Members

The winners and losers on the FPL Bonus Points System

With Premier League football suspended for the foreseeable future due to the coronavirus pandemic, any articles we produce over the coming weeks (and perhaps months) will focus less on Gameweek-to-Gameweek planning or strategies for the season run-in and more on wider issues.

A topic that is frequently raised on these pages is Fantasy Premier League’s Bonus Points System (BPS), which can leave the uninitiated bewildered.

How come Anthony Martial (£7.9m) hasn’t gained one bonus point since Gameweek 19, despite scoring in five matches after that point? Why is Federico Fernandez (£4.5m) such a BAP-magnet at Newcastle United? And why do forwards tend to accrue more bonus points than players in other positions?

We’ll address those questions and more below.

How does the Bonus Points System Work in FPL?

Long gone are the days of the ‘man in the stand’, where an independent match assessor from the Press Association would distribute bonus points based on a subjective evaluation of which three players stood out in a particular Premier League game.

Now the Bonus Points System harnesses a range of Opta statistics to create a performance score for every player involved.

The players with the three highest BPS scores in a match subsequently receive bonus points, although ties can mean that additional players also gain them.

Some of you will be familiar with the key Opta metrics that FPL use (most of which can be found in our Members Area) but, for the unversed, all of the below contribute to a player’s matchday BPS score.

All players, no matter what the position, will be affected by the performance indicators below, unless specified (e.g. goalkeepers and defenders keeping a clean sheet).

Game-time and attacking returns
Playing 1 to 59 minutes3
Playing 60+ minutes6
Goalkeepers and defenders scoring a goal12
Midfielders scoring a goal18
Forwards scoring a goal24
Assists9
Defensive Contributions
Goalkeepers and defenders keeping a clean sheet12
Saving a penalty15
Save2
For every two clearances, blocks and interceptions combined (CBIs)1
For every three recoveries1
Net successful tackles2
Attacking Contributions
Successful open play cross1
Creating a big chance (a chance where the receiving player should score)3
Key pass1
Successful dribble1
Scoring the goal that wins a match3
Pass Completion
70 to 79% pass completion (at least 30 passes attempted)2
80 to 89% pass completion (at least 30 passes attempted)4
90%+ pass completion (at least 30 passes attempted)6
Defensive Deductions
Conceding a penalty-3
Yellow card-3
Red card-9
Own goal-6
Making an error which leads to a goal-3
Making an error which leads to an attempt at goal-1
Conceding a foul-1
Attacking Deductions
Missing a penalty-6
Missing a big chance-3
Being tackled-1
Being caught offside-1
Shot off target-1

To give an example, Romain Saiss (£4.5m) was awarded maximum bonus points in Wolves’ 0-0 draw with Brighton in Gameweek 29.

His BPS score of 28 was made up of:

  • Playing 60+ minutes: 6
  • Keeping a clean sheet: 12
  • Recoveries: 3
  • CBIs: 1
  • Net tackles: 6
  • Pass completion: 4
  • Yellow cards: -3
  • Fouls conceded: -1

You can see the full breakdown in the BPS Plus and BPS Minus tabs in the Player Stats section of each match in our Members Area (Wolves v Brighton can be viewed here).


393 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Amey
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Pages lasting for days .... 😮

    1. Amey
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Ironically this post got new page. 😀

    2. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      I'd welcome an article (or articles) on who are the best options to spend the FT's we get between now and GW36 on.

      1. Amey
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Yeah.
        It's 2 things:
        1 Motivation
        2 luck with injuries if the games actually happen.

        I think considerating the ticker definitely logical. We can predict 1 from above & pray for 2 🙂

        1. Amey
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Considering*

        2. bitm2007
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          I just realised the tickers showing more than three games again, wasn't it blanked out until GW36 ? I was using a screen shot of it taken a couple of weeks ago, but it couldn't be switched to attack, defence etc, or changed in any other way from what I took. If they added the games that were postponed before this GW to end of it, it would be a perfect aid for team selection based on fixtures for the rest of the season (if it happens).

          1. Amey
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            If you're talking about FFS ticker, I've no Idea.

            If it's re FPL information tab, it was always there

  2. Brosstan
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Why exactly is it not allowed on here to criticize Woodward for supporting Liverpool's title claim? Liverpool supporting mods?

    1. Indpush
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      No.

      So supporters don't get into childish rants about who did or didn't do what and to who when essentially it's all really meaningless and annoying.

  3. Right In The Stanchion
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Hi Guys,

    I'm new here, what a gwana??

    1. Poseidon.
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      About 2am usually.

    2. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      It's a sort of lizard type creature.

    3. Brimble82
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Isn’t it a type of bird poo?

  4. pablo discobar
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    June seems the most likely restart to the season it seems.

    FPL is just gonna be written off isn't it?

    1. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Massive GW38.

    2. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Mid May? Time for optimism?

    3. The Polymath
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      They could reset the weeks to start from GW 30.

      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 15 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        GW30 has already been played.

        1. bitm2007
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          No it hasn't.

          1. bitm2007
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            the last PL fixtures played were in GW29, all GW30 fixtures were postponed.

  5. My heart goes Salalalalah
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Aaand we're on total lockdown here in South Africa until 16 April...

