Scoring overview
Premier League Player Draft scores off the same official matchday stats a proper fantasy game should: playing time, goals (worth more the further back the scorer plays), assists, clean sheets, goalkeeper saves, penalty saves, defensive contributions, cards, goals conceded, and bonus points for the top three performers in each fixture.
Position matters more than you'd think
A goal is worth more the further back the scorer plays: +10 goalkeeper, +6 defender, +5 midfielder, +4 forward. Assists stay flat at +3 regardless of position.
Defensive contributions (DefCon)
Defenders earn +2 once they reach 10 combined clearances, blocks, interceptions and tackles in a match; midfielders and forwards need 12, ball recoveries included. This is what stops the draft pool being just a list of famous strikers โ a genuinely busy defender can outscore an attacker who barely touches the ball.
Bonus points
After each match, the top three performers earn +3, +2 and +1 based on overall contribution to the game (the Bonus Points System). Ties split the available bonus between them. Check back once every fixture in your gameweek has actually finished.
Out-of-turn picks (no wait)
You don't always have to wait your turn. If a pick is uncontested โ it fits your squad's role limits and max-per-team rules, and nobody between the current pick and your next scheduled slot could legally take that player anyway โ you can grab it early. This doesn't skip the active drafter's turn; it just lets you lock in a sleeper before someone else beats you to it. Eligible players show a gold PICK NOW โ NO WAIT button in the draft room.
Lineup indicators
IN/OUT dots on your drafted players only appear once a team's starting XI is confirmed or the match has kicked off. Before that, the badge stays blank on purpose, so you're not misled into thinking someone's OUT just because their points are still sitting at zero. Green means in the lineup, red means benched or didn't play.
Risk events to watch
- Yellow card (โ1): avoid hot-headed players in intense derbies.
- Red card (โ3): one dismissal can ruin an otherwise good pick.
- Own goal (โ2): rare, but defenders under pressure carry more risk.
- Penalty miss (โ2): relevant for penalty takers.
- Goals conceded (โ1 per 2): goalkeeper and defender value drops quickly in chaotic fixtures.
The one habit worth building
Don't only draft famous attackers. A starting goalkeeper with clean-sheet potential, decent save volume and bonus-point upside can quietly outscore a forward who blanks โ and blanking is the most common outcome for any single striker on any single weekend.