How Do Subs Work in FPL?

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Fantasy Premier League (FPL) has grown into one of the most popular fantasy sports platforms in the world, with millions of managers competing each season.

One of the most crucial aspects of managing an FPL team is understanding how substitutions work. From automatic subs to manual changes, knowing when, why, and how to make substitutions can significantly impact your weekly points tally.

In this comprehensive guide, I’ll explain the key concepts behind manual and automatic substitutions, the importance of bench priority, how captains and vice-captains affect subs, and the common mistakes you should avoid.

By the end of this article, you’ll have a solid grasp of how to manage your FPL team like a pro.

What Are Substitutions in FPL?

Substitutions in FPL allow managers to swap players from the starting XI with those on the bench. These changes can either be made manually (before the Gameweek deadline) or automatically (when a starting player doesn’t play at all).

Substitutions are essential for maintaining a valid team formation and ensuring that you field as close to 11 players as possible each Gameweek. By making smart substitution choices, you increase your chances of earning maximum points.

What is a Valid Formation in FPL?

A valid formation in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) refers to the correct arrangement of players on the pitch to meet the game’s rules for player positions.

Each FPL manager must field a starting XI that includes a certain number of goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, and forwards. This structure ensures balance and fairness across all teams in the league.

If your starting XI doesn’t meet the formation requirements, you’ll be unable to submit your team before the Gameweek deadline. Therefore, understanding valid formations is essential to avoid costly mistakes.

1. Minimum Players in Each Position

To field a valid team in FPL, you must adhere to the following minimum player requirements for each position:

1 Goalkeeper: You can only have one goalkeeper in your starting XI.
3 Defenders: You must field at least three defenders.
2 Midfielders: A minimum of two midfielders must be included in the starting XI.
1 Forward: You must have at least one forward on the pitch.

These minimum player requirements ensure you can’t “stack” your team with attackers or midfielders alone. Instead, you must maintain a balance between defense, midfield, and attack.

2. Formation Variations

FPL allows for flexibility in how you arrange your starting XI, provided you meet the minimum player requirements. Here are the most common formation variations used by managers:

Formation	No. of Defenders	No. of Midfielders	No. of Forwards
3-4-3	3 Defenders	4 Midfielders	3 Forwards
4-4-2	4 Defenders	4 Midfielders	2 Forwards
4-3-3	4 Defenders	3 Midfielders	3 Forwards
3-5-2	3 Defenders	5 Midfielders	2 Forwards
5-3-2	5 Defenders	3 Midfielders	2 Forwards
5-4-1	5 Defenders	4 Midfielders	1 Forward
4-5-1	4 Defenders	5 Midfielders	1 Forward
3-4-3	3 Defenders	4 Midfielders	3 Forwards

These formations give FPL managers flexibility to play to their team’s strengths. For example:

3-4-3 is one of the most popular choices as it allows managers to have more attacking players on the pitch.
4-4-2 is a balanced approach, offering a mix of solid defense and attack.
3-5-2 is favored when managers want to maximize the impact of midfielders, especially if many of them are in great form.

FPL does not allow extreme formations like 2-6-2 or 1-8-2, as they fail to meet the minimum player requirements for each position.

Types of Substitutions in FPL

1. Manual Substitutions

Manual substitutions are changes you make to your starting XI before the Gameweek deadline. You can replace any player in your lineup with a player from your bench, provided it maintains a valid team formation.

How to Make Manual Substitutions:

Go to your FPL team page before the Gameweek deadline.
Drag and drop players from your bench into your starting XI.
Ensure you maintain a valid formation like 4-4-2, 3-5-2, or 3-4-3.
Click Confirm Team to lock in your changes.

Once the Gameweek starts, you can no longer make manual substitutions. If you forget to set your team, you’ll be stuck with the previous week’s starting XI.

2. Automatic Substitutions (Auto-Subs)

When one of your starting players doesn’t play any minutes in a Gameweek, an auto-sub is triggered. FPL will automatically replace this player with a player from your bench, provided the following rules are met:

Bench Priority: The player at the top of your bench list will be substituted in first.
Position Requirements: The substitution must maintain a valid team formation.
Playing Requirement: The substituted player must have played in the Gameweek.

For example, if you have a 4-4-2 formation and a defender from your starting XI doesn’t play, FPL will check your bench for the first available defender. If your first bench player is a midfielder, but you need a defender, the system skips to the next player who meets the requirement.

In Fantasy Premier League (FPL), the bench plays a crucial role in ensuring your team remains competitive throughout the Gameweek.

While most managers focus on their starting XI, having a strong and well-ordered bench can be the difference between success and failure, especially when unexpected absences occur.

Your bench consists of four players — one goalkeeper and three outfield players. These players act as backups who step into your lineup automatically if any of your starting XI do not play.

The way you set up and prioritize your bench can significantly impact your Gameweek points. Let’s explore how the bench works and why it’s so important.

1. Role of Bench Players in FPL

Bench players are essentially your “safety net.” They act as substitutes when your starting players fail to play in a Gameweek. This safety net ensures that you still have a chance to field a full XI, even if one or more of your starting players are benched, injured, or unexpectedly dropped from the squad.

For example, if one of your starting defenders doesn’t play, FPL will bring in the first available defender from your bench. However, this substitution must comply with the formation rules. If you’re using a 3-4-3 formation, the system will maintain at least three defenders on the pitch. If no defenders are available on the bench, you may end up playing with only 10 players.

A strong bench is especially important during fixture congestion, midweek matches, and double Gameweeks, when Premier League teams are more likely to rotate players. Many managers overlook the role of bench players, but having reliable backups can make a huge difference in your total points.

