The rule, exactly
Automatic substitutions run once, at the end of the gameweek, after every fixture is finished. A starter is replaced only if he played no minutes at all across the gameweek — one minute as a substitute is enough to keep him on your score, even at nil points.
Bench players come on in the order you set them, first to fourth, and a swap only happens if the resulting formation is legal: at least three defenders, at least two midfielders, at least one forward, exactly one goalkeeper. The bench goalkeeper can only ever replace the starting goalkeeper.
Why bench order is a real decision
If two starters blank, bench slots one and two come on — whoever they are. A 60-point bench striker in slot four sits behind a 2-point defender in slot one. Thirty seconds of dragging players into the right order on Pick Team is worth points every month.
Captaincy interacts here too: if your captain plays no minutes, the armband passes to the vice-captain before substitutions are worked out.
The five-league wrinkle
Blank gameweeks make auto-subs matter more here than in a one-league game. When one league has no fixtures, every player you own in it is guaranteed zero minutes — so a bench spread across two or three leagues is insurance the game pays out on regularly. The in-app fixture screen shows blanks forming ahead of time.
Questions
Asked and answered
When do automatic substitutions happen?
Once, after the gameweek's final fixture finishes — never during it. The Points screen then shows the post-substitution eleven.
Does a player who came on for one minute get substituted?
No. Only a player with zero minutes across the whole gameweek is replaced. Any appearance at all, however short, keeps him in your scoring eleven.
What order do bench players come on?
In the order you set on the Pick Team screen, first to fourth — subject to the formation staying legal (minimum 3 defenders, 2 midfielders, 1 forward). The bench goalkeeper only replaces the goalkeeper.
What if my captain doesn't play?
The armband passes automatically to your vice-captain, and this happens before substitutions are resolved. If neither plays, nobody is doubled that week.
You know this rule.
Now use it.
Free, five leagues, and the deadline is Friday 13:00 UTC.