FPL Fixture Difficulty Rating (FDR) explained
What the 1–5 fixture difficulty numbers in Fantasy Premier League mean, where they come from, and how to use them without being misled.
Every fixture in Fantasy Premier League has a Fixture Difficulty Rating (FDR) from 1 (easiest) to 5 (hardest), shown as coloured boxes next to each player. It's FPL's own estimate of how hard a match is for a team, and it's the quickest way to plan transfers several weeks ahead.
How to read it
| FDR | Meaning | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | Easier fixture | Good weeks to own that team's attackers and defenders |
| 3 | Middle of the road | Neither a reason to buy nor sell |
| 4–5 | Harder fixture | Consider benching or selling defenders and goalkeepers |
The rating is set separately for the home and away side, so the same match can be a 2 for one team and a 4 for the other.
Where the numbers come from
The FDR is published by FPL in its official data, alongside every fixture. Our Gameweek Hub shows those official numbers for the upcoming gameweek and refreshes them every two hours.
Using FDR well
- Look at runs, not single games. Three or four easy fixtures in a row matter more than one.
- Defenders depend on it more than attackers. Clean sheets are much more fixture-dependent than goals from elite forwards.
- Treat it as a starting point. It doesn't know about injuries, rotation or a team's recent form. Check the injury flags on the Gameweek Hub too.
- Watch for blank and double gameweeks. When fixtures are moved, teams can play twice or not at all in a gameweek, which matters more than FDR.