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 take a closer look at the most commonly used Fantasy Premier League (FPL) formations during the 2024/25 season.
Historically, the 3-4-3 formation has been the go-to choice for many FPL managers. However, the 2023/24 campaign saw a notable shift in strategy, with 3-5-2 gaining traction—particularly among elite managers in the 'Top 50' and 'All-Time Top 50' categories. This change was largely driven by the wealth of budget-friendly midfielders available, such as Cole Palmer, who started the season priced at just £5.0m.
But as the graphs below show, 2024/25 has seen a swing back to the tried-and-tested 3-4-3 formation.
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.
FPL's scoring system continues to reward attacking returns—goals, assists, and key contributions that earn bonus points. In 2024/25, this focus became even more pronounced due to tweaks in the bonus point system (BPS). Forwards now receive 2 BPS for every shot on target, while defenders are penalised an additional 4 BPS for every goal their team concedes.
This shift significantly impacted the value of defensive players. For example, the highest-scoring goalkeeper in terms of bonus points was Jordan Pickford, who managed just 15 bonus points all season—only enough for 30th overall. Among defenders, Gvardiol, Wan-Bissaka, and Aina also finished tied for 30th in bonus points. For context, in 2023/24, Pickford earned 21 bonus points (16th overall), while Trippier ranked 19th with 20 points.
As a result, defenders have become the lowest-scoring position group in FPL. With clean sheets becoming harder to predict and attacking returns less frequent for defenders, many managers opted to minimise their risk by selecting just three defenders in their starting XIs—maximising investment in midfielders and forwards instead.
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