The Fantasy Premier League (FPL) landscape has just shifted with some major rule updates, and who better to help us navigate these changes than the Elite XI: Team Reveal managers?
In this article, we’ll dive deep into the thoughts of five top-tier FPL managers, all of whom have demonstrated extraordinary consistency with multiple top 10k finishes.
Yesterday’s changes saw some significant rule alterations. FPL managers now have two sets of each chip to use, including a new approach to defensive contributions, which will reward players for clearances, blocks, and interceptions.
Will this change how we play the game? Let’s hear from Walter Randazzo, James Cooper, Copenhagen Wednesday, Corey Baker, and Mark Mansfield as they share their thoughts.
Walter, a seasoned FPL veteran, is not a fan of changes that introduce too many chips, preferring to keep things simple and strategic.
Regarding the new defensive rules, he feels ambivalent about the potential for change, believing it may have a limited impact on his usual strategies.
"I get it, it’s being done to increase the number of options, but I don’t think it’ll change much in terms of cheap defensive midfielders. It could impact centre-backs versus full-backs, where you might go with steady, predictable defensive points or opt for attacking full-backs. Maybe we’ll see a few more playing a back 4... but it's all a bit of a wait-and-see for now."
As we mentioned in yesterday's article, These Defenders Would’ve Been FPL Gold Under the New Rules!, James Tarkowski, who finished 26th in defender points last season with 105, would have earned an additional 44 points for defensive contributions.
This would have brought his total to 149, propelling him into the top 10 under the new rules. We’ve currently priced him at £5.0m in the Preseason Pack, where you can create up to five team drafts using the 2025/26 predicted prices.
Despite his usual preference for a more traditional FPL approach, Walter acknowledges that the additional options could create interesting new dynamics.
"I think there could be a small change in terms of the structure of teams. The back 4 strategy might catch on, especially with some of the attacking full-backs available now, but I’m not holding my breath. If anything, it’ll just make the template a bit more diverse."
While Walter acknowledged the shift in gameplay, his discontent with chips remains clear.
"I hate it. I like playing the long game. If a lot of it was already based around chips, now it seems like it’ll be even worse. The only positive is that the terrible Assistant Manager chip is gone. But that’s about it."
Walter's perspective underscores his preference for strategic planning over last-minute chip use, and he’s not sure that more chips will lead to a better overall experience.
James is more open-minded about the new changes and sees the additional points for defensive actions as a positive step towards diversifying FPL picks.
"The extra points for defensive actions is a good thing, I suppose, because it opens up more variety in picks. It should reduce the reliance on a narrow template of popular players. But honestly, I’m not sure I’ll be celebrating every time I see my £4.5m defender hoof one upfield for a measly two extra points."
James finds the changes to chips far more exciting, appreciating the extra flexibility that the new rules offer.
"I absolutely adore the changes to the chips. Having two of everything is a bunch of fun. It lets you use chips in more creative ways without feeling like you need to save them for double and blank gameweeks. There’s a lot more freedom now."
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He goes on to explain how the new approach might change the way managers think about chip usage throughout the season.
"It allows for much more non-meta uses of chips. You don’t have to feel like you need to save them for the traditional double and blank weeks in order to play them optimally. This could change how we approach chip strategy completely. For example, the extra Triple Captain and Free Hit options will give managers more chances to capitalize on good runs or avoid injury crises."
Copenhagen Wednesday’s sense of humour is legendary, but he takes FPL seriously, acknowledging that the new rule changes might not drastically alter his approach but could lead to interesting strategic twists.
"Some of these changes have me interested. Others feel like tweaks that won’t make much difference. The bench boost in GW1 idea? Sure, why not. It’s less risky now, so maybe it’ll lose some of its allure. But at least the rest of the FPL community will tank it with me."
On the defensive contributions rule, Copenhagen is cynical but optimistic about the potential for increased depth in team selection.
"Price rises and more defensive stats are being added. I like that it might bring more depth to FPL, but we don’t even know the prices yet. We’re still in that guessing game stage, so let’s not get too carried away. Maybe deep-lying midfielders and cheap centre-backs could emerge as better value, but we’ll have to wait and see how FPL prices things."
Despite his tongue-in-cheek tone, Copenhagen recognises that these changes open the door to more strategic flexibility, especially with chip usage.
"The extra chips will definitely make things more fun, though. I think more flexibility is a safety net, especially for more casual players. You’ve got more options to fall back on when things go wrong. That said, it could be the difference between a red arrow or a green one if you play your chips wisely."
Corey is cautious about the chip duplication, as he sees potential for both positive and negative impacts on FPL strategies. However, he does acknowledge the opportunities for strategic creativity with the new rules.
"The duplication of all chips to be used in either half is an unwelcome addition. I get why they’re doing it, but I’m not sure how it will change things. The Free Hit chip will likely be used in situations where several players have poor fixtures, or maybe in injury crises. I suspect managers will use the chip more tactically as opposed to in traditional double gameweeks."
Corey is particularly curious about how the Bench Boost will impact strategy.
"Maximizing the Bench Boost requires having 15 playable assets. Early-season teams often have a non-playing goalkeeper, so the strategy of using it in GW1 might force us to change our structure. Will people try it, or will they stick to the traditional strategy of using it in a double gameweek?"
As Corey mentioned, we might see changes in FPL strategies.
Could the popular rotating £4.5m goalkeepers make a comeback? According to the Rotation Planner, available for £1 in the Preseason Pack, Spurs and Fulham’s first six Gameweeks offer a favourable rotation with all home games. This gives managers the opportunity to play the Bench Boost chip in GW1.
Corey’s strategic thoughts demonstrate a careful balance between embracing flexibility and not abandoning traditional strategies too hastily.
"I think we’ll need to be a bit more mindful of how we structure our squads early on, especially if we’re planning on using a Bench Boost in GW1. I’m interested to see how people adapt to the new chip dynamic, but it definitely adds a new layer of strategy."
Mark sees the changes as an evolution of FPL strategy, believing the new chips will offer managers more opportunities to think creatively without the rigid constraints of previous seasons.
"The defensive contribution rule is a logical expansion of the game, as opposed to the Assistant Manager chip, which was an aberration. But I think the points expectations will be priced into the values of defensive players. This could lead to more bench pain, especially for lower-value midfielders."
Mark also sees the chip changes as an opportunity to refine FPL strategies and minimise the reliance on points hits, which have traditionally been a significant part of FPL play.
"The new chips fundamentally change how we’ll play the game. A lot of our season ranks are dictated by how well we use chips, and now there are more options available. It should lead to new strategic approaches. Also, the ability to roll five transfers could make points hits less common for managers who plan well."
He continues to explore how these changes might evolve throughout the season.
"The new chips will likely lead to fewer panic transfers and more long-term planning. But it also means that managers who don’t plan ahead will face even more bench pain, as those defensive points will now factor into the game. It’s an interesting shift that will definitely impact how we approach each gameweek."
The new FPL changes are stirring up plenty of debate among top managers. From the doubling of chips to the defensive contributions rule, it's clear that the game is evolving. Whether these changes will result in a significant shift in strategy remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure: FPL will never be the same again.
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