A Beginner’s Guide to Fantasy Premier League
Welcome to the exciting world of fantasy football. If you’re new to the game, then fear not! This guide will outline everything you need to know.
What is Fantasy Premier League?
Fantasy Premier League (FPL), also referred to as Fantasy Football, is a virtual football platform that allows you to create and manage your own team, made up of all your favourite players.
Here’s how it works: Players are allocated a fixed budget, and they use it to select a squad of 15 real-life Premier League footballers, including goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, and forwards. Throughout the season, you can earn points based on the actual performances of your chosen players in real Premier League matches.
Scoring is influenced by various factors, including goals scored, assists provided, clean sheets, and more. Strategic decision-making also comes into play as you can make transfers to adjust your team throughout the season.
Getting Started
Follow these steps to get started on your Fantasy Premier League journey.
Creating an Account
The first step is to register a fantasy Premier League account. All you need to do is enter your name, email address, and password, then you’re ready to start building your Fantasy Football team.
Building Your Fantasy Football Team
Now comes the fun part – creating your dream team in the Fantasy Premier League! As the FPL team manager, you are given a budget of £100 million to work with. With this budget, you’ll need to recruit an initial squad of 15 players (consisting of 2 goalkeepers, five defenders, five midfielders, and 3 forwards).
Every team needs a leader, and in Fantasy Football, your captain gets extra points. So, pick someone reliable and make them your captain to score even more points.
Note: you can only choose three players from any one Premier League club, so choose wisely.
The Scoring System
There are a number of ways in which points can be earned:
Playing Matches
Simply by playing matches, players are awarded points. This also means that if a player does not feature for their club in a match (i.e. is subbed), no points are awarded.
Scoring Goals
Scoring goals means big points. Players get points for each goal they score, meaning the more goals scored, the more points for your team.
Assisting Goals
If your player helps set up a goal by passing the ball, they earn points too. Teamwork makes the fantasy dream work!
Clean Sheets
If your goalkeeper or defenders don’t let the other team score, that’s a clean sheet, and you will be awarded points for keeping it clean.
Making Saves
Goalkeepers earn points for making saves. The more saves they make, the more points they are awarded.
Bonus Points System
Additional bonus points can also be earned if players are among the top performers in the Bonus Points System (BPS), whereby statistics gathered from Opta create performance scores for every player.
Triple Captain
The Triple Captain in Fantasy Premier League triples the points of the selected player for a single week. It can be used once per season and requires strategic planning. Ideally activated during a double game week or when a high-scoring player has a favourable fixture, it poses a significant opportunity for a points boost.
Bench Boost
The Bench Boost in Fantasy Premier League incorporates points from benched players into the total score for a single game week. It can be used only once per season, providing an opportunity to maximise points. Timing is crucial with the Bench Boost, and experienced managers often save it for a double game week, where players have two opportunities to score points. This strategic deployment transforms the benched players into active point-scorers, effectively expanding the team to 15 players for that game week.
Making Transfers
Transfers allow you to swap players in and out of your team throughout the season. If one of your players is not doing so well, or gets injured, no problem — you can exchange them for a better-performing player. But be careful, you have a limit on how many transfers you can make each season.
Keep an eye on your team regularly. If a player isn’t playing, or is injured, this is a good time to make a transfer and bring in someone new.
Tips for Beginners
Here are some of our top tips for Fantasy Football beginners:
1. Join a League
Playing with friends or joining public leagues adds a fun, social element to the game. Competing against others enhances the excitement of Fantasy Football, and is a great motivator to keep your team performing well.
2. Be Patient
Fantasy Football is a marathon, not a sprint. Be patient, especially during challenging periods. Avoid knee-jerk reactions and trust your initial strategy.
Choose the Right Captain
Choosing the right captain is crucial. The captain earns double points, so select a reliable player with a favourable fixture for that extra boost.
3. Make Transfers When Necessary
Don’t hesitate to make transfers when needed. If a player is underperforming or facing a tough schedule, consider swapping them for someone in better form or with easier fixtures.
4. Enjoy the Journey
Above all, have fun! Fantasy Football is about the joy of managing your team and engaging with the sport in a unique and social way. Celebrate your successes and learn from your experiences for a fulfilling fantasy season.
5. Witnessing Premier League Action Live
If you love playing Fantasy Football, imagine how thrilling it would be to see your favourite players live in action! You can do that by buying Premier League tickets. Getting tickets to a Premier League match lets you experience the excitement firsthand. Whether it’s cheering for your team, feeling the energy of the crowd, or witnessing jaw-dropping goals right in front of you, attending a live match is an unforgettable experience.
To secure your Premier League tickets, keep an eye on the match schedule, choose a game that fits your plans, and follow the steps to secure your tickets. So, if you ever get the chance, don’t miss out on the chance to be part of the live action and create lasting memories.
