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The best defenders and goalkeepers to target for Double Gameweek 26

Defenders and goalkeepers come under the spotlight as we assess the best players to bring in for Double Gameweek 26.

With some plum fixtures and plenty of in-form players on offer, we’ve picked out the top options for all Fantasy Premier League (FPL) budgets.

Is a Manchester City defensive double-up still viable? Are there better options than Emiliano Martinez (£5.3m) in goal? We assess all the options in the Premium Members article below.

816 Comments Post a Comment
  1. snazir6
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Hi guys
    Any help with this team should I WC
    Martinez pope
    Dias stones mee digne Justin
    Salah son bruno raphinia Harrison
    Bamford Antonio DCL

    Or do Harrison and Antonio to gundog and Maja ?
    Help welcome

    1. Riders of Yohan
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Don’t need to wildcard. Tricky as in a similar situation to me, ideally getting Kane in for the TC

      1. snazir6
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Would like one of sterling or kane to captain ideally

  2. Kudo Warrior
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Random medium brain dump.

    People saying "Don't take a hit more than -4/-8 etc" really makes no sense.

    Asssumptions:
    1. Players in the below example will play all games in GW
    2. Players play at least 60mins to get the apearance points
    3. We only consider this GW's points, not future games

    A few examples:

    1. 1*SGW > 1*DGW is actually only -2 as you get an extra 2 appearance points

    2. Take transfers in isolation when thinking about hits (Unless you need to make multiple to get a particular player). So player X to player Y for -4 works IF player Y gets at least 5 points (meaning you gain 1 point).

    3. HOWEVER let's say we needed to change 2 players to fit in an expensive player: AB > YZ, if A scored more than Y but Z scored more than B and the total of YZ is at least 10points more than AB then the transfer was worth it (even if Y did worse than A, you needed to do Y to get Z and Z picked up the slack in terms of the dropped points).

    4. Let's say we make 4 transfers and take a -12 ABCD > WXYZ, if each individual player from WXYZ scores at least 5 points more than their respective ABCD transfered out player then the hit was worth it.

    5. If you take a -4 on player A and captain him, and they haul then that's even more of a reason to ignore the hit.

    6. You could take a -44 and it could still work if the total of the new team was 55 points more than the old team (Extreme example, but you get my point!).

    The point I'm making is, if the points of the incoming player outweigh the outgoing player + the hit then it's worth it. It's just not always easy to predict that...

    1. Kudo Warrior
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      2. should read "5 points MORE" near the end.

    2. The VAR Team
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      1 and 5 doesn’t make sense cause you count points that you don’t know where her you’ll get

      1. The VAR Team
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        whether

      2. Kudo Warrior
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        That's part of the gamble (and a given as you can't predict points...ever).

        What it's saying is, as hit is only a bad thing if it doesn't pay off. If the new player scores 5 more than the old player then it's a good move (in isolation).

        1. The VAR Team
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          That I agree with. I’m just saying you need to look at the potential of the players you transfer in and out and not just the appearance points which are unpredictable like all the other points

          1. Kudo Warrior
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            That's the whole point of my post lol

            A -4 means nothing if you're moving from Brester to Kane, right?

            VS

            It's dumb if you do the opposite.

            So it's not about -4/-8 etc, it's about the potential for higher gains, and if the gains are at least 5 more then the old player then it's a good move.

            1. The VAR Team
              • 4 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              Yeah I am only saying I don’t like the whole ‘only a -2’ narrative 🙂

              If you do Bamford to Giroud and say it’s only a -2 it’s a bit misleading lol

              1. Kudo Warrior
                • 10 Years
                3 years, 1 month ago

                Fair enough.

                You'd need to take my assumptions at the top into account and then factor in potentials (I didn't want to make this a book lol).

    3. Make Arrows Green Again
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      This is all true and I've had -12s which have left me off better than my original team pre-hits. It's likely that the majority of hit pay for themselves if not immediately than within a few GWs.

      On the face of it, then, we should all be taking hits all the time. There is a crucial bit missing from the puzzle however and this often gets overlooked.

      If you take a hit and get 6 points back, that's not necessarily a profit. You still took -4. You still had points deducted. If you had got him earlier you either have received the points in the scoring streak leading up to your decision to transfer him in, or, if you're ahead of the curve, you could have used a FT to make a transfer and not had to burn points to make the move.

      Take Gundogan for example. If you get him this week for a -4 and he scores 5 or more that's an immediate gain, but your rivals have probably already got 40 points out of him. Only if the player you were transferring out kept pace with him over the past few weeks is it really 'just' a -4. And even then, there is always an argument to be made that better team management could have got you that player without taking a hit at all.

