The new Fantasy Premier League season is here, and honestly, the game has undergone a significant mental reset. The old points system just felt out of sync with how modern football is played. This year, though, it seems the Premier League has listened and is trying to breathe new life into a game that was starting to feel a bit stagnant.
These aren’t just minor tweaks. This is a complete overhaul of how we’ll be thinking about squad building, player selection, and chip strategy. That’s the kind of challenge I live for. The old ways of thinking are dead—and that’s incredibly exciting.
Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Basic points explained:
This season marks a huge shift in how points are awarded. As a manager, my immediate thought is this: I need to leverage these changes to find hidden gems and build a more adaptable team. I’m already looking at players I would have previously ignored.
Bonus Points System Changes
The Bonus Points System (BPS) has been overhauled to be more transparent and rewarding. To me, this is the most exciting change. It makes predicting bonus points feel less like a “dark art” and more like a science. Here’s my take on the key changes:
- Goalkeeper saves: Goalkeepers will now earn points based on the difficulty of the save, with saves from shots inside the box being more valuable. I remember picking a keeper from a mid-table team in 2018 just because he made saves for fun—with the new system, that’s gold again. He would have been a top Fantasy Premier League asset. This changes my strategy completely, and I’ll be seriously considering keepers from teams that face a lot of shots.
- Goalline clearances: A goalline clearance is now worth a generous three points. I love that this heroic defensive effort is finally getting its due.
- Penalty goals: The player who wins a penalty now gets a bonus point, in addition to the goal-scorer receiving an extra point. Yep, that one makes total sense to me; it rewards both the creator and the finisher.
- Successful tackles: The location of a tackle now matters. A successful tackle in the final third is worth two points, while one in the middle third is worth one. This is huge for how I’ll pick players—I’m already thinking about which mid-priced full-backs and defensive midfielders who press high up the pitch I need to watch.
- Clean sheets & Tie-breakers: The rules regarding clean sheets and tie-breakers for bonus points haven’t been mentioned as changing, so we can assume they’re the same as last season.
Assist rules change:
The assist rules have finally been made fairer for creative players. The old rules often felt arbitrary, but these new changes align better with the “eye test” of football. Honestly, I’ve often felt a great pass was unfairly overlooked, so these changes are a welcome relief.
- Assists: Passes: A pass that takes a slight deflection off an opponent will still be awarded an assist, as long as the ball’s direction isn’t significantly altered. Last season, I lost a mini-league by two points because a deflected pass wasn’t given as an assist—under the new rules, I would have won it. That’s how big these little changes are. This will put a premium on those “pure playmakers” who are all about vision and execution.
- Assists: Rebounds: If a player’s shot hits the woodwork and a teammate scores from the rebound, the initial shooter will now be awarded an assist. This is a fantastic change because it rewards the player who created the chance in the first place, and that’s going to catch a few people off guard, I think.
- Assists: Own goals: Assists from own goals haven’t been mentioned as changing, so the rules for these are expected to remain consistent.
- Assists: Penalties and free-kicks & Forced handball: The player who wins a penalty or free-kick will now be awarded an assist if a goal is scored directly from the resulting set piece. Yep, that one makes total sense to me, and it adds another layer of strategy to my transfer decisions.
Other changes to Fantasy Football for 2025-26
Now, here’s the fun bit—the other key changes that will have a major impact on my overall chip and transfer strategy for the season.
Five free transfers in GW16 | Players departing for the Africa Cup of Nations.
The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has historically been a headache for FPL managers, causing chaos with our squads. I’ve wasted so many Wildcards on this tournament. This season, we get up to five free transfers in Gameweek 16, which is a huge lifeline! My plan? Use up all my free transfers in the weeks leading up to it so I can get the full top-up of five, allowing for a strategic overhaul before the tournament even starts. This is a brilliant solution to a perennial problem.
Players will receive two sets of chips
Hands down, this is the most significant tactical change of the season. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve agonized over whether to play my first Wildcard early to fix a bad start or save it for the double gameweeks at the end. Now, having two sets of chips—Wildcard, Triple Captain, Free Hit, and Bench Boost—is a complete game-changer for me. I can be more aggressive with my early-season strategy, knowing I have a second chance to rebuild later on. This flexibility is a dream come true for managers who like to take risks.
Players can create team badges using Adobe Express and AI
A fun, new creative partnership with Adobe Express allows you to use AI to generate a custom badge for your team. This has no impact on points, but for a fantasy manager who takes their team’s identity a little too seriously, it’s a great way to personalize my Fantasy Premier League identity.
Summary: The biggest changes to FPL points for 2025-26
Basically, the biggest changes this season are the revamped Bonus Points System and the new, fairer assist rules. More players now get rewarded for the stuff we’ve been screaming about for years. It means the best managers will be those who adapt their strategy and find value in players who weren’t previously on our radar.
Also Read: Alexander Isak views his Newcastle career as over and has no wish to play for Newcastle again
Conclusion: My Final Thoughts on the Season
I’m genuinely excited for this season more than any other in recent memory. These Fantasy Premier League changes feel like a breath of fresh air. They’re a puzzle that will reward deep tactical thinking over just picking the obvious big-name players. The two sets of chips and the AFCON transfers in Fantasy Premier League give us a level of control we’ve never had before. It’s no longer just about who can score goals, but who can make the most saves, win the most tackles, and create the most chances. I’m already debating my strategy: will I go big early and use my chips to get ahead of the pack, or will I be a bit more cautious? It’s a brand-new puzzle, and honestly, I can’t wait to solve it. What about you? How are you adapting your team in Fantasy Premier League? The new rules have leveled the playing field, making it the perfect time for both seasoned veterans and newcomers to jump in and find success.
