Fantasy Premier League bonus points can turn an ordinary return into a strong Gameweek score. A player who appears to have finished with six points might eventually receive one, two or three more once the Bonus Points System has been applied.
For the 2026/27 FPL season, there are also important changes to understand.
Defensive Contribution points remain part of the game, the BPS calculation has been adjusted, goalkeepers have new BPS opportunities and projected bonus points now appear during matches.
How Do Bonus Points Work in FPL?
FPL uses the Bonus Points System, usually shortened to BPS, to rank player performances in every Premier League match.
Players collect or lose BPS for different match actions such as goals, assists, saves, chances created, passes, tackles, cards and missed chances.
At the end of a match:
| BPS Position | FPL Bonus Points |
| Highest BPS | 3 points |
| Second-highest BPS | 2 points |
| Third-highest BPS | 1 point |
These are real FPL points added to the player’s Gameweek score.
The important distinction is:
BPS is the performance score used to rank players. Bonus points are the extra 1–3 FPL points awarded according to that ranking.
A player could therefore finish a match with 34 BPS and receive three bonus points, while another player with 30 BPS might receive two.
What Happens When Players Are Tied on BPS?
FPL has specific rules for ties.
If two players tie for first place, both receive three bonus points and the next-ranked player receives one.
If one player finishes first and two players tie for second, the leader receives three bonus points while both tied players receive two.
If players tie for third, each of those players receives one bonus point.
This means more than three footballers can receive bonus points from the same Premier League match.
How Are Normal FPL Points Scored?
Understanding regular FPL scoring helps explain why bonus points can be especially important for certain positions.
| Action | Goalkeeper | Defender | Midfielder | Forward |
| Playing up to 60 minutes | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Playing 60+ minutes | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Goal | 10 | 6 | 5 | 4 |
| Assist | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Clean sheet | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Every three saves | 1 | – | – | – |
| Penalty save | 5 | – | – | – |
| Defensive Contribution threshold | – | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Penalty miss | -2 | -2 | -2 | -2 |
| Yellow card | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 |
| Red card | -3 | -3 | -3 | -3 |
| Own goal | -2 | -2 | -2 | -2 |
The position of a player therefore matters considerably.
A defender keeping a clean sheet receives four clean-sheet points, while a midfielder receives only one. A defender also receives six points for scoring compared with five for a midfielder and four for a forward.
Bonus points sit on top of these normal returns, which is why a defender combining appearance points, a clean sheet, Defensive Contribution points and bonus can produce a substantial score without scoring a goal.
How Is BPS Calculated in FPL?
Opta match data is used to assign BPS values to individual actions.
Some actions are heavily rewarded, while mistakes or inefficient attacking actions can reduce a player’s total.
Selected BPS values include:
| Match Action | BPS |
| Playing 1–60 minutes | +3 |
| Playing over 60 minutes | +6 |
| Penalty goal | +12 |
| Goal by goalkeeper/defender | +12 |
| Goal by midfielder | +18 |
| Goal by forward | +24 |
| Assist | +9 |
| GK/defender clean sheet | +12 |
| Penalty save | +7* |
| Any goalkeeper save | +2 |
| Big chance saved by goalkeeper | +1 additional |
| Save from inside penalty area | +1 additional |
| Big chance created | +3 |
| Key pass | +1 |
| Successful tackle | +2 |
| Successful dribble | +1 |
| Shot on target | +2 |
| Match-winning goal | +3 |
| Goal-line clearance | +9 |
| Every three recoveries | +1 |
| Every three clearances, blocks and interceptions | +1 |
| Yellow card | -3 |
| Red card | -9 |
| Missed penalty | -6 |
| Own goal | -6 |
| Big chance missed | -3 |
| Error leading to a goal | -3 |
| Offside | -1 |
| Foul conceded | -1 |
| Shot off target | -1 |
*A saved penalty is also classed as a big chance, so the goalkeeper can receive the additional BPS associated with saving a big chance.
Passing also matters. Players attempting at least 30 passes can receive additional BPS depending on their completion percentage.
That helps explain why a midfielder or defender who controls possession throughout a match can remain competitive for bonus even without an attacking return.