      So, I'm all for hits, but this is an important caveat to consider.

      1. Make Arrows Green Again
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        So.Many.Typos.
        Soy.

        1. Kudo Warrior
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          🙂

      2. Kudo Warrior
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        100%, hence why I say you need to get at least 5 points MORE than the other player does to make it profitable.

        1. Make Arrows Green Again
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          You do but there is more to it than that - what I'm saying is there is the wider question of why you had to be in a position to take a hit in the first place.

          With me, it's often because I made the wrong move in the first place (I'm thinking triple City defence instead of double plus Gundogan in my case) and you end up having to take hits to fix it. There is the possibility for the immediate gain by taking the hit, but some players made the right call without ever having taken the hit - they are not just +4 up but all the previous points too.

          It's swings and roundabouts, and for every mistake you make your rivals will do something similar, but it's worth considering. It's really hard, nigh on impossible to do but getting into a position where you can make the right call in the first place is the ultimate goal. The arithmetic of whether a hit will pay for itself once activated is fairly well-understood with reference, as you say, to the 'existing player + 5 points' calculation.

  3. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Son or Barnes?

    I have Kane and no Leicester.

    1. Wag the Drog
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I’d want Son over Barnes.

    2. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Barnes

    3. Neevesy
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Barnes for me. On form.

    4. Peteski29
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Barnes

    5. jbenny1107
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Question is will Barnes continue to perform if Maddison is out. They seem to link up quite a bit.

  4. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bottomed

    Mitchell > Targett?
    (Bench Ings)

    Martinez
    Cancelo Stones TAA Mee
    Bruno Son Gundo
    Kane(tc) DCL Ings*

    McCarthy* | Smith Rowe*, Minamino*, Mitchell

    1FT. 2.0 ITB.
    * = SGW

    If I sell Mitchell, I'd primarily want a player with good fixtures this week and GW30. Planning to FH in 29 and WC in 31 at the moment. Can afford up to 5.9m.

    Other ideas are welcome 🙂

    1. Riders of Yohan
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      If you can free hit in 29 then pereira could be a shout?

      1. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Could be. His fixtures for GW 26 & 30 are: ARS bur MCI.
        Targett's fixtures are: lee shu FUL
        Would you say Pereria is worth the extra money?

        Another option would be shaw: che cry BHA
        Or an Everton player cheaper than Digne.

    2. Wag the Drog
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Could consider Digne

      1. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I only have 5.9m to spend unless I take another approach

        1. Bubbles1985
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Keane?

    3. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I think that's a sensible move, although reckon Villa may struggle for a CS in this DGW just a little.

      Targett is someone who I'm maybe looking to bring in for GW27/28, so no issue with the player you're choosing.

      1. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks Hazz

  5. Riders of Yohan
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Appreciate suggestions with this lot. Currently thinking of getting Kane in for the TC:

    £0.2 ITB, 2FT

    Martinez
    Cancelo, Rudiger, Dallas
    Sterling, Salah, Bruno, Gundo, rashford
    Watkins, Bamford

    Forster. Struijk, Antonio, Kilman

    No Free Hit so do need to consider GW29.

    1. Boom XhakaLacaSaka
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Rashford > Lookman Antonio > kane

      1. Riders of Yohan
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Out by 0.1.....

      2. Riders of Yohan
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks though

        1. Men in green tights
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          How about rashford to Tyler Roberts and then Antonio to Kane

  6. Wag the Drog
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Posted this a couple times in the last two days with no replies. Anyone?

    A) Kane, Areola, Kilman -8
    B) Ings, Martinez, Dier -8
    C) Ings -> Kane and don't BB -4

    Pope
    Stones-Cancelo-Dallas
    Gundo-Rash-Bruno-Barnes-Son
    Ollie-Ings*
    --
    Steer*-Bamford-Coufal-Kilman*

    1. Riders of Yohan
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      C and you could TC?

      1. Wag the Drog
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Yes but when to BB then?

    2. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      C

    3. The VAR Team
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

  7. Boom XhakaLacaSaka
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Adams, Grealish, Cavani > Kane, Lookman, DCL (-8)

    Martinez
    Mee Dias Stones
    Gundo Bruno Lookman Salah
    Kane DCL Bamford
    Mccarthy Maddison A.Robinson Allioski

    Gtg?

    1. Riders of Yohan
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Good moves. Would you not start Maddison over bamf?

