Sky Sports

The best goalkeepers and defenders for Sky Sports Fantasy Football

With less than a week to go, the time is now to decide on which defenders will and will not make your Sky Sports Fantasy Football backline.

Goalkeepers and defenders are an integral part of any team, but they have become increasingly important in the art of Fantasy Football, and even more so in Sky Sports Fantasy Football.

Rewinding to the 2018/19 campaign, I reported that there were five defenders among the top 10 point-scorers in the game, but fast forward to last season, and there were four goalkeepers and defenders combined who achieved the same feat, those being Dean Henderson and the Liverpool trio of Andrew Robertson, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk.

There are some potential bargains, and there are some which will come out of the woodwork, but two, or three of these five defensive players should be at the heart of your consideration when building your starting XI.

John Egan – £7.2m

Claiming an impressive 146 Fantasy Football points in his debut season in the Premier League, John Egan was value-for-money during Sheffield United’s successful campaign. Even with an increased price tag of £7.2m, he comes in as one of the cheapest assets in defence who started the majority of games last season.

This is reflected in his selection percentage, which currently stands at 11.75%. The price caters to accommodate those bigger players in defence, but at one of the value or budget picks, you will not go too far wrong with Egan, a solid defender who kept 13 clean sheets last term, scoring twice and picking up two man-of-the-match awards too.

Virgil van Dijk – £10.9m

Liverpool's FPL defenders struggle as Arteta hands out Arsenal goalkeeper clues

For the second season in succession, Virgil van Dijk recorded the most points out of any of the defenders, and of any player in Sky Sports Fantasy Football, despite racking up 31 points less (268) than he did in 2018/19 (299). This does still equate to 7.1 points per game, a fitting average for the most expensive defender, his price inflating to £10.9m for the new season.

It does not seem to have put many off, with van Dijk making it into 32.37 per cent of Fantasy Football teams. With 15 clean sheets, five goals, and hitting tier two passing bonus points (70+) on 21 occasions last season, it seems that even £10.9m is not beyond the extreme to have the Dutch skipper in your side.

With just four games to navigate before the Overhaul (unlimited transfers within the £100m budget for a set period of time), van Dijk looks a good route to get your season off and running emphatically, starting with new boys Leeds on Saturday, despite Chelsea and Arsenal following afterwards.

Nick Pope – £6.7m

The Burnley stopper registered a whopping 215 Fantasy points last season, just three behind Dean Henderson, who topped the charts. Nick Pope kept 15 clean sheets, just the one behind Ederson who claimed the Golden Glove. He has since earned an England call-up off the back of his solid performances between the sticks.

Burnley’s ever-resolute defence only let in 50 goals last campaign, and this level of consistency is expected to continue next year. After a tough trip to Leicester on the opening day, Burnley face Southampton and Newcastle before the international break.

Pope tallied tier one bonus points (three or more saves) on 15 occasions and tier two (five or more saves) six times, so even when clean sheets may be hard to come by, there will still be averages coming in from your number one.

Trent Alexander-Arnold – £10.6m

Trent Alexander-Arnold finished fourth in the Sky Sports Fantasy Football charts last campaign with 245 points. He made double figures with assists for the second consecutive season, ending on 13 from that department. Trent cruised his way to the Young Player of the Year award, and is set for another enjoyable term in the red of Liverpool.

Perhaps it is the fact that the English full back comes into the game £0.3m cheaper than his teammate Virgil van Dijk is the reason behind a higher selection percentage, which stands at 37.07 per cent. Will Alexander-Arnold make it into your starting XI for the opening day?

Kieran Tierney – £8.1m

We really started to see the best of Kieran Tierney towards the back end of last season, and the Scotsman played his part in Arsenal’s FA Cup final success. With a pre-season under his belt, he should be fit and raring to go ahead of the new campaign.

His statistics may not look the most promising, but his ability to get down the flanks and right to the byline before delivering inch-perfect crosses should account for an upturn in assists from defence. As well as this, Arsenal’s defence should (should) be a bit more solid and sturdy with William Saliba coming back from his loan spell and the introduction of Gabriel, so clean sheet points could be easier to come by.

Only a short period of time awaits until the first match of the season, with Fulham hosting Arsenal at Craven Cottage. 

Change and amend your team, and who knows, you could land yourself the £50,000 jackpot!

Best players by position:

2,968 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Dutchy
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Reece James or Maitland Niles

    1. 3 A
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A if nailed

      1. olly:)
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        agreed, don't think either are nailed if i'm honest tho

      2. some witty pun
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        James will hardly ever be nailed I'm afraid. Azpilicueta is club captain and shares minutes at RB

    2. Guba
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Neither are nailed

  2. adstomko
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    McCarthy
    Trent, Mina, Egan, Coady
    Aubameyang, Salah, Rodriguez, Saint-Maximin
    Werner, Ings
    (Button, KWP, Lemina, Davis)

    - Punting on the Mina + James combo from GW2
    - Salah to Bruno in GW2
    - Perhaps swap KWP for another 4.5m

    Thoughts?

