights. FPL managers that finished in the top 1,143,193(10%) & 114,319(1%) will automatically be entered. Your 25/26 finishing rank will then be used for next season, so think twice if you really need to bring that player who is the flavour of the week. 

Top tip – Don’t let it affect your decisions, play as you normally would. If you overthink everything, it won’t go well; I say this from a position of experience. 

Verdict:  7/10  A good addition

👨‍💼 The Assistant Manager Chip Is Gone!

There isn’t much more to say on this change, other than I think we can all agree this chip will not be missed!

Verdict:  9/10  Never suited the fantasy DNA

🪙 Double Chips

This season, we're being ‘super-sized.’ If, like me, you're old enough to remember that reference, you’ll know it’s a great thing. We now have Bench Boost, Triple Captain & Free Hit to use twice this season instead of once, with the two wildcards remaining as was last season. That’s an extra six chips worth of massive points(hopefully) and an opportunity to overtake your friends in your mini leagues. 

Top tip – The fact we now have more chips than ever in FPL doesn’t mean you shouldn’t maximise every single one of them. Try to plan ahead and identify where they can be utilised most effectively. For me, generally, I split my chips usage into two sections: before & after Christmas. Some chips are ideal to use in back-to-back GWs, so it really comes down to your individual strategy, but if it feels like the perfect time to use it, don’t overthink it and activate!

Verdict:  9.3/10  Best change this season

💯 Bonus Points

The bonus points system is a vital part of FPL, which rewards players for good match performances, based on statistics supplied by OPTA.

Below is a recap of the main BPS updates that will affect how your players receive extra points at the end of the match. Make sure you review it more in-depth before the start of the season. Very important!

🪢 Tied Players

In the event multiple players are on the same BPS, the following will apply:

Top tip – Read the full article on the Fantasy Premier League website & digest what the changes mean in terms of player selection. That defender you think was nailed in your team may not be now.

Verdict:  6.5/10  Changes always come in time, and FPL is no different. Only a slight change, so not much to speculate on.

🦵 Goal Line Clearances

Players will earn nine BPS instead of three to reflect the importance of a goal-line clearance. Don’t worry too much though; these are notoriously hard to predict, and there are no models/AI, etc to aid you.

🥅 Penalty Goals

Last season, the amount of BPS awarded for scoring a penalty depended on what position they played in. They now all receive the same 12 pts...nice and easy.

💥 Tackles

Nice and simple again, just the way we like it!

💰 AFCON Transfers

To help navigate the African Cup of Nations tournament in January, managers will be granted extra free transfers(FT) up to a maximum of five in GW16. This will help many managers, no matter the level of engagement, but the more relaxed and nonchalant will benefit the most.

Top tip – Use all your FTs in GW15 to make sure you receive the full five on offer. Essentially, it’s a mini Wildcard, so look for good fixture swings at that time. 

Verdict:  7/10  Indifferent, to be honest

🧠 My Verdict

Everyone is always resistant to change, but overall, I am extremely pleased with all the updates. I think this will not only ensure FPL remains fresh and current but also maintain engagement throughout the Christmas weeks when managers can forget deadlines.

The core of the game remains the same, and that is extremely important for players of both old and new. I honestly believe this update has opened avenues to expand the game and ensure its long-term future. I’m the most hyped I’ve been for many seasons, and I can’t wait to repeat the journey with you all again.

Conclusion

Good luck & be sure to visit X for my final confirmed team & updated strategy, ahead of the GW1 deadline. Look out for my special articles and follow me on X @FplVeteran_ for daily fantasy football content.