FPL
22 October 2025 492 comments
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Defensive contribution (DefCon/DC) points are the talk of the town in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) this season.

Of the 10 top-scoring defenders in FPL in 2025/26 so far, eight of them have banked at least six DefCon points.

Most of the leading midfielders have hit the ‘DC’ threshold at least once, too.

Before the start of the season, most of our research centred around looking at 2024/25’s underlying defensive numbers. James Tarkowski (£5.5m) and Moises Caicedo (£5.9m) were among the names that stood out as potential beneficiaries, and so it’s proved in the opening eight Gameweeks of this campaign.

But might DefCons be a bigger deal than we thought? Gabriel Magalhaes (£6.4m) has already beaten the tally he would have got in 2024/25. The number of defenders hitting the DefCon threshold in 50%+ of matches has also risen.

With that in mind, we thought we’d delve into the Members Area to see if the signs point to 2025/26 being a big campaign for DefCon points.

defensive contributions

DEFCON POINTS BY SEASON

Below, we’ve mapped out the defender and midfielder DefCon points for each of the eight most recent seasons, which is as far back as our data goes.

From 2018/19 to 2024/25, we’ve converted the underlying defensive data into tangible FPL points.

For 2025/26, we’re using the actual FPL points for DefCon – and we’ve projected to the end of the campaign based on the current rate of returns after eight Gameweeks (338 for defenders, 202 for midfielders).

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  1. kysersosa
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 months, 7 days ago

    Planning on starting Rodon over Bowen (playing each other) this week.

    A) Yes
    B) No switch

    1. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 months, 7 days ago

      Brave. West Ham are doing better away this season ..... although they're still crap.

      1. kysersosa
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 months, 7 days ago

        Yeah both middle of the table for away xG and Home conceded xG.

        Coin toss

        1. Old Man
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          4 months, 7 days ago

          One extra factor: Rodon has scored twice recently. That will give him every incentive to do it again.

          1. kysersosa
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            4 months, 7 days ago

            West Ham and set pieces too…

          2. kysersosa
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            4 months, 5 days ago

            Called it

    2. Boleyn Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      4 months, 7 days ago

      Never bench Bowen. For any goal we score he's close to 50% likely to be involved

      1. kysersosa
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 months, 5 days ago

        Sigh

  2. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
    • 9 Years
    4 months, 7 days ago

    Champions league fantasy related. Play Vanaken or Pedro Goncales.

  3. Bruno G
    • 3 Years
    4 months, 7 days ago

    On a wildcard, mostly decided but one dilemma - Richards and Semenyo or Munoz and Enzo?

    1. kysersosa
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 months, 7 days ago

      Richards and Semenyo

      1. Bruno G
        • 3 Years
        4 months, 7 days ago

        Thanks, I kinda know that’s the right or sensible answer but I really want Munoz and I’m hoping someone will talk me into it!

        1. BananaDrama
            4 months, 7 days ago

            In that case, get Munoz and Semenyo, and downgrade a different player if you're short of funds. Munoz is great and I really ought to learn not to leave him on the bench

      2. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
        • 9 Years
        4 months, 7 days ago

        106 points vs 87 points as of last gameweek.

    2. -GK22-
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 months, 7 days ago

      Captain Kane or Mbappe tonight?

      1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
        • 9 Years
        4 months, 7 days ago

        Kane

    3. I have no Wirtz
        4 months, 7 days ago

        Chalobah > James on FT too sideways? I like the higher ceiling a lot, plus I am still miffed about the red card. Already have Gab Timber Guehi and Sinesi.

        1. Cold Palms
          • 1 Year
          4 months, 7 days ago

          Wait.. If he starts and comes through tonights game injury free then possibly but then I’m thinking also you must be FT rich otherwise just keep Chalobah

        2. g40steve
          • 7 Years
          4 months, 7 days ago

          One plays one breaks down you choose

        3. Brosstan
          • 11 Years
          4 months, 7 days ago

          Waste of transfer. I'd even say it's a negative transfer because James will last at most 3 gws before getting injured again

      • F4L
        • 11 Years
        4 months, 7 days ago

        4 at the back has gone from tempting to feeling necessary tbh. still think 5 might be overdoing it as value in defence starts to lose out as even if an 8 mil mid might only outscore a 5.5-6mil defender by 15-20 points you obviously need to use all your budget but yeah. maybe if salah or palmer were firing 5 back would make sense

        1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
          • 9 Years
          4 months, 7 days ago

          Agree. Went for 3 5 2 on my GW 8 WC. Plan is to shift to 4 4 2 in GW 10:

          Pope
          Gabriel Timber Munoz Senesi
          Saka Bruno Semenyo Sarr
          Haaland Mateta

          Dubravka King Mukiele Gulu

          1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
            • 9 Years
            4 months, 7 days ago

            Or will get Gakpo for either Saka or Bruno.

