What the flags mean

Fantasy marks players with a doubt, using the club’s estimate of his chance of playing the next match:

• Yellow, 75%: a knock or minor doubt. Most of these players start.
• Orange, 50% or 25%: a real doubt. A 25% player rarely starts.
• Red, 0%: injured, suspended or otherwise unavailable. Often with an expected return date.

The note next to the flag says why, for example “Hamstring injury, expected back 29 Aug”. Flags change through the week, so a flag on Monday says less than one on Friday.

When news lands

• After matches: early reports of knocks and substitutions.
• Press conferences: managers usually speak one or two days before a match. This is the best news of the week.
• Flag updates: Fantasy updates flags as clubs report changes.
• Line-ups: an hour before kick-off, often after the deadline. By then it’s too late to transfer.

Suspensions

A red card means an immediate ban. Yellow cards build up: in the Premier League, 5 by Gameweek 19 means a one-match ban, 10 by Gameweek 32 means two matches, and 15 in the season means three. Players one yellow from a ban are worth watching.

Handling a doubt

• 75% and a good bench? Usually keep him. Your bench covers you if he misses out.
• 0% with no return date? Usually sell. There’s no timeline to wait for.
• 0% but back before the next deadline? Often hold. Selling and rebuying costs a transfer and money.
• Doubt on your captain? Pick someone else, or make sure your vice-captain is safe.
• Order your bench. If a starter might miss out, put your best bench player first so he comes on.

Rotation

Fit players don’t always start. Clubs in Europe often rest players, especially around midweek matches. Players back from injury often start on the bench. A player who starts every week is worth more than a better one who starts half of them.

On Pitchline: player pages show Fantasy’s news and chance of playing, and Live shows who played on the day. Pitchline doesn’t have private team news, so check the official site and club news before the deadline.