  3. FFSbet.com
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Ok set to go after no.1 without Man. Utd or City players.

  4. olly:)
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Gonna start with Rob Holding, almost guaranteed to start GW1 and if they play well will most likely play GW2 also, only need him for first 2 then happy to bench.

  5. Dynamic Duos
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Top 3 5m defenders?

    1. Sterling Malory
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Bellerin, Davies, O'Connell?

      1. Sterling Malory
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Saiss maybe over O'connell

    2. some witty pun
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Egan
      Coady
      Dunk
      James if you want to take a bit of risk

      1. pingissimus
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Nice call on Dunk - been thinking about him

    3. Phil's Stamps
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Saiss
      Davies
      Egan

      1. Dynamic Duos
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        I think these 2 and below agrees, thanks guys

    4. ㅤRising
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Davies/Dier Egan Saiss

    5. Leaf
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Poor bunch this year at that price

    6. 3 A
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Egan
      Saiss
      Dier

    7. El Lobito 10
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Dier, Lindelof, Bellerin

    8. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      People ignoring Everton I see

      May take a couple to sort out but having a central midfield should do wonders for that defence.

      Keane and Coleman could feature nicely given good early fixtures. Everton are pretty much top of the ticker

  6. Sterling Malory
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Anyone else looking at Podence? Think he could be a decent option if ASM doesn't work out.

    1. Zimo
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Podence and Neto aren't really guaranteed starters though

      1. Sterling Malory
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        They weren't last season. Podence surely pushing for a more regular start this season though?

    2. 3 A
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Not really nailed

      1. Sterling Malory
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        That's why I'll be watching him, think he will become a starter.

  7. KDB4PREZ
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    With D.Luiz injured do we feel like Sabila could be a good pick? Tia

    1. some witty pun
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Seems like it to me

    2. JURGENAUT
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Holding?

      1. KDB4PREZ
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Yeah both could work but feel like sabila is better long term. Cheers

  8. Phil's Stamps
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Which forward for GW1? (I will bring in Bruno GW2)

    A) Martial on the bench
    B) Werner

    1. some witty pun
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Werner's ownership is too high to ignore

    2. Dirtymeercat666
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I’m on martial atm. Think him along with Bruno in week 2 could be very handy

    3. Phil's Stamps
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Cheers

  9. mlm
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    A) Ings+ASM
    B) Adams+Son

    1. mlm
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      C) DCL+Alli

    2. some witty pun
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I'm on A)
      Not a fan of Son with Kane in the team pushing him wider. A case can also be made for Armstrong instead of ASM

    3. Sterling Malory
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I'm on B, nothing wrong with a wide striker imo (Auba, Mane, Sterling usually do okay)

  10. KUN_DE_BRU_YNE
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Is jamal lewis nailed?

    1. Bielsa's Bucket
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Seems likely. Newcastle got a lot of injuries going into new season.

      1. Bielsa's Bucket
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        However, Ritchie is still there (depends where he plays, def / mid). Turned down latest offer from Bournemouth (wages) on loan. Bruce said he wants him to stay. So take that with a medium rather than a certain.

  11. Scout15
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Is Robertson too risky pick with that Trent's ownership?
    That 0.5m would be nice to have.

    1. JURGENAUT
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Not necessarily in the short term, but long term yes

    2. Phil's Stamps
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Yeah, if Robbo matches TAA's output it's an easy switch down.

  12. JURGENAUT
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Saliba or Holding? Who's more likely to start?

    1. Leaf
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Neither guaranteed enough to risk it

      Would suspect Saliba

    2. olly:)
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Holding, per David Ornstein

      1. olly:)
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Irrespective of David Luiz injury Mikel Arteta has made clear he wants Rob Holding as a centre-back option this season & the 24yo is now expected to stay at Arsenal rather than join Newcastle on loan. He’s also in line to start at Fulham on Saturday

  13. El Lobito 10
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Good to go?

    McCarthy
    TAA Justin Robbo Mitchell (Taylor)
    Salah Auba(C) Dele SaintMax (Rashford)
    Mitro Wilson (4.5m)

  14. Denniezy
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Thanks guys for joining! 😉
    We are growing fast.

  15. Dynamic Duos
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Think I'm done now

    McCarthy Nyland
    TAA Saiss Egan Davies Ferguson
    Salah Aubameyang Alli Hames ASM
    Werner Mitrovic Brewster

    1. some witty pun
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Interesting Hames pick

      1. Dynamic Duos
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        I think he will do well at Everton and like their fixtures

        1. Freshy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          but its Everton so it ends in tears

          1. Dynamic Duos
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 6 months ago

            Haha, Ancelotti will gets them playing well or it ends in Hames, to Greenwood, Ziyech etc.

