FPL

The best FPL defenders for a Gameweek 8 Wildcard

Having looked at the stand-out Fantasy Premier League (FPL) goalkeepers, midfielders and forwards for Gameweek 8 and beyond, we now switch focus to the pick of the defenders.

This is an update of the series we did for Gameweek 7 Wildcarders, with fresh data and a couple of new targets for those deploying their chip this week.

However, it will also be of interest for those using ‘free’ transfers ahead of Gameweek 8.

All stats and graphics included in this piece are taken from our Premium Members Area.

CHELSEA DEFENDERS

Fit-again Watkins can return to 2020/21 form in Villa's new-look 3-5-2 formation 3

If you’re playing a Wildcard right now, the chances are that you’re structuring your defence around at least one Chelsea asset.

The Blues have a very favourable fixture schedule ahead, with three of their next four opponents – plus Watford in Gameweek 14 – among the worst teams for goals scored in 2021/22.

And Thomas Tuchel’s troops are (usually) solid at the back, with their league record under their current boss excellent:

Played26
Goals conceded16
Clean sheets17

So which defender(s) to pick? That will probably boil down to what brand of Fantasy manager you are.

For the safety-first FPL bosses, there aren’t any Chelsea defenders who have escaped a benching under Tuchel to date and there will be more rotation further down the line for all of them. However, Cesar Azpilicueta (£6.0m) has started a lot more league matches than not when available under Tuchel (circa 90% when available), with his versatility in playing at either wing-back or as a right-sided centre-half giving him two bites of the cherry at a first-team start.

Marcos Alonso’s (£6.0m) ownership now sits at 25.4%, but the previously peripheral Ben Chilwell (£5.6m) is getting more and more minutes as 2021/22 goes on, which does create uncertainty in the left wing-back role.

CHELSEA DEFENDERS UNDER TUCHEL

PlayerStartsSub AppsGoals AssistsClean SheetsBonusPoints per match
Rudiger220201395.09
Azpilicueta2311412134.92
Christensen1520011104.76
Silva12210694.07
Chilwell12022645.58
Alonso14232995.88
James15713693.50

Reece James (£5.5m) is also a major source of discussion. Up there with Alonso as Chelsea’s most attacking defender, James has created more chances (27) than any other member of the Blues’ backline under Tuchel. But he has also been thrown on as a substitute on seven occasions, as many times as the other six players in the above table combined. The raft of cameos reduces his points-per-match average to a fairly poor 3.50, along with his early exits in Gameweeks 4 and 6 of the current campaign.

If FPL managers are going for a Chelsea defender double-up, then Azpilicueta and a riskier punt on James or Chilwell would seem to be the way to go – but beware the one-pointers and have a strong bench in readiness for no-shows.

RUBEN DIAS/JOAO CANCELO

Gameweek 8 marks the start of a favourable, three-match fixture run for Manchester City and if you’re deploying your Wildcard this week, you’ll likely want a defender or two from Pep Guardiola’s rearguard.

Top for clean sheets in the previous two seasons and averaging 18.5 shut-outs per year in the last four campaigns, this is a proven backline.

Following his assist at Stamford Bridge in Gameweek 6, Joao Cancelo (£6.2m) is now top among FPL defenders for points this season. Ruben Dias (£6.2m), who like Cancelo is an ever-present starter in 2021/22 and who was the defender least at risk of rotation last year, is joint-second.

These two are probably the stand-out picks from the City defence.

Dias was benched in only one league match from his Gameweek 4 debut to Gameweek 30 (the point at which Guardiola started focusing on the Champions League and FA Cup, with the domestic title sewn up) last season, and even that was because he had just recovered from illness.

Over the same period, Cancelo tasted substitute duty on six occasions. He’s a less secure starter but does have the advantage of playing at both right and left-back, and he’s a darn sight more attacking that Dias.

Since the league debut of Dias, Cancelo narrowly outscores his fellow premium defender by 182-181 despite the extra no-shows.

A word on Aymeric Laporte (£5.5m): he has 10 shots in the box this season and is a real threat from set plays.

But while Laporte seems settled as Dias’ partner-in-crime for now, Guardiola has historically only built his defence around one centre-half mainstay. John Stones (£5.3m) ultimately represents a threat to Laporte’s place, so the same ‘have a substitute ready’ caveat applies to the Spaniard as it does to Cancelo.

