FPL 2025/26: Finding balance when playing Fantasy Premier League

Fantasy Premier League can be brilliant fun, writes FPL expert Blake Hurst.

It’s my favourite hobby but it can also test your patience and mindset. Every single manager – even the very best – will experience highs and lows across a season.

That’s why it’s crucial to remember that FPL is a marathon, not a sprint – and even after the toughest gameweeks, there’s always room to bounce back.

As someone who loves psychology, I often apply it to my own FPL management. The truth is FPL can impact mental health if it stops being enjoyable or becomes the main outlet for stress.

Here are some simple ways to keep perspective and protect your mindset during the rollercoaster of the season.

FPL 2025/26: step back and keep perspective

Disappointment in FPL is inevitable. Maybe you sold Mohamed Salah and watched him score a hat-trick or benched the one player who returned big.

You’ll feel frustrated, and that’s normal. But in the wider context of 38 gameweeks, one captaincy blank, one jammy goal conceded or one painful benching decision barely matters.

When things go wrong, remind yourself: will this truly matter to you in a year’s time?

Will you care that a Cole Palmer captaincy in GW23 blanked in a years time? Probably not.

Taking that mental step back helps shrink the size of the problem and makes it easier to move forward.

Fantasy Premier League: focus on what you can control

You can’t control what happens on the pitch. You can’t control deflections, penalties, or managers pulling your player after 59 minutes.

At the end of the day, it’s 11 men kicking a football on a pitch. What you can control is your thought process – using data, the eye test and gut instinct to set your team.

Once the deadline passes, you’ve done all you can. Just like handing in an exam, the result is out of your hands. Don’t waste energy stressing beyond that point.

Playing FPL: process over outcome

Good FPL managers know the difference between a poor decision and an unlucky outcome.

If you captain Haaland against a struggling defence and he blanks, that’s still a smart, logical call.

Don’t let bad luck convince you that your process was flawed. In the long run, good decisions made consistently will carry you further than chasing every individual outcome.

“Right decision, wrong outcome” is a very common phrase in FPL.

Fantasy team: embrace the lows

It might sound strange but the downs are what make the ups so rewarding. If every Gameweek was a green arrow, the thrill would disappear and the game would lose meaning.

The bad weeks sharpen the good ones and that challenge is part of FPL’s value and why we enjoy it so much. You have to realise how important the lows are in FPL (and in life!)

Disconnect and reset from Fantasy Premier League

If FPL is getting to you, detach for a while. Go outside, hit the gym, cook, phone a loved one – do anything that creates distance between you and the game.

Don’t dwell on the “what ifs” of a single move gone wrong. Shifting your attention to something positive you’re good at can reset your mindset.

Limit social media when playing FPL

Scrolling through X (Twitter) after a rough week rarely helps. Seeing others celebrate their hauls while you’re fuming over a red arrow magnifies the frustration.

If you’re feeling tilted, log off for a bit. Protecting your headspace is always more important than getting involved in every discussion or highlight thread.

Find the humour in Fantasy Premier League

Sometimes you just need to laugh at the absurdity. That own goal in the 93rd minute or your captain skying a penalty – it stings if you own the player, but objectively it’s funny.

Even in my own best ever season, when I finished 149th in the world, I had weeks where every single player blanked, I had weeks where I benched a 14-pointer, I had unlucky weeks.

At the time, it was painful – but looking back, I can smile about it because FPL really is full of these bizarre little stories.

Remember why you play FPL

At its heart, FPL is meant to add joy – to deepen your love of football, create connections and make watching matches more immersive.

Yes, it’s competitive and sometimes disheartening, but it’s never worth sacrificing your mental wellbeing for. If it stops being fun, take a step back.

And if you do struggle, please remember you’re not alone. My DMs are open on X (@Dyche_ball) if anyone ever wants to talk.

It’s just a game but, for some of us, it’s alot more than that. The community and friendships you make along the way are worth every high, low and in between.

Much love, and good luck for the season ahead.