Welcome to our How to Play Sky Sports Fantasy Football&#8217; guide by former Sky champion <a href="https://twitter.com/dancox82">Dan Cox</a> and Sky fantasy veteran <a href="https://twitter.com/skypodcast">Mark Edworthy</a>.
This article is aimed primarily at fantasy managers who have yet to try Sky Sports Fantasy Football. 
Sky is a great game to play alongside <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fantasy-premier-league-ultimate-guide-fpl-tips">Fantasy Premier League </a>and other fantasy games as long as you live in the UK or Ireland. It is not available overseas. 
The important difference between FPL and Sky is that there is a top prize of £50,000, won last season by the Hub&#8217;s very own <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/sky-fantasy-football-winner-2022-23">Paul McAnulty</a>!
Our <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/sky-fantasy-football-tips">Ultimate Guide to Sky</a> will have everything you could ever need to be a successful manager and will be updated with a whole host of handy articles, including guides, team previews, player picks, strategy articles, tools, <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/opta/" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c="1" title="FPL Stats by OPTA - Player and Team Stats">stats</a>, expert team reveals and more. 
<h2>Sky Fantasy Football 2023/24: What&#8217;s new this season?</h2>
The Sky game for 2023/24 appears to be almost identical to last season.
Sky managers will get 50 transfers again over the season and one Overhaul period &#8211; where you have unlimited transfers to refresh your team.
This time, the Overhaul will begin at the end of Gameweek 21 in January. It will last until the first match of Gameweek 23. This coincides with the Premier League&#8217;s winter break.
Elsewhere, those who register by the start of Gameweek 1 will be entered into a random prize draw to win £10,000!
<h2>What is Sky Sports Fantasy Football?</h2>
Even though there are different rules and strategies, the fundamentals are very similar.
You pick players that in their Premier League games earn attacking points, through goals and assists, or clean sheets for defenders and goalkeepers. 
The Sky Fantasy game has no bench, so there are just 11 players, rather than 15 like in FPL. But analysing fixtures and following form just like in other fantasy games is integral to doing well.
In this article, we will go through some of the fundamentals of the Sky game. Like all fantasy games, there are lots of ways to play the game, so hopefully this well help everyone understand the basics to help you find your own style.
Sky fits nicely alongside other fantasy games for any fantasy football lover. Here are the main reasons why we think everyone should play:
<ol class="ol1">
<li class="li1">There is a real chance of a great rank and even winning. With a £50,000 top prize the rewards are significant.</li>
<li class="li1">Continuing on the money theme, the mini-league entry and system is well organised, with Sky holding and managing the prize money for you.</li>
<li class="li1">There are multiple ways of scoring points. The main ways are through the usual goals, assists and clean sheets, but there is an added bonus point system that gives the game an extra dimension.</li>
<li class="li1">Unlike in most fantasy games, certain player categories are not completely ruled out, with defensive midfielders particularly adept at collecting bonus points for passing and tackling.</li>
<li class="li1">Multiple captains mean your weekend can be salvaged if you get a captain blank early on in the gameweek.</li>
<li class="li1">There is a great community of Sky players on all the main social media platforms, especially Twitter.</li>
</ol>
Although there are a number of key differences (which we will come onto shortly), the basic principles remain the same.
<h2>Key Links</h2>
<ul>
<li>Main site: <a href="https://fantasyfootball.skysports.com/">https://fantasyfootball.skysports.com/</a></li>
<li>Rules at <a href="https://fantasyfootball.skysports.com/help">https://fantasyfootball.skysports.com/help</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/sky-fantasy-football-tips">Our Sky Tips page</a></li>
</ul>
<h2>How is Sky Sports Fantasy Football different from FPL?</h2>
Sky Sports Fantasy Football is fundamentally different in three ways to most other formats.
These are the multiple captains, the bonus system and the 50 transfer limit.
Exploiting these three differences is key to winning. See more expert info on <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/how-to-win-at-sky-fantasy-football">how to win at Sky Fantasy Football</a>.
