Having analysed the Goalkeepers and Budget Defenders, we continue our analysis of the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) player list with a look at what defenders can offer in the mid-price bracket.
Before we dive in, it’s worth bearing in mind a handful of new changes to the FPL Bonus Point System (BPS) system revealed on Thursday which will affect defenders.
As we’ve already discussed, a decrease in the BPS for pass completion will prove detrimental to defenders in teams that dominate possession. This will influence some of the contenders in this article, particularly Per Mertesacker, Phil Jagielka and Jose Fonte – the three top-rated defenders for successful passes last term.
On the flipside, an alteration to the Clearances, Blocks and Interceptions (CBI) should boost the bonus point prospects of dominant central defenders. Previously, a defender was required to make three clearances, blocks or interceptions to earn a point towards BPS but now needs to make just two. In addition, players are now rewarded two BPS points for every net successful tackle this time around – double last season’s one point.
With that in mind, we’ll now assess the main mid-price candidates…
There’s no doubt that Fantasy managers are spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing an Arsenal defender. Per Mertesacker has dropped from 6.0 to 5.5 this term after failing to score in the previous campaign. The German notched five goals across the previous two seasons, though, and should continue his partnership at the centre of the Gunners defence alongside Laurent Koscielny, with Gabriel and Calum Chambers offering back-up.
Mertesacker’s claims are also arguably boosted by the competition in both full-back positions that places uncertainty over similarly-priced team-mates. Nacho Monreal seems to be slightly ahead of Kieran Gibbs in the left-back pecking order, while Hector Bellerin will be challenged by the fit-again Mathieu Debuchy on the opposite side of defence. Petr Cech offers an alternative between the posts for those unwilling to splash out 6.0 on Koscielny, though looking at the CBI from last season, the Frenchman has a clear edge over Mertesacker – he averaged a CBI every 8.73 minutes to the German’s 11.37.
Villa’s Leandro Bacuna has been reclassified as a defender after featuring at right-back under Tim Sherwood. The Dutchman takes the majority of Aston Villa’s direct free-kicks, which helped him rack up five assists last term, while he scored five goals and picked up an assist in the 2013/14 campaign. Under Sherwood, Villa kept just three clean sheets in 13 matches and with all of his defensive team-mates cheaper, few will be willing to shell out 5.0 for a Villa defender.
Chelsea Kurt Zouma and Filipe Luis take up just 5.5 of your budget but both look far too risky picks, given that Thibaut Courtois is the same price in goal. Zouma will be hoping to oust Gary Cahill from the starting XI after a handful of appearances towards the latter half of last term, whilst Luis looks likely to play second fiddle to Cesar Azpilicueta at left-back.
The only Crystal Palace defender to feature in the mid-price bracket is Scott Dann, who comes in at 5.0. The centre-back scored twice and provided four assists last season, posing a real threat to opposition defences – he was sixth among all defenders last term for goal attempts from inside the box (19). Given that the Eagles only kept two clean sheets in 18 matches under Alan Pardew, their backline is far from convincing and Dann may struggle to earn new suitors at that price. The Palace centre-half was fifteenth for CBI last season – a total of 313 was some way behind Burnley’s Jason Shackell at the summit on 549.
Everton’s Phil Jagielka and John Stones both carry a price tag of 5.5 in FPL this season, with the former the joint-third highest scoring defender last term with 142 points. Jagielka scored four times and grabbed an impressive 21 bonus points in the previous campaign, although Stones also shone when he usurped Sylvain Distin in the starting line-up during the latter part of the season, and also fared well when it came to bonus points, accruing 11 from just 23 starts. Looking at the CBI, though, Jagielka looks the likeliest to benefit here. He finished third highest last season and averaged one clearance, block or interception every 7.34 minutes to Stones’ 10.22.
After offering an out-of-position threat for much of last season, Leicester’s Jeffrey Schlupp now sets us back 5.0. The Ghana international scored three goals and grabbed two assists last term thanks to being fielded in an advanced role by Nigel Pearson. Pearson’s departure, however, allied with the arrival of Christian Fuchs from Schalke, places real uncertainty over Schlupp’s pitch time. Set-piece specialist Fuchs chalked up eight goals and 30 assists in 136 matches for the Bundesliga outfit and is favourite to nail down a role on the left for the Foxes. Wes Morgan, Robert Huth and Kasper Schmeichel all offer cheaper options at 4.5 apiece, though.
All of Liverpool’s likely starters at the back fall in the mid-price category, with new addition Nathaniel Clyne and Martin Skrtel looking the pick of the options available at 5.5. The former Southampton defender offers an attacking threat down the right flank, and should Brendan Rodgers employ a wing-back system once again, Clyne’s prospects would be enhanced even further. It’s also worth noting that Clyne made more tackles than any other defender last season and was fourth for successful challenges.
Skrtel was a bonus-point magnet last term, picking up 25, more than any backline option. Given that he finished fifth for CBI – averaging one every 7.58 minutes, quicker than any Liverpool defender – his prospects look good again, despite taking a BPS hit via pass completion (Skrtel ranked fourth for defenders). With an aerial threat from set plays also in his locker, having scored seven goals in the 2013/14 campaign, he could rival Clyne in terms of attacking output.
Alberto Moreno, Dejan Lovren and Mamadou Sakho all come in at 5.0. The Spaniard looks the most secure of those three for starts, with Lovren and Sakho likely to battle it out for a role alongside Skrtel if the Reds roll out a four-man backline.
