If you’re just signing up to Fantasy Premier League (FPL) this week, you may not be aware that there have been some rule changes for 2025/26 – and some significant ones, too!
More points for defensive-minded players. More assists. Twice as many chips. Bonus point tweaks. Extra transfers in December.
Here’s all you need to know.
1. Defensive contributions
It’s a big boost for defensive midfielders and centre-halves!
Outfield players will now be rewarded for their defensive contributions with FPL points if they meet the following thresholds:
| Position | Defensive contributions | Points on offer |
|---|---|---|
| Defenders | 10 clearances, blocks, interceptions and tackles (CBIT) | +2 points |
| Midfielders and forwards | 12 clearances, blocks, interceptions, recoveries and tackles (CBIRT) | +2 points |
READ MORE:
- FPL 2025/26: Huge rule change as defensive contributions come in
- Where you can find all of last season’s FPL defensive contribution points
- What is Rodri’s defensive contribution points potential in FPL?
- How do Opta define a block?
- How do Opta define a clearance?
- How do Opta define an interception?
- How do Opta define a tackle?
- How do Opta define a recovery?
2. Double the chips – but Assistant Manager gets the boot
RIP the Assistant Manager chip!
Instead, we’re getting two of every chip in 2025/26.
No new ones, just the old favourites of the last 10 years: Wildcard, Free Hit, Bench Boost and Triple Captain.
Similar to the use of the first Wildcard in recent seasons, we must play this first set of chips before the Gameweek 19 deadline passes.
We cannot carry them over into the second half of 2025/26.
The second set of chips then becomes available after the Gameweek 19 deadline has passed.
Our initial thoughts can be found here.
3. More assists to be awarded
There’ll be more assists in 2025/26, with the rules tweaked to be less strict.
Rules around handballs, defensive touches and, crucially, ‘intended destination/target’ have been relaxed.
If these new 2025/26 rules had been in operation last season, there would have been 41 extra Fantasy assists awarded!
You can read the full details here.
4. Extra transfers for AFCON
Fantasy managers will be given extra free transfers in Gameweek 16 to help cope with the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) exodus in December.
FPL bosses’ total number of free transfers will be topped up to the maximum possible number of five in Gameweek 16.
You can find more info here.
5. Bonus Points System (BPS) changes
There have been some tweaks to the Bonus Points System (BPS) ahead of the new campaign.
It’s not a radical overhaul: the best-performing players (in terms of BPS scores) still receive one, two and three bonus points in every fixture.
But some of the numbers that go towards deciding this have been changed ahead of 2025/26.
Save-making goalkeepers and goalline-clearing outfielders should be better off; those scoring penalties less so.
The full breakdown is here.
