Sky Sports

Sky Sports Fantasy Football – A Beginner’s Guide

As the first match of the 2018/19 Premier League season creeps ever closer we switch focus to Sky Sports’ Fantasy game.

We have launched our Free League for the campaign and you can find details of how to join it below.

Here we go over the basics of the game before we delve into more detail in the coming days.

How do I play?

Just like in FPL you select a squad of players that will either earn you attacking, defensive or bonus points in an attempt to score more than your friends, colleagues and/or the rest of the world. However, you choose simply a starting XI and do not have a bench.

Gameweeks run from Friday to Thursday with managers allowed transfers in between Gamedays, allowing maximisation of potential points by bringing in an asset yet to play for one who has already been involved that week. 

Also, instead of one free switch per Gameweek (and a maximum of two if a previous one is saved), the Sky Sports game allocates 40 transfers that can be used any time during the season, with a limit of five in one Gameweek, creating the need for a more long-term strategy.

Wildcards, or Overhauls, are also available in Sky Sports. The first one becomes available to use following the completion of Gameweek 4 and remains an option until the deadline for Gameweek 6. The second one becomes active after the final match of Gameweek 27, through Gameweek 28 and until the Gameweek 29 deadline.

In Sky Sports Fantasy you can name more than one captain in a Gameweek depending on who is playing on which day. Managers are limited to one captain per day allowing them to potentially have up to four in one Gameweek and get double points for all of them. For example, if there were fixtures on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday in any given Gameweek, a Sky Sports Fantasy manager could name a different skipper on each of those match days, providing they did so before that day’s deadline. Managers can also schedule their captains ahead of a Gameweek too.

How do you score points?

The points structure is largely similar to FPL in Sky Sports Fantasy but tends to award more points for the actions mentioned below.

ActionPoints scored
Starting XI2
Substitution appearance1
Goal scored by a goalkeeper/defender7
Goal scored by a midfielder6
Goal scored by a striker5
Goal assist3
Clean sheet by a goalkeeper (must play 60+ mins)7
Clean sheet by a defender (must play 60+ mins)5
A penalty save by a goalkeeper5
Man of the Match5

Can My Team Lose Points?

Unfortunately, just like in FPL there are a few ways to lose points too.

ActionPoints scored
Missing a penalty-3
Every goal conceded from the second goal onwards-1
Each yellow card-1
Each red card-3
Each own goal-2

How do Bonus Points work?

Just like FPL there are additional points on offer for other events in matches, although the structure is slightly different, as you will see below.

Tier 1 Action
Points scored
5 saves made (GK only)2
3 tackles made (all)2
60 completed passes2
3 shots on target2
Tier 2 Action
Points scored
7+ saves made (GK only)3
5+ tackles made (all)3
70+ completed passes3
5+ shots on target3

How do I play against my friends?

There are a number of different ways to compete against others in Sky Sports Fantasy. You can create or join a Free League with your friends and colleagues but there are ways to win money too.

Sky Sports can actually administer your money league for you to avoid any awkwardness post-season. You can choose the entry fee (either £2, £5, £10 or £20 per person) and the prize structure beforehand and Sky Sports will take care of the rest.

How can I join the Fantasy Football Scout league?

As usual, we have got a league on Sky Sports Fantasy. It’s called FFScout and you can join using the code 8386881.

Read more with Scout

Visit our PRE-SEASON PAGE to get the latest pointers from pre-season friendlies and read scout reports on new players by CLICKING HERE.

Pick your FPL team for 2018/19 using our list of best available players, sorted for your convenience by position and price:

Goalkeepers | Defenders: Budget | Defenders: Mid-Price and Premium | Midfielders: Budget | Midfielders: Mid-Price | Midfielders: Premium | Forwards: Budget

Also check out our detailed statistical analysis articles on every team comparing data for the last two seasons to highlight the players to sign and the players to avoid:

Arsenal | Bournemouth | Brighton & Hove Albion | Burnley | Cardiff City | Chelsea | Crystal Palace | Everton | Fulham | Huddersfield Town | Leicester City | Liverpool | Manchester City | Manchester United | Newcastle United | Southampton | Tottenham Hotspur | Watford

Read them all in one place

Become a Member and access our data

Memberships for the 2018/19 campaign are now available for the pre-season price of just £12.50. This will increase to the regular price of £15 after the first Gameweek of the season.

Join now to get the following:

  • Plot your transfer strategies using the fully interactive Season Ticker.
  • Get projections for every Premier League player provided by the Rate My Team statistical model.
  • Use Rate My Team throughout the season to guide your selections and transfers.
  • Get access to over 130+ exclusive members articles over the season.
  • Analyse our OPTA-powered statistic tables specifically tailored for Fantasy Football Managers.
  • Use our exclusive tool to build custom stats tables from over 100 OPTA player and team stats.
  • View heatmaps and expected goals data for every player.
  • Use our powerful comparison tool to analyse players head-to-head.

CLICK HERE TO BECOME A FANTASY FOOTBALL SCOUT MEMBER

1,745 Comments Post a Comment
  1. A Team Of James McCleans
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Is there a ghost team league being run this season?

    1. A Team Of James McCleans
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      I’ll start one up if there isnt

  2. Champ
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Good. Would prefer mane over Sanchez I think

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

      Failure. Again

  3. slove
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Bottomed

    RMT please

    Ederson (Stek)
    Bailly Robertson Van Aanholt Cedric (Wan-Bissaka)
    Sanchez Salah Richarlison (Cairney) (Stephens)
    Aguero Zaha Arnautovic

    1. THFC4LIFE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Solid. Not sold on Sanchez myself, Mourinho teams bore me to death

  4. Ohh1454
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Which three ?
    A. Luiz eriksen morata
    B. Keane Pedro Kane

    1. THFC4LIFE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      A

    2. Peace-o
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      A

  5. THFC4LIFE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    How does this team look lads? I know it’s a bit different and I’m open to suggestions.

