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FPL final squad deadline nears
Managers must lock in 15 players before Friday as new rules reshape scoring and chips.

Managers must lock in a 15-man squad before Friday as new rules and price changes shape choices for GW1.
FPL Focus Sets Friday Deadline for Final Squad
The 2025/26 Premier League season starts this weekend and Fantasy Premier League managers face a Friday deadline to lock in a 15-man squad. Liverpool host Bournemouth on Friday and a Sunday trip to Old Trafford awaits as the season kicks off. The league has introduced Defensive Contribution points, rewarding CBITs for defenders and midfielders, with two extra points for 10 CBITs by a defender and 12 by a midfielder in a single gameweek. All four chips are doubled this season and can be used twice, once in the first half and again after the festive period. The Assistant Manager chip has been withdrawn this year.
Budget remains the biggest challenge as managers balance premium stars with value picks. Salah and Haaland remain the priciest players, which pushes many managers to look for mid-price value elsewhere. Viktor Gyokeres is the most picked player so far at 9.0m, Gabriel is popular in defense at 6.0m, and Bukayo Saka sits at 10.0m with strong early interest. David Raya at 5.5m is a common goalkeeper choice, while Pedro and Cole Palmer are among the most picked attackers. The article also highlights new signings like Martin Zubimendi and Cristhian Mosquera and notes that each team can field up to three players from the same club.
Budget options abound in the 4.0–5.5m range, with keepers like Dubravka at 4.0m and other cheap picks highlighted for minutes security. The piece stresses the risk of minutes for budget forwards and the need to avoid injured players or those who have departed the league. It also points to minutes certainty as a key differentiator in GW1 amid shifting prices and a crowded value pool.
Key Takeaways
"Raya remains a hugely popular goalkeeper pick"
goalkeeper value amid pricing
"Gyokeres is our most-picked player so far"
ownership trend
"DefCon points reward CBIT contributions"
rule change
"Budget constraints will shape the rest of the squad"
editorial perspective
DefCon changes tilt the game toward defensive contribution and force a rethink of how value is defined across positions. Doubling chips adds urgency to early timing, as managers weigh the risk of burning a precious chip on a single weekend. The shift toward mid-price players mirrors a broader trend in FPL toward flexibility over prestige, especially when two premium stars could crowd the squad. Africa Cup of Nations timing later in the season could complicate rotation and transfers, underscoring the need for depth and careful planning.
In short, this season tests the balance between chasing high ceilings from big names and building a resilient squad that can navigate a crowded fixture list and evolving scoring rules. Those who nail the pricey choices but ignore minutes risk sabotaging their whole campaign, while those who spot hidden value could set early leads in their leagues.
Highlights
- DefCon could make defenders harder to ignore this season
- Gyokeres is already the darling of many FPL managers
- Budget discipline matters more than big name splashes
- Two chips at once shifts the pressure to go early
Budget constraints risk in final squads
The article emphasizes tight budgets and the need to balance premium stars with value options. Overreliance on high-priced players could shrink squad depth and limit chip strategy later in the season.
The coming days will test how players balance ambition with solid value.
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