What Changed in the Bonus Points System for 2026/27?
Several BPS rules were adjusted for 2026/27.
The changes are particularly important when comparing current players with bonus-point numbers from older FPL seasons.
Being Tackled No Longer Reduces BPS
Players previously lost one BPS whenever they were successfully tackled.
That deduction has now been removed.
This is particularly relevant for wingers, attacking midfielders and attacking full-backs who regularly attempt to dribble past opponents.
A creative player is therefore no longer directly penalised in BPS simply for being tackled while attempting to progress the ball.
Clearances, Blocks and Interceptions Earn Less BPS
Previously, players earned one BPS for every two combined clearances, blocks and interceptions.
For 2026/27, they need three of those actions to earn one BPS.
The change is designed partly to reduce the overlap between the BPS and Defensive Contribution scoring.
Centre-backs can still perform well in the BPS, but simply accumulating large numbers of defensive actions is slightly less powerful than before.
Goalkeepers Have More BPS Opportunities
Goalkeeper saves have also been changed.
A goalkeeper now receives two BPS for any save.
They can additionally receive:
- one extra BPS if the save is from a shot inside the penalty area;
- one extra BPS if they save a big chance.
The BPS awarded directly for a penalty save was reduced from eight to seven because a penalty is classed as a big chance, meaning the extra big-chance-save point can also apply.
The overall aim is to improve the bonus prospects of goalkeepers who make important saves.
What Are Defensive Contribution Points in FPL?
Defensive Contribution points are separate from bonus points and BPS.
This distinction is important because the two systems are easy to confuse.
An outfield player can earn two additional FPL points by reaching a specified number of defensive actions during one match.
Defensive Contribution Thresholds
| Position | Actions Required | FPL Points |
| Defender | 10 CBIT actions | 2 |
| Midfielder | 12 CBIRT actions | 2 |
| Forward | 12 CBIRT actions | 2 |
For defenders, CBIT means:
- Clearances
- Blocks
- Interceptions
- Tackles
Midfielders and forwards also count ball recoveries, creating CBIRT:
- Clearances
- Blocks
- Interceptions
- Recoveries
- Tackles
For example, if a centre-back records four clearances, two blocks, two interceptions and two tackles, the combined total reaches 10.
That defender earns two Defensive Contribution points.
Those points are added directly to the player’s FPL total.
They are not bonus points.
Can a Player Earn Defensive Contribution Points and Bonus Points Together?
Yes.
A player can reach the Defensive Contribution threshold and also finish among the highest BPS scorers in the match.
For example, a defender could theoretically collect:
- two appearance points;
- four clean-sheet points;
- two Defensive Contribution points;
- three bonus points.
That would already produce an 11-point return without a goal or assist.
However, the 2026/27 changes to BPS make it slightly harder for clearance-heavy centre-backs to dominate both scoring systems from the same defensive actions.
This matters when comparing different types of defenders.
A centre-back may offer a strong Defensive Contribution floor, while an attacking full-back can combine clean-sheet potential with key passes, crosses, dribbles, shots and attacking returns that can strengthen their BPS prospects.
How Do FPL Assists Work?
Assists deserve more attention because an FPL assist earns three normal points and can also add nine BPS.
An assist is generally awarded to the player who provides the final pass or touch before a team-mate scores, but there are several important exceptions.
Can an Assist Count After a Defender Touches the Ball?
Yes, in certain situations.
An assist can still be awarded when there is one defensive touch between the pass and the goal.
If the goalscorer receives the ball inside the penalty area, one defensive touch does not automatically remove the assist.
When the goalscorer receives the ball outside the penalty area, the defensive touch must not significantly change the intended destination of the original pass or cross.
However, if the eventual goalscorer loses possession and then regains the ball before scoring, an assist is not normally awarded to the original passer.
Do Rebounds Count as FPL Assists?
They can.
If a player shoots and the attempt:
- is saved by the goalkeeper;
- hits the woodwork; or
- is blocked by an opponent,
and a team-mate then scores directly from the rebound, the original shooter can receive an FPL assist.
Does Forcing an Own Goal Give an Assist?
Yes.
If a player’s shot or pass causes an opponent to put the ball into their own net, the attacking player responsible can receive an FPL assist.
