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.
- READ MORE: FPL 2025/26: Top 1% and top 10% leagues launched
- READ MORE: FPL 2025/26: Huge rule change as defensive contributions come in
- READ MORE: FPL 2025/26: Double chips as Assistant Manager gets the boot
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.
Alex Isak hits a hat-trick! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/0OuWvlvW63
— Newcastle United (@NUFC) December 21, 2024
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:
53 seconds. pic.twitter.com/0YfVaVlcRf
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) April 15, 2025
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.
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»So you're suggesting that I could use all my saved transfers to make some of my intended wildcard changes in Gameweek 15, then use up to five in Gameweek 16 to make the rest, and play my Wildcard some other time? That might be a possibility. Or I could still Wildcard in Gameweek 16 as originally planned and then carry the five transfers over and use them later, as Nightcrawler suggests. I may perhaps just see how it goes and then decide later whether to play my wildcard in Gameweek 16 or earlier, and whether to use the extra AFCON transfers in Gameweek 16 or save them for later. There's certainly no point now in carrying any transfers over from Gameweek 15 to Gameweek 16. If I have transfers to spare then that might be a good time to Bench Boost. Even more managers than usual will probably now be Bench Boosting in Gameweek 1 and Wildcarding shortly after, but playing a very early wildcard always seems to turn out badly for me, so I made a resolution (which I often have difficulty in keeping to) to wait at least till the second international break before playing it in future. If the pricing is too generous then it might even be possible to afford a strong bench for a Bench Boost in Gameweek 1 as well as a strong first eleven, and not have to wildcard away from it straight afterwards, but I think it is unlikely that will be possible without weakening the first eleven more than I would like.
»They've managed to upset everyone. The hardcore players are upset with the double chips and 5ft top up, decreasing the need for long-term planning, and increasing the luck factor. They've also upset casual players who like to go off the eye test alone, with the stats-heavy complicated defensive actions. Now stats table are almost required when picking defenders. FPL have taken a sledgehammer to a delicate and successful eco-system.
»Ooh, nice.
»Rashford to Barcelona here we go. Loan deal with option to buy. Barca to pay 100% of the wages. Rashford back at Old Trafford next summer then :lol:
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