Last season, FPLdefenders proved to be one of the most lucrative positions as far as Fantasy points go, as there were a total of 5 who found their way into the top 10 point-scorers. The change in playstyle, which with the arrival of Guardiola and Klopp saw the implementation of possession football, as well as the rise of attacking-minded defenders, had a lot to do with it. Will defenders continue to dominate the top-scoring charts is yet to be seen, nonetheless, picking the right players to represent our squad at the back can make or break our success!? We talked about the best goalkeepers for Fantasy EPL yesterday, so if you missed that post you can read it here.
The best defenders you should choose for Fantasy EPL
While there are plenty of options to choose from, we have gathered our list of the best FPL defenders, who we believe will be a good addition to any team. Some underdogs with potential to surprise, others established defenders and a couple of honourable mentions for those whose budget or team composition won’t allow picking our defenders.
Craig Cathcart (£4.5); Watford
One of the best picks among “cheap” defenders last season and most likely one of the best in this season as well. In 2018/19 season, Cathcart scored three goals, kept six clean sheets and managed to rack up 93 points. Due to his performances, I’m surprised he managed to sneak under the radar and is not priced at £5 ahead of the season. By picking him, we put a lot of hope he will be able to repeat what he has shown last season, nonetheless, at £4.5 we believe Craig Cathcart is worth a consideration.
Seamus Coleman (£5.5); Everton
Moving up in the price, we have got Seamus Coleman who has made a great recovery following his leg break in 2017. With four attacking returns last season and 13 clean sheets, Coleman found his way among the best defenders in PPM. As a player who is known to help out in the attack, he is also a great choice for BPS, which was the case ever since the 2014/15 season. He reached over 500 points each season, with the only exception being 2017/18 season for the obvious reason. At £5.5, Coleman might not be the cheapest defender, nonetheless, with what he offers, we consider him a no-brainer pick.
Jonny Castro Otto (£5.5); Wolverhampton
Following a good performance in 2018/19 season when Jonny helped his team reach eight clean sheets, one goal and three assists, his value increased by 0.5£, which is fair for this hidden gem. His conversion rate and shot accuracy were a bit off last season, nonetheless, if he can improve just slightly in that aspect, Jonny can prove to be a great value. Additionally, it’s worth noting Wolves perform well against the top six, meaning Jonny can bring us some unexpected points.
Jan Vertonghen (£5.5); Tottenham Hotspur
By securing six clean sheets, and one goal last season, Vertonghen had one of the worst seasons in the last 4, which luckily for us means his price dropped down to £5.5. In the last five seasons, Vertonghen made a total of 251 appearances for Tottenham in the EPL and played a crucial role in keeping 33 league clean sheets in the last 3 seasons. Despite the fact his last season was not impressive, the overall improvement of Tottenham will surely work in Vertonghen’s favour as he looks to repeat his successful season from 2016 and 2017.
Virgil van Dijk (£6.5); Liverpool
No list is complete without Virgil van Dijk, the first name on the team for Liverpool and arguably one of the best defenders in the Premier League and the world. Last season he helped his team score eight goals, kept a clean sheet 20 times and accumulated 22 bonus points. A very solid choice, despite his £6.5 price, which to be fair is more than justifiable.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – APRIL 09: Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool looks on during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final first leg match between Liverpool and Porto at Anfield on April 09, 2019 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey – Danehouse/Getty Images)
Aymeric Laporte (£6.5); Manchester City
Last but not least, we have got Aymeric Laporte who has emerged as one of the best defenders ahead of 2019/20 season. An excellent pick for keeping clean sheets, very solid in bonus points department and overall a great player to have on our squad. There is not a lot to say about Laporte, other than, it’s a much choose defender, should we have the budget to afford him. Three goals and two assists last season on top of 18 cleans sheets was his career-best, and quite frankly, it can only go up from here.
Honourable mentions:
Charlie Taylor (£4.5); Burnley
Burnley produced a total of 12 clean sheets last season, ranking them 7th in the league as well as holding a 6th place in the least goals conceded (39). With no European commitments this season their focus will shift to EPL instead, making Charlie Taylor, who regularly starts for his team a good pick.
Lewis Dunk (£4.5); Brighton
As a defender, Dunk can easily be overlooked, nonetheless, a closer look at what he brings to the table makes him one of solid choices among budget defenders. Seven clean sheets, two goals scored and one assist last season might not come off as incredible numbers, nonetheless, we keep our faith in this attacking-minded defender, who is not afraid to try his luck with a shot towards the goal. In the last two seasons, Dunk registered 42 attempts from inside the box, making him a real threat and a solid choice for us.
Ben Chilwell (£5.5); Leicester
Incredible value for the 22-year-old defender. Since Maguire left the team and Periera finding his way into “premium” bracket, Ben Chilwell, whose price rose by £0.5 is still a player worth checking out. Incredibly gifted in creating chances for his team, we do believe Chilwell is a player whose addition can pay off greatly, especially considering he will get solid minutes this season. He also does not shy away from taking a shot at the opponent’s goal, which could net us a couple of additional point from him.