          2. F4L
            • 11 Years
            4 months, 7 days ago

            yeah very nice team, similar to what i might move to:

            Raya
            Gabriel VVD Lacroix Senesi
            Saka Bruno Mbeumo Sarr
            Haaland Mateta

            can get there with two -4s in next 2 GWs. my tv isnt the best so, would prefer semenyo and munoz to sarr and vvd but yeah

            1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
              • 9 Years
              4 months, 7 days ago

              VVD can prove to be a good pick foe that period. I want to pick one Liverpool, hence considering Gakpo. Might actually play with 2 Arsenal defenders and move Saka out for Gakpo. Leaves more in the bank for future upgrades.

      • Make FPL Casual Again
        • 7 Years
        4 months, 7 days ago

        People switching to 2 forwards and a fodder, when Mateta, Woltemade and maybe Pedro if he drops to 10......

        1. Make FPL Casual Again
          • 7 Years
          4 months, 7 days ago

          .....are better than similar priced or even premium mids at this stage ?

          1. x.jim.x
            • 11 Years
            4 months, 7 days ago

            People are getting defenders, not midfielders - rather have Timber + change than someone like Pedro , who has seen 3 Forest managers since he last scored

            1. Make FPL Casual Again
              • 7 Years
              4 months, 7 days ago

              Well, I said Woltemade and Mateta which is 3 forward slots incl Haaland, based on current form/fixtures, and "maybe Pedro if he drops to 10"....... *maybe*

              Its obvious money needs to be put in defence, which leaves midfield as the downgrade area

              What point were you trying to make ?

              1. x.jim.x
                • 11 Years
                4 months, 7 days ago

                That I would rather play a 4-4-2 and that Pedro is a rubbish pick

                1. Make FPL Casual Again
                  • 7 Years
                  4 months, 7 days ago

                  Why focus on Pedro when the main picks I mentioned were Woltemade and Mateta who are outperforming similarly priced mids?

                  1. x.jim.x
                    • 11 Years
                    4 months, 7 days ago

                    Why focus on midfielders when people are swapping their forwards for defenders?

                    1. Make FPL Casual Again
                      • 7 Years
                      4 months, 7 days ago

                      You know you can have alm the defenders you want and 3 forward slots?

                      Are you saying Woltemade and Mateta are bad picks?

                      1. MVDP
                        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                        • 1 Year
                        4 months, 7 days ago

                        Agreed.

                      2. x.jim.x
                        • 11 Years
                        4 months, 7 days ago

                        You can't play them all though.

                        Not bad picks in a vacuum, but they're being outscored by all the premium defenders at the minute, hence why people are dropping a forward and shifting to 4-4-2 (like I said 4 comments ago)

                        1. Make FPL Casual Again
                          • 7 Years
                          4 months, 7 days ago

                          You do know there's such thing as a 433, right?

                          Or hybrid 433/343 rotating 4th defender etc ?

                          1. x.jim.x
                            • 11 Years
                            4 months, 7 days ago

                            Yeah but there's more choice in the midfielder pot - you've already outlined the only 2 real non-Haaland options for strikers.

                          2. Make FPL Casual Again
                            • 7 Years
                            4 months, 7 days ago

                            As it stand mids not really doing it outside of couple of picks, could change obviously...

                            You can still have 4 playable mids, and can even rotate one of the cheaper options..

                          3. x.jim.x
                            • 11 Years
                            4 months, 7 days ago

                            Players with 5+ PPG by position:

                            GKP: 4
                            DEF: 16
                            MID: 12
                            FWD: 4

                          4. Make FPL Casual Again
                            • 7 Years
                            4 months, 7 days ago

                            You can only start 11 players

                            Woltemade is 6th highest total ppg of all players, ahead of all mids except Semenyo, good upcoming fixtures

                            Mateta is posting ridiculous Haaland level underlyings, coming into form with good fixtures

      • One Wheels Enough
        • 6 Years
        4 months, 7 days ago

        If you have 2 free transfers when you use a WC do you get 2 free transfers the following week or 3?

