How to Play Fantasy EFL 2025/26 – Full Rules, Chips, and Team Tips
How to Play Fantasy EFL 2025/26 – Full Rules, Chips, and Team Tips are all covered in this complete guide to the new season.
Whether you’re brand new to Fantasy EFL or returning for another shot at glory, this breakdown explains everything you need to know – from how to register and build your team, to using chips, scoring points, and understanding lockouts.
1. Registering & Logging In
Playing Fantasy EFL is totally free. To get started, you’ll need to sign up or log in using an EFL online account. Once you’ve done that, you’ll be asked to choose a team name, pick your supported club, and agree to the Fantasy EFL terms and conditions before continuing.
2. Building Your Team
Your squad will include 7 players and 2 clubs from across any of the three EFL divisions, and the best part is – there’s no budget or player prices involved.
Here’s the breakdown of your team:
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | 1 |
| Defenders | 2–3 |
| Midfielders | 2–3 |
| Forwards | 1–2 |
Available formations:
- 1-2-2-2
- 1-2-3-1
- 1-3-2-1
You can change formation by removing a player from one position and adding another from a different position, either manually or by using the formation dropdown next to the pitch.
Player & Club Rules:
- You can pick the same player in as many gameweeks as you like.
- However, only 2 players per club are allowed in your team each gameweek.
- You can only pick the same club a total of 5 times during the season.
3. Team Management
You’re free to make unlimited transfers each gameweek. Since there are no player values, you can completely refresh all 7 players and your 2 clubs every week if you want.
Captain & Vice-Captain:
- Pick a captain each gameweek to earn double points.
- You can change your captain as often as you like until they are locked in (see section 6).
- You cannot switch captain to someone who has already played that week.
- Choose a vice-captain who’ll earn double points if your captain doesn’t play. Same rules apply.
- Captaincy only applies to players, not clubs.
- If neither your captain nor vice-captain plays, nobody gets double points.
Plan Ahead for Next Week:
New for 2025/26 – once the current gameweek begins, you can start setting your team for the following one.
Team Auto-Rollover:
If you don’t update your team, it will automatically roll into the next gameweek — as long as all selected players and clubs are eligible.
If your club picks exceed the 5-club limit due to rollover, one of the clubs will be auto-replaced at random.
4. Chips
There are two chips available – one of them brand new for 2025/26:
- Max Captain: Automatically gives captaincy to your top-scoring player (usable twice per season)
- One Club: Lets you stack your team with unlimited players from a single club (usable once)
Max Captain
- Apply before the gameweek starts – it can be reset up until the first kick-off.
- Use once between 1st Aug 2025–4th Feb 2026, and once again after 5th Feb 2026.
- If you don’t use the first by 5th Feb, you’ll only get one use for the season.
One Club
- New for this season – this chip lets you pick as many players as you like from a single club, overriding the 2-player rule.
- Only valid for one gameweek and must be used before that gameweek starts.
- You can reset it before kickoff if needed.
As well as our How to Play Fantasy EFL 2025/26 Guide, you should also check out which teams have the best and worst fixtures.
5. Scoring System
Points are based on actual match performances during the EFL 2025/26 season. Players earn points depending on their position.
All Players
| Action | Points |
|---|---|
| Played < 60 mins | +1 |
| Played 60+ mins | +2 |
| Assist | +3 |
| Hat-trick (3+ goals) | +5 |
| Missed penalty | -3 |
| Own goal | -3 |
| Yellow card | -1 |
| Red card | -3 |
Note: Goals conceded after a red card count against clean sheet/goals conceded.
Goalkeepers
| Action | Points |
|---|---|
| Every 3 saves | +2 |
| Penalty saved | +5 |
| Goal scored | +10 |
Goalkeepers & Defenders
| Action | Points |
|---|---|
| Clean sheet (60+ mins) | +5 |
| Every 2 goals conceded | -1 |
Defenders
| Action | Points |
|---|---|
| Every 4 clearances | +1 |
| Every 2 blocks | +1 |
| Every 2 tackles | +1 |
| Goal scored | +7 |
Midfielders
| Action | Points |
|---|---|
| Every interception | +2 |
| Goal scored | +6 |
Midfielders & Forwards
| Action | Points |
|---|---|
| Every 2 key passes | +1 |
| Every shot on target | +1 |
Forwards
| Action | Points |
|---|---|
| Goal scored | +5 |
Clubs
| Action | Points |
|---|---|
| Win | +5 |
| Draw | +3 |
| Away win | +2 |
| Clean sheet | +2 |
| 2+ goals scored | +2 |
| 4+ goals scored | +2 |
Final scores are based on data from the official EFL stats provider. After each match, data is reviewed for accuracy and may slightly adjust your scores. Points are locked 12 hours after full-time. No debates will be entered over the stats used.
6. Lockout System
Fantasy EFL uses a rolling lockout. This means:
- Once a player or club’s game starts, they’re locked and can’t be changed.
- You also won’t be able to switch your captain/vice-captain once they’re locked in.
- Lockout ends 12 hours after the final match of the gameweek.
7. Leaderboards
Once you’ve saved your team, you’ll automatically be entered into:
- Overall leaderboard – includes all teams
- Club leaderboard – shows all managers who support your chosen club
- Division leaderboard – includes managers whose favourite club is in the same division as yours
You can also join or create mini-leagues with others.
8. Mini-Leagues
Create or join unlimited public or private leagues.
- Public leagues are open to anyone on the “Join a League” page.
- Private leagues require an invite link or code.
If you create a league, you can remove members – but only before the league starts scoring.
9. Gameweeks
Gameweeks run Thursday to Wednesday each week. You can check the countdown to the next gameweek on your My Team page.
If your players or clubs have multiple matches in a gameweek, they’ll earn points from all of them.
Captains playing more than once will earn double points in every game they play.
Players or clubs without a match in a given gameweek will score zero.
