Whether you’re a seasoned FPL manager or just starting out, these five top FPL tips will help you gain an edge over your competition.
Join us as we delve into the essential strategies that can propel your FPL team to success at the start of the 23/24 season. Get ready to unlock the secrets of FPL mastery and dominate your mini-leagues with these expert FPL tips and insights.
P.s. if you have fundamentally no idea what you are doing, perhaps try our beginner’s guide here.
FPL Tip 1: Focus on picking players who are nailed on to play.
A player who is nailed is always preferable to a player who rotates with a lot of risk but has a lot of potential. That means you should probably avoid Phil Foden…
With some players it will be obvious who is nailed, but some less so. Keeping track of pre-season games can help. Get on Twitter or Reddit and talk to other FPL managers and football fans in general to work out who is nailed.
FPL Tip 2: Look at the first five fixtures.
Its good to pick a team that will be good for about five fixtures.
Examining the first five fixtures in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) can provide several benefits and insights for team selection and strategy:
- Fixture Difficulty: Assessing the difficulty of a team’s opening fixtures can help you gauge the potential points returns for players. Some teams may have a favorable run of fixtures against weaker opponents, indicating a higher chance of clean sheets, goals, or assists. On the other hand, teams with tough opening fixtures may face greater challenges and potentially lower returns for their players.
- Early Points Accumulation: The first few gameweeks are crucial for establishing a solid foundation and accumulating points. By selecting players from teams with favorable early fixtures, you increase the likelihood of gaining valuable points right from the start. This early advantage can set the tone for the season and propel you ahead of your rivals.
- Team Form and Momentum: The opening fixtures often coincide with the start of the season when teams are fresh and eager to perform. Assessing a team’s form and momentum based on their pre-season results, squad improvements, or past performances can give you insights into their potential early success. Riding the wave of a team’s positive momentum can be advantageous when selecting players.
- Captaincy Choices: Selecting a captain or vice-captain is a crucial decision in FPL, as it allows you to earn double points from their performance. Analyzing the first five fixtures helps identify players who have a higher likelihood of delivering big returns and can be reliable options for captaincy in the early stages of the season.
- Early Transfers and Planning: Understanding a team’s early fixtures can aid in planning transfers and long-term strategies. If a player has a difficult run of fixtures initially but then faces easier opposition in subsequent gameweeks, you can plan transfers accordingly, potentially maximizing points returns while avoiding unnecessary transfers in the early stages.
While the first five fixtures provide a valuable reference point, it’s important to consider other factors such as player form, injuries, and team dynamics when making decisions. Flexibility and adaptability throughout the season are key, but analyzing the opening fixtures can give you a solid starting point for building a successful FPL team.
Good fixtures is one of the best ways to improve the likelihood that your players will return. It doesn’t mean they will always return. But, a lot of FPL is about probabilities and picking players that give you the opportunity to score points.
FPL Tip 3: Try not to pick new players to the league
New players are thrilling, but few of them get going right away. Unless they are templates or nailed, try to avoid and restrict them. Probably one or two are fine but I don’t think I’ll have any.
Picking players new to the league in the first week of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) can be a risky proposition for several reasons:
- Adaptation Period: Players new to the league often require time to adjust to the pace, physicality, and tactical nuances of the Premier League. They might need a few matches to settle into their new environment and find their rhythm. As a result, their immediate impact and point returns may be uncertain. So, they can be a gamble at the start of the season.
- Limited Knowledge and Data: At the start of the season, there is limited information available on how new players will perform in the Premier League. Pre-season friendlies and past performances in other leagues can provide some insights. But, the true measure of their FPL potential can only be gauged once they have played competitive matches in the Premier League. It’s difficult to accurately assess their suitability for FPL until they have a track record in the league.
- Team Integration: New signings may take time to build rapport and understanding with their teammates. The success of players in FPL often relies on their ability to gel with their teammates and adapt to tactics in real life. It’s important to observe how new signings bed in before considering them for selection.
There have been instances of immediate impact from new players in the past. But, it’s generally considered a safer approach to allow for a few gameweeks to gather more information. This allows you to assess the performances of new signings before considering them in your FPL team.
The exception here is promoted teams. They are fine to use as your bench players. These guys can offer cheap enablers like the 4.0 defenders Bell and Beyer or even 4.5 mids and forwards. The reason it’s fine to have these guys is because you won’t rely on them.
FPL Tip 4: Don’t plan transfers in advance.
Like the old adage goes: No plan survives first contact with the enemy.
Planning transfers in advance can sometimes be beneficial in Fantasy Premier League (FPL). However, it’s generally recommended to exercise caution and avoid rigidly pre-planning transfers for the following reasons:
- Player Injuries and Suspensions: The dynamic nature of football means that player injuries, suspensions, or unexpected events can occur at any time. By planning transfers far in advance, you may find yourself stuck with injured or suspended players. This forces you to make rushed or suboptimal decisions to rectify the situation.
- Form and Performance: Player form and performance can change rapidly. A player who appears promising at the start of the season may struggle later on. An overlooked player can suddenly become a standout performer. By not locking yourself into pre-planned transfers, you have the flexibility to react to these fluctuations and make transfers based on up-to-date information.
- Price Movements: Player prices in FPL are subject to change based on demand and performance. By planning transfers far in advance, you may miss out on price rises or fall victim to price drops. Staying flexible allows you to take advantage of player value changes and maximise your team’s budget.
- Emergent Opportunities: FPL often presents unforeseen opportunities. New signings, emerging talents, or players hitting a rich vein of form can suddenly become attractive options. By not committing to pre-planned transfers, you can adapt to these emerging opportunities and capitalize on them for better team performance.
However, it’s important to strike a balance.
Avoiding rigid pre-planning is generally advisable. Keeping transfer targets in mind and tracking player performances aids informed decision-making when necessary. Staying adaptable and informed about league developments enhances transfer choices for the season.
This is particularly true at the start of the season. This is because until the first few games are completed, we don’t know enough about who is good and who is bad.
FPL Tip 5: Try to pick players with transfers in mind – price points.
Price points allow you to balance your squad across different positions. By selecting players at various price points, you can distribute your budget effectively. This can ensure you have a well-rounded team with options in different positions. This flexibility helps in managing injuries, suspensions, and fixture rotations, giving you more options to navigate through the season.
Bonus FPL tip: Having a template team is not wrong
Having a template team will help you have a good start. Your OR can’t change significantly between GWs and that means you don’t panic and make poor decisions. Building from a good start makes it easier.
I’m not saying you can’t take a punt but don’t do it for the sake of being different. Pick a player to be your differential based on knowledge or data. That’s fine..
But in general, a collective group of people can make a better decision than an individual. It’s a phenomenon known as the wisdom of the crowds.
Even if you only have one friend who’s obsessed with FPL as much as you are. That’s still good. Talk to them.
That’s It.
With these key tips in FPL you’ll be able to make a good squad. Follow us on Twitter and keep checking the site for more FPL tips throughout the 23/24 season.