    2. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Have a Mo free version of this where I turn Mo Alli Mitrovic into Pulisic Vardy Ings - feels like a win to me 🙂

      1. Dynamic Duos
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Your (c) would be? Salah will punish you.

        1. pingissimus
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Werner Auba or Vardy week 1

          Don't fear him at all - EO doesn't faze me. Quite possible to match his returns elsewhere. Can be a loss but equally a similar gain when he misses

          Also ownership not particularly high and not captaining him is poor value - he's not a great value player really. Well down the charts there.

          1. Dynamic Duos
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 6 months ago

            I'm (c) him gwk1

            1. pingissimus
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 6 months ago

              Perfectly fair call of course

              Have a variant of my team where he is in. Need to run through some scenarios to decide where I have most flexibility.

              All a bit of a crapshoot at this stage and flexibility is key for me.

              Mostly it comes down to whether I regard Bruno necessary early on and how tricky it'd be to get him in if I needed him. Not sure I do - some very mediocre fixtures after 3.

              1. Dynamic Duos
                • 10 Years
                3 years, 6 months ago

                I'm sure you will make the best call come Saturday morning, i don't think Bruno is needed personally, Martial is the one for me at Utd. GL mate

  16. Kulusexy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    RMT please:

    McCarthy
    TAA/Saiss/Dier/Saliba
    Salah/Son/Auba/ASM
    Ings/Jiminez

    Button/Ferguson/Bissouma/Davis+ 1mm for north London > KDB and Bruno at some point early doors

    1. El Lobito 10
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Decent

  17. Phil's Stamps
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Starting with Ramsdale in nets.

    A) McCarthy on the bench (rotates well with Ramsdale as pointed out in earlier article and might be prudent with Covid around).
    B) Keep the 0.5 ITB.

    1. some witty pun
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      B, if you're spending 5.0 on a GK I think he should start every week

    2. Freshy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      B

    3. RLew
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      B

      Alternatively, you could spend the money on KWP and Egan and pick a different 4.5 in goal.

      1. Phil's Stamps
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Thanks, but I've got a good feeling about Ramsdale and Taylor is the only 4.5 I want long-term.

  18. Emiliano Sala
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Which 2?

    Saliba
    Justin
    KWP

    McCarthy in goal.

    1. Phil's Stamps
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      KWP and find 0.5 to avoid one of the others.

  19. Dynamic Duos
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Happy with my performance over the last 2 years after being to watch alot more games, hopefully I can push on again.

    https://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/976766/history

    1. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Well done

      You just qualify for my league for people who haven't made top 10k yet I believe

      Top 10k finally

      https://fantasy.premierleague.com/leagues/auto-join/1511d7

      1. Dynamic Duos
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Made an error trying to block in my ml and made bad transfers last gwk of the season, but I did win the ML so happy 🙂

  20. MikeLowrey
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    A) Son & Havertz
    B) Salah & ASM

    Can fit both Salah & Son but would have to remove Robbo who I'm deadset keen on

  21. Greenbackbøøg…
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    % chance Nketiah starts?

    1. Sterling Malory
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      60

  22. EgyptianKing
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Mates Tierney or Dier +0.5?

    Any other defensive Arsenal asset to consider?

    1. Sterling Malory
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Bellerin at 5?

      1. EgyptianKing
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Will he start amd have consistent gametime though?

        1. Sterling Malory
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          I think to begin with, then monitor.

      2. Denniezy
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Bellerin might move to PSG

  23. Sterling Malory
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Pick the bones from this please guys

    Ryan
    TAA Davies Bellerin
    Mane Auba (C) Son ASM
    Werner Adams Antonio

    Walton KWP Norwood Mitchell

    1. El Lobito 10
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      It's fine

    2. Freshy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Just the Antonio pick
      Great choice if GW2 thru GW7 was not such a horrible run of opponents

  24. Denniezy
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Long term team - Set-piece takers.

    McCarthy, (Nyland)
    KWP, TAA, Taylor, (Mitchell, Johnson)
    Auba/Salah, KDB, Fernandes, JWP, (Norwood)
    Werner, Mitrovic, Wilson

    Any thoughts?

    1. FPL Bond @ Twitter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      You might struggle to field a starting 11 for GW1.

  25. golden skulltula 69
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Hi everyone.

