If you failed to register a Fantasy Premier League team ahead of the Gameweek 1 deadline last Friday, you won't have scored any points for last weekend's first round of fixtures. But all is not lost!
Firstly, if you enter now you'll automatically be entered into a global league that starts scoring in Gameweek 2, so you can start level with a host of rivals around the world.
And secondly, you could now have an advantage over your FPL mini-league rivals who started in Gameweek 1, so you could quickly overtake them!
While fellow managers will have second-guessed Premier League head coaches' opening-weekend line-ups, hoping to identify that budget breakthrough defender or the stellar summer signing who hits the ground running, you can register a squad now and enjoy the following benefits:
1) Unlimited free transfers before the Gameweek 2 deadline of 11:00 BST on Saturday 24 August. So while your peers will be using their free transfers, taking points hits or even using their Wildcard (!), you’ll have a fresh-looking team with all your chips intact.
2) Build your squad using the £100m budget with players who a) are confirmed starters in Premier League matches, b) scored the most FPL points in Gameweek 1, and c) received the bonus points.
3) If you opt to fill your squad exclusively with the highest FPL points-scorers from the Gameweek 1 matches, it’s likely you’ll benefit from price rises before the Gameweek 2 deadline. With a little bit more money in the bank, that extra £0.5m could prove invaluable.
See: More information about price changes
4) Teams such as Chelsea, Fulham and Southampton enjoy very favourable runs after difficult Gameweek 1 fixtures. That lifts the appeal of building a squad around their key assets such as Cole Palmer (£10.5m), Christopher Nkunku (£6.5m), Emile Smith Rowe (£5.5m), Rodrigo Muniz (£6.0m) and Adam Armstrong (£5.5m).
5) Crucially this season, players such as Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins (£9.5m) and Manchester City's Phil Foden (£9.5m) had their minutes managed in Gameweek 1 due to their late returns to training after their involvement in UEFA EURO 2024 with England. The same applied to Crystal Palace forward Jean-Philippe Mateta (£7.5m), who represented France at the Olympic Games during the summer. Many of your rival managers will have overlooked these stars in their squad in Gameweek 1, but you can snap them up ahead of Gameweek 2.
6) Establish if there are players who are playing out of position, e.g. a defender playing in a more advanced attacking midfield position. Consider signing them up for increased points potential at both ends of the pitch.
7) You can still join all the mini-leagues that started scoring points in Gameweek 1. You’ll quickly make up lost ground. You can also invite friends and colleagues to join a league that starts scoring in Gameweek 2. A win-win situation!
So, start tinkering with your squad now!
Register your team before the GW2 deadline of 11:00 BST on Saturday 24 August.
