Best Defensive Three-Way Rotations

Getting the ideal defensive combination correct in the Winter Wildcard is vital for a number of different reasons. Throughout the season a template comes to the fore regarding the front eight players, however the ownership of defensive picks is often more dispersed across a number of assets so it is essential to get them right.

In many Gameweeks when most of the popular attacking picks gather points for everyone, having the best players playing at the back is what could really move you up the rankings. In addition, as the season progresses, the flavours of the month in the more forward positions tend to change quite rapidly, so this is the area where players will want to be using most of the available transfers.

Charged with handing out five shirts to defenders in our squads, again there are differing approaches on offer. Today, I present you with an article based on the tactic of rotating three budget defenders, based on fixtures, who would ideally be placed alongside two big-hitting defenders. For the remainder of the season I believe that a very profitable tactic will consist of this rotation with a defensive line consisting of ((Terry) (SOT/MCI/ARS defender) (X) (X) (X)) with the X’s being filled by three rotating defenders.

For managers, who still hold that precious Winter Wildcard or are looking to drastically change their backline, here is a list of the eight best cheap defensive three-way rotations, which offer good rotation for the next 10 Gameweeks. I have included the ideal player for each team, as well as the ideal fixtures for each week (upper case for home games) using each rotation, and lastly the cost of the trios.

Best Budget Teams & Players

Aston Villa – Alan Hutton (4.4m)
Newcastle United – Fabricio Coloccini (4.5m)
Stoke City – Philipp Wollscheid (4.5m)
Sunderland – Patrick van Aanolt (PVA) (4.2m)
Swansea City – Kyle Naughton (4.3m)
West Bromwich Albion – Andre Wisdom (4.5m)

Best Rotations

Stoke, Sunderland, Swansea. (QPR, SUN, QPR, WBA, HUL, hul, AVL, CPL, HUL, CPL)
13.0m
GW 23: Wollscheid (QPR); GW 24: Naughton (SUN); GW 25: PVA (QPR); GW 26: PVA (WBA); GW 27: Wollscheid (HUL); GW 28: PVA (hul); GW 29: PVA (AVL); GW 30: Wollscheid (CPL); GW 31: Naughton (HUL); GW 32: PVA (CPL).

Stoke, Sunderland, West Brom. (QPR, bur, QPR, WBA, HUL, avl, AVL, CPL, QPR, LEI)
13.2m
GW 23: Wollscheid (QPR); GW 24: Wisdom (bur); GW 25: PVA (QPR); GW 26: PVA (WBA); GW 27: Wollscheid (HUL); GW 28: Wisdom (avl); GW 29: PVA (AVL); GW 30: Wollscheid (CPL); GW 31: Wisdom (QPR); GW 32: Wisdom (LEI).

Villa, Stoke, West Brom. (QPR, bur, SWA, STO, HUL, WBA, STO, CPL, QPR, LEI) 
13.4m
GW 23: Wollscheid (QPR); GW 24: Wisdom (bur); GW 25: Wisdom (SWA); GW 26: Hutton (STO); GW 27: Wollscheid (HUL); GW 28: Hutton (WBA); GW 29: Wisdom (STO); GW 30: Wollscheid (CPL); GW 31: Wisdom (QPR); GW 32: Wisdom (LEI).

Newcastle, Stoke, Sunderland. (QPR, STO, QPR, WBA, HUL, hul, AVL, CPL, NEW, CPL)
13.2m
GW 23: Wollscheid (QPR); GW 24: Collocini (STO); GW 25: PVA (QPR); GW 26: PVA (WBA); GW 27: Wollscheid (HUL); GW 28: PVA (hul); GW 29: PVA (AVL); GW 30: Wollscheid (CPL); GW 31: PVA (NEW); GW 32: PVA (CPL).

Villa, Stoke, Sunderland. (QPR, new, QPR, WBA, HUL, WBA, AVL, CPL, NEW, CPL) 
13.1m
GW 23: Wollscheid (QPR); GW 24: Wollscheid (new); GW 25: PVA (QPR); GW 26: PVA (WBA); GW 27: Wollscheid (HUL); GW 28: Hutton (WBA); GW 29: PVA (AVL); GW30: Wollscheid (CPL); GW 31: PVA (NEW); GW 32: PVA (CPL).

Villa, Sunderland, Swansea. (BUR, SUN, QPR, WBA, bur, WBA, AVL, SWA, HUL, CPL)
12.9m
GW 23: PVA (BUR); GW 24: Naughton (SUN); GW 25: PVA (QPR); GW 26: PVA (WBA); GW 27: Naughton (bur); GW 28: Hutton (WBA);  GW 29: PVA (AVL); GW 30: Hutton (SWA); GW 31: Naughton (HUL); GW 32: PVA (CPL).

Villa, Newcastle, Sunderland. (BUR, STO, QPR, WBA, AVL, WBA, AVL, SWA, NEW, CPL)
13.1m
GW 23: PVA (BUR); GW 24: Collocini (STO); GW 25: PVA (QPR); GW 26: PVA (WBA); GW 27: Collocini (AVL); GW 28: Hutton (WBA); GW 29: PVA (AVL); GW 30: Hutton (SWA); GW 31: PVA (NEW); GW 32: PVA (CPL).

Newcastle, Sunderland, Swansea. (BUR, SUN, QPR, WBA, AVL, hul, AVL, avl, HUL, CPL)
13.0m
GW 23: PVA (BUR); GW 24: Naughton (SUN); GW 25: PVA (QPR); GW 26: PVA (WBA); GW 27: Collocini (AVL); GW 28: PVA (hul); GW 29: PVA (AVL); GW 30: Naughton (avl); GW 31: Naughton (HUL); GW 32: PVA (CPL)

Conclusion

Personally, I believe that the three best rotations are (Villa, Newcastle & Sunderland), (Stoke, Sunderland & West Brom) and (Villa, Sunderland & Swansea), however this is only personal opinion and I think that all of the listed rotations are very viable to consider. For every Fantasy manager, the combination of defenders that they pick will very much depend on the goalkeepers that they have chosen and this will be a major factor in which trio you opt for.

For example, if you have Costel Pantilimon in goal you may wish to avoid Sunderland defenders as you could want to avoid the double-up, but this may not be the case as you don’t mind doubling up on a defence that you trust with amazing fixtures.