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. Mambino
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Who would you start this GW between ESR, Livramento and Chalobah?

    1. DMP
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      ESR.

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Smith

    3. PompeyUpNorth!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      ESR

    4. Lecky Legs FC
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Livramento

    5. Mambino
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Cheers all

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

      ESR

  2. Meme2011
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Werner or mount guys?

    1. DMP
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Mount.

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

      Werner

  3. DMP
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Start Douglas Luiz or Livra (for Rudiger)?

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

      Livra

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

      Livra

    3. TheBiffas
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      I'm starting Livra but if Raph doesn't play Douglas luiz comes on anyway

      1. DMP
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Same here. Probably they will both play.

        1. TheBiffas
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 5 months ago

          Douglas luiz has a decent attacking threat so I don't mind

    4. ExpressoMySonny
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Luiz

    5. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Livra

  4. Jam0sh
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Has there been any news how long Rüdiger might be out?

    1. OverTinker