        1. Bobby Digital
          • 8 Years
          4 months, 7 days ago

          2

        2. F4L
          • 11 Years
          4 months, 7 days ago

          2.

          no ft is gained when playing wc/fh chip

      • el polako
        • 8 Years
        4 months, 7 days ago

        Went early on Isak and now thinking about selling after just 2 games.
        It would allow me to upgrade injured Romero to Gabriel or Timber.

        Yay or nay?

        1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
          • 9 Years
          4 months, 7 days ago

          Yes

        2. Bobby Digital
          • 8 Years
          4 months, 7 days ago

          For a hit or no?

          1. el polako
            • 8 Years
            4 months, 7 days ago

            Use my both FT’s.

            1. Bobby Digital
              • 8 Years
              4 months, 7 days ago

              Go for it then

              1. el polako
                • 8 Years
                4 months, 7 days ago

                Think so, sometimes need to admit you’ve made a mistake and don’t be too proud.

        3. MVDP
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 1 Year
          4 months, 7 days ago

          Yes.

        4. el polako
          • 8 Years
          4 months, 7 days ago

          Pretty conclusive, thanks all.

      • MVDP
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 1 Year
        4 months, 7 days ago

        I’ve had a suspicion for quite a while that, by seasons end, Xhaka and Rice will be right up the top end of the mids with their drip, drip points.

        If I sell (probably) Salah this week that’s my next ploy. Set and forget (injuries aside).

        Also. A lot of ink being spilt about Bruno… he may also drip, drip to the higher reaches as well, imo.

        1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
          • 9 Years
          4 months, 7 days ago

          Bruno might not leave my team till the end of the season. And Rice can prove to be a great pick alongside two Arsenal defenders.

          1. MVDP
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 1 Year
            4 months, 7 days ago

            ….. and Xhaka the stand out sub imo.

      • Obi 1 Kenobi 0
          4 months, 7 days ago

          Toying with the idea of givingSemenyo the armband this week, is it madness takingit off haaland?

          1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
            • 9 Years
            4 months, 7 days ago

            Risk Reward

          2. x.jim.x
            • 11 Years
            4 months, 7 days ago

            Would have been a canny pick on paper last week, but Forest's main goal this week will be staying compact and keeping a clean sheet.

            Villa are still giving up chances, so I'm finding it difficult to bet against Haaland in the form he's in.

            1. JBG
              • 7 Years
              4 months, 7 days ago

              Pretty much this

            2. Old Man
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 14 Years
              4 months, 7 days ago

              Especially as Villa play a high line.

            3. Obi 1 Kenobi 0
                4 months, 7 days ago

                True that, I failed to take into account the Dyche factor

          3. JBG
            • 7 Years
            4 months, 7 days ago

            Pick uno:

            A) Gakpo
            B) Gordon*

            1) Burn
            2) R.James
            3) Chalobah

            *Already have Woldermort

            1. x.jim.x
              • 11 Years
              4 months, 7 days ago

              B2

            2. Bobby Digital
              • 8 Years
              4 months, 7 days ago

              A3

            3. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
              • 9 Years
              4 months, 7 days ago

              A3

            4. Hutchiniho
              • 7 Years
              4 months, 7 days ago

              B2

          4. Skogen89
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            4 months, 7 days ago

            What to do here? Priority to get wirtz out of my team. I want Gabriel/ and raya

            Dubravka/ sels
            Munoz porro cucurella esteve dorgu
            Reijnder chan eze semenyo wirtz
            Haaland Mateta gyokeres

            2ft and 0 itb

            A) wirtz, hee-chan and gyokeres > woltemade, enzo and bruno (-4)
            B) wirtz and gyokeres > saka and 7.1 for (could go kroupi jr, and play 442 most weeks)
            C) wirtz and dorgu > Enzo and Gabriel
            D) other??

            1. Bobby Digital
              • 8 Years
              4 months, 7 days ago

              D) Wirtz and HeeChan out

          5. Prison Mike
            • 10 Years
            4 months, 7 days ago

            Who to start this week?

            A) Munoz (ars)

            B) Gudmundsson (WHU)

            1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
              • 9 Years
              4 months, 7 days ago

              B

            2. Bobby Digital
              • 8 Years
              4 months, 7 days ago

              B

            3. Hutchiniho
              • 7 Years
              4 months, 7 days ago

              Wow. Two votes for Leeds makes me question the value of Munoz.
              Maybe I could go Richards and save £1m

              1. BananaDrama
                  4 months, 7 days ago

                  Munoz won't be playing Arsenal every week though

                • x.jim.x
                  • 11 Years
                  4 months, 7 days ago

                  This logic makes no sense to me, it's one GW.

