Games

How to Play FPL Draft – A Beginner’s Guide

Fantasy Premier League Draft is free to play and runs parallel with old-school FPL. If you’re already registered for the long-running FPL game, you can also immediately get involved with Draft.

Draft uses exactly the same scoring system as FPL with only one exception: there are no captains or vice-captains.

There are also no chips or Wildcards.

For the uninitiated or those needing a refresher on the rules, here’s a brief guide on how to play the game.

How to Play

Joining a League/The Draft

The first step is to create or join a league. Private leagues can include up to 16 managers, although the game itself states that eight is the recommended number. Eight, indeed, is the limit for public leagues (although four or six managers are also permitted) – you can enter those with random members of the FPL Draft community.

Like the traditional FPL game, leagues can run in the classic form or in the head-to-head format.

The key selling point of Draft is that each 15-man squad within a private/public league is unique, so only one team in each league can, for example, own Harry Kane or Mohamed Salah.

The draft system used is described as a “snake draft”, where managers take it in turns to select players until a squad is complete over 15 rounds. An example four-team league would follow this pattern at the draft pick stage:

Round 1: Team A, Team B, Team C, Team D
Round 2: Team D, Team C, Team B, Team A

Unlike the traditional FPL format, there are no budgets or player prices – so there is plenty of room for premium assets.

League administrators can set a draft date and time for private leagues, while public league drafts begin 30 minutes after the first team joins. Everything will need to be sorted before the Gameweek 1 deadline on August 11th, however.

Fantasy managers can build a watchlist before the draft, and this can act both as a shortlist of players you are coveting and also a list to govern your automatic picks should you be “away from keyboard”.

There is also the opportunity to take part in a mock draft, allowing you to experience the draft process before doing one for real.

Transactions

Transfers, or “transactions” as they are known in Draft, are made in three ways: Fantasy managers can make “waiver requests”, dip into the free agent pool or trade with another manager in their mini-league.

After the draft has completed, you can trade players with other managers in your league – depending on how it has been configured. Your league administrator can allow no trades, all trades unvetted or trades that need administrator/other managers’ approval.

The waivers, meanwhile, operate like transfer requests from managers who propose both the unattached player they want and the player being swapped out. A weekly deadline is set for waivers to take place and, when that is reached, they operate a lot like the draft.

Indeed, before the season starts, managers get their first waiver requests granted in the reverse order of the draft. So if you went last in the draft in Round 1, you will be the first to get your waiver request processed. However, once you have succeeded with a waiver, you then go to the back of the queue.

Things change when the season starts, with the waivers granted in reverse order of the league table. So if you’re bottom of your private/public league, your waiver will be granted first to give you the best opportunity to strengthen your team.

Inter-manager trade offers can be made each Gameweek until the waiver deadline passes. If trades in your league require approval, then the trade deadline will be 24 hours before the waiver deadline.

Players that are free agents become available once all the waiver requests and manager trades are made. These consist of players remaining in the pool and players that were released by other managers in the previous Gameweek.

Managers can draw from the free agent pool 24 hours before the Gameweek deadline and it’s on a first-come, first-served basis.

Fantasy Premier League have also published an FAQ and a list of rules on the Draft game, should further help be needed.

646 Comments Post a Comment
  1. PvA
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Who is on Everton pens?

    Baines or Siggy?

    1. Dāzzy
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Baines I think

    2. Moxon
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Could also be Tosun?

  2. Dāzzy
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Locked and Loaded for Gameweek 1:

    Pope;
    Alonso, Baines, TAA, Cedric;
    Salah (C), Sane, Walcott;
    Aguero, Firmino (VC), Zaha
    Subs: Button; Schelotto, Højberg, Chalobah.

    Can't wait to finish 1st in the world come May.

    1. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      My money's on you Sam, until you get sacked 😉

    2. Drexl Spivey
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Can't compete with that, tbh. Game over. I've ran outta ten pences.

  3. Numb
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Hi All,
    First time poster and FPL newbie.

    Are there any articles on here about the Promoted Teams?

    Thanks 🙂

    1. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Hi Numb 🙂

      You can find them all in the pre-season tab: https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/the-complete-guide-to-fpl-pre-season-2018-19/

      1. Numb
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Ah great. Thanks kind lady. 🙂

      2. A.T
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Hi Miss Bosun, have you got a boyfriend and if not do you know of any other single ladies on this site? Thanks.

        1. Numb
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 8 months ago

          Hey, I saw her first!

