FPL
19 July 2025 144 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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The rule changes just keep on coming from Fantasy Premier League (FPL) – and this morning’s announcement concerns assists.

The big news is that there’ll be more of them in 2025/26, with the rules around Fantasy assists relaxed somewhat.

WHAT ARE THE NEW ASSIST RULES?

INTENDED DESTINATION/TARGET

‘Intended destination/target’ isn’t disappearing completely – but it’s no longer a factor for a lot of goals.

Indeed, it will not matter, and a Fantasy assist will be awarded, if:

a) the goalscorer receives the ball inside the penalty box and
b) there is only one defensive touch before the ball reaches the goalscorer

As an example, Alexander Isak‘s first goal against Ipswich Town below would now be an assist for Jacob Murphy.

If there are two or more defensive touches, no assist is given.

The only defensive touch that will disqualify a Fantasy assist is if the defending player is attempting a pass (ergo in possession). The goalscorer losing then regaining possession before scoring also means no assist.

Meanwhile, if the goalscorer receives the ball outside the box, the old subjective call about intended destination/target remains in force.

HANDBALLS

No need to worry about an attacking player ‘forcing’ a handball now, as that criterion has been done away with.

Now, if a cross, pass, shot or touch directly leads to a handball by a defensive player, and the resulting penalty or free-kick is scored, a Fantasy assist will be awarded.

If the handball follows a touch from another defensive player, no assist will be given.

DEFENSIVE ERRORS

More simplification of the rules here.

Up until this point, if a goal was scored thanks to an unforced defensive error, no Fantasy assist was awarded.

But now, the only defensive error that will disqualify a Fantasy assist is if the defending player is attempting a pass. Again, there can only be a maximum of one defensive touch for the assist to be awarded.

As an example, Alex Scott would now get the assist for this goal scored by Antoine Semenyo in April:

HOW MANY MORE ASSISTS WOULD WE HAVE SEEN LAST SEASON?

FPL say that, had these new rules been in operation last season, there would have been 41 extra Fantasy assists awarded.

defensive contributions

144 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. FPL Virgin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 hours, 22 mins ago

    FPL is finally listening to me.

    I called for more routes to points the season before last...

    https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2023/06/09/how-can-fpl-adapt-its-points-system-to-an-increasing-popularity

    1. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      5 hours, 8 mins ago

      That's nice

    2. CONNERS
      • 6 Years
      5 hours, 7 mins ago

      Credit where credit due.

      1. FPL Virgin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 hours, 3 mins ago

        I don't think it is out of the realm of possibility that Mark reads the community articles on here given his long association with the site.

        1. The FPL Units
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 15 Years
          4 hours, 57 mins ago

          The question mark would be if he would bother with your posts.

    3. Grounderz
      • 13 Years
      4 hours, 55 mins ago

      But Mark is the one at the tower. Not you.

    4. panda07
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 hours, 32 mins ago

      People really need to start listening to you sooner Virg...

  2. 'Broadsword Calling Da…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 hours, 22 mins ago

    More points, sounds good to me!

    1. FPL Virgin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 hours, 41 mins ago

      I was calling for this two seasons ago. I'm glad Mark listened.

      1. Wolverine
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        4 hours, 36 mins ago

        Lol only you could post claiming credit for the changes made

        1. FPL Virgin
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          4 hours, 33 mins ago

          The proof is in my time and date stamped article. You need more sources of points due to the sheer volume of players these days. Otherwise everyone gets packed together at a certain rank and can't move.

          1. Wolverine
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 15 Years
            4 hours, 20 mins ago

            I think we should all spare a minute to thank you for bringing these changes to the game

            1. All de Gea no iDier
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 6 Years
              4 hours, 1 min ago

              I would thank him more if he took his self-proclaiming posts elsewhere. When he's not bigging himself up he's childishly slagging the site admin off. It's about time that he realised that he ain't writer material.

  3. Andy_Social
    • 12 Years
    5 hours, 14 mins ago

    How do you manage to be so irritating even when you're the only person in the room?

