How to Start Your Fantasy Football Journey
Photo by Nathan Rogers on Unsplash
Fantasy football is the perfect way for armchair managers to test their skills and gives an added interest for the weekend fixtures. Managers are given a set amount of money to build a squad and players earn points based on their positions and performance.
The most popular fantasy football game in the UK is the Fantasy Premier League which boasts more than 11 million players. The game is free to take part in and players can compete in private leagues and cup competitions as well as have the opportunity to win prizes.
It can be a great way for players to get a better understanding of Premier League team squads and form, which is beneficial to those who bet on it. Players can also make use of suggestions for the UK users to find the best betting sites and odds on matches.
Understanding the Point Scoring System
It might seem like the best tactic is to front-load your team with proven goalscorers, but a defence and goalkeeper can make all the difference at the end of the season.
Points are issued for clean sheets, saves, assists, and goals. Your team captain will also have their point tally doubled for the week they are selected, so keeping a keen eye on fixtures where they may perform well is essential.
Build Your Squad
You will have £100 million to create your squad of three forward players, five midfielders, five defenders, and two goalkeepers. Players are also limited to choosing a maximum of three players from each team.
A great way to judge the popularity of players is by checking their TSB (teams selected by) percentage. High-scoring players will typically have a high TSB with Erling Haaland being selected by more than 80% of teams this season.
Another tip is to keep your eye on the transfer market. A player getting linked with a move to a bigger team could offer value for money by investing in them before they move.
Investing in low-priced substitutes that are still likely to feature for their teams is a good way of saving money for the big-point scorers at top teams.
Team Selection
You will be able to choose a formation that suits your squad selection with many choosing to pack their midfield and forward lines with potential goal scorers. A 3-4-3 formation allows players to put as many attacking players as possible in their squad.
It is possible to get extremely high-scoring defenders as well so your formation will reflect who you sign.
Looking ahead to see which teams have the easiest fixtures on paper can influence your team lineup and signings.
Transfers
Players can make one free transfer per week. If you don’t make a transfer, this is carried on to the following week with a maximum of two free transfers allowed.
If you make more than your allotted free transfers you will be penalised 4 points per player so you will have to make sure it is worth it.
The prices of players change through the season based on their performance. If a player you have increased in value, you retain 50% of the additional value when you transfer them.
Chip System
The chip system allows players to enjoy one-off benefits and includes the following:
- Wildcard
- Triple Captain
- Bench Boost
- Free Hit
The wildcard option allows players to make as many changes to their playing personal as they want without forfeiting points. This is available twice per season, once before and once after the winter break.
The triple captain chip earns your captain triple points on the week you use it, rather than the usual double points. Waiting until nearer the end of the season when teams have two game weeks is a great way to utilise this chip.
Your bench boost allows every player in your squad to earn points for the week you use it. This is why it is important to have a squad where all the players are likely to feature for their teams. This is another chip that is best used during two game weeks.
The last chip is the free hit that allows you to make as many changes to your squad as you want in the same way as the wild card. The major difference is that the changes you make only last for one week before your squad reverts back to how it originally was.
