RADIO
Adewale (The FPL Manual) provides an overview of everything you need to know about the recent FPL changes for the 2025-26 season.
Hello, Rotoballers! Welcome to our premiere fantasy football piece for the 2025-2026 season. I hope everyone had a wonderful summer break, as we await a new season of the English Premier League.
Following the game's release, Official FPL has made a few modifications to its points system and the number of chips available to each manager. We will analyze each change announced thus far and show you how to make the best of it.
Gameweek 1 kicks off the new season with defending champions Liverpool hosting AFC Bournemouth on Friday, August 15. Check out the rest of our excellent soccer coverage as the squad gets you all set for every EPL and UCL slate with our EPL DFS lineup picks and betting picks.
Same FPL, Different Manual
Upgraded Scoring System: Defensive Contribution introduced
In previous seasons, fantasy managers were discouraged from investing in budget-friendly defensive assets in FPL. This is mainly because the scoring system has historically favored attacking returns (goals and assists) over defensive statistics.
However, this season sees a dramatic shift in the FPL handout, as ball recoveries play a vital role in accumulating fantasy points. This means that points will be awarded for clearances, blocks, interceptions, and tackles made in a match.
Brand new for the 2025/26 season 🤩
Introducing defensive contribution points 🛡️#FPL pic.twitter.com/LAseSwN2DO
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) July 18, 2025
How does it work?
If a defender reaches a total of 10 clearances, blocks, interceptions, and tackles (CBIT) in a single match, that player earns two points.
Note: Defensive contributions will be limited to two points per game. Therefore, even if a defender in your fantasy team delivers 20 CBITs in a match, you will only receive two points rather than four points.
Defensive contributions in action 🔍
Watch James Tarkwoski accumulate 10 defensive contributions in one match, which would earn him 2 FPL points in 2025/26 💪#FPL pic.twitter.com/BhuP9C9Abn
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) July 18, 2025
Both midfielders and forwards have the opportunity to receive points for defensive contributions. Howbeit, they must make 12 defensive contributions to earn two points, instead of 10 for defenders.
This latest addition makes the roles of defensive midfielders and center backs very important, with assets such as Chelsea's Moisés Caicedo and Everton's James Tarkowski now much more appealing FPL picks.
Moises Caicedo would have picked up the most defensive contribution points among midfielders last season 👊
With the new defensive contributions points coming in 2025/26, will any of these players be in your squad? 👀#FPL pic.twitter.com/qjP2bg51qP
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) July 18, 2025
Fantasy Assist Points Simplified
Last season, fantasy managers were unhappy with the subjective nature of how a fantasy assist was given or taken off a player. In the 2025-26 season, the ambiguity of fantasy assist points has now been simplified.
We will highlight how fantasy assist points will be awarded into three categories: Intended Target, Defensive Errors, and Forced Handball.
Assists are being simplified for 2025/26 🅰️
This means we'll see more assists awarded and more points for your side 💪#FPL pic.twitter.com/HF2QXJTFJA
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) July 19, 2025
Intended Target: In previous editions, players were not given a fantasy assist if a pass or cross came off an opponent before reaching its intended target. In the 2025-26 season, the intended destination of a pass will no longer matter, and a fantasy assist will be awarded based on two scenarios:
- The goalscorer receives the ball inside the penalty box.
- There is only one defensive touch before the ball reaches the goalscorer.
Note: If the goalscorer receives the ball outside the box, the old rules take effect, and a decision is made as to whether they were the intended target of the pass. Furthermore, if a pass takes two or more defensive touches before reaching the goalscorer, there will be no fantasy assist.
Defensive Errors: Previously, no fantasy assist was given for a goal scored as a result of a defensive error. However, this season, the assist would be awarded if the defender did not attempt to pass (i.e., lost possession due to a high press).
Note: The assist can only be awarded after one defensive touch.
Forced Handball: In the 2025-26 season, if an attacking action or touch directly results in a handball by a defensive player and the following penalty or free kick is scored, a fantasy assist will be given.
However, if the handball occurs following a touch from another defensive player, no assist will be awarded.
Changes to the Bonus Point Scoring System
The Bonus Points System (BPS) is an integral part of FPL, utilizing OPTA-backed statistics to reward bonus points for each player's performance in each game. The most recent BPS changes to the 2025-26 season are listed below:
You didn't think the changes for the new season were done there, did you?#FPL 2025/26 will also see Bonus Points calculated in a different way 🔢
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) July 19, 2025
- Goalkeeper Saves: The shot location from which a save is made will be a key factor for potential bonuses. Henceforth, a goalkeeper will now receive three points in the BPS if the shot is taken from inside the penalty area and two points if the ball is taken outside the box. Additionally, a penalty save will now earn eight points in BPS instead of nine.
- Goalline Clearance: To acknowledge the impact of a goalline clearance, a player will now be awarded nine points in BPS this season rather than three points.
- Penalty Goals: A new "penalty goals scored" metric has been introduced to distinguish it from regular goals scored. A player will receive 12 points in the BPS for scoring a penalty, regardless of their position.
- Successful Tackles: This 2025-26 season, each tackle won in a match will be awarded two BPS points.
Double FPL Chips: Twice The Chance To Be an FPL Champion
In previous seasons, we have seen the official FPL introduce a few chips, such as the "All Out Attack" in the 2015-16 season and the "Mystery Chip," later referred to as the Assistant Manager, in the 2024-25 season.
This season, for the first time ever, each manager now has access to eight chips. This implies that our standard four chips (Bench Boost, Free Hit, Triple Captain, and Wildcard) will be available for both halves of the season.
Double the fun ✌️
FPL managers will receive two of every chip in 2025/26 🍟#FPL pic.twitter.com/X2JwYpJukw
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) July 18, 2025
The first set of chips will be available between Gameweeks 1 and 19, while the second set of chips will be available from Gameweeks 20 and 38. The first set of chips cannot be carried over into the second half of the season. So, make sure to use your chips before they expire.
Although it may seem a bit unusual, the inclusion of double chips will assist FPL managers with a simpler chip strategy plan. Taking advantage of easier fixtures in a single gameweek rather than saving those chips solely for the final double gameweeks to come.
Note: There will be no Assistant Manager chip this season.
AFCON Caveat: Extra Transfers For Every Manager
"Winter is coming!" is a recurrent phrase used in the hit television series "Game of Thrones." However, from an FPL perspective, winter is almost here.
Our favorite African FPL assets will soon be departing their clubs mid-season to compete in the 2025 African Cup of Nations, which begins on December 21. To this end, FPL managers will be given five free transfers in Gameweek 16 to help navigate around the AFCON absences.
A helping hand when AFCON gets under way 🤝#FPL pic.twitter.com/8xBofwl95e
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) July 19, 2025
The AFCON fixtures are expected to cover between Gameweeks 17 and 22. The best way to benefit from this AFCON update is to try and zero out your free transfers by Gameweek 15, as FPL managers will be given five transfers in the following week.
That wraps it up for the latest FPL changes made ahead of the 2025-26 season. Did you like any or all of the adjustments made to the game? Let us know. The FPL Price Reveal is now in progress, so we can expect the full FPL game to be released soon.
Stick around for more 2025-26 Fantasy Premier League content coming soon. Hit us up on X @RotoBaller. We would love to hear your feedback and ideas!