                  If the question was Gabriel (liv) vs Mukiele (WOL) would you question the former's value?

              2. Snoopydog
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 1 Year
                4 months, 7 days ago

                fwiw plan to start Gud over Guehi

            4. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
              • 8 Years
              4 months, 7 days ago

              Start 1:

              A)Reijnders
              B)Rodon

              1. Bobby Digital
                • 8 Years
                4 months, 7 days ago

                B

              2. Hutchiniho
                • 7 Years
                4 months, 7 days ago

                I’m starting Rodon

              3. I have no Wirtz
                  4 months, 7 days ago

                  Not Reijnders, we have had so much patience with him, probably the price tag was tempting too. But the 1 point in gw8 was the final nail in the coffin.

              4. Smudger’s Dirty Dozen
                • 14 Years
                4 months, 7 days ago

                Team for the GW - 1FT

                Pope (Dubravka)
                Tark Gabriel Senesi
                Semenyo Saka Reinjders Stach Ndiaye
                Haaland (C) Pedro
                Subs Richards Alderete Richarlison

                A Stick
                B Richarlison to Welbeck
                C Richarlison to woltemade
                D Stach to Sarr
                E Stach to Bruno

                1. Bobby Digital
                  • 8 Years
                  4 months, 7 days ago

                  C

                2. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
                  • 8 Years
                  4 months, 7 days ago

                  C

                3. Hutchiniho
                  • 7 Years
                  4 months, 7 days ago

                  I’d want Sarr but Richarlison is a waste of money right now

                4. jonnybhoy
                  • 13 Years
                  4 months, 7 days ago

                  C

              5. DavvaMC
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 5 Years
                4 months, 7 days ago

                Would you make this transfer?

                Foden > Enzo

                Thanks

                1. x.jim.x
                  • 11 Years
                  4 months, 7 days ago

                  Yes - Phil Foden retired from professional football last summer

                  1. DavvaMC
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 5 Years
                    4 months, 7 days ago

                    🙂

                  2. DavvaMC
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 5 Years
                    4 months, 7 days ago

                    Would you do it for a hit?

                    1. x.jim.x
                      • 11 Years
                      4 months, 7 days ago

                      Probably not - even if you assume Enzo is okay, Chelsea aren't that great and Sunderland aren't that bad. You'd have thought Foden would start at least.

              6. CoracAld2831
                • 5 Years
                4 months, 7 days ago

                Sell or keep Andersen?

                A: Sell for Richards
                B: Sell for Truffert
                C: Keep him

                1. Hutchiniho
                  • 7 Years
                  4 months, 7 days ago

                  Richards

              7. Saka White Rice
                • 11 Years
                4 months, 7 days ago

                Would you have all 4 of Gabriel, Timber, Munoz and Senesi on a WC?

                1. Hutchiniho
                  • 7 Years
                  4 months, 7 days ago

                  Yes

                  1. Hutchiniho
                    • 7 Years
                    4 months, 7 days ago

                    That’s the Def I’d want

                2. jonnybhoy
                  • 13 Years
                  4 months, 7 days ago

                  Yep

                3. CoracAld2831
                  • 5 Years
                  4 months, 7 days ago

                  Yes.

              8. Hutchiniho
                • 7 Years
                4 months, 7 days ago

                Munoz and Enzo
                Or
                Richard’s and Mbeumo

                1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
                  • 9 Years
                  4 months, 7 days ago

                  Both are better in option A

                2. jonnybhoy
                  • 13 Years
                  4 months, 7 days ago

                  A

                3. Jet5605
                  • 11 Years
                  4 months, 7 days ago

                  A

              9. jonnybhoy
                • 13 Years
                4 months, 7 days ago

                What to do? 3FT 0.1ITB

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

                Dubravka Tarkowski Stach Gudmundsson

                A) Bruno and Gyokeres to Saka and Woltemande
                B) Gvardiol and Reijnders to Enzo and def up to 4.5m
                C) Roll
                D) Something else

                1. aleksios
                  • 10 Years
                  4 months, 7 days ago

                  No way sell.
                  Bruno and Gyok are a keep.
                  Save.

              10. Revival
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 13 Years
                4 months, 7 days ago

                Which Forward for FPL Challenge this week?

                Bowen ( gets double points ) or Haaland

                1. x.jim.x
                  • 11 Years
                  4 months, 7 days ago

                  Feel like with Challenge, it's more fun to just go all in on the bonus.

                  Pickford
                  Gabriel - James (C)
                  Bruno - Salah
                  Bowen

                  1. Revival
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 13 Years
                    4 months, 7 days ago

                    Pope
                    Gabriel James VVD
                    Bruno (C)
                    Bowen???