      1. Riders of Yohan
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Oh injured aha

        1. Boom XhakaLacaSaka
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Yeah don't sound great

  8. fr3d
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    This Maddison injury doesn't sound too promising. Him and Barnes have been assisting each other a lot lately

    1. Nate(U)dog(ie)
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yeah Barnes is the obvious replacement but I think a lot of Barnes' improved form is down to Maddison, they've both linked up a lot but they're both a big threat individually so they open up space for one another, not quite sure what to do now

  9. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    To wildcard or not to wildcard. That is the question.

    1. drughi
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      tough isnt it, my team looks alright and for a hit even better but wildcard gives alot of options, luxury moves like alonso/digne/pereira

    2. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Just put out your "Be" side

    3. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      My problem is that if I WC I can’t then play my BB, which I’d want to do.

  10. You've got red on you.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Pick one from each to play:

    1.
    a) James (Man Utd, L'pool)
    b) Mee (Spurs, Leicester)

    2.
    a) Grealish (Leeds, Shef Utd)
    b) Raphinha (Villa)

    1. Kloppcorn
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I’d go 1.a and 2. Wait on press conferences but looks doubtful for grealish to play

    2. Rog.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Do you think James will play both games? I was considering shipping him.

      Yeah wait for villa pressers but looking doubtful on Jack

  11. pingissimus
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Go all in on Vardy?

    30 couldn't be worse of course but you can always switch him out that week if you're on imminent WC. You get bonus fixture v SHU in 28.

    1. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      RF for Deulofail

    2. Kloppcorn
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I think the midfielders are more of a threat this season from Leicester only bonus for vardy is pens

      1. pingissimus
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        4 week punt

        Seems fitting for a man who is still rocking TAA. And well Vardy was out for a good spell of the time Maddison and Barnes were running riot.

  12. Kloppcorn
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Is it worth using the bench boost if your bench is all single gw players?

    1. Boly Would
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      If the fixture is good, why not.

    2. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Depends on who they are and what fixture they have.

    3. LSK
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      If you think they’ll do well. If you don’t use it now, you’ll end up bench boosting all single gameweekers anyway.

    4. Kloppcorn
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      My bench players are lowton, Bamford and Dallas

      1. Kloppcorn
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Unsure on whether villa atm is difficult or not all depends on grealish I think

      2. Captain_Shirokov
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I think do it, who's the keeper?

        1. Kloppcorn
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          I don’t have a second keeper I’d have to take a hit for one, not a fan of two keeper rotation

  13. Captain_Shirokov
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    My WC hinges on which Man City triple is best:

    A. Sterling, Gundo, Dias
    B. Gundo, Dias, Cancelo
    C. Other

    1. Kloppcorn
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I like A but all depends on their line up for tonight, due to their lead in the league there could be a lot of rotation

      1. Captain_Shirokov
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Yes I will be keeping a watchful eye on that

    2. Gross Blank Point
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Waiting to see who plays tonight and for how long.
      Hopefully bring KDB in to go with Gundo and Cancelo if he looks good tonight. May captain him if it all pans out

  14. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Guys what’s the deal with holding? I’m still ‘holding’ him

    Every time i watch arsenal he looks great and gets bonus as well, has he actually lost his place ? Didn’t start 1 game then came right back against city and they only lost 0-1

    Is he first choice still?

    1. Kloppcorn
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      He went off last game as a concussion sub, unsure if this make in unavailable

      1. Kloppcorn
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Makes him

        1. Steve The Spud
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          I will bench this week either way but would like to play him in 27 against burnley

          1. Kloppcorn
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            I’d think he’s first choice has played a lot under arteta

  15. Goldtop73
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Currently umming over risking Mitchell (Ful H - MUN H) or whether to play Dallas (AVL) or Lingard (City) instead..

    Any suggestions?

    Currently in the top 60k for the first time in 9 years and my bum's twitching

    1. Kloppcorn
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Your having a great season mate, such a difficult question, if you think Mitchell will start both id go with him, if not Dallas over lingard

      1. Goldtop73
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers bud

  16. EWH2020
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    A) Keane
    B) Pereira
    C) Reguilon

  17. Neevesy
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Right, - 12 triggered with BB.

    Mendy - Ederson

    Perriera - Shaw - Stones - Digne - Konsa

    Bruno - Salah - Gundo - Barnes - Raphina

    DCL - Kane (C) - Maja

    All DGW bar Raphinha

    1. Neevesy
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Kane right captain?

  18. BusbySwede
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    BB or TC?

    Martinez, Pope
    Mee, Dallas, Rudiger, Digne, Cancelo
    Sterling, Gundogan, Bruno, Rashford, Raphinha
    DCL, Bamford, Ings

    What do you think about Ings+Rashford -> Kane+Barnes for -4?
    Worth -8 and swap Dallas/Mee/Rudiger for another dgw defender?

