Utilizing Fantasy Premier League 2025-26: Strategies for Employing the Bench Boost Feature
In the upcoming 2025-26 Fantasy Premier League (FPL) season, managers will have a new tool at their disposal: the Bench Boost chip. This unique feature allows you to score points from your entire squad of 15 players—both your starting XI and all four substitutes—during a single Gameweek.
How the Bench Boost Works
In a regular Gameweek, only the 11 starting players earn points. However, when you activate the Bench Boost chip, points from all 15 players count, including the four players on your bench. This makes the chip very squad-dependent: having a strong, well-balanced bench with players likely to score points is crucial to maximizing the benefit.
Points scored by substitutes who actually come on (such as via rotation) count as usual even without the chip, but Bench Boost adds points from players who remain on the bench as well.
Implications for Team Selection and Strategy
The introduction of the Bench Boost chip changes the game for FPL managers. Here's how:
- Stronger bench importance: You need a reliable bench with players who can get minutes and potentially score/assist or keep clean sheets. Having non-playing players on your bench is more costly with this chip.
- Fixture planning: The chip is most effective when all 15 players have favourable fixtures in the same Gameweek, maximizing point potential.
- Double use flexibility: Since you can use the Bench Boost twice (once in each half of the season), you can plan for two optimal Gameweeks—often around double Gameweeks where some teams play twice.
- Early usage possibility: Previously chips like Bench Boost were often saved for late-season double Gameweeks due to cup disruptions, but since you now have two sets of chips and the first half of the season often lacks blank/double gameweeks, you might consider using one Bench Boost earlier if conditions are right.
- Captaincy and transfer strategy: Building a squad with multiple captaincy options and depth allows you to make the most of Bench Boost weeks, as well as Triple Captain and Free Hit chips that can now be used twice.
- Overall strategic change: The ability to use Bench Boost twice adds complexity to season planning, and encourages managers to focus on squad depth, fixture swings, and timing their chip usage more carefully rather than saving chips exclusively for late-season.
To activate the Bench Boost, simply select the icon while setting up your team for the gameweek. Confirming the Bench Boost will make all points from your substitutes count until the end of the gameweek. The Bench Boost applies to goals, assists, clean sheets, and defensive contributions.
FPL managers often choose low-cost subs, such as backup goalkeepers or younger squad members who don't get a lot of playing time. However, with the Bench Boost, these players can become valuable assets.
Remember, only one bonus chip (either Bench Boost or another) can be activated per gameweek. Using the Bench Boost prevents you from also playing triple captain or making transfers with your wildcard.
For comprehensive guides on Fantasy Premier League, visit our website. The Fantasy Premier League can be played online on the Premier League website or the Premier League app (available on iOS and Android).
- To maximize the advantage of the Bench Boost chip, football managers need to pay attention to the European leagues and focus on building a strong bench with players who are likely to score points in the Premier League.
- In light of the Bench Boost chip's ability to score points from all 15 players in a Gameweek, the strategy of selecting low-cost substitutes like backup goalkeepers or young squad members may shift, making them potentially valuable assets in the 2025-26 Fantasy Premier League season.
