For FPL managers who are returning to Fantasy Premier League for 2026/27, there will now be an option to get help when picking your initial squad through the website.
While experienced managers can choose to skip this process and select their squad as normal, less-experienced managers and beginners can answer a few quick questions that will shape a squad that is chosen for them, based on their preferences.
See what’s changed
Whether managers choose to go through this process or not, all “Auto Pick” squads have been improved this season, filtering out players who are least likely to start matches, based on last season’s data.
The Auto Pick squads will not give you an optimal team or guarantee a strong performance.
The purpose is simply to give beginners a better base to work from as they learn how to improve their squad ahead of Gameweek 1, making it easier for your friends, family and work colleagues to join in and take part in your mini-leagues.
New beginner-friendly help pages will explain how key areas of the game work. All of this extra help – including the questions that guide the Auto Pick squad – will only initially be available on the website when the game launches, not the app.
What will the process be now for picking your squad?
On the website when the 2026/27 game launches, when you click “Squad Selection”, you will be asked if you would like help picking your team.
Experienced managers can simply opt out and go straight to picking their players – including the option to select a quick “Auto Pick” team with the latest improvements.
But those who would like assistance can choose to follow that path.
Managers who pick “Yes, help me out” will be asked three questions.
Firstly, if you have selected a favourite club when signing up for Fantasy, do you want some of their players in your FPL squad?
Secondly, would you rather have a strong 15-man squad (in case of injuries or suspensions in your starting 11, or to enable rotation) or would you rather have a cheap bench and a more expensive starting 11?
Thirdly and finally, do you have a preference on how your budget is allocated in terms of attack and defence?
After answering these questions, you will be invited to review your responses and edit them if you’ve had second thoughts. Then the “Generate team” button will give you your chosen squad.
If you don’t like the squad you’ve been given, you can choose “Auto Pick again” as many times as you like.
You can also remove individual players and click “Auto Pick”. The funds from those players will then be reallocated to give you different players, while keeping the rest of your squad the same.
Clicking “Reset” will remove your entire squad and give you a blank canvas with which to start picking your own squad from scratch.
“Enter Squad” will save your team, and that will be your Fantasy squad for Gameweek 1 as it stands.
But of course, no decisions are final at this stage. You can continue to make unlimited free transfers all the way up until the Gameweek 1 deadline on Friday 21 August, at 18:30 BST.
