Before we get into the season and before I start writing about who you should have in your team I’m going to try and translate ‘FPL nerd’ into English:
Bonus Points
Bonus points and the Bonus Points System (BPS) are insanely complicated, check the official rules page to see how complicated. Simply put, players get bonus points for playing well. So, if you create a chance or make a clearance etc. you get bonus points. You also get bonus points for scoring a goal or creating an assist.
Baseline bonus
The number of BPS a player gets without actions that already gain points (i.e. scoring a goal).
You can use baseline bonus as an indicator of who is likely to get a bonus even if they don’t score.
Blank
When a player does not score any points other than minutes played you can say he had a blank or he blanked.
Blank game week
When a player or a team does not have a game you can say it is a blank game week.
We also call the week a blank even if some teams are playing.
Casuals
A term for those who aren’t FPL nerds like yours truly. Sometimes used as a derogatory term but we don’t like that and use it to reference those players who aren’t active.
Ceiling
The maximum you can expect from a player in a given week and the reason why people say don’t buy defensive midfielders.
For example, Haaland against Bournemouth has a high ceiling – you would expect him to get at least a goal and possibly a hat trick. Ake against Bournemouth has a low ceiling – you would not expect him to get a goal or an assist but he might get a clean sheet point.
Players with a high ceiling are desirable captains but you also want consistency.
Chasing points
When you make transfers the next week based on the fact that someone had a good week last week without further analysis.
For example, switching from Salah to Mane – they were about the same price point last year and at times one would score more than the other.
Cleans
Simply a clean sheet.
You could say, how many cleans did you get this week? Are you expecting a clean from Pope? Can you believe West Brom threw away another easy clean?
Cover
A controversial topic. Some argue that you can cover off a player by having other assets from the team.
So, its not that controversial to say: “I am buying Ederson to cover the Man City defence.” That’s because defences generally score clean sheet points. But it is worth noting Cancelo has a higher ceiling because of assist and goal potential.
It’s more controversial to say: “I am buying Foden to cover the Man City attack.” Foden doesn’t get points when someone on City scores so you aren’t really covering that possibility.
Differential
A player that is owned by a small percentage of FPL managers.
A lot of people will say: “x is a differential so he is good to own.” Well, yes and no. The theory is that if your “differential” player returns then you will overtake people around you who do not own him. Sure, that is true. But “differentials” tend to be owned by few people for a reason – they are on bad teams, they have a poor run of fixtures, they are actual shit that, sort of thing. Therefore, it is more likely that your so-called differential will blank.
You can’t not own players on shit teams, you do not have the money to do so and it is a bad idea to spread your money so thin that you don’t get stars to avoid shit players. Just try to find that Richarlison, Shaqiri, Lingard or Gudmundsson – these players were all cheap in the 17/18 season and had great runs of point scoring. Then jump off them before or when their form ends.
Effective ownership
This takes into account the amount that someone is captained or benched.
This is the main reason to own Salah going into the season. If a player is owned by 50% of players and captained by all of them then his effective ownership is 100%. This is because you effectively have two of that player in your team because you get double the points. If a player is owned by 99% of the teams and captained by all of them then he has a 198% effective ownership. If you are in the 1%, you don’t own him and if he scores big your rank will be affected.
Enabler
A cheap player that frees up funds for another.
Often people will have a 4.5mn fifth midfielder and use him as an enabler to afford a premium player. Putting these guys in your first eleven rarely pays off.
Eye test
The fact that a player looks a good fantasy pick when you watch him.
There are a lot of stats that are thrown out about players but this is the old fashioned way of picking players. Is he in good positions? Is he making runs into the box? Does he seem pivotal to that teams attack? If a player passes the eye test he looks good.
Handcuffing
A term in draft where you get a player and his backup to guarantee yourself minutes. Seems more effective in NFL draft than FPL.
An example this year would be having Cucurella and Chilwell. If Chilwell is injured (classic Chilwell) then Cucurella comes in if you set your bench right. Nothing lost right? Well, if Chilwell comes on for one minute he scores one point and you potentially lose that Cucrella haul.
Hold those knees
To stop yourself knee-jerking in a transfer.
Mini wildcard
When you hold your transfers so you can transfer out three players for a -4.
Nailed (on)
A guaranteed starter.
If someone is nailed on they will start 99.99% of the time unless injured. You could say he is ‘kind of nailed’ to say that you think he will start or is likely to start.
Ownership
How many FPL players own a player.
An important concept if you are after a top spot overall and a useful tool for analysis before the season starts. For example, if 50% of players own Salah and you do not own him and he scores then you are already a return behind everyone else. Try to protect yourself against these highly owned players by owning them or by “covering” them – see above for explanation of coverage. You should only own them if they are good. No point in considering ownership of a shit player.
Punt
A player you’ve taken a risk on.
At the start of this season you could take a punt on Leon Bailey. He looked great in pre-season but was non-existant last year.
Return
When a player gets points for something more than minutes.
For example, Wilson scores a goal.
You could also say, Wilson got a good return in that game even if he scored more than one.
Double Return
When a player gets points for doing two things more than minutes.
For example, Wilson scores a goal and gets an assist.
Set and forget
When a player is in your team no matter what.
For example, if you have Salah he is set and forget – always in your team. He may even be set and forget captain (always captain) because of his returns.
Template
The idea that there is a clear team of players that you should purchase.
There is never a clear indication of what the template is. But people will talk about players like they are template. For example, Salah and Trent were considered to be a key part of the template last year.
Value
Not the price you pay, but the points per million played.
Some will use this interchangeably with the price but real value is when you get Salah for 9.0mn and he plays like a 13.0mn player all year. This is key to FPL – you want value.