The Bonus Points System (BPS) Explained
By Geomi George · Published 22 August 2026
Those extra 1, 2 and 3 points that appear after a match — the bonus points — are decided by a hidden scoring system called the BPS. Understanding it helps you target players who bank bonus regularly, which over a season adds up to a serious points advantage.
Bonus points versus the BPS
First, two things that are easy to confuse:
- Bonus points are the 3, 2 and 1 points awarded to the three best performers in each match. These count toward your FPL score.
- The BPS (Bonus Points System) is the behind-the-scenes score used to decide who those three players are. The BPS itself doesn't count — it just ranks players.
In every match, the player with the highest BPS gets 3 bonus points, the second-highest gets 2, and the third gets 1. Ties can result in shared bonus.
What earns BPS
The BPS rewards a wide range of positive actions — not just goals and assists. The big earners include:
| Action | Effect on BPS |
|---|---|
| Scoring a goal | Large positive (more for defenders & midfielders) |
| Assisting a goal | Positive |
| Playing 60+ minutes | Positive |
| Clean sheet (GK/DEF) | Positive |
| Saves, key passes, tackles won, recoveries | Small positive, and they stack up |
| Winning the ball back repeatedly | Rewards busy midfielders and defenders |
What costs BPS
Negative actions pull a player's BPS down, which is why a goalscorer sometimes misses out on bonus:
- Conceding goals (hurts defenders and keepers most)
- Missing a big chance
- Missing a penalty
- Getting booked or sent off
- Conceding a penalty or scoring an own goal
- Errors leading to a goal
Who banks bonus consistently
Some player profiles are bonus magnets because they rack up BPS actions every week:
- Ball-playing centre-backs on clean-sheet runs — clearances, blocks, recoveries and a clean sheet stack up fast.
- Complete midfielders who both defend and attack — tackles, recoveries and key passes add up even without a goal.
- Penalty-taking forwards — goals dominate the BPS, so regular scorers regularly top it.
- Goalkeepers who make saves in a win — saves plus a clean sheet is a strong BPS combination.
When two players are otherwise similar, the one whose style earns BPS is the better long-term pick, because they'll quietly collect an extra one to three points on their good weeks.
Following bonus live
During matches, provisional bonus updates in real time based on the live BPS ranking — so you can see who's on course for 3, 2 and 1 before the points are confirmed. It's one of the most satisfying parts of watching a gameweek unfold, especially when your captain is battling for the maximum. Our Live Bonus Race tracks exactly this while games are in play.
You don't need to memorise the exact BPS values. Just internalise the principle: FPL rewards players who do lots of good things and few bad ones — and target the profiles that reliably tick those boxes.
Watch bonus unfold live during matches on the Live Bonus Race page.