    1. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
      • 15 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Lucky you. We are still allowed to go out and pass it on to multiple people if we wish to do so

      1. Amey
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Joker laugh ....

    2. el polako
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Nothing new surely.

    3. Amey
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Kuwa mwangalifu
      🙂

  6. potatoace
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Typical of Andy Carroll to be fit now. Bet he gets injured again before another next ball is kicked.

  7. GreennRed
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/11232273/boris-johnson-coronavirus-press-live/

    Is Boris gonna annojnce a full lovkdown in the UK tonight?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      A few weeks late.

      1. GreennRed
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Better late than never as the man says.

        1. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 15 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          True.

      2. Ógie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        You may be right TM but then again just stopping a juggernaut with momentum that the UK economy has is not as easy as just flipping a switch either.

        If governments just locked down everything on these islands it would bring it's own problems.This incremental shutdown has given people some time to prepare and for the respective states to mobilize their resources.

        If they just pulled the pin on lets say 15th of March out of the blue what do you think would have happened?The panic was bad enough as it was but that would have looked just like fairytale as a shock would trigger riots on the streets.

        What would have you have done TM?

    2. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Yes.

    3. ᶠᶦˡᵗʰʸLucre $$$
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Boris heavy handed lockdown = "I tell you what jolly old chaps, would you mind awfully not going out if it isn't too much trouble?"

      1. GreennRed
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Champions League pushed out again.

      2. GreennRed
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Reply fail!

        Probably a bit exaggerated but I read one description of lockdown in China. 'They are a communist dictatorship who warned people to stay indoors or else take a bullet to the face'. A bit extreme!

    4. beric
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Would probably mean i get to stop going to work but get 80% of my pay so fingers crossed

      1. GreennRed
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Depends on your home circumstances and how much you like your work but after a couple of weeks you might be looking forward to going back!

          1. GreennRed
            • 13 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            Cheers Wilshere. Ironically I heard a lady on the radio (ladio?) on about MOOCs today.
            https://www.mooc.org/

            1. beric
              • 12 Years
              4 years, 8 months ago

              This looks cool too!

          2. beric
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            Nice one WK

        1. beric
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          I like my job, but I'll happily isolate for a while man, theres a lot i want to do at home!

    5. Ser Davos
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Imminent

    6. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      After the amount of holiday makers that came down here to Cornwall (and other part of the country) yesterday treating the closure of schools as the start of the Easter School Holidays I wouldn't be surprise.

    7. Amey
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Good news then.
      We have no cure so safety is everyone's only hope.

  8. Right In The Stanchion
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Anyone else beginning to fall out of love with football?? Arsenal fan here. Can't see them winning the league for 10 years.

    The money teams (City, Chelsea and United) have just made such an imbalance in the game. Chelsea should have been banned when they first came into money.

    1. GreennRed
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Nail on the head. Makes me appreciate Gaelic Football, my first love and grav game even more. Been a Pool supporter since the '77 Cup Final but to be honest care about them less and less. Enjoy Sheffield United and teams with bottle who can defend a good bit more.

      Started watching The English Game last night. Apt references like you can't play the game for money 🙂

      1. Wild Rover
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Hard to imagine a time when wives were in fear of their husbands leaving work in the mills to be a professional footballer

    2. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Try to do Ranieri's Leicester and you will be fine ...

    3. Wild Rover
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Many would say it’s the Premier League that ruined the game. They have made the rich club’s richer (along with their foreign buyers). It’s all about the Prem now, Leicester are the only team that haven’t ‘bought’ the title.

      1. Wild Rover
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        *and Sky/BT

    4. Amey
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Well the TV money has ruined PL IMO. Disparity between big clubs & average one's must be always present. (Would love to hear more on this if I'm wrong)

      1. AuFeld
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        It's "equal share" re domestic tv rights, overseas tv rights, and central commercial tv rights. The disparity comes when a club has had more then 10 matches televised in a season (an extra 1.129m per televised match) and merit money which is rewarded at 1.931m per place on the table (eg 20th only receives 1.931m).

        As a yank, I think the PL model is much more exciting and competitive when compared to the NFL. Don't even get me started with 'team salary caps.'

        1. Amey
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Thanks mate.
          Good knowledge.

  9. bitm2007
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Uefa have officially postponed European club finals

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52012053

  10. gooberman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    So FPL seem incapable of answering a simple question. I emailed them asking a very simple but important question which was does the FPL site have the software capability to add on extra gameweeks.

    I asked this in anticipation of the premier league suspension being extended beyond GW38. The only response they were able to muster was a link referring me to the current statement from the premier league. Absolutely useless!

    1. Amey
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Keeping their cards close probably ....

      1. Amey
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Closed*

    2. Wild Rover
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      They probably thought ‘who gives a toss about someone who prefers trolling Fantasy Football forums to worrying about Coronavirus’

      1. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
        • 15 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Upvote city. Have the first

    3. AuFeld
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      What do you think are the software restrictions that FPL software engineers would encounter in attempt to add on extra game weeks?

    4. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      You seem surprised by the reply.

    5. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
      • 15 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Fpl isn't really important is it. They are probably worrying about their family and friends more than what do do for somthing that may not even happen

  11. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Who else is here in 2021...