TINO LIVRAMENTO

Jimenez ends goal drought as Arsenal claim convincing north London derby win 7

We’ve been treated to a whole host of starting £4.0m-ish defenders in 2021/22 so far but the cream of the crop is starting to rise, seven Gameweeks in.

The likes of Kostas Tsimikas (£4.0m) and Daniel Amartey (£4.0m) are no longer getting regular game-time, while Javier Manquillo (£4.0m) and Brandon Williams (£4.0m) are playing for two of the worst backlines in the division.

Shane Duffy (£4.4m), who has registered more shots in the box than any other defender this season, is deserving of a mention. His form has been generally superb since his return to the Brighton XI and it’s perhaps his shirt to lose now but the return from injury of Tariq Lamptey, Joel Veltman and, soon, Adam Webster (all £4.4m) will swell the defensive options available to Graham Potter.

Enter Valentino Livramento (£4.2m).

The teenage right-back is an ever-present starter this season and has been part of a Saints backline that has shut out Manchester City and West Ham United in the last four Gameweeks.

Encouragingly, Southampton rise to second in our Season Ticker from Gameweeks 8-18.

Livramento doesn’t just offer clean sheet potential but a bit of attacking threat, too: he’s sits second among £4.5m-and-under defenders for final-third touches this season (see below).

Ralph Hasenhuttl will be wary of overloading the 18-year-old and the odd benching may be a concern from Gameweek 13 onwards, when Saints face nine league matches in the space of five weeks.

For now, though, fixtures and form seem to be uniting at an opportune time.

KIERAN TIERNEY

Is this to be Kieran Tierney‘s (£4.9m) year? After delivering 45 attacking returns in 170 appearances for Celtic, many of us have been waiting (and waiting and waiting…) for the current Arsenal left-back to recapture that form in FPL.

A strong chance of a clean sheet is a good base to start for any defender, and Tierney has three in the last four Gameweeks as Arsenal’s backline begins to look solid with first-choice personnel available again after an August decimated by injury and illness.

No team has conceded fewer goals and big chances than the Gunners over the last four Gameweeks, and while the calibre of opposition has to be factored in, Mikel Arteta’s side face more of the same sorts of teams between now and the November international break.

And as Lateriser pointed out in his recent Arsenal analysis, the Gunners have been solid dating back to last season; this isn’t just a kneejerk reaction to the last four games.

Why Tierney over his peers? If you can afford it, simply because he’ll offer the best chance of delivering attacking returns.

Tierney has received the ball twice as often as opposite full-back Takehiro Tomiyasu (£4.6m) in the final third since the latter’s debut, with the Japan international more of a ‘stay at home’ brand of full-back – even if he has had the same number of shots as Tierney.

Tomiyasu and Ben White (£4.4m) are very decent cheaper alternatives to the Scot, who look like week-in, week-out starters especially as the Gunners don’t have the sideshow distraction of the Europa League.

For those who love their budget defender rotation, pairing White with Matthew Lowton (£4.4m) gives the following run of favourable fixtures right the way through to the end of the calendar year: CRY, sou, BRE, WAT, CRY, NEW, wol, new, SOU, WAT, lee, nor, WOL.

Burnley’s defence is some way short of being solid (just one clean sheet this season) but they have had a tricky start, fixture-wise, and Lowton is joint-third among his teammates for chances created in 2021/22.

TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD

Salah on target as Liverpool assets prosper at Leeds 1

Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.5m) is available for Gameweek 8, when the Reds face Watford.

The England right-back has averaged a whopping 7.33 points per match over his last 15 Premier League matches, delivering eight attacking returns, four double-digit hauls and only two blanks.

While Chelsea and City may boast better short-term fixtures, Alexander-Arnold produced a combined 21 points against two of Liverpool’s less-favourable upcoming opponents, Arsenal and Manchester United, in Gameweeks 30 and 35 of 2020/21.

Joint-top and second among defenders for both chances created and shots attempted, Alexander-Arnold has been one of the very best, if not the best, defensive options in the game for quite some time.

ALSO CONSIDER

If we knew for sure that Aston Villa will persist with a wing-back system, Matthew Cash (£5.1m) would be a name to consider.

Since Cash took up that role in Gameweek 4, only one FPL defender has registered more penalty box touches.

