FPL rule changes: Defensive contributions, double chips & extra free transfers

The 2025/26 FPL season brings the biggest fundamental changes to the rules of the game since its launch in the early noughties.

So what do you need to know in order to build the best squad for Gameweek 1? Fantasy Football Hub have got you covered!

Defensive Contributions

Outfield players will now be rewarded for their defensive contributions, which, for defenders, will give centre-backs more utility and allow them to catch up with attacking full-backs for FPL potential.

They’ll need to notch a combined total of 10 clearances, blocks, interceptions and tackles each game for two bonus points.

Ball recoveries are also added into the mix for midfielders and forwards, with defensive midfielders the big winners here. With more routes to points, they’ll need 12 actions to score their two bonus points.

These changes see Nottingham Forest defender Nikola Milenkovic and Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice make the optimal team to start the season with, according to Fantasy Football Hub’s AI.

Double Chips

There are significant changes to chips this season, also, including the removal of the Assistant Manager chip, which was controversially introduced in the second half of last season. This chip carried huge variance, and so the game will be better without it.

Instead, managers will have four chips to use in each half of the season: Wildcard, Free Hit, Bench Boost and Triple Captain - providing eight in total. Traditionally, these chips have been saved for the latter stages of the season, where we have double gameweeks.

Bench Boost and Triple Captain are each available for Gameweek 1, with Mohamed Salah (£14.5m) predicted to be the top points scorer on the opening weekend, with a predicted 7.9 points using Fantasy Football Hub’s AI predicted points.

Predicted points opening four GameweeksFantasy Football Hub

African Cup of Nations

Speaking of Mohamed Salah, an earlier African Cup of Nations and an increase in Premier League representation, see another big rule change. Fantasy managers will be given extra free transfers in Gameweek 16, when players are expected to depart for this competition. 

Free transfers will be topped up to a maximum of five, given the number of players potentially leaving for the tournament. To make the best use of the alteration to the rules, managers should use all their available transfers in Gameweek 15.

This could have a significant impact on when fantasy managers should play their chips, with this boost of free transfers almost as powerful as a wildcard. Many managers will be planning to use their wildcard earlier this season with this new ruling in mind.