This article is part of our Top 50 Series, analysing how the best-performing Fantasy Premier League managers from 2024/25—and the All-Time Top 50—navigated the season.
In this section, we break down how the top-performing FPL managers allocated their £100m budgets in 2024/25.
By analysing spending patterns from the ‘Top 50’ and ‘All-Time Top 50’ groups, we can identify the typical minimum and maximum spend for each position—and highlight trends compared to previous seasons.
You can access an interactive and more detailed version of the graph in the Preseason Pack on our website. It includes 10 unique tools and features designed to prepare you for the 2025/26 season.
Spending on goalkeepers saw a slight increase compared to previous years. The ‘Top 50’ allocated 9.0% of their budget to this position, with the ‘All-Time Top 50’ close behind at 8.9%.
This increase was partly driven by Arsenal’s David Raya, who started at £5.5m and was owned by 79.5% of the top 10k managers by the end of the season.
Despite this trend, many managers continued to avoid premium-priced goalkeepers due to the unpredictability of their returns—often relying on save points or the occasional penalty save. Interestingly, the top-scoring keeper was Pickford (158 points, £5.0m), followed by Sels (150 points, £4.5m), with Raya finishing third on 142 points.
Although defensive spending rose slightly in 2024/25 compared to 2023/24, it remains historically low—reflecting a continued trend away from the once-popular "Big at the Back" strategy.
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s 200+ point haul in 2021/22 helped define that era, but those days seem to be behind us. Even in 2023/24, William Saliba reached 172 points. However, this season’s top-scoring defender was Josko Gvardiol, who managed 153 points and started the season at £6.0m. He was owned by a staggering 95.3% of top 10k managers by Gameweek 38.
As expected, midfielders received the largest share of funds—consistent with past seasons. This group also saw an increase in budget allocation compared to 2023/24.
The top three overall points scorers were all midfielders: Salah (344), Mbeumo (236), and Palmer (214). While midfielders made up 8 of the top 10 scorers in 2023/24, this dropped to 5 in 2024/25. Nevertheless, they remain central to FPL success.
Midfielders benefit from an extra point for clean sheets and an additional point for each goal compared to forwards. Many also take set pieces and penalties—giving them even more avenues to deliver returns.
Interestingly, even though 3-4-3 returned as the dominant formation in 2024/25, spending on forwards actually decreased from the previous season.
The key reason? Erling Haaland’s underwhelming campaign. After averaging a blistering 12.6 points per game from Gameweeks 1 to 5, injuries and a dip in form saw his ownership fall drastically. By Gameweek 38, he was in just 4.3% of top 10k squads.
This uncertainty around the premium forward made many managers cautious, choosing to spread funds more evenly across midfield and defence.
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