If you are new to Fantasy Premier League, the jargon can feel like a different language. This glossary explains the most common FPL terms you will see on X, Reddit, Discord, YouTube, mini-league chats, and expert articles. Use it as a quick reference throughout the season.
We have grouped the key terms into practical categories so you can understand not just what each phrase means, but how it affects your decisions.
Core FPL game terms
Captain
Your captain scores double points in a Gameweek. Picking the right captain is one of the biggest weekly decisions in FPL.
Vice-captain
Your vice-captain takes over if your captain does not play at all. If your captain gets zero minutes, the vice gets the armband.
Free transfer
A free transfer lets you change one player without losing points. Managers can roll transfers and save them for future weeks, subject to the game limits.
Hit
A hit is a points deduction taken for extra transfers beyond your free allocation. The most common hit is minus four, written as -4.
Price rise
A player price rise happens when enough managers buy that player. Prices can also fall when a player is sold heavily, which affects team value.
ITB
ITB means in the bank. It is the money left over in your budget after making transfers.
Returns
Returns are attacking or defensive point contributions, usually goals, assists, clean sheets, and sometimes save points for goalkeepers. If a player gets points beyond appearance points, managers often say he returned.
Haul
A haul is a big score in a single Gameweek, usually from multiple returns. There is no fixed number, but double-digit points are commonly described as a haul.
Peanuts
Peanuts means a very small score or an unimportant return. For example, a player scraping two or three points might be described as delivering peanuts.
Chips and squad strategy terms
WC
WC means Wildcard. This chip lets you make unlimited transfers in a Gameweek without points hits. It is often used to reset team structure or prepare for fixture swings.
FH
FH means Free Hit. It allows unlimited transfers for one Gameweek only, after which your squad reverts to the previous version.
BB
BB means Bench Boost. All 15 squad members score points in that Gameweek, not just your starting 11.
TC
TC means Triple Captain. Your captain scores triple points instead of double.
Set-and-forget
Set-and-forget describes a team or player choice you plan to leave unchanged for a long period. It is often used for reliable picks with little need for constant transfers.
Chip strategy
Chip strategy is the plan for when to use your Wildcard, Free Hit, Bench Boost, and Triple Captain. This often revolves around doubles, blanks, and fixture swings.
Fixture and scheduling terms
GW
GW means Gameweek. FPL runs in weekly rounds, and each round is numbered, such as GW1 or GW28.
DGW
DGW means Double Gameweek. A team plays twice in one Gameweek, giving its players two opportunities to score points.
BGW
BGW means Blank Gameweek. A team has no fixture in that Gameweek, so its players score zero unless they are benched or transferred out.
Blank
A blank can mean either a team having no fixture or a player failing to return points. The meaning usually depends on context.
Double
A double refers to a Double Gameweek. Managers might say a player has a double or is doubling in a specific Gameweek.
Fixture swing
A fixture swing is a period when a team’s schedule turns noticeably better or worse. These swings often drive Wildcard and transfer decisions.
FDR
FDR means Fixture Difficulty Rating. It is FPL’s official rating system that grades fixtures by difficulty, usually to help compare schedules across teams.
Stats and projection terms
xP
xP means expected points. It is a projection of how many points a player is likely to score over a future period based on models, fixtures, minutes, and form.
BPS
BPS means Bonus Points System. FPL uses this scoring system to decide which players earn 1, 2, or 3 bonus points after each match.
Bonus points
Bonus points are extra points awarded to the top three players in a match based on BPS. These can be crucial in close captaincy calls and player comparisons.
ICT
ICT stands for Influence, Creativity, Threat. It is an official FPL stat intended to measure a player’s overall attacking involvement.
PPG
PPG means points per game. It gives a simple average of how many points a player scores per match played.
Clean sheet
A clean sheet means a team concedes no goals. Goalkeepers and defenders gain points for clean sheets, and some midfielders may benefit from team defensive strength indirectly.
Minutes risk
Minutes risk refers to the chance a player may be benched, rotated, or substituted early. It is a major factor when assessing explosive but uncertain picks.
Ownership and rank terms
EO
EO means effective ownership. It reflects the impact of ownership including captaincy and Triple Captain usage. If a highly captained player scores well, managers without him can be badly hurt.
OR
OR means overall rank. This is your global position among all FPL managers.
Mini-league
A mini-league is a private or public league among friends, colleagues, communities, or content creators. Many managers prioritize mini-league success over overall rank.
Template
The template is the group of players most active managers own at the same time. Template picks are popular, safe, and often highly owned around key ranks.
Differential
A differential is a low-owned player who can help you gain rank if he scores well. Differentials are especially useful when you want to move away from the template.
Punt
A punt is a short-term, usually risky move on a player or captain you do not expect to hold for long. It often targets upside over safety.
Common FPL slang and strategy phrases
Bandwagon
A bandwagon is a player being bought rapidly by lots of managers after strong form or a price change trend. Joining early can help you catch points and price rises.
Kneejerk
A kneejerk move is a reactive transfer made quickly after one good or bad performance, often without considering the bigger picture.
Dead team
A dead team is an inactive squad that is no longer being managed. These teams may still affect ownership and cup results.
Rotation
Rotation refers to players being rested or benched, often because of busy schedules, European matches, or tactical choices.
Nailed
If a player is nailed, he is considered very likely to start regularly. Managers value nailed players because reliable minutes are the base of FPL points.
Explosive
An explosive player is capable of very big scores in a single match or short stretch. These players may have higher ceilings but sometimes lower consistency.
Why FPL terminology matters
Understanding FPL terms helps you read expert content faster, judge strategy discussions more clearly, and make better decisions with your own team. Once you know the language, concepts like EO, xP, template, and doubles become much easier to apply.
Bookmark this glossary and revisit it whenever a new phrase appears in the community. FPL moves quickly, but the core terms stay relevant every season.
- Use stats terms to assess players
- Use chip terms to plan your season
- Use slang terms to understand community discussion
- Use fixture terms to prepare for blanks and doubles