    McCarthy Nyland
    KWP TAA Doherty Taylor Mitchell
    Aubameyang Son *** ASM Bissouma
    Werner *** ***

    A. Salah, Mitrovic, Adams.
    B. Harvetz, Ings, DCL.

    Which one?

    1. Ramsays Raw Steak
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A

      1. golden skulltula 69
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Thanks!

  26. Ramsays Raw Steak
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Rashford or fernandes to get more points this season

    1. ㅤRising
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Rashford

      1. Ramsays Raw Steak
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        why didnt he play for england last 2 games

        1. ㅤRising
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          idk

          1. Ramsays Raw Steak
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 6 months ago

            +1

    2. golden skulltula 69
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      It depends of the pens..

  27. Mr. Robotson
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Can anybody help me with Arsenal no.1 , wiould this be Leno or Martinez?

    1. ㅤRising
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      It is not known yet

    2. Denniezy
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Arsenal looking to sell Leno. Aston Villa interested in Martinez

  28. Gabbiadini
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Martial, Ziyech/Alli, J.Lewis (Gordon)
    or.
    Havertz/Ziyech/Pulisic, Alli, 5.0/5.5 defender (Brewster)
    ?

    1. Bleh
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      First one

      1. Gabbiadini
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        interesting I would need to change my placeholder Barnes to a 7.0 fwd

    2. Denniezy
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      B

    1. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Wow, it's even our football, not that Yankee nonsense. Would like to read that.

      1. Oi! Shadders!
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Me too. Hoping that some kind person might share.

  29. ㅤRising
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    What do you think of this team?

    Ramsdale
    TAA Robertson Dier
    Salah Auba Greenwood ASM
    Werner Mitro Nketiah

    4.0/ KWP/ Bisoumma/ 4.0 0.0 ITB

    GW1: Play KWP and bench Greenwood.

    1. Totti
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      robertson -> davies
      greenwood -> son

      1. ㅤRising
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        I had that combination now I like this one more. But both good.

    2. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Like TAA Robbo - haven't discounted that. Start off with 3 tricky looking away fixtures and one iffy home fixture in first 5 so will likely avoid

      Seems a shame to end up on both Nketiah and Mitro with so many good forwards in the game. You can switch them out of course but to me switching a low returning 6.0 feels a bit like a minus 4.

      1. ㅤRising
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        TAA is a must and I feel like Robbo is pretty much a mid with clean sheets. 200 point man so if I can I try to fit him and not really worry about fixtures.
        Nketiah is a punt tho, probably for first two gw, then maybe Che Adams if he looks good

        1. pingissimus
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Yeah

          Still thinking about Robbo as an auxiliary mid with cs bonuses. Not seeing anyone to match him for price value right now in attack. Avoiding low mid priced attackers pretty much for that reason - better to have him than one of them

          Largely a question for me whether there'll be a window to bring him on a mini WC when the odds are more in his favour.

          1. ㅤRising
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 6 months ago

            Yes that could be the way to go. Every draft I make without Robbo I tell myself its easy to bring him in on WC or mini WC and you fast forward to good fixtures

        2. Andy_Social
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          It's a good draft. If you want a more secure option than Nketiah, CWilson will be nailed on for 0.5 more. I'd lose Greenwood as the Sancho deal is 98% there and you'll be kicking yourself if it's made official hours after the deadline. The spare change can give you a nailed 4.5 defender on your bench and a pair of 5.5 mids.

          1. ㅤRising
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 6 months ago

            Looks like it yea I need to try to see what I can do without Greenwood and how to approach Utd and who to get. Tricky with Utd it could be a crucial decision but its very hard.

    3. Jay Jay Okocha
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I like it and have tinkered with a similar structure myself, but it feels like the extra Liverpool defender precludes you from getting a valuable Chelsea mid or 8.5 forward

      1. ㅤRising
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        True, and still not sure how to get a Utd attacker since it looks like Sancho is coming so no 7.5 Utd option

        1. Andy_Social
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Actually, there's Donny VD Beek at 7m, but nah. Martial prob the most secure in that his position is unaffected. But my United pick is Bruno.

          1. ㅤRising
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 6 months ago

            You feel like his form is sustainable ? He is the most expensive Utd after all and there seems to be a lot options in their attack. But I would still pick him first if I can afford.

            1. Andy_Social
              • 11 Years
              3 years, 6 months ago

              To me, any 10m+ players has to be captainable. At the moment I would say I'm willing to give him the armband when City and Liverpool have less attractive fixtures. If he does turn out to be a bit flat, it's an easy move to Rashford, Chelsea midf, or possibly the City 11.5 I won't have.
              On the other hand, Martial also easily converts into another premium striker too.

              1. ㅤRising
                • 5 Years
                3 years, 6 months ago

                If I bring him I would probably bench him first gw which seem preposterous to bench 10.5 haha