How not to get caught out by Fantasy Premier League rule change

The Fantasy Premier League have changed a key rule ahead of the 2020/21 FPL season, with each gameweek FPL deadline being brought forwards.

In previous FPL campaigns, fantasy football players were able to change their 15-man teams up until an hour before the first fixture of the gameweek kicked off. However, due to various factors including the rise of leaked teamsheets on social media, the FPL have confirmed that gameweek deadlines will be brought forwards to 90 minutes before kick-off in the 2020/21 FPL season.

This gives FPL players half an hour less time to sort out their team ahead of the start of each gameweek, which could catch players out if they don’t know the new rules.

The first game of the brand new 2020/21 Premier League season sees newly-promoted Fulham take on Arsenal at Craven Cottage, with the match kicking off at 12.30pm UK time on Saturday September 12. Therefore, the FPL deadline for players to get their teams in order is 11am UK time on Saturday September 12 , so make sure you don’t get caught out!

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If you haven’t yet selected your 15-man FPL team for the 2020/21 season, here are a few rules that you need to know regarding team selection.

Fantasy Premier League – Team selection rules

Your FPL fantasy football squad of 15 players must consist of two goalkeepers, five defenders, five midfielders and three forwards, with players then able to select their starting eleven in various formations.

The total value of your initial squad must not exceed £100 million and you can only select up to three players from a single Premier League team.

In each gameweek, your points will be scored by your starting 11 players, however if one or more doesn’t play they may be automatically substituted. Your team can play in any formation providing that at one goalkeeper, at least one defenders and at least one forward are selected at all times.

From your starting 11 you nominate a captain and a vice-captain, with your captain’s score being double for that gameweek. However, if your captain plays 0 minutes in that gameweek, the captain will be changed to the player you selected as your vice captain.

Make sure you check this before each gameweek, because If both captain and vice-captain play 0 minutes in a Gameweek, then no player’s score will be doubled!

Your substitutes, as expected, will automatically replace starting players who don’t play in a gameweek due to injury, suspension etc.

But there are other automatic substitutions that happen in certain circumstances, including if your starting eleven goalkeeper doesn’t play, he will be substituted by your sub goalkeeper if he played in the gameweek.

Also, if any of your selected ten outfield players don’t play in the gameweek, they will be substituted by the highest priority outfield substitute who played in the Gameweek and doesn’t break the formation rules (eg. If your starting team has 3 defenders, a defender can only be replaced by another defender)..

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