FPL
7 October 2025 92 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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Love them or hate them, defensive contribution (DefCon) points have added another dimension to Fantasy Premier League (FPL) this season.

With the October international break here, we’ll be taking a look at all things DefCon in a series of articles over the next week.

First up: the opposition.

More specifically, which teams have allowed defenders and midfielders to rack up the most DefCon points in 2025/26 so far?

For this article, we’re using the final, recalculated Opta totals in our Members Area rather than the cut-off-at-the-FPL-closing-deadline numbers. For instance, Maxence Lacroix (£5.1m) hit 10 clearances, blocks etc against Aston Villa in Gameweek 3 – but FPL had him marooned on nine and didn’t factor in the following day’s recalculation.

We’re still in ‘small sample’ territory, of course, but it’ll be interesting to see how these figures evolve over the campaign.

THE OPPOSITION: A TEAM-BY-TEAM DEFCON BREAKDOWN

 

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92 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. WVA
    • 9 Years
    9 months, 6 days ago

    Pedro or Enzo on WC? Leaning Enzo.

    Pope
    Gab Tim Chal
    Saka Semenyo Sarr Enzo Caicedo
    Haaland Wolt
    Dub Guehi Sen Foster

    1. Pedersen
      • 7 Years
      9 months, 6 days ago

      Pedro xgi have been 0.03 the last 3 games. Even some goalkeepers have had equal xgi numbers....

      1. WVA
        • 9 Years
        9 months, 6 days ago

        Yeah, no reason to go with him over the two mids

      2. Studs Up
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        9 months, 6 days ago

        xgi usually drop off when playing with 10 men... no?

        1. Four Letter Wirtz
          • 10 Years
          9 months, 6 days ago

          Interesting question, so let's compare team xG and Joao Pedro's slice of the pie:

          Chelsea team xG vs ManUtd: 0.43
          Chelsea team xG vs Brighton: 1.83
          Chelsea team xG vs Liverpool: 1.00

          Joao Pedro XGI vs Liverpool: 0.03
          Joao Pedro XGI vs Brighton: 0.03
          Joao Pedro XGI vs Liverpool: 0.03

          Not looking good for JP, but at least he's consistent

    2. The Hunt
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 17 Years
      9 months, 6 days ago

      Enzo Ezentiol.

    3. RockemSakaRobots
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      9 months, 6 days ago

      Enzo is on my priority watchlist for gw9

  2. Eddie Nketamine
    • 2 Years
    9 months, 6 days ago

    Timber or Eze for 3rd arsenal spot?
    Already have Gabriel and Saka.
    Top of my ML and want to keep it that way.
    Brain says Timber, heart says Eze especially with Odegaards injury.
    My mind’s telling me no but my bodyyy is telling me yes.

    1. Slitherene
      • 8 Years
      9 months, 6 days ago

      Ok

    2. Obi 1 Kenobi 0
      9 months, 6 days ago

      I’d go timber, would rather double up on Arsenal defence than attack

  3. GoonerSteve
    • 16 Years
    9 months, 6 days ago

    Grealish to Enzo?
    Or just roll and play VDV?

    Raya
    Senesi, Chalobah, Guehi, VDV
    Salah, Semenyo, Kudus, Reijnders
    Haaland, Gyokeres

    (Dubravka. Grealish*, Gudmundsson, Gulu)
    0.3 itb.
    1ft.

    1. Slitherene
      • 8 Years
      9 months, 6 days ago

      Roll

    2. Obi 1 Kenobi 0
      9 months, 6 days ago

      Roll

    3. Bluetiger1
      • 4 Years
      9 months, 6 days ago

      Roll

  4. Meta12345
    • 1 Year
    9 months, 6 days ago

    Does anyone knows if caicedo is in the squad list for ecuador for the upcoming games?