    1. FPL Virgin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 hours, 43 mins ago

      That a bit harsh on Broadsword Calling Danny Boy, m8.

  4. Jafooli
    • 13 Years
    5 hours, 11 mins ago

    Just calculated that had this rule been in play last season I'd have finished in the top 3m OR, rather than top 4m - spewing...

    1. FPL Virgin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 hours, 10 mins ago

      That'd be a cool tool actually. To recalculate your rank based on the new rule changes.

    2. Jordan.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      5 hours, 8 mins ago

      made me laugh jafooli,great stuff

    3. CONNERS
      • 6 Years
      5 hours, 5 mins ago

      They've robbed you of your place in the top 30% league.

  5. The FPL Units
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    5 hours, 1 min ago

    Just got back from the Wrexham vs Wellington Phoenix game. Was great to be there and even better that the Phoenix won 1 nil.

  6. Jimmy B
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 hours, 59 mins ago

    Sunday's change is being drafted. Quadruple points if your player scores on their birthday

    1. Wolverine
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      4 hours, 4 mins ago

      Still 2 more to come today

      1. Andy_Social
        • 12 Years
        3 hours, 40 mins ago

        Two more posts about rule changes? Wow.
        I guess releasing player prices now would be daft as we don't yet know all the rules we'd be operating under.

      2. Reddonkeyham 42
        • 11 Years
        3 hours, 39 mins ago

        How do we know 2 more are to come?

      3. Jimmy B
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 hours, 39 mins ago

        we've removed the assman but introduced the set piece specialist coach. Double point for every goal from a set piece while you have the chip active

  7. Dubem_FC
    • 9 Years
    4 hours, 41 mins ago

    Am I right to assume that a comment here has a green vertical border line while a reply to a comment has none and its shifted to the right?

    1. panda07
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 hours ago

      They are also different shades of grey.

      1. The Knights Template
        • 11 Years
        1 hour, 55 mins ago

        50 apparently.

        1. Deulofail
          • 9 Years
          1 hour, 45 mins ago

          I made an audiobook of this once, complete with character voices and analysis of the literature

          1. The Knights Template
            • 11 Years
            1 hour, 40 mins ago

            Mayor Quimby - May all your disgraces be private!

            1. Deulofail
              • 9 Years
              1 hour, 1 min ago

              Quim 😆

  8. The Mandalorian
    • 12 Years
    4 hours, 38 mins ago

    The new assist rules are almost as wholesome as watching my robot mow the lawn.

  9. panda07
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 hours, 35 mins ago

    Without giving too much away, I will be bench boosting in GW1.

    1. Vinyl78LP
      • 15 Years
      3 hours, 20 mins ago

      Would rather myself do a WC/BB back to back after maybe 8-12 weeks, with better data on who is 99% starting week-in-week-out rather than just line up's in friendlies.

      1. panda07
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        2 hours, 54 mins ago

        You can pick nailed players that rotate well for the first few weeks and then WC so you're not carrying too much £ on your bench. I did it last year and had an OR of 28!

        1. panda07
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          2 hours, 53 mins ago

          *after GW1

        2. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 16 Years
          2 hours, 51 mins ago

          Where did you finish the season at?

          1. panda07
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            2 hours, 48 mins ago

            30k

            1. TorresMagic™
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 16 Years
              2 hours, 44 mins ago

              Nice, think you were top of LMS in GW1.

              1. panda07
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 12 Years
                2 hours, 41 mins ago

                Most importantly, I was top of the great hall of shame!

            2. panda07
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 12 Years
              2 hours, 42 mins ago

              Oops 60k

  10. Holmes
    • 11 Years
    4 hours, 35 mins ago

    I'm sure this will benefit your rivals while you keep missing out on assists every week.

  11. Reddonkeyham 42
    • 11 Years
    4 hours, 25 mins ago

    Just to clarify for this FPL thicko.
    Is there a scenario where the last pass played to the goal scorer wouldn't get an assist now?
    Reading this makes me think that any teammate who touched the ball before the goal scorer gets an assist.