                    1. x.jim.x
                      • 11 Years
                      4 months, 7 days ago

                      Pope's not been there 5 years has he? Fancy Brentford to score anorl

                      1. Revival
                        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                        • 13 Years
                        4 months, 7 days ago

                        Not seeing a Pickford clean sheet so just going with Pope ( single points ) as has a better fixture. VVD for Defcon points more than a cleanie I suppose.

                  2. iFash@FPL
                    • 2 Years
                    4 months, 7 days ago

                    This is my exact team config. 🙂

              11. Jet5605
                • 11 Years
                4 months, 7 days ago

                Best Paqueta replacement

                A - Enzo (if fit)
                B - Bruno
                C - MbeumoD - Roll 

                Pope
                Gabriel - Timber - Senesi 
                Gakpo - Semenyo - Paqueta - Grealish
                Haaland - Wolt - Mateta

                Dubrav - Reijnders - Andersen - Gudmund 

                1. aleksios
                  • 10 Years
                  4 months, 7 days ago

                  B.

              12. DagheMunegu
                • 5 Years
                4 months, 7 days ago

                Would you BB ?

                Dubravka (wol) Larsen (BUR) Rodon (WHA) Richards (ars)

                1. aleksios
                  • 10 Years
                  4 months, 7 days ago

                  No

              13. Pep Roulette
                • 8 Years
                4 months, 7 days ago

                Salah benched finally. And that's not a rest at all!

                1. iFash@FPL
                  • 2 Years
                  4 months, 7 days ago

                  Plus he needs the rest.

                2. Ball Ake
                  • 1 Year
                  4 months, 7 days ago

                  The BBC have Ekitike and Isak in a front two with Wirtz in central mid, surely can't be right. Frimpong on the right instead of Chiesa

                  1. The Night Trunker.
                    • 2 Years
                    4 months, 7 days ago

                    The BBC have been on the fake news gravy train for some time now.
                    It's our version of the State's "Mockingbird" program.

                    1. Ball Ake
                      • 1 Year
                      4 months, 7 days ago

                      I suspect it's more that their football journalists know jackshit

                      1. The Night Trunker.
                        • 2 Years
                        4 months, 7 days ago

                        Journalists is slightly flattering I feel.

              14. Bobbyg1
                • 14 Years
                4 months, 7 days ago

                Enzo starts

                1. iFash@FPL
                  • 2 Years
                  4 months, 7 days ago

                  Hope he’s subbed early, to keep him fresh for the weekend.

              15. Fingerspitzengefühl
                • 9 Years
                4 months, 7 days ago

                Hi all!

                Would you rather play Stach or Rodon in GW9?

                1. JBG
                  • 7 Years
                  4 months, 7 days ago

                  Stach

                2. iFash@FPL
                  • 2 Years
                  4 months, 7 days ago

                  Rodon

                3. Revival
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 13 Years
                  4 months, 7 days ago

                  Stach

              16. The Big Fella
                • 9 Years
                4 months, 7 days ago

                Liverpool’s good fixtures start in a couple of GWs - I am unsure whether to keep Virgil or sell for somebody else better in form. What will others do?

                1. iFash@FPL
                  • 2 Years
                  4 months, 7 days ago

                  Virgil is one of my noodle scratchers. I’m keeping for now.

                  1. The Big Fella
                    • 9 Years
                    4 months, 7 days ago

                    He’s a lot of money for the points he is returning but fixtures are going to get good soon and Salah has been dropped tonight which may continue in the league if tonight goes well

                2. Nightcrawler
                  • 6 Years
                  4 months, 7 days ago

                  im keeping him now for the fixtures. he's a differential and ive already sat through most of the tough games so ill just hope that has a pay off

              17. Nightcrawler
                • 6 Years
                4 months, 7 days ago

                Smart from Maresca

                chelsea won't finish outside top 24 and cant really get top 8 so might as well just rest most the first team. UCL format needs tweaking to add more jeopardy

                1. The Night Trunker.
                  • 2 Years
                  4 months, 7 days ago

                  Looking forward to a full game from Estevao.

                2. Revival
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 13 Years
                  4 months, 7 days ago

                  Chelsea can still get top 8. Reckon about 5 wins and 1 draw from 8 the games would do it, but they have good cover in every position so qualms about them resting players.

              18. The Night Trunker.
                • 2 Years
                4 months, 7 days ago

                Marshmallowdevile clean sheet tonight please.