<h2>How do I score points in Sky Fantasy Football?</h2>
Points can be seen below. It&#8217;s similar scoring system to most other fantasy football games.
Note that last season, players who were named man of the match received an extra three points. This has been scrapped this year alongside a number of changes.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-46976" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Sky-22-23-scoring.jpg" alt="" width="719" height="775" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Sky-22-23-scoring.jpg 719w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Sky-22-23-scoring-278x300.jpg 278w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Sky-22-23-scoring-610x658.jpg 610w" sizes="(max-width: 719px) 100vw, 719px" />
<h2>Sky Fantasy Football bonus points</h2>
Bonus points in Sky differ from other games and are awarded for saves, tackles, passes and shots on target. There are two tiers for each category.
Getting your head around the bonus system and how to exploit it is key to becoming good at the game and winning.
One of the main differences of the Sky game is the way bonus points are awarded. 
If you can manage to get a player who can grab two or more of these bonuses on a regular basis, it’s the equivalent of an assist or goal, so it’s a lovely addition. 
It also can make some cheaper players &#8211; especially defensive midfielders for less desirable teams &#8211; actually great budget enablers.
<h3>Passing and tackle bonus</h3>
It is worth considering defensive midfielders. Many pick up tackle bonus and some of the best, such as Rodri, regularly pick up passing bonus too. 
Central defenders from heavy possession-based teams &#8211; traditionally including the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea &#8211; have often returned lots of passing points.
Full-backs from these teams have also been known to pick up passing bonus on occasion, albeit not as reliably as centre-backs.
<h3>Shots bonus</h3>
Shots on target are also a nice little bonus, however we generally find that the players who grab the big hauls get this in addition. But shot-hungry midfielders or even defenders are also worth looking out for.
<h3>Saves bonus</h3>
Instead of points per save, Sky has a bonus for three or fives saves. 
This is sometimes tricky to achieve for the bigger teams&#8217; keepers, as they often don’t face that many shots. In contrast, the mid-range and lesser teams can benefit. 
If you can find a cheap goalkeeper who adds a few clean sheets, supplemented by regular bonus for making three or five saves, they can be more than worth it.
Dean Henderson for Sheffield United, Nick Pope for Burnley and Emiliano Martinez for Aston Villa are just three examples of keepers who have been superb budget picks in this position over the years.
<div id="attachment_24184" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-24184" class="wp-image-24184 size-large" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Screenshot-2020-08-28-at-09.09.39-1024x276.png" alt="" width="1024" height="276" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Screenshot-2020-08-28-at-09.09.39-1024x276.png 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Screenshot-2020-08-28-at-09.09.39-300x81.png 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Screenshot-2020-08-28-at-09.09.39-768x207.png 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Screenshot-2020-08-28-at-09.09.39-1536x414.png 1536w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Screenshot-2020-08-28-at-09.09.39-610x164.png 610w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Screenshot-2020-08-28-at-09.09.39-1080x291.png 1080w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Screenshot-2020-08-28-at-09.09.39.png 1634w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Sky Tier 1 Bonus</div>
<div id="attachment_24183" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-24183" class="wp-image-24183 size-large" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Screenshot-2020-08-28-at-09.09.51-1024x276.png" alt="" width="1024" height="276" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Screenshot-2020-08-28-at-09.09.51-1024x276.png 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Screenshot-2020-08-28-at-09.09.51-300x81.png 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Screenshot-2020-08-28-at-09.09.51-768x207.png 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Screenshot-2020-08-28-at-09.09.51-1536x414.png 1536w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Screenshot-2020-08-28-at-09.09.51-610x164.png 610w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Screenshot-2020-08-28-at-09.09.51-1080x291.png 1080w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Screenshot-2020-08-28-at-09.09.51.png 1634w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Sky Tier 2 Bonus</div>
<h2></h2>
<h2>What formation can I use in Sky Fantasy Football?</h2>
Sky gives you £100m to spend on 11 players (unlike FPL, there is no bench).