    1. Skonto Rigga
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 7 Years
      4 hours, 9 mins ago

      So long as the goalscorer receives the ball in the box, and there isn't more than one defensive touch (and it's not a pass from the opposing defender!), then no.

      Outside the area and it's the subjective call over intended destination/target.

      Put the Murphy cross in the article above as one of the jammy assists that would now get given.

  12. 'Broadsword Calling Da…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 hours, 23 mins ago

    Some great changes to FPL, this season. One other announcement I would love to see, scrapping the Vice Captain option (it's too easy to be lazy and get lucky and takes away so much drama around last minute rumours etc etc, keeps you on your toes and doesn't reward casuals..feel it would be a nice balance to these 8 chips).

    1. Reddonkeyham 42
      • 11 Years
      3 hours, 24 mins ago

      Or make vice 1st sub

  13. David Slade
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 hours, 12 mins ago

    I wonder how many points next seasons winner will have. With double chips, this and maybe CBs getting more bonus.

    1. Sheffield Wednesday
      • 5 Years
      3 hours, 1 min ago

      3000

  14. RedLightning
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 15 Years
    4 hours, 6 mins ago

    Are FPL going to tell us which players would have got the 41 additional fantasy assists last season?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      3 hours, 25 mins ago

      Would then need to change bonus points.

      1. RedLightning
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 15 Years
        3 hours, 19 mins ago

        Even without recalculating bonus points, it would still be good to know which players they were.
        And were some of them denied fantasy assists multiple times?

        1. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 16 Years
          3 hours, 17 mins ago

          That's so last season.

          1. The Knights Template
            • 11 Years
            3 hours, 14 mins ago

            Hall of Shame, both of you!

            1. RedLightning
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 15 Years
              3 hours, 9 mins ago

              I'm already in.
              Didn't even qualify for the 10% league - first time I've finished outside the top 500k.
              That's really embarrassing.

          2. RedLightning
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 15 Years
            3 hours, 11 mins ago

            Could still be useful when selecting my initial squad.

            1. TorresMagic™
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 16 Years
              3 hours, 7 mins ago

              There's a few mentioned in the article. Unlikely they happen again this season by the same player.

              1. RedLightning
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • Has Moderation Rights
                • 15 Years
                3 hours ago

                If any players were denied several fantasy assists last season then they should be expected to be rewarded with more fantasy assists in future.

  15. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 15 Years
    4 hours, 2 mins ago

    Really liking the new changes, the game has partly left behind other games but these changes is bringing the game back to life. Make FPL great again

    1. WVA
      • 8 Years
      3 hours, 42 mins ago

      The grammar and post itself make no sense Bemba

  16. WVA
    • 8 Years
    3 hours, 41 mins ago

    Bring back desktop view!

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      3 hours, 32 mins ago

      Any specific reasons to bring it back? Site is now mobile optimised and has an app.

      1. WVA
        • 8 Years
        3 hours, 26 mins ago

        It was so much better being able to see everything at once, I like to be able to see the fixture ticker, comments etc at the same time.

      2. WVA
        • 8 Years
        3 hours, 21 mins ago

        I would always look at fixtures, players, scout picks, polls etc while typing typing out comments and replies, incredibly useful in fact

        1. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 16 Years
          3 hours, 9 mins ago

          I get it, don't use my mobile much to post or read on.
          No current plans to bring it back but I passed this on.

          1. WVA
            • 8 Years
            2 hours, 28 mins ago

            Thank you very much, I’m slightly unsure if it’s just me being stupid as after the site was initially updated desktop view was still working fine however I wanted to see what the new mobile view was like so clicked the little green button at the bottom of the screen but since I did that the button has gone so I guess there’s been a further updated completely removing desktop view.

  17. WVA
    • 8 Years
    3 hours, 34 mins ago

    The top three defenders left in FPL are centre backs and they may be due more points this season. Something to consider seeing as we always bang on about attacking fullbacks.

