The Value Guide - Fantasy Premier League 2025/26
Where to spend that budget?
The new FPL season feels like a complete reset. Rule changes, aggressive pricing, and shifting player roles demand a fresh approach. Long-standing templates will fail this year unless you adapt to the evolving landscape. This guide distills key insights into a practical roadmap for identifying value, avoiding traps, and building a winning squad.
*r/fantasy user player_zero_ wasn’t a fan of the word Ultimate in my article title. So I decided to remove it and do better next time.
1. Understanding the 2025/26 Changes
Before diving into player selections, it’s critical to grasp how FPL has transformed:
Defensive Contributions
Defenders, midfielders, and even forwards now earn points for clearances, blocks, interceptions, tackles, and recoveries. This elevates the value of ball-winning midfielders and defensive stalwarts previously ignored by managers.
Chip Strategy
The Assistant Manager chip is gone. You now receive two full sets of Wildcard, Bench Boost, Triple Captain, and Free Hit chips, but the first set must be used before Gameweek 19. Early, aggressive chip usage is essential.
Bonus Points Reweighted
Penalty goals are worth significantly fewer bonus points for forwards, reducing reliance on penalty-takers for consistent hauls. New BPS rule gives all players +12 BPS for scoring a penalty. In past seasons:
Forwards got +24 BPS
Midfielders +18 BPS
Defenders +12 BPS
Assist Rules Loosened
Deflections on passes are now more likely to be credited as assists, increasing rewards for creative midfielders. This would have led to 40 more assists last season.
These changes create more viable routes to points, particularly for defensive-minded players and dynamic midfielders.
2. Premium Players – Who’s Worth the Price
Spending 10% or more of your budget on one player must be fully justified this season. Here’s how the top options stack up:
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool, MID, £14.5m)
Record-breaking points scorer last season
18 double-figure hauls – unmatched consistency
High ownership makes going without him a massive risk
Verdict: Essential despite the cost
Erling Haaland (Man City, FWD, £14.0m)
Lowered bonus point potential due to penalty nerf
Still an elite striker with high upside
Ownership is surprisingly low, making him a differential
Verdict: Not a set-and-forget captain anymore but worth planning a transfer route to him
Bruno Fernandes (Man Utd, MID, £9.0m)
Aggressive box-to-box style
Would have gained 22 points last season purely from defensive contributions
Combines high attacking ceiling with new bonus routes
Verdict: Strong premium option; safer and more versatile than many similarly priced mids
Cole Palmer (Chelsea, MID, £10.5m)
Penalty taker and creative hub for Chelsea
Excellent fixtures to start the season
Verdict: Strong starting pick, particularly when paired with Salah
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal, MID, £10.0m)
Consistent scorer but could share penalties with Viktor Gyokeres
Verdict: Solid, but Palmer is slightly better value initially
3. Value Defenders
The new defensive contribution system creates a “Hybrid Defender” archetype – players who can deliver clean sheets, attacking returns, and CBIT points.
James Tarkowski (Everton, £5.5m)
Highest CBIT stats last season, projected 40+ extra points
Reliable even in tougher fixtures
Verdict: One of the best mid-priced defenders
Murillo (Nottingham Forest, £5.5m)
Second only to Tarkowski for defensive actions
Plays in a solid defense with good early fixtures
Verdict: A top pick for consistent returns
Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool, £6.0m)
Strong interception stats plus clean sheet reliability
Goal threat from set pieces
Verdict: Premium defender with explosive potential
Maxime Estève (Burnley, £4.0m)
Starting defender at basement price
Breakout candidate if Burnley’s defense holds up
Verdict: Perfect fifth defender for budget flexibility
Destiny Udogie (Spurs, £4.5m)
Attacking wing-back with high defensive action numbers
Verdict: Excellent rotation option
4. Midfield Value and New Defensive Midfielders
Dynamic midfielders who contribute defensively are newly relevant thanks to recovery points.
Florian Wirtz (Liverpool, £8.5m)
Elite Bundesliga stats
Low starting price for his attacking upside
Verdict: One of the top value mids; strong double-up with Salah
Declan Rice (Arsenal, £6.5m)
Historical data reveals Rice would have collected an 62 defensive contribution points in 2022/23 while at West Ham, although it’s unlikely he would get these sorts of numbers at Arsenal.
Set-piece duties add attacking potential
Verdict: Great mid-priced option
Moises Caicedo (Chelsea, £5.5m)
Top projected defensive contribution scorer
Consistent points floor, ideal fifth midfielder
Verdict: Reliable enabler
Tijjani Reijnders (Man City, £5.5m)
High-energy midfielder likely to benefit from defensive scoring
Expected to take on creative duties
Verdict: Potential breakout star - Keep an eye on him.
Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest, £5.5m)
Set-piece taker, safe starter
Defensive contribution scorer
Verdict: Budget-friendly, consistent starter
5. Forwards – Finding Reliable Options
With penalties devalued, forwards relying on spot kicks are less attractive. Focus on open-play scorers.
Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest, £7.5m)
20 goals last season
Penalty taker with great opening fixtures
Verdict: Best value in mid-priced bracket, however, nervous he will have a drop off this season. He way over performed his expected goals last season.
Dominic Solanke (Tottenham, £7.5m)
Physical striker expected to thrive under new system
Verdict: Strong differential pick, currently injured though and has missed a lot of the pre season.
Jørgen Strand Larsen (Wolves, £6.5m)
Emerged as Wolves’ talisman
Consistent finisher with little rotation risk
Verdict: Undervalued starter
6. Overpriced or Risky Picks
Avoid these players early on to prevent wasted budget:
Phil Foden (Man City, £8.0m): Rotation risk outweighs upside
Alexander Isak (Newcastle, £10.5m): Tough fixtures and transfer rumors
João Pedro (Chelsea, £7.5m): Not main penalty taker and faces competition
Yoane Wissa (Brentford, £7.5m): Contract disputes make him unreliable right now? Currently training away from the first team, and things aren’t looking any closer to resolution
7. Budget Enablers and Differentials
Unlock funds for premium players with these low-cost options:
Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal, £5.5m DEF): Versatile defender with strong dueling stats
Ayden Heaven (Man Utd, £4.0m DEF): Youngster who could break into starting XI at £4.0m
Simon Adingra (Sunderland, £5.5m MID): Promising promoted attacker with good fixtures
Maxim De Cuyper (Brighton, £4.5m DEF): Likely starter at left-back with set-piece potential
8. Final Recommendations
Build around Salah and Bruno Fernandes/Palmer. Both offer elite consistency and benefit from new rules.
Stack mid-priced midfielders and defenders. Wirtz, Rice, Caicedo, Tarkowski, and Murillo offer excellent value.
Include cheap defenders and midfielders. Estève, Udogie, Anderson, and Reijnders enable spending elsewhere.
Choose safe forwards. Chris Wood and Strand Larsen are reliable; avoid rotation risks.
Two £4.5m Goal Keepers or a £5.0m and and non starting £4.0m.
Use chips aggressively in the first half of the season. Double chip sets reward early planning.
Stay alert to pre-season lineups. Emerging starters like Heaven or Lewis-Skelly could unlock more budget.
Example of a potential draft team:
Solanke’s injury cloud is main issue with it. Fernandes could trade to Wirtz early if Wirtz hits the ground running and Man U don’t start to look like a better team. Some risk with the current Goal Keepers.