        2. Piggs Boson
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 8 months ago

          😆

          Those comments always make me laugh 😀

  4. DantheManinaPan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Ok

    Fabianski, Begovic
    Mendy, Ward, Trent, Schelotto, Bednarek
    Eriksen, Mane, Silva, Ramsey, Gunarsson
    Aguero, Firmino, Zaha

    Obviously only keeping the 4.0s if they're playing. Can just rearrange the defence if not.

  5. TAT
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    First draft:
    De Gea - Smithies
    Cédric - Mendy - Mee - Schelotto - Tomkins
    Deluofeu-Salah-Sessegnon-Jota -D.Silva
    Auba-Firmino - Bonatini

    How does this look? Will be one of many drafts, but trying to figure out how to spend the cash.

    1. Je suis le chat
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Not bad, I'd start Kun over Aub for the first few.

      1. TAT
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Arsenal at home, though (and I know this is my Arsenal heart writing).

  6. GreennRed
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    FPL Draft. Draft, draught, sun is shining, need a beer 😉

  7. The Tinkerman
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    DDG, 4.0
    Mendy, TAA, Tomkins, Keane, Bednarek
    Salah, Sane, Eriksen, Deulofeu, Neves
    Aubamayang, Zaha, Bonatini

    That'll do for now. Tempted by Kane and a cheapie for Salah and Bonatini.

    1. The Butch
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Bonatini starter? Could he be the cheapest starting attacker?

      1. The Tinkerman
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Unless they buy someone else

  8. DantheManinaPan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Video just posted!!

  9. lugs
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    my first effort of the season

    Ryan
    Coleman-PVA-Mendy
    Salah-Mkhi-Alli-Walcott
    Auba-Arni-Zaha

    Flappy-Sobhi-Daniels-Richards

  10. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Think Coleman at 5.5m is good value. Fully fit and Everton got strong fixtures to start with.

    1. Drexl Spivey
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Hadn't even noticed that, well spotted. Gooners a goldmine too.

    2. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Baines on pens though, same price.

      1. I Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Tough choice between the two. Coleman more likely to return something from open play.

    3. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      A few nice 5.5m defenders around that could turn out to be gems.

      Bellerin/Monreal
      Bailly
      Kompany
      PvA
      Coleman

      I expect Kompany will still be nailed when he returns from the World Cup. Was preferred over Stones last season. I'm hoping Jose will go back to Bailly.

  11. Piggs Boson
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    City only have two defenders who aren't still at the world cup, Otamendi and Laporte.

    Kompany, Stones, Danillo, Mendy, Walker & Delph are all still in the competition.

    Pep will be rooting for Sweden, I think 🙂

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Come on England! Screw Pep!

    2. Saniul
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Danilo, Otamendi, Laporte, Mendy could be their starting backline imo

      1. Piggs Boson
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Zinchenko LB imo.

        Mendy is going all the way to the final, most likely.

        1. Eden Wizard
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 8 months ago

          Mendy hasn’t featured so is rested

          1. Piggs Boson
            • 12 Years
            5 years, 8 months ago

            Surely he's been training intensely?

            Is he over the injury yet?

    3. I Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Kompany, Danilo, Mendy and Delph have barely played.

  12. Emiliano Sala
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Hope at the end of the season I have better OR than my ID number

  13. Sickboy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Not much love for Vardy, despite finishing 2nd to Kane last season. Is this due to doubts over Leicesters attack without Mahrez?

    Thanks.

    1. lugs
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      yeah no Mahrez is a big blow for him and Leicester unfortunately

    2. Kryten
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Yeah I think so plus he always has crap stats when I look not enough shots or touches in box

    3. A.T
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Injured.

      1. Sickboy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        cheers guys

  14. Powell
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Arsenal and Everton are the two most interesting teams, under new management. I’m currently gambling on Bellerin and Sigurdsson rolling back the years.

    1. Kryten
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Yeah have a eye on pickford skelberg 9m keeper combo

    2. lugs
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      agreed , i'm keeping a close eye on Tom Davies pre season , at just 5.5mil i think could turn out to be the bargain of the season under Silva's guidance

    3. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Ramsey and Walcott also invoke nostalgia 😀

      1. WE GO FOR IT
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        This. Both are in my 1st draft.

  15. CRO KLOPP
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    My first RMT

    Jonty
    Mark,Andy, Granville
    Epic,Doosra,AZ,Ludo
    Jafooli,Virgin, Rainier

    Granville and Virgin are fodders

    1. Kryten
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Yep Team like that you don't need 11th man

    2. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Good for some jammy points from your keeper!