    1. Slitherene
      • 8 Years
      9 months, 6 days ago

      Absent

  5. Slitherene
    • 8 Years
    9 months, 6 days ago

    Bruno, Watkins ---> Saka, JP (-4)

    For the run in?

  6. BUZZBOMB ♡
    • 11 Years
    9 months, 6 days ago

    Who wou,d you rather have?
    A Pope and Gordon
    B Raya and Rejjnders

    1. Slitherene
      • 8 Years
      9 months, 6 days ago

      A

      1. BUZZBOMB ♡
        • 11 Years
        9 months, 6 days ago

        Cheers. Thats where Im at.

    2. Bluetiger1
      • 4 Years
      9 months, 6 days ago

      B

  7. Mighty Duck
    • 1 Year
    9 months, 6 days ago

    Nice stat, thank you. Shouda appear sooner or later.

  8. Jordan.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    9 months, 6 days ago

    gabriel

    1. LegoheadARTETA
      • 1 Year
      9 months, 6 days ago

      Good to know

  9. Weeb Kakashi
    • 10 Years
    9 months, 6 days ago

    Best option here.

    A Gabriel Saka (442)
    B Eze Semenyo (352)

    Have Timber.

    1. Obi 1 Kenobi 0
      9 months, 6 days ago

      B for me, Semenyo is a must have

    2. Bobby Digital
      • 8 Years
      9 months, 6 days ago

      B, because you need Semenyo, man's on fire

    3. Bluetiger1
      • 4 Years
      9 months, 6 days ago

      B

  10. Obi 1 Kenobi 0
    9 months, 6 days ago

    1 FT this week, IB injuries permitting whats the thoughts on Andersen to Mukiele/Alderete and bench boost?

    Raya
    Gabriel/Senesi/Guehi
    Semenyo/Reijnders/Kudus/I Sarr
    Haaland/Gyokeres/Isak

    Dub/Caicedo/VDV/Andersen*

    1. Obi 1 Kenobi 0
      9 months, 6 days ago

      Cheers lads 🙂

    2. PremGem
      9 months, 19 hours ago

      Good bench as is. You are fielding Senesi, Guehi, Semenyo, I.Sarr, those 4 are facing each other. So the BB is also to hedge the outcome of that game?

  11. paulojdsc
    • 6 Years
    9 months, 6 days ago

    Cheapeast forward that plays regularly?

    Foster from Burnley?

    1. theshazly
      • 3 Years
      9 months, 6 days ago

      True

    2. Evasivo
      • 16 Years
      9 months, 6 days ago

      Thiago?

  12. theshazly
    • 3 Years
    9 months, 6 days ago

    Gakpo or Reijnders on WC?
    Play Pope or Dubravka ?

    1. BrockLanders
      • 11 Years
      9 months, 6 days ago

      Reijnders
      Pope

  13. Gudjohnsen
    • 9 Years
    9 months, 6 days ago

    Saliba, Gyokeres to Timber, Joao Pedro

    1. LegoheadARTETA
      • 1 Year
      9 months, 6 days ago

      If not on WC, not worth 2FT

      1. BrockLanders
        • 11 Years
        9 months, 6 days ago

        This.

  14. Weeb Kakashi
    • 10 Years
    9 months, 6 days ago

    On WC. Exclude one

    A Semenyo
    B Enzo
    C Gordon
    D Eze

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 8 Years
      9 months, 6 days ago

      C

    2. Evasivo
      • 16 Years
      9 months, 6 days ago

      What’s the Eze pick based on?

      1. Weeb Kakashi
        • 10 Years
        9 months, 6 days ago

        Gut feeling I guess

    3. Miguel Sanchez
      • 9 Years
      9 months, 6 days ago

      D

    4. Dynamic Duos
      • 12 Years
      9 months, 6 days ago

      D

    5. AAAFootball
      • 1 Year
      9 months, 6 days ago

      Has to B3 d

    6. The Hunt
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 17 Years
      9 months, 6 days ago

      Eze non ezential

  15. Dynamic Duos
    • 12 Years
    9 months, 6 days ago

    Play Gordon or Rudolph?