  18. Haa-lala-land
    • 4 Years
    3 hours, 17 mins ago

    The good thing is I didn't really understand the fantasy assist rules before the change, and still probably won't understand them now, so I'm not affected:)

  19. The Hunt
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    3 hours, 8 mins ago

    I wrote this three weeks ago in a hot topic about possible rule changes. I'm glad the FPL took notice of my comment...

    "I'd like to see an end to inadvertent assists. You know, the one's where a player gets three points because the ball ricochets off his @rse from a hoofed clearance right into the path of the centre forward who knocks it into an empty net. Also, handball assists for penalties should be banned."

    🙄

    1. Jimmy B
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 hours, 32 mins ago

      your idea goes against the more points more fun marketing so its been ignored

  20. just a man
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 hours, 6 mins ago

    Everyone should link to their posts that didn’t come true

  21. Deulofail
    • 9 Years
    3 hours ago

    I do like the amendments for defensive errors and forced handball.

    However, if the old rules were not fit for purpose, why do the new rules revert to the old rules in a certain case? That makes it more complicated and confusing for people. I don't see the need for an in-the-box/out-the-box distinction. In some fantasy games, goals from outside the box are rewarded with more points, but in FPL, an assister can have their assist wiped because the chance they created fell to someone outside the box. Why does their specific intended target matter in the box but not outside it? Perhaps I could get behind the distinction in theory if someone convinces me, but probably not behind extra rules and reverting to the old subjectivity.

    Further confusion, for me, from the PL article:

    - It's not clear if 'two defensive touches' would disqualify the assist if they come from the same player.
    - Who's to judge if a defensive intervention is a pass or not, especially if it's the first touch of a chaotic defensive situation (since two touches would seemingly already disqualify the assist)? The example they give is 'a loose pass' but that is only one example, so do they mean 'a loose pass' only? Where are the lines between a block, an intentional deflection into a safe area, a loose clearance and a pass?
    - So then, why is an assist disqualified when the defender is deemed to have attempted a pass but not a clearance?

    These questions might have simple answers, and I would be happy to learn what they are 🙂

    https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/4362187

    1. Jimmy B
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 hours, 34 mins ago

      I don't like the amendments because for me a handball is very very rarely forced, odd occasions where it saves a goal but most of the time its just a player being stupid. Plus you get ambiguous situations like the Pickford assist that wasn't given last season where he just punted a ball forward, the forced error was by Beto but because he didn't touch the ball the assist would go to Pickford? That's just silly. And I agree its not cleared up some bits at all just made them more confusing.

      1. Deulofail
        • 9 Years
        2 hours, 25 mins ago

        But if you remove the 'forced' element, you remove the subjectivity from the assist decision. At least you know what you're getting now.

        I'm fine with Pickford getting an assist for that, but I'd agree it is on the sillier side of the spectrum. He was the last person to touch the ball, though, and his action led to a goal-scoring chance which was converted. Beto doesn't get rewarded, but nor does anyone else for pressing and other such positive contributions to goals and other FPL point-scoring events.

    2. FFScout Tom
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 hours, 22 mins ago

      In answer to your second questions, it's OPTA. If OPTA deemed it a pass, it's a pass.

      1. Deulofail
        • 9 Years
        2 hours, 19 mins ago

        Understood, but that's not really my question. How do Opta/Stats Perform decide what is a pass, particularly in these situations where neither team has possession, and a player is taking one touch (the pass or non-pass)

  22. The Knights Template
    • 11 Years
    2 hours, 56 mins ago

    Conservatives win Tasmanian election.

    1. panda07
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 hours, 50 mins ago

      The lucky devils!

    2. Sheffield Wednesday
      • 5 Years
      2 hours, 49 mins ago

      Wellington Phoenix academy players defeat Wrexham.

  23. Sheffield Wednesday
    • 5 Years
    2 hours, 55 mins ago

    Defensive mids now a viable option ️✅
    More points for defensive CBs ️✅
    Simpler Assists rule ️✅
    AssMan cast back into the fiery chasm from whence It came.✅
    Double Chips rather than having to save mostly for dgw late in the season ✅
    Previous OR Leagues ✅
    Nothing gimmicky so far ✅

    All good, just hoping official FPL get the relative pricing right, and provide us with the new defensive data CBIT/CBIRT applied to last season when the site updates.