Does Winning a Penalty or Free-Kick Count as an Assist?
A player who wins a penalty or free-kick can receive an assist if a team-mate directly scores from it.
However, a player does not receive an assist for winning the foul and then scoring the resulting penalty or free-kick themselves.
These decisions can change both regular FPL points and the BPS standings, which is why an assist being added or removed can also change who eventually receives bonus.
How Can You See Live Bonus Points in FPL?
This has changed significantly for 2026/27.
FPL now adds projected bonus points to player scores after 20 minutes of a match.
The projections continue changing as the match progresses.
That means managers no longer need to wait until after full-time to get their first indication of who is currently earning bonus.
During a match, check the relevant fixture and player scores through FPL. The projected bonus should be treated as a live estimate rather than a confirmed result.
A late goal, assist, missed big chance, card, save or statistical correction can completely rearrange the BPS positions.
When Are FPL Bonus Points Final?
Do not assume the bonus displayed immediately after full-time is final.
Opta can review events after a match and make statistical corrections affecting both BPS and Defensive Contribution totals.
For 2026/27, the Gameweek now officially locks at 09:00 UK time on the day after the final match of that Gameweek.
Until that process has finished, points, bonus allocations and ranks can remain provisional.
This replaces the older assumption that bonus points can always be treated as final around 30–60 minutes after a match.
Who Are the Early 2026/27 Bonus-Point Leaders?
Because the season is still at an early stage, bonus rankings can change quickly.
After the first three Gameweeks of 2026/27, several different player profiles were already near the top:
| Player | Position | Bonus After GW3 |
| Konstantinos Tzolakis | Goalkeeper | 6 |
| Erling Haaland | Forward | 6 |
| Martin Ødegaard | Midfielder | 6 |
| Marcus Tavernier | Midfielder | 6 |
| Cody Gakpo | Midfielder | 5 |
| Alex Scott | Midfielder | 5 |
| Alexander Isak | Forward | 5 |
| Granit Xhaka | Midfielder | 5 |
This early snapshot illustrates an important point: there is no single type of “bonus player”.
Goalkeepers, creators, forwards and deeper midfielders can all reach the top of the rankings through different combinations of BPS-producing actions.
It is more useful to analyse how a player collects BPS than simply to assume forwards will always dominate.
Which Types of Players Are Good for Bonus Points?
A useful FPL asset often has several ways to accumulate BPS.
Forwards can benefit heavily from goals, particularly when they convert chances efficiently and avoid missed big chances.
Creative midfielders can collect BPS through goals, assists, key passes, big chances created, shots on target, passing and successful dribbles.
Attacking full-backs have several possible routes through clean sheets, passing, crosses, chances created, tackles and attacking returns.
Goalkeepers can move into the bonus positions through clean sheets and multiple high-value saves.
Centre-backs can still perform strongly, particularly during clean sheets, although the 2026/27 reduction in BPS awarded for clearances, blocks and interceptions slightly reduces the advantage enjoyed by pure defensive-action specialists.
How Should Bonus Points Affect FPL Transfers?
Bonus should usually be a supporting factor rather than the only reason for buying a player.
When comparing similarly priced options, look at whether a player consistently has several routes to strong BPS.
Questions worth asking include:
- Does the player regularly score or create chances?
- Is the player involved in set pieces?
- Do they complete enough passes to benefit from passing BPS?
- Do they regularly make successful tackles or key passes?
- Does a defender have both clean-sheet and Defensive Contribution potential?
- Does an attacker frequently miss big chances or collect cards that hurt BPS?
A strong historical bonus record can help separate two otherwise similar options.
However, fixtures, minutes, role, attacking threat and price should normally remain more important than bonus potential by itself.
Why Are Bonus Points Especially Important in Double Gameweeks?
A player can earn bonus independently in every match.
If a footballer plays twice during one Fantasy Gameweek, they therefore have two separate opportunities to finish inside the top BPS positions.
That can significantly increase their potential ceiling.
Managers preparing for Double and Blank Gameweeks should therefore consider bonus potential alongside expected minutes, attacking returns and clean-sheet prospects.