The formation switch has served to make the Villa defence more robust, too, with two clean sheets arriving in their last three fixtures.

Whether Smith sticks with a 3-5-2 in the easier fixtures ahead is another question – particularly with the likes of Emiliano Buendia (£6.4m) and especially Leon Bailey (£6.4m) to crowbar into the team. It goes without saying that Villa had looked more suspect at the back without a third centre-half and three across the midfield, so that has to be a consideration.

If you have the luxury of benching a budget defender until Gameweek 10 or so, then a Brentford asset is worthy of consideration.

One of the better-performing backlines until the six-goal thriller against Liverpool, the Bees sit top of our Season Ticker from Gameweeks 10-19.

Pontus Jansson (£4.6m) and Ethan Pinnock (£4.6m) will supplement their clean sheets with the additional goal or assist and indeed already have four attacking returns between them.

Marcal‘s (£4.6m) grip on a first-team spot looks to be weakening by the week, so Nelson Semedo (£4.9m) is our Wolves asset of choice for their ongoing favourable run. Only a few defenders have had more penalty box touches than the gung-ho wing-back, who continues to be presented with – and spurn – some excellent goalscoring chances.

1,021 Comments Post a Comment
  1. FPLMACKEM
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Please rate my wc team.

    Ramsdale
    TAA, Azpilicueta, Cancelo
    Salah(c), Raphinha, Mbeumo, Foden
    Antonio, Lukaku, Toney

    Foster, Livramento, Duffy, Brownhill

    0.7 itb

    Would you make any changes?

    1. waltzingmatildas
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Like it. Play livra over raph?

    2. Forgetmeknot
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Same as mine except for I’ve gone for mount and jiminez instead of foden and Toney

  2. waltzingmatildas
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Not too happy with this, but feel like this isn't the best week to get rid of ronaldo
    GTG?
    Sanchez
    Shaw christensen white livra
    Salah(c) sarr benrahma
    Ronaldo Antonio lukaku
    (foster raphinha gilmour ayling)

  3. Ady87
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Had some IRL stuff on and not looked at my team since the Saturday of the last GW, here is how I look with no changes, anything obvious I need to do as not kept on top of developments.

    Schmeichel
    TAA Alonso White
    Salah(c) Jota Greenwood Raphina Gray
    Ronaldo Antonio

    Marcal and Liv subs

    1. Hint
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Is fine but you'll probably need those subs

      1. Ady87
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        For Raph? Should I just start Marcal away to Villa for him?

        1. Hint
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 4 Years
          2 years, 5 months ago

          Start Livra but you might need Marcal too for Alonso.

  4. Buck The Trent
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Sanchez
    TAA Cancelo Livra
    Salah Jota Mbuemo Benrahma Raph
    Lukaku Antonio

    Subs Marcal Scarlett Rudi
    -4 taken

    A Leave it
    B Play WC to optimize

    1. waltzingmatildas
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      A

  5. OptimusBlack
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Best two midfielders with 15 M to get instead of Sarr & Traoré
    If you have
    Salah Sarr Traoré Benrahma
    Vardy Ronaldo Antonio

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

    *Repost. on WC. GTG? Have 3.1m itb. cheers,

    ramsdale (foster)
    taa-cancelo-james (duffy-livra)
    salah(c)-mount*-mbeumo (luiz-raph)
    antonio-lukaku-hwang*

    A) GTG.
    B) mount+hwang->esr+vardy

    Start:
    1) Duffy
    2) Livra

  7. Toonzie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    A) Foden + Jim
    B) Mahrez + Armstrong

    Ty

  8. jason_ni
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Frustratingly am 0.1 off alonso to taa.

    Do we think alonso starts?! Suppose noone really knows!

    1. Ady87
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      I’ve had James or Alonso for a month and feel like I’ve had 1 start between them. If he doesn’t start this weekend I’m avoiding the pair of them indefinitely.

      1. jason_ni
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Said move would be for a hit, and to get 0.1( could do tomiyasu to white) would be -8 all in, so guess its not worth it.

  9. Lord of Ings
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    How serious is Rudiger injury? Hold or sell him?

  10. bobbyg
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Bruno and Gilmour to

    Mahrez and Mount

    2 fts? Tia

    1. waltzingmatildas
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Interesting! I do like it, but Bruno against Leicester.....