    1. LegoheadARTETA
      • 1 Year
      9 months, 6 days ago

      Both if possible prob Gord

  16. sminkypinky
    • 14 Years
    9 months, 6 days ago

    Could I get an opinion?

    Take a hit for Andersen + King -> Alderete + Anthony in order to bench boost this:

    Vicario Dubravka
    Alderete Gabriel Senesi Guehi VDV
    Semenyo Anthony Bruno Gakpo Kudus
    JP Haaland Gyokeres

    Or just chill and reassess?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • 9 Years
      9 months, 6 days ago

      I don’t think taking a hit for Sunderland and Burnley players is a good idea

      1. AAAFootball
        • 1 Year
        9 months, 6 days ago

        This

      2. Miguel Sanchez
        • 9 Years
        9 months, 6 days ago

        Just hope Fulham can do something if set on playing this week or wait til they have a better fixture

      3. sminkypinky
        • 14 Years
        9 months, 5 days ago

        Truer words were never spoken. 😆
        Cheers both!

  17. AAAFootball
    • 1 Year
    9 months, 6 days ago

    Very interesting had wondered about this a lot thanks

  18. Weeb Kakashi
    • 10 Years
    9 months, 6 days ago

    Is this a weak defence if playing 4 at the back regularly?

    Timber Burn Richards Andersen Diakite

    1. AAAFootball
      • 1 Year
      9 months, 6 days ago

      Not horrible but depends on the rotating fixtures

  19. jonnybhoy
    • 13 Years
    9 months, 6 days ago

    What to do? 2FT 0.1ITB

    Raya
    Gabriel Gvardiol Sensei
    Bruno Semenyo Ndiaye Reijnders
    Haaland J Pedro Gyokeres

    Dubravka Tarkowski Stach Gudmundsson

    A) Gyokeres, Bruno and Ndiaye to Saka, Enzo, Woltemande -4pts
    B) Bruno to Saka
    C) Roll
    C) Something else

    1. AAAFootball
      • 1 Year
      9 months, 6 days ago

      B, maybe jped t9 wolte as well

    2. Bobby Digital
      • 8 Years
      9 months, 6 days ago

      B

    3. Punned It
      • 1 Year
      9 months, 6 days ago

      Can't do just B, will give you 4 Arsenal players. Do Gyökeres and Bruno > Saka and Woltemade. Or wait and see.

  20. Soyland
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    9 months, 6 days ago

    Pope
    Gabriel Senesi Porro
    Bruno Gakpo Reijnders Semenyo
    Watkins* Haaland Pedro

    Dubravka Rodon P.M.Sarr Konsa
    1ft, 2,9itb

    a) wildcard
    b) Watkins to a striker (but who?)

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 8 Years
      9 months, 6 days ago

      b) Gyokeres

    2. The Hunt
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 17 Years
      9 months, 6 days ago

      Anyone but Gyokeres

      1. Count of Monte Hristo
        • 13 Years
        9 months, 6 days ago

        This

    3. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      9 months, 6 days ago

      Bowen

    4. BrockLanders
      • 11 Years
      9 months, 6 days ago

      B/ Bowen for me

    5. Crazy crazy horse
      • 10 Years
      9 months, 6 days ago

      Munoz

    6. DagheMunegu
      • 5 Years
      9 months, 6 days ago

      Keep Watkins. Bruno to Saka

      1. Soyland
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        9 months, 6 days ago

        Thanks. Thats an option. I like 90-minute-men dough. Watkins sub after an hour last match make me think he is not an option right now. Like the bowen-move. Also think Goykeres will be better versus the weaker teams.

  21. tuturututu
    • 5 Years
    9 months, 6 days ago

    BB active, thoughts ?