    1. TheBiffas
      • 4 Years
      2 hours, 51 mins ago

      Good to see someone who isn't moaning for the sake of it 🙂

    2. Jimmy B
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 hours, 38 mins ago

      I think there's still potentially a lot of ambiguity around assists fwiw. The simpler solution was if its given as an assist officially its an assist, no fantasy assists, but that goes against the 'more points more fun' (which imo is very gimmicky). Plus they love controversy and people talking about the game far more than they want a game everyone can understand.

  24. Moon Dog
      2 hours, 39 mins ago

      Bruno & Cunha starting in the 10 v Leeds:
      Bayindir; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Shaw; Amad, Casemiro, Collyer, Leon; Bruno, Cunha; Obi

      Apparently Bruno would have won quite a few extra points from defensive contributions last season, so he could be an interesting option this year.

      1. CONNERS
        • 6 Years
        2 hours, 9 mins ago

        I doubt he'll gain enough from it to make him a viable pick, especially if he spends the whole season in that central position while Diallo, Cunha and Mbeumo create most of the chances.

    • gooberman
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 hours, 19 mins ago

      It seems like Im in the minority in thinking the new relaxed assist rule is somewhat nonsensical and not consistent with actual footballing principles.

      FPL is supposed to be a realistic reflection of the game as much as possible.

      In footballing terms, I don't see how a player aiming a pass at someone only for it to take a huge deflection and land at a different player who then scores warrants an assist being rewarded.

      Opta would not credit an assist for that so FPL shouldn't either if they want this to be a realistic game.

      1. Jimmy B
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        1 hour, 22 mins ago

        More points more fun

        1. Jimmy B
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          1 hour, 18 mins ago

          I agree with you by the way. The meltdowns when players start getting awarded assists from taking a corner which leads to a handball and not for the player challenging the player who handles the ball will be epic.

        2. gooberman
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          1 min ago

          How is it more fun though when the rest of the managers will also benefit from it? It's not like the new rule will only apply to you. It only increases the average pts score.

          Rank gains are only influenced by how many pts you get in comparison with everyone else. No good sitting there looking at your team on 100pts with loads of assists when everyone else has also scored 100pts plus and you are still on a red arrow!

      2. Studs Up
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        1 hour, 8 mins ago

        i think to mirror real footie is long gone. Its now about making it as simple as possible to grow user base and keep them engaged for as long as possible

        1. Zalk
          • 13 Years
          53 mins ago

          Yep, unfortunately

    • riot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 hours, 13 mins ago

      Another good change.Last thing is getting the prices right (personally hoping for more expensive premiums)

    • riot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 hours, 9 mins ago

      Is rolling 5fts still a thing? I hate it but I know most people liked it

      1. Jimmy B
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 hours, 4 mins ago

        It is at the moment but they're changing stuff every other hour. It could go back to 2, it could go up to rolling however many you like. Who knows what they're thinking.

        1. riot
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          1 hour, 36 mins ago

          thanks

    • Jimmy B
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 hour, 48 mins ago

      I'm hearing apparently they are introducing extra transfers during AFCON.... LOL

      1. Qaiss
        • 9 Years
        1 hour, 46 mins ago

        First bad change they’ve made

    • Jimmers
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      1 hour, 47 mins ago

      More changes - Extra transfers for AFCON

      https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/4362102

      1. Studs Up
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        52 mins ago

        might as well start dishing out free points whilst they at it

        1. Jimmers
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 15 Years
          just now

          Game's gone

    • 1912 F.A Cup Winners
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      1 hour, 44 mins ago

      A win for ‘the casuals’ there!!

      1. Jimmy B
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        1 hour, 43 mins ago

        The real casuals barely log into the site. They don't make transfers. I have no idea who they are trying to appease with this one.

        1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          1 hour, 41 mins ago

          Will help us all really, won’t need to use all 5 free transfers so can just have them in the bank