There’s a number of formation options but you only pick 11 players &#8211; no subs.
There are no restrictions on the number of Premier League players you can select from one team.
The format of the game in general allows the same formations as most other fantasy games. 
The 5-4-1 formation is not available though, which is always worth remembering when planning your moves.
Thanks to the bonus system, any formation can be viable.
You can switch between formation with a transfer. And having enough to get in those big hitters when needed is always a good plan.
<h2>How do captains work in Sky Fantasy Football?</h2>
As with FPL, captains earn double points; positive and negative.
A unique feature of the Sky Fantasy game however is the ability to pick a captain for each day of the gameweek.
If there are games on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday then you can pick four captains over that period.
Captains will keep their points for each gameday (it&#8217;s not a case of &#8216;stick or twist&#8217;), so you should generally aim to have a captain playing every day.
One benefit of this is that it allows you to quickly get over an early captaincy disappointment.
This does mean that more planning around fixtures is required in the Sky game and the <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/tvs-influence-on-fantasy-football-why-fantasy-managers-must-pay-attention-to-fixture-scheduling-ian-parrin">televised fixture announcements</a> are key dates for Sky players who are dreaming of the top prize of £50,000. 
Under normal circumstances, each fixtures announcement gives you two months&#8217; worth of games to plan for. This is great to ensure you have strong captains for each match day.
Don’t worry too much about missing the odd captaincy day, but don’t make a habit of it, especially if it’s a popular player as a big score by rivals can really dent any title challenge. 
<h2>How do transfers work in Sky Fantasy Football?</h2>
Sky managers have previously had 40 transfers for the season but in 2023/24, a total of 50 transfers have been allocated.
You can only use five in a gameweek, which runs Friday to Thursday. You can make them at any time before kick-off for the first match of a match day.
Unlike FPL, you are able to see line-ups for the first match of that day before making a transfer or selecting a captain. Transfers can also be made during the weekend. 
If you transfer a player out on Saturday for a player on Sunday, you will get both of their points.
Once your transfers are gone, that&#8217;s it. You can&#8217;t make more for a points hit. 
This means you have to be patient with players and avoid those with a poor history of injuries. 
<h2>What is the Overhaul in Sky Fantasy Football?</h2>
As well as your transfers, Sky managers are given something called an Overhaul.
This is similar to an FPL Wildcard but has to be used in a fixed period. During the Overhaul period, managers are allowed to make unlimited transfers, without eating into their 50 transfers for the season.
In previous years, Sky managers have been given two Overhauls but in 2023/24, there will be just one in January.
The Overhaul is a case of &#8216;use it or lose it&#8217;. 
<h2>Are there price changes in Sky Fantasy Football?</h2>
There are no price changes in Sky. This can be liberating for those used to other fantasy games&#8217; active and sometimes frustrating transfer market but is also helpful due to the planning that is sometimes required around the captaincies. 
<h2>What tools can I use to do well?</h2>
Every fantasy manager needs a good <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fixture-ticker">fixture ticker</a> and a basic understanding of the key OPTA <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/opta">stats</a>.
<a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/ian-parrins-sky-transfer-toolkit">Ian Parrin&#8217;s Sky Fantasy Football transfer planner</a> comes highly recommended, including by ex-champions of the game.
<h2>How do I beat my mates?</h2>
See our <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/how-to-win-at-sky-fantasy-football">How to Win at Sky</a> guide!
<h2>Sky podcasts and videos</h2>
If you like to consume your content visually and/or via audio, you will love our <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/sky-fantasy-football-podcast">Sky Fantasy podcasts</a>.
Subscribe to our <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfC-lnNZnZtoNfdzFhNgj3Q/?sub_confirmation=1">Sky and TFF YouTube Channel.</a>
<h3>Follow the Hub</h3>
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And view all our latest fantasy football tips on our <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/">Homepage</a>

How to play Sky Fantasy Football 2023/24: A beginner’s guide

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