For a captain or Triple Captain playing twice, bonus can become particularly valuable because those additional FPL points are also affected by the captaincy multiplier.
What Tools Can Help Track FPL Bonus Points?
Several FPL resources can help managers analyse bonus performance, although the official game now provides much more live information itself.
LiveFPL
LiveFPL is primarily useful for following a Gameweek as matches are being played.
Depending on the feature being used, it can show live team scores, estimated ranks, projected bonus, live BPS information, auto-sub effects and effective ownership.
This makes it useful when a manager wants to understand how a goal, assist or changing bonus position affects their overall rank during a matchday.
Fantasy Football Scout
Fantasy Football Scout is more useful for deeper player research and analysis.
Its FPL coverage includes statistical analysis around BPS, underlying performance, Defensive Contributions, fixtures and individual player trends.
Rather than simply checking whether somebody received three bonus points last week, managers can use the underlying information to determine whether that bonus potential looks repeatable.
Fantasy Football Fix
Fantasy Football Fix combines live Gameweek information with planning and prediction tools.
Its tools include live scoring and bonus information, live rank tracking, player projections, ownership statistics, price-change predictions and Gameweek planning.
For bonus analysis, the useful part is being able to compare live output with longer-term player and team data.
These third-party tools should still be treated as analytical aids. The eventual FPL score depends on the official scoring and post-match data-review process.
How Can Managers Use BPS to Gain an Edge?
The biggest advantage comes from looking beyond one isolated match.
Track how frequently players enter the bonus positions and what causes them to do so.
A player repeatedly finishing just outside the top three BPS positions may have more future bonus potential than someone who picked up three bonus points from a single unusual match.
It can also be useful to separate baseline BPS from attacking returns.
If a player already builds a strong BPS score through passing, chances created, successful tackles, saves or other actions, a goal or assist can propel them quickly towards maximum bonus.
By contrast, a player with little involvement outside goals may need an attacking return simply to enter the bonus conversation.
Can Bonus Points Decide a Mini-League?
Absolutely.
The individual differences look small because the maximum standard bonus award from one match is three points.
Across 38 Gameweeks, however, repeated one-, two- and three-point gains accumulate.
They become even more significant when attached to captains, differential players or footballers with multiple fixtures in one Gameweek.
Understanding BPS will not replace good transfer planning, fixture analysis or captain selection, but it can help managers distinguish between players who appear equally attractive through basic goals-and-assists data.
FAQs About FPL Bonus Points
How many bonus points can a player get in one FPL match?
A player can normally receive a maximum of three bonus points from one match by finishing with the highest BPS score.
What does BPS mean in FPL?
BPS means Bonus Points System. It is the statistical scoring system used to rank player performances and decide who receives the 3, 2 and 1 bonus points.
When can I see projected bonus points?
For 2026/27, projected bonus points begin appearing after approximately 20 minutes of a match and can change throughout the fixture.
When are FPL points finally confirmed?
The Gameweek locks at 09:00 UK time on the day after the final fixture of that Gameweek. Statistical reviews before that point can affect bonus points and Defensive Contribution totals.
What are Defensive Contribution points?
They are two additional FPL points awarded for reaching a specified defensive-action threshold. Defenders need 10 combined clearances, blocks, interceptions and tackles. Midfielders and forwards need 12, with ball recoveries also included.
Do Defensive Contribution points affect BPS?
Some of the underlying actions appear in both areas, but Defensive Contribution points and BPS are separate scoring mechanisms. FPL reduced the BPS reward for clearances, blocks and interceptions in 2026/27 partly to reduce the overlap.
Does an FPL assist also increase BPS?
Yes. An assist is worth three normal FPL points and also adds BPS, making it particularly useful for a player’s chances of earning bonus.
Can a defender earn clean-sheet, Defensive Contribution and bonus points together?
Yes. If the player meets the requirements for all three, those points can be combined.
Can more than three players receive bonus points?
Yes. Ties in the BPS rankings can result in four or more players receiving bonus points from the same match.
Can bonus points change after full-time?
Yes. BPS and Defensive Contribution totals can change after Opta reviews match events, so immediately displayed bonus should be treated as provisional until the Gameweek is finalised.
