Fantasy Football Tips for Beginners (2026)
Eight practical tips to build smarter squads and score more points each gameweek.
Fantasy football rewards research and good decisions, not luck. These eight beginner-friendly tips will help you build smarter squads and score more points each gameweek on Lotus365 fantasy football. Each is something you can apply to your very next team.
1. Prioritise attacking returns
Goals and assists score the most points, so build around players who are regularly involved in their team’s attack. Goals are worth more for midfielders and defenders than forwards, which is why an attacking midfielder who scores and assists is often the best value on the board.
2. Read the fixtures
Target players with a run of easier upcoming opponents, and be cautious with those facing the strongest defences. A good attacker against a leaky defence is a far better pick than a great attacker against the league’s best back line.
3. Don’t overspend on one player
A balanced squad usually beats one superstar surrounded by weak picks. Spread your budget so every position is competitive — a strong full XI scores more over a gameweek than a single big name and ten cheap fillers. See our budget & squad-building guide.
4. Captain a reliable goal threat
Your captain’s points are multiplied, so the armband is your most important call. Give it to a dependable scorer — ideally a penalty taker — in a favourable home fixture, and avoid captaining a player who’s a rotation risk or facing a top defence.
5. Value clean-sheet potential
Defenders and goalkeepers from strong defensive sides offer cheap, consistent points through clean sheets. An attacking full-back from a solid team is doubly valuable — clean-sheet points plus the chance of assists. See our guide to clean sheets and defenders.
6. Check team news late
Confirm starters and avoid players who might be rotated or are carrying knocks. A benched star scores nothing, so always set your squad after the latest line-up news, not days in advance.
7. Watch set-piece and penalty takers
Penalty and free-kick specialists carry extra scoring upside because they get more goal involvements. Knowing who takes the spot-kicks for each team is a small edge that pays off across a season.
8. Use differentials, and review every gameweek
In big contests, a well-judged lower-owned player (a differential) is how you climb past the crowd — use one or two when form and fixtures line up. Afterwards, review what worked and why; steady review is how skill compounds.
Quick pre-deadline checklist
- Attacking players with good fixtures locked in?
- Budget balanced across all positions?
- Captain is a reliable, well-matched goal threat?
- Clean-sheet picks from solid defensive sides?
- Checked the latest team news for rotation and injuries?
Related reading
See the full fantasy football guide, or try fantasy cricket and its tips. New here? Create your Lotus365 ID or download the app.
FAQs
How many premium players should I pick?
Usually two or three, balanced with cheaper consistent picks so you can field a strong full squad.
Who should I captain in fantasy football?
A reliable goal threat — ideally a penalty taker — with a favourable home fixture and no rotation risk.
Are defenders worth picking?
Yes. Defenders and goalkeepers from strong defensive sides earn cheap, consistent clean-sheet points, and attacking full-backs add assists.
What is a differential in fantasy football?
A lower-owned player you back for a strong reason; if it pays off, it helps you climb past the crowd in big contests.
How important is team news?
Very. A rotated or injured player can score nothing, so always confirm starters before the deadline.
Is fantasy football a game of skill?
Yes — results depend on research and selection, not chance.
