Fantasy Premier League: The Mistake 90% of Players Are Making in 2025

Fantasy Premier League (FPL) continues to be a national obsession in the UK, with millions of players competing each week to climb mini-leagues, beat their friends, and chase the elusive overall rank. But despite endless podcasts, YouTube tips, and Reddit threads, there's one fundamental mistake that most players are still making in the 2025 season.

Chasing Points, Not Predicting Them

The biggest error? Selecting players based on *last week's performance*, not next week's potential. It's called “chasing points” — a classic FPL trap where managers rush to bring in a player who just hauled, even if the fixtures ahead are poor or the stats don't support continued success. This reactive mindset leads to wasted transfers, missed opportunities, and stagnating ranks.

The Darwin Núñez Syndrome

Take Darwin Núñez, for example. In Gameweek 6, he scored twice off the bench. Thousands transferred him in immediately — only to see him start on the bench again in GW7 and blank. Meanwhile, savvy managers looked at expected minutes, xG data, and fixtures before making their picks. The result? Long-term gains over short-term hype.

Ignoring Underlying Stats

Most casual players rely on goals and assists, but elite FPL managers focus on deeper data: expected goals (xG), expected assists (xA), touches in the box, and chance creation. Players like Anthony Gordon or Eberechi Eze might not return every week, but if the stats are strong and the fixtures align, patience is often rewarded. Jumping ship too soon is another common mistake.

Playing the Fixtures Game

Another overlooked strategy is planning transfers around fixture swings. When a top team faces three bottom-half sides in a row, it's time to invest. Yet many players hesitate to take hits or rearrange their squads, opting for short-term reactions over long-term vision. Fantasy Premier League is a 38-week marathon, not a sprint.

Template Thinking Is a Trap

In 2025, social media influence is stronger than ever. Popular FPL creators can make or break a player's ownership. But blindly following the “template” team often means you rise and fall with everyone else. Differential picks — players owned by less than 5% — can be the secret to big green arrows if chosen wisely.

Conclusion: Fantasy Premier League success in 2025 isn’t about reacting — it’s about anticipating. Most managers play like fans, not strategists. But if you want to rise above the 90%, think ahead, trust the data, and stop chasing last week’s glory.