    Petrović (cry), Dubravka (LEE)
    Timber (ful), Chalobah (nfo), Guehi (BOU), VdV (AVL), Esteve (LEE)
    Saka (ful), Doku (EVE), Semenyo (cry), Kudus (AVL), Enzo (nfo)
    Gyokeres (ful), Haaland (C) (EVE), Evanilson (cry)

    1. BrockLanders
      • 11 Years
      9 months, 6 days ago

      Looks a decent week to use tbf

    2. Count of Monte Hristo
      • 13 Years
      9 months, 6 days ago

      Good to go. Evanilson has been so disappointing sadly, don’t expect much from him.

  22. TeddiPonza
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    9 months, 6 days ago

    Can only pick 2 out 3. Who would you leave out on WC?

    A. Mateta
    B. Pedro
    C. Bowen

    Thanks

    1. BrockLanders
      • 11 Years
      9 months, 6 days ago

      A & C

    2. DagheMunegu
      • 5 Years
      9 months, 6 days ago

      A

  23. Crazy crazy horse
    • 10 Years
    9 months, 6 days ago

    Why no love for Rice

    1. BrockLanders
      • 11 Years
      9 months, 6 days ago

      Looks like Odegaard is out for quite a while too

      1. Crazy crazy horse
        • 10 Years
        9 months, 6 days ago

        Not returned in only on match he’s started!

        He’s in my team and I’m loving it.

        Not mentioned at all.

    2. Punned It
      • 1 Year
      9 months, 6 days ago

      Saka or Rice in for GW10, just waiting and watching.

  24. BrockLanders
    • 11 Years
    9 months, 6 days ago

    Any changes on WC here??

    Pope/ Dubravka
    Senesi, Gabriel, Timber, Munoz, Anderson,
    Saka, Semenyo, Sarr, Enzo, Xhaka
    Haaland, Bowen, DCL

    1. Crazy crazy horse
      • 10 Years
      9 months, 6 days ago

      Go on, sneak Rice in there.

  25. Athletic Nasherbo
    • 9 Years
    9 months, 6 days ago

    Will do Mbeumo > Semenyo. No need for a wildcard, right?

    Donnarumma
    Cucurella Timber Porro Munoz
    Gakpo Mbeumo* Minteh
    Haaland Gyokeres J.Pedro

    Valdimarsson Rodon Rutter Carvalho

    1. DagheMunegu
      • 5 Years
      9 months, 6 days ago

      Having the same dilema just under.

      I think you can hold the WC

  26. DagheMunegu
    • 5 Years
    9 months, 6 days ago

    Can I save the WC till GW 12 ?

    Raya
    Porro Richards Rodon
    Saka Eze Reijnders Semenyo Kudus
    Haaland Watkins

    Dubravka Larsen VDV Andersen

    Have 1ft and will BB GW9

    1. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      9 months, 6 days ago

      Based on current information, yes.

  27. The FPL Units
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    9 months, 6 days ago

    Any changes on this WC?

    Pope Dubs
    Senesi Lacroix Andersen Timber Gabriel
    Saka Caicedo Enzo Semenyo Sarr
    Haaland Bowen Foster

    Half thinking I go Saka, Rice and Gab? Drop Enzo for Rice?

    1. The Night Trunker.
      • 2 Years
      9 months, 5 days ago

      If you do that, and are still on the 532 541 train, I would at least double the New defence with Burn or your flavour of Magpie.

  28. theshazly
    • 3 Years
    9 months, 6 days ago

    Pope ( Dub )
    Timber Gabriel Diouf ( Guehi / Guddmnssn )
    Saka Reijnders Kudus Caicedo Semenyo
    Haaland JPn( Foster )

    2.5 ITB

    Any comments on this WC ?

    1. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      9 months, 6 days ago

      My WC above, I am not keen at all having JP in on a WC.

  29. Sloopy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    9 months, 5 days ago

    Thanks! Very usefull!

  30. Dubem_FC
    • 10 Years
    9 months, 5 days ago

    Well thought article.