How To Play Telegraph Fantasy Football 2026/27: A Beginner’s Guide
Want to play Telegraph Fantasy Football 2026/27 but don't know where to start? Read our guide to understand the rules and get some basic tips to help your game.
Telegraph Fantasy Football (TFF) has finally gone live after much anticipation for fans of the game (Friday, August 14).
TFF is a great alternative to the official Fantasy Premier League and Sky Sports Fantasy Football games and has lasted the test of time for more than 20 years.
Although there are a number of key differences, which we will come on to in this how to play guide, many of the basic principles remain the same.
What’s new in Telegraph Fantasy Football 2026/27?
TFF has been given a facelift, with a new-look site, but there’s been no major changes to the gameplay.
As per last season, Carabao Cup fixtures will count, on top of the usual Premier League and FA Cup ties.
That means TFF managers will get 45 transfers to use over the course of the campaign – five more than in previous seasons.
The prize pot has dropped a little, with a ‘prize pool of £5,000’ instead of £5,000 to the overall winner.
How To Play Telegraph Fantasy Football
You have a £50m budget, pick a team of 11 players to line up in one of seven formations (unlike FPL, there is no bench).
You can change your team as much as you like during the transfer amnesty, which runs right up until the first Premier League game of the season, After that, you’ll get 45 transfers to last you for the long season ahead.
How do I score points in Telegraph Fantasy Football?
Points can be seen below. It’s a similar scoring system to most other fantasy football games with the key differences being there are no Man of the Match points or captaincy points, so the game is very much based on rewarding specific actions on the pitch.
As with all other fantasy football games, the aim is to score as many points as possible during the season.
Your selected players will score points as follows:
All players:
- Starting 11 appearance (2 pts)
- Substitute appearance (1 pt)
- Goal scored (5 pts)
- Assist (3 pts)*
- Red card (-3 pts)
- Yellow card (-1 pt)
- Missed penalty (-2 pts)
- Own Goal (-3 pts)
* In a change to previous seasons, Opta’s fantasy assists will not be used to determine TFF assists. Only normal assists will be used.
Goalkeepers only:
- Penalty save (5pts)
- Two saves (1pt)
Goalkeepers/defenders only:
- Full Clean Sheet – player plays 60 mins or more (5 pts)
- Part Clean Sheet – player plays fewer than 60 mins (2 pts)
- First goal conceded (0 pts)
- Each additional goal conceded (-1 pt)
Midfielders only
- Two tackles (1 pt)
Points are not awarded for penalty shoot outs.
What formations can I use in Telegraph Fantasy Football?
There are seven formation options, but only 11 players and no substitutes. There are no restrictions on the number of players you can select from one team.
- 4-4-2
- 4-3-3
- 3-5-2
- 4-5-1
- 3-4-3
- 5-4-1
- 5-3-2
How do captains work in Telegraph Fantasy Football?
There are no captains in TFF.
How do transfers work in Telegraph Fantasy Football?
As mentioned, you have 45 transfers for the season but can only use five in a Gameweek (which runs Tuesday to Monday). Transfers can be made during the weekend and between games in a single game day.
If you transfer a player out following a Saturday 12.30pm match for a player in the following 3pm match you will get both of their points.
This is different from Sky Fantasy where all transfers need to made prior to the first kick off of the day, and unlike FPL where there is a Gameweek deadline prior to the first game of the Gameweek.
This transfer ruling offers the more discerning and engaged manager a big advantage over more casual players. We’ll come back to this later as it’s another crucial part of playing and winning at TFF.
Are there price changes in Telegraph Fantasy Football?
There are no price changes in TFF.
Are there Wildcards or Overhauls in Telegraph Fantasy Football?
There are no Wildcards or Overhauls in TFF.
How is Telegraph Fantasy Football different from other fantasy games?
Telegraph Fantasy Football is the most simplistic of fantasy football games due to the limited point-scoring rules.
There are no captains, a limited bonus system and 45 transfers to use for the whole season.
FA Cup fixtures count as well as Premier League matches – and once again, Carabao Cup ties are also part of the game.
Knowing where to focus your budget and disciplined transfer play are the keys to success.
How to Win at Telegraph Fantasy Football
We hope you enjoyed this free guide on how to play TFF. If you’re interested in how to do well at the game, we have an in-depth members’ guide that covers:
- Winning formations and team structure.
- Types of player you should target
- 10 winning principles (including the golden transfer rule).
- Five fatal errors.
- Managing your team over a season and key resources
- Mini-league play
Where can I get more Telegraph Fantasy Football tips?
Our essential Telegraph Fantasy Ultimate Guide, written by the very best Telegraph fantasy players, gives you the best Telegraph Fantasy 2023/24 tips and content to help you become a better fantasy football manager and win your mini-leagues.
As a member, you can get access to Ian Parrin’s Telegraph Fantasy Football Planner, a resource that champions of the game have relied on.
Our robust toolbox will give you an edge for TFF too.
Check out the Telegraph Fantasy Football podcast too for more inside tips, and data-led insights from TFF veterans and fanatics.