    Ederson
    Tomkins Davies Robertson
    Salah Mane Moura Richarlison
    Aguero Arnie Zaha

    Button Cedric Ward W-B

    Cheers

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

      It's pretty good, I don't fancy Spurs but you obviously do 🙂
      Who is Button?

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

      I would exactly call it different. Nice team all in all.

  6. jia you
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Is the poster Scotty B?
    A. Troll
    B. Genius
    C. Idiot
    D. For real

    1. Pras (FPL)
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      He's a robot / virus on the site

    2. Hairy Potter
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Waxys

      1. jia you
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        makes sense

    3. Cok3y5murf
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      C and D

    4. Arctic monkeys
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      A, clearly

    5. Dragan Stojkovic
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      A

  7. Jimmy Boy
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Alisson
    Azpi - Mendy - Sakho
    Eriksen - Neves - Ralls - Mane - Salah (c)
    Aguero - Arnie

    4.0m - Doherty - AWB - 4.5m

    Going for two starting nailed 5.0m mids gives me funds to have a really solid DF/GK lineup, while keeping the four heavyweight attackers I want for the opening 4/5 fixtures, what do you think of this draft?

    1. Ohhh Shola Ameobi
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      I'm currently on a similar strategy (3-4-3 instead of 3-5-2, however). I like having 4 heavy hitters (Salah, Eriksen, Aubameyang and Aguero), and I've got 3 full/wing backs currently. I'm still not sure about starting 2 5.0s every week though...

  8. Warby84
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    32% Zaha is that not slightly surprising considering he wants out, and likely destination spurs (within 8 days), is he not slightly risky??

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

      If he goes to Spurs he’ll be straight in my team.

    2. Tommytour
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Majority pick on total no of points last season VS cost

  9. megatron14
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Complete shambles?

    Ederson

    Cedric, Mendy, Robertson

    Salah, Son, Richarlison, Neves

    Aggy, Firminio, Zaha

    Subs - Fabianski, Holgate, Musaku, Malone

    1. Tommytour
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Son a transfer waiting to happen and Holgate needs changing

      1. megatron14
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        I hear ya. Struggling to find a decent alternative for Son though...

      2. paullufc17
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Who are Evertons CB's going to be? any idea? If Holgate starts 4.5 is great

  10. ProtrudingNip
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    what are people preferring 343 or 352?

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

      5-4-1

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

        Where are your premiums sitting?

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

          Midfield but one is spread out over the defence.

    2. Tommytour
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      I'm on 433

    3. jia you
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      352 or 442 for me atm

    4. Andy'81
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      4-4-2.

    5. Hairy Potter
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Probably 4-4-2

    6. Pras (FPL)
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      352

    7. Arctic monkeys
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Always 343 for me

    8. BigBarn
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      4-4-2 or 3-5-2, depending on how many premium defenders look ready to start GW1.

    9. Y26 Royal
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      343 mostly but managed to build a flexible enough team for 352 and 442.

  11. Warby84
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Think this is done, may tweak slightly,

    Ederson/Stekelenburg
    Bailly Azpilicueta Robertson Diop Wan Bissaka
    Salah De Bruyne Richarlison Lennon Masuaka
    Arnautovic Aubameyang Zaha

    Any comments appreciated

    1. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      3-4-3

  12. Pras (FPL)
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Anyone else have an all Palace bench?

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

      Sorloth, AWB, Tomkins/Schupp?

    2. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      I do!!

  13. Rodney
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Can't work out if I love or hate my team....

    Fab (Stek)

    Bertrand - Bellerin - TAA (Wan B) (Zanka)

    Salah (c) - KDB - Pogba - Richarlison (Cairney)

    Aguero - Zaha - Arnie

    I think there is some tinkering in there I need to do. Don't like the defence.

  14. ProtrudingNip
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Foster / (Stekelenburg)

    Mendy / Robertson / Tarkowski (AVB / Malone)

    Salah / Mane / Dsilva / Richarlison (Stephens)

    Arnie / Auba / Wood

    Would appreciate a RMT 🙂

  15. circusmonkey
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    What about this Sky Sports Team?
    Alisson
    Dave, Tomkins, Bailly
    JWP, Will Hughes, Stanislas, Pedro, Zaha
    Salah, Andre Grey

    Feel lie I need ManU attacking captain options despite Jose being a bore draw merchant, but who?

  16. Gasthmatic
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Sky Sports Fantasy Football players, I have a blog reporting the hidden gems of the game for you here: https://checkthestatistics.wordpress.com/

    Cheap players, BIG points.

    Cheers!

  17. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Had just subbed out Lacazette from my team

  18. The Royal Robin
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Who is today's bandwagon?

  19. Mufc123
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    McCarthy
    Bailly Tarkowski Cédric
    Eriksen Richarlison Salah David Silva
    Austin Lukaku Firmino

    Speroni Suttner Stephens Malone

    any opinions on this team?? should any changes be made??

  20. One Man
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Why did D Silva only play 2431 minutes last season ?injured rotated ?

  21. Gaz_b
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Anyone play sky? What do you use to look at upcoming fixtures for captaincy and transfer plans? A season ticket with game days marked would be perfect.