2. Importance of Bench Priority

Bench priority refers to the order in which your substitutes will be called into action. You can set the priority for each player on the bench, placing them as 1st, 2nd, or 3rd choice substitutes. The system follows this order strictly when making automatic substitutions.

Here’s how it works:

If one player from your starting XI doesn’t play, the player listed as the 1st substitute will automatically be brought in, provided they played in the Gameweek.
If two players from your starting XI don’t play, the system moves to the 2nd substitute.
This process continues with the 3rd substitute if needed.

This is why bench order matters. For example, if your 1st substitute is a midfielder and your starting defender doesn’t play, but you have a defender as the 2nd substitute, FPL will skip the midfielder and bring in the defender to maintain the required team formation.

To avoid mistakes, always review your bench order before the Gameweek deadline. Consider factors like player availability, injury news, and upcoming fixtures when ranking your bench players.

3. Role of Goalkeepers in the Bench

Unlike outfield players, you can only have one goalkeeper in your starting XI and one on the bench. If your starting goalkeeper doesn’t play, your bench goalkeeper will be substituted in — but only if they played in the Gameweek.

This is why it’s advisable to have two goalkeepers who are regular starters. If you have a non-playing goalkeeper as your backup, you run the risk of fielding zero goalkeepers in a Gameweek if your starting goalkeeper is injured or rested.

Many experienced managers opt for a “playing second goalkeeper” strategy. This involves selecting two goalkeepers from different teams who rotate well, meaning when one has a tough fixture, the other has a more favorable one. This ensures you always have an active goalkeeper available.

4. Bench Management Tips

To make the most of your bench, follow these key tips:

Set the Correct Bench Order: Place the most likely player to score points as your 1st substitute.
Avoid Non-Playing Bench Players: Don’t waste bench spots on players who never play.
Monitor Injuries and Suspensions: Regularly check injury updates to know which players may miss games.
Utilise the Bench Boost Chip Wisely: This chip allows all 15 players (including the bench) to earn points for one Gameweek. Use it when your entire squad has strong fixtures.

When Do Substitutions Happen in FPL?

Substitutions happen at two key points in FPL:

Manual Substitutions: Before the Gameweek deadline.
Automatic Substitutions: After the Gameweek concludes, when FPL processes all matches.

This means you can see live points during a Gameweek, but substitutions will only be finalised once all matches have been played.

Key Rules for FPL Substitutions

1. How Many Substitutions Are Allowed?

You can make unlimited manual substitutions before the Gameweek deadline.
Once the deadline passes, only automatic substitutions occur.

2. Captain and Vice-Captain Rules

If your captain doesn’t play, your vice-captain takes over and earns double points.
If neither the captain nor vice-captain plays, no player earns double points.

3. What If There Are No Available Substitutes?

If you don’t have any available substitutes and one of your starting players doesn’t play, you’ll field fewer than 11 players. This means you’ll miss out on potential points for that Gameweek.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

1. Ignoring Bench Order

If you fail to set the correct order for your bench, FPL may substitute in the wrong player, potentially breaking your formation.

2. Not Picking a Reliable Vice-Captain

If your captain doesn’t play and your vice-captain is also absent, you’ll lose out on the chance for double points.

3. Missing the Gameweek Deadline

Forget to set your lineup before the deadline? Your team will remain unchanged from the previous week, which could cost you points.

Pro Tips for Mastering FPL Substitutions

Monitor Player News: Track player injuries, suspensions, and starting XI predictions.
Prioritise Your Bench: Rank your bench players in the correct order to avoid poor auto-subs.
Choose a Strong Vice-Captain: Your vice-captain can save your Gameweek if your captain doesn’t play.
Use Chips Wisely: Bench Boost is especially useful to earn points from all 15 squad players.

Conclusion

Mastering substitutions in FPL is a game-changer. Properly managing manual and automatic substitutions, prioritising your bench, and selecting a strong vice-captain can turn a poor Gameweek into a successful one. By understanding and following the rules of substitutions, you’ll consistently field a full team and avoid costly mistakes.

Keep an eye on player news, don’t miss the Gameweek deadlines, and ensure your bench order is correct. By doing so, you’ll be well-positioned to achieve higher points and climb the FPL leaderboard.

FAQs About FPL Substitutions

How do auto-subs work in FPL?

Auto-subs are triggered when a starting player doesn’t play. FPL then brings in a bench player based on the bench priority and formation rules.

How many auto-subs are allowed per Gameweek?

FPL allows as many auto-subs as necessary, as long as the team maintains a valid formation.

What happens if my captain doesn’t play?

Your vice-captain earns double points. If the vice-captain also doesn’t play, no player receives double points.

How does the bench order affect substitutions?

FPL substitutes players based on the priority order of your bench. The first available player is subbed in to maintain a valid formation.

Can You Make Subs During a Gameweek in FPL?

The short answer is no, you cannot make manual substitutions during a Gameweek. Once the Gameweek deadline has passed, your team is locked in, and no further manual changes can be made to your starting XI.

Can goalkeepers be substituted in FPL?

Yes, if your starting goalkeeper doesn’t play, the backup goalkeeper is substituted in if they featured in that Gameweek.

Do wildcard transfers affect my substitutions?

No, wildcard in FPL transfers only affect transfers. They do not impact manual or automatic substitutions.

Can I make manual substitutions after the Gameweek starts?

No, manual substitutions must be made before the Gameweek deadline. After that, only auto-subs are applied.