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 explore how the top FPL managers handled squad rotation in 2024/25—specifically, how frequently they rotated players in each position and whether any patterns emerged among the most successful FPL minds.
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.
Historically, the goalkeeper slot has been a popular position for rotation—particularly among top managers who favoured a home/away split using two budget keepers. This strategy often pays off as lower-table teams tend to perform better defensively at home.
However, in 2024/25, this trend slowed down. There was a noticeable decline in goalkeeper rotation compared to previous seasons. The Top 50 managers rotated less often than usual and leaned towards a set-and-forget approach, largely due to the popularity of Arsenal’s David Raya. At one point, Raya was owned by 79.5% of the Top 10k—a clear indication that many trusted him long-term.
In past seasons, cheap starters like Turner (2023/24), Areola (2023/24) and Dubravka (late 2023/24) provided rotation options for £4.0m. But this season, Łukasz Fabiański emerged as a surprise gift. Starting the season priced at just £4.0m as Areola’s backup, he claimed the starting spot around Gameweek 9. This prompted some managers to rotate him in.
Later in the season, Areola returned in Gameweek 18 and became a popular second Wildcard pick. However, with West Ham conceding 62 goals and keeping only 7 clean sheets, managers who held either of the Hammers’ goalkeepers didn’t always rotate them regularly with a first-choice keeper. As a result, even with options, rotation was more conservative than in past years.
Defender rotation was more common among the 2024/25 Top 50 than among the All-Time Top 50, showing a slight generational shift in approach. Like goalkeepers, budget defenders from reliable home teams were often rotated based on fixtures.
Viable £4.5m defender options emerged at various points in the season, allowing managers to capitalise on favourable runs. While not as widespread as goalkeeper rotation, it remained a go-to strategy for squeezing value out of the squad.
Traditionally, top managers have avoided rotating attackers—midfielders and forwards—since any attacking asset can return points in any fixture. Benching these players was often seen as a waste of funds and upside.
However, 2024/25 saw a shift.
With increased squad rotation in real-life Premier League teams (thanks to Europe, cups, and squad depth), FPL managers also adapted. Benches were no longer filled with £4.5m placeholders expected to deliver 2 points. Instead, we saw budget-friendly offensive players become legitimate options—even if they didn’t start every Gameweek.
Examples include:
These players offered excellent value—only £0.5m to £1.0m more than base-price attackers—and were sometimes benched in favour of stronger fixtures elsewhere in the squad. But this required careful planning. Top managers likely had a clear idea of when they’d bench these players and ensured they had cover when needed.
Still, the risk remained: explosive points could be left on the bench if a "weaker" fixture turned out differently.
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