Over at the Etihad, concerns over rotation hang over the majority of the options available at 5.5 in FPL. Eliaquim Mangala showed some signs of improvement in the final few weeks of last season, but he and Martin Demichelis could share playing time alongside Vincent Kompany. Aleksandar Kolarov offers huge potential in terms of attacking returns, as illustrated by his two goals and assist in Man City’s final five matches of last season, but Gael Clichy is now back to full fitness and would seem likely to take some starts away from the Serbia international.
The majority of Man United’s backline fall into the mid-price bracket this season. Frustratingly, though, there’s a lot of uncertainty surrounding Louis van Gaal’s preferred back-four – due to injury or rotation, no United defender managed to start at least 30 league matches in 2014/15.
Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo look set to vie with the costlier Chris Smalling for a role at centre-half. Jones was United’s top performer for CBI last season but produced just 251 as he was restricted to 22 appearances. Nonetheless, an average of one every 7.86 minutes was quicker than any other United defender.
Should new boy Matteo Darmian come in at 5.5, he could arrive on our radars as a likely starter at right-back ahead of Antonio Valencia, who is now reclassified as a defender after being utilised at the back for most of last season. Darmian carries a decent goal threat, scoring twice for Torino last year in Serie A, though if Luke Shaw can avoid the treatment table, he could rival the Italian as an attacking threat. Until the former Southampton man can put together a decent run of starts, mass investment appears unlikely.
Daryl Janmaat’s impressive first season in England, which saw him score once and rack up eight assists, sees the Dutch international retain his 5.0 starting price tag. With Newcastle’s tough opening fixtures, however, Fantasy managers may take a watching brief at the start of the campaign to see what effect new boss Steve McClaren can have on a backline which only yielded eight shut-outs last term. Janmaat produced 77 successful tackles last term – the third highest tally amongst defenders.
A similar attacking threat has seen Sunderland’s Patrick van Aanholt earn a price hike up to 5.0, after he notched five assists last season. With regular starters such as John O’Shea and Sebastian Coates available at 4.5, there are certainly decent alternatives into a defence with 13 shut-outs last season. With Costel Pantilimon similarly priced, Van Aanholt’s appeal is somewhat diminished, given the Romanian’s save point potential.
Following spectacular campaigns last season, Southampton’s Ryan Bertrand and Jose Fonte will now set us back 5.5 in FPL, although both ended last season nearer 6.0. Bertrand’s knee injury means it’s Fonte who looks the better pick of the two from the off, although with just a single assist to his name in terms of attacking returns last season, the Portuguese international offered little attacking output. Fonte finished ninth amongst defenders for CBI (348), with an average of 10.2 better than any other Saints backline regular, but he will suffer a BPS loss as a result of the tweak to pass completion.
It could be new signing Cedric Soares, available for 5.0, that captures our attention the most. Soares tallied two goals and 11 assists in 89 appearances in all competitions for Sporting Lisbon and looks set to replace Clyne as the Saints’ first-choice right-back. With 15 shut-outs to their name last time out, Soares has the potential to offer strong value.
All of Tottenham’s likely starters fall in the mid-price category. New boy Toby Alderweireld immediately looks appealing at 5.0. He should partner Belgian compatriot Jan Vertonghen at the heart of the Spurs defence and comes in at 0.5 less than his partner. Of the two, Vertonghen’s frequency of CBI was the most impressive last term – he averaged one every 8.98 minutes to Alderweireld’s 11.63.
Danny Rose flourished as an attacking threat in 2014/15, scoring three goals and laying on five assists, and could be worth the extra 0.5 outlay on Alderweireld, although Ben Davies could steal the odd start, particularly when Europa League commitments begin. Kieran Trippier is expected to get the nod over Kyle Walker at right-back and was second only to Leighton Baines amongst defenders last season for chances created. At 5.5, though, the outlay is hefty given that Spurs managed just nine clean sheets last time out.
Over at Stoke, Ryan Shawcross and Erik Pieters both come in at 5.0, with the former looking the stronger option because of the security of starts and his threat from set-pieces. Shawcross sat tenth for CBI (337) in 2014/15, with an average of one every 8.88 quicker than any team-mate, but with cheaper options at the back for Mark Hughes’ side, some may avoid, given that the Potters produced only nine shut-outs in the previous campaign.
At fellow mid-table candidates Swansea, Ashley Williams looks the pick of the starters priced at 5.0, having only missed seven matches over the last four campaigns. The Wales captain was a solid source of bonus points last season, registering 15, and with Neil Taylor and the more attack-minded Franck Tabanou set the battle it out for the starting berth at left-back, seems the sensible choice from the Swans backline. Crucially, Williams was second overall for CBI last season and looks set to be one of the main beneficiaries of the new tweaks. Don’t expect attacking returns, however, Williams mustered just a single shot on target from 37 appearances last term.
Craig Dawson became a firm favourite under Tony Pulis at right-back for West Brom last season, although the former Rochdale defender will set us back 5.0 this time around. That’s the same price as Joleon Lescott and Gareth McAuley, though intriguingly, Dawson was the quickest of the three for CBI (one every 9.3 minutes) despite being utilised as a full-back by Pulis. Given that the Baggies produced ten clean sheets in 18 matches under their new manager – more than any other side from Gameweek 21 onwards – those price tags look set to offer us excellent value as a route into a defence with a total of 16 shut-outs over the course of 2014/15.
At West Ham, Aaron Cresswell is priced at 5.5 once again after scoring twice and grabbing four assists last term. The addition of Dimitri Payet could see the left-back lose some of his direct free-kick duties, however, meaning new signing Angelo Ogbonna – of priced at 5.0 – could be the best bet, given that Winston Reid and James Tomkins looks set to vie for the other central defensive slot alongside the former Juventus man. Slaven Bilic is surely set to address the right-back berth, though, and if Carl Jenkinson completes a mooted move to Upton Park, he offers another option at 5.0.
