The Scout is analysing the key changes that are being made in Fantasy Premier League for the 2024/25 season.
Five free transfers
Changes to the rules around free transfers could radically alter Fantasy managers' plans this campaign.
There are two major alterations for 2024/25, each of them potentially game-changing - even when it comes to chip strategy.
What's changed?
Firstly, FPL managers will now be able to bank FIVE free transfers.
This is an increase from two.
Secondly, you will KEEP your banked transfers even when you play a chip.
So, for example, let's say you have four free transfers saved ahead of Gameweek 29 but decide to activate the Free Hit instead.
You will, under the new rules, still have four free transfers for Gameweek 30, when your original squad is returned to you.
'Mini-Wildcard'
Being able to save more than two free transfers gives FPL managers the potential to overhaul their squads on a more regular basis.
Everyone has two Wildcards, in which unlimited transfers can be made in each half of the season.
But having the potential to save up to five free transfers gives managers the chance to implement a "mini-Wildcard".
You get one free transfer in each Gameweek, and if you don't use it, you can bank it and carry it into the following Gameweek.
You could, for instance, opt to not make any transfers in the first five Gameweeks. In Gameweek 6, you would have five free transfers to use.
If you then made only one free transfer in Gameweek 6, you would carry forward five transfers into Gameweek 7.
The new rules give Fantasy managers the power to attack smaller blocks of fixtures, knowing they have the ability to make more widespread changes as an escape route.
For instance, Brighton & Hove Albion players could be targeted in Gameweeks 1-5, as they have only one match with a Fixture Difficulty Rating (FDR) higher than three in this period.
However, in Gameweeks 6-11, they have four tricky-looking fixtures.
As a result, you could start 2024/25 with three Brighton players and then transfer them all out, without taking a points hit, ahead of the Gameweek 6 fixture swing.
Impact on chip strategy
The new rules may also change the way we think about chips.
For instance, after playing a Bench Boost, you may not want so much money tied up in your substitutes.
Now, you could Wildcard, save up several free transfers, play a Bench Boost and then use your saved transfers to reallocate the funds on your bench to your starting XI.
Banking some free transfers before playing a Free Hit also has potential advantages.
We could have a situation this season where there is a Double Gameweek 33 followed by a Blank Gameweek 34.
That's because Gameweek 34 clashes with the FA Cup semi-finals and will likely cause Premier League postponements, while there is likely to be a free midweek after Gameweek 33 to house any outstanding fixtures.
Managers could use a Free Hit to target players with two fixtures in Gameweek 33, while keeping four or five saved transfers in the bank to deal with any players who are not in action in Gameweek 34.
All in all, these new rule changes should give the upper hand to long-term planners.
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