      1. CRO KLOPP
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        And some assist from Mark

    3. Kryten
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Full of magic beans 🙂

    4. Red Dagger ✪
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Who to captain though..?

  16. Emiliano Sala
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Mahrez best city asset when the transfer is done?

    1. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Don't see him cementing a starting spot

    2. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      I'm starting to think so.

      If Sterling does make it to the final, Mahrez should at least start the first few games. If he performs, he could oust Sane/Sterling. Sterling's finishing was bad last season, despite his goal total!

  17. Kryten
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Concern about lack of city options with those prices 🙁

  18. Saniul
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    First stab at a team -

    Pickford, (Begovic),
    Mendy, Cedric, Tomkins, (Zanka, Schelotto),
    Salah, Mkhitaryan, Lingard, Walcott, (Stephens),
    Kane, Aguero, Jimenez.

    ---- Will change multiple times, but dont feel pricing to be harsh this time...

    1. Kryten
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Template 😉

  19. Kryten
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Charlie Daniel is at 4.5m looks good?

    1. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Bournemouth kept a woeful 6 clean sheets last season. His 1 goal was not enough to offset this, and he ended up on 96pts.

      I'm not sold yet.

    2. CloudSky
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      As every year. Till he returns 5 points in first 6 GWs.

      1. Kryten
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        True he's burned me before so much potential bit like Cedric promise alot but few assist

    3. Je suis le chat
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      A good sub at least. Great value for a nailed attacking starter.

  20. thunder_mike
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Quick first draft, tried it without Salah.

    Fab Adrian
    Mendy TAA Monreal Tomkins 4.0
    Mane Sane Mhki Milli Masuaka
    Kane Tosun Firmino

  21. 1justlookin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Anyone taking hits to field 11 in the mcdonalds game?

    1. Drexl Spivey
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      How many are you taking?

      1. 1justlookin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Actually, just realised i can field 11 when inmake my free transfers so I'll probably just leave it at that.

  22. FPL ZB
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    The 4.5 options in defence really helps fit Salah in

    1. Drexl Spivey
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      You'll not stick with that though, surely?

      1. FPL ZB
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Of course not, but I think I’ll stick with a budget defence, Cedric Daniels Docherty Bednarek Schelotto etc all look great, maybe just have Mendy as premium

        1. Drexl Spivey
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 8 months ago

          Definitely a case for working from 5.5m down. Depends on Pre-season, but I might even be swayed by the 5-2-3 mob this year.

        2. Piggs Boson
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 8 months ago

          Hey Zouma. Is Bednarek a starter?

          1. badgerboy
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 8 months ago

            He was in and out alternating with Stephens iirc. When Mark Hughes came in he was there in a back three with Yoshida and Stephens.

            1. Piggs Boson
              • 12 Years
              5 years, 8 months ago

              Thanks Badger. I'm guessing they will replace VvD though...

              1. badgerboy
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 8 Years
                5 years, 8 months ago

                Yeah you'd think so. If he sticks with the back three he'll need cover at least.

  23. Saniul
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    ID 55455. I like symmetry. 😀

  24. 1justlookin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Mbappe, Modric and Forsberg for Costa, Isco and Shaqiri?

  25. FPL ZB
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Elneny already has 5% ownership hahaha

    1. Kryten
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      When the casuals come on watch Kante ownership rise

  26. FlyingWithoutIngs
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Looking for a budget striker less than 7m
    A) Zaha
    B) Arnautovic
    C) Tosun
    D) Wilson
    E) Wood/Barnes/Vokes
    F) Other

  27. Red Dagger ✪
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    If you have Lukaku is there any point getting Neymar in FWC?

  28. FPL ZB
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Incredibly tempting to go with both Schelotto and Bednarek, I reckon both will start

    1. badgerboy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Yeah they could really help with the budget spread. See how pre-season pans out.

    2. Eden Wizard
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Wan Bassaka nailed RB imo too - could go ultra cheap

  29. ♤TeddyBear♤
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Gray(5.5) and Diabate(5.0) could be good options if Mahrez leaves

  30. Respect My Authoritah
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Well this is exciting! Wasn't expecting it this early.

    First thoughts..

    Fabianski 4.0
    Bailly 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.0
    Salah Sanchez Sane Micky 4.5
    Aguero Zaha Austin

    Loads of gaps to fill, but how does that look at this stage?