      1. bobbyg
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Thanks Waltzin

      2. Big_Andy_GAWA
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Evans could be back, though...

  11. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Members page not accessible. Was looking forward to playing around with RMT and player comparisons 🙁

    1. Sim Simma
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      *Not accessible from the main FFS page but is using the directlink https://members.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/

    2. camarozz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Oh not just me then..

    3. camarozz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      I can access anything at all, and tells me iv posted same post when I havnt!!

    4. rainy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Some known issues at the moment, fixes underway

  12. BigKeith
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Any good suggestions to replace Jota?

    1.4itb have Salah, Raph, Gray

    1. Haa-lala-land
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      I'm thinking about how to get Jota in!

  13. MagicMessi
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Salah or Kane C ?

  14. Ze_Austin
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    FFS, FFS! The site's gone haywire again. Not the best time either 🙁

  15. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    I dreamt Newcastle won 4-3 with a Manquillo goal 🙂

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      I think it could be a humdinger!

  16. The Red Devil
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Can only buy one of TAA/cancelo this week
    Which one? Already got Dias
    A- Rudiger to TAA
    B- 3.9 bench fodder to cancelo

    1. waltzingmatildas
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      A

  17. FCSB
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Final dilemma, who to start:

    1. Raphinha (sou)
    2. Livramento (LEE) play 5-2-3 !
    3. Mbeumo (CHE) have James in defence

    Thanks guys

  18. FCSB
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Final dilemma, who to start:

    1. Raphinha (sou)
    2. Livramento (LEE) play 5-2-3 !
    3. Mbeumo (CHE) have James in defence

    Thanks guys

  19. camarozz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Anyone else having issues on here? I can't access the options on the left on here or anything else just the reply button?

    1. Thomas Magnum
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      I think they're running updates again. It's happened a few times this week, and during the busier times as well

      1. camarozz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Was it down last nite completely too?

  20. Thomas Magnum
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Another update in progress?

  21. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Which one Chelsea defender would you choose for the next 6 GWs?

    1. Konstaapeli
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      I went with James. Hoping he plays.

  22. MESSINHO
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Which one?

    A) Azpi + Walker
    B) Azpi + Laporte
    C) James + Dias

    Cheers!

  23. dshv
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Final WC decision please help

    1. Azpi or James
    2. Son Esr or Saka Foden hwang

    (Ramsdale fostrr
    Taa *** cancelo livra duffy)
    Salah ** *** raphinha mbeumo
    Antonio lukaku ***

  24. Jdpz
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Sanchez
    Cash Reguilon Tierney TAA
    Salah Bruno Jota Raphinha Benrahma
    Antonio

    Begović Wood King Ayling

    1FT 0.1M ITB., I want keep WC for next GW.

    a) Raphinha to Trossard / Saka
    b) Jota to Trossard / Saka
    c) Ayling to Livramento (and bench Jota or Raphinha, play 5-4-1)
    d) another option

  25. Puntillimon
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Who to cap?
    A) Salah
    B) Trent
    C) cancelo
    D) lukaku

    1. Philosopher's Stones
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Going KDB (c) myself

    2. Konstaapeli
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      A. Don't over think it.

  26. Konstaapeli
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Good to go?

    Ramsdale
    TAA / Cancelo / Walker / James
    Salah (C) / Foden / ESR
    Lukaku (V) / Werner / Toney

    Foster / Livra / Raph / Brownhill

  27. Wake me up before sanogo
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    I'm going for a TAA cancelo James KT Livra defence because it will be FUN. OF COURSE Cancelo won't start and James will get a 15 min cameo - that's what FUN means.

    1. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Damn straight, baby!

  28. Nomar
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Ranieri to buy Watford players dinner if they keep a CS.
    https://mobile.twitter.com/WD18Fans/status/1448330185053462530

    1. Philosopher's Stones
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      *Salah invited as a chief guest if he helps them achieve it

  29. Van der Faart
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Do I need to hit the WC button or not here? Been playing around all week but Thought a hit would cover it but with Son likely out probably not.

    Sanchez (Foster)
    Reguilon Christensen Shaw White (Coufal)
    Salah Gray Son Raph (Bissouma)
    Ronaldo Antonio (Toney)

  30. camarozz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Don't know if it's been asked but any update on Raphina?