    Im guessing neither of Cancelo/Sterling will start both matches, so would it be wrong to sell Sterling instead of Rashford

    1. Neevesy
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Not keen on gettig rid of Rash, but see you need to.

      I'd probably go all in on the - 8 and BB

  19. Ron_Swanson
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    What are the chances Holgate starts both games for Everton? I noticed he plays CB sometimes in a back four and five but also has been seen in right back, and seemingly rested sometimes.

    Any Everton fans with an informed view?

    Many thanks

  20. Sterling Archer
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    People hoping the villa everton game gets confirmed in 28?

    Currently have Shaw in my WC but may move to Targett with 29 in mind aswel

  21. Zlatan F.C
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Is it worth doing a -8 to get Barnes and Kane or should i just do -4 and get Kane and Lookman for Antonio and Grealish. Not sure if anyone else has a better suggestion with this team. 1FT 3.6m in the bank.

    Martinez
    Dias Cancelo Mee
    Gundo Salah Bruno Raph
    DCL Antonio Bamford

    Pope Dallas Coufal Grealish

    1. Zlatan F.C
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Thoughts here please

  22. Manani
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    A. Bamford
    or
    B. Barnes (-4)

    1. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Which Barnes?

      1. Manani
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Leicester.

        1. Deulofail
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          If it's just a question of who scores more points this week, I'd lean towards B.

  23. Fantasydreamer
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Maddison to Barnes worth the -4 if looks like he will miss at least the first of the DGW games?

    1. Kloppcorn
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      If Maddison isn’t available that could affect Barnes’ output so I’d stick with Maddison

    2. Nate(U)dog(ie)
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Sounds like he's going to miss more than that. I'm not quite sure what to do, Barnes is the obvious replacement but I can see his output dropping with Maddison out

      1. Fantasydreamer
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Yeah it’s a tough call. Annoying as i wildcarded last week and almost went Barnes over Maddison anyway...

  24. Calculated Risks
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    This article is at least 2 weeks too late for us who planned for the doubles

  25. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bringing in a villa defender, who would you lose

    A. Coufal ( I have fabianski)
    B. Holding (Lost his place?)
    C. Lowton (no good fixture for 4/5 weeks)

    1. Boly Would
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Probably C

  26. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Who's best for GW 26/30?

    A) Pereira (ARS bur MCI)
    B) Targett (lee shu FUL)
    C) Shaw (che cry BHA)
    D) Eve defender - not Digne (SOU wba CRY)

    1. Kloppcorn
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I’d go with shaw potential for attacking returns and clean sheets

    2. THFC4LIFE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B

  27. arkom
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    McCarthy / Forster
    Dallas / Cancelo / Maguire / Coufal / Justin
    Bruno / Rapinha / Salah / Foden / Son
    Bamford / DCL / Ings

    1 FT (2,7£ ITB)
    FH played
    BB left

    Guys - the big queston is - should I activate wild card?
    There are now eight changes versus current squad.

    For example:
    MARTINEZ / AREOLA
    Dallas / Cancelo / DIAS / TARGETT / PEREIRA
    Bruno / Rapinha / Salah / GUNDOGAN / BARNES
    Bamford / DCL / KANE

  28. The Alli Way
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Pope (McCarthy)
    Cancelo Dias Rudiger (Coufal (Strujik))
    Salah Bruno Son Gundo Raphinia
    DCL (TC) Watkins (Bamford)

    A) Bamford > Kane & Pope > Forster (-4) and start McCarthy
    B) Raphinia > Barnes
    C) Raphinia > Rodriguez
    D) Bamford > Vardy & Raphinia > ? (-4)

    Thanks!

  29. AD105
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Mee/Salah/Ings > Digne/Barnes/Kane for -8?

    Would TC Kane this week

  30. Fuddled FC
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Very confused...Which option?

    a) Ings & Grealish > DCL & Barnes (-4)
    b) Ings & Mee > DCL & Digne (-4)
    c) Ings & Antonio > DCL & Watkins (-4)
    d) Ings & Grealish & Mee > DCL & Barnes & Digne (-8)

    1. Calculated Risks
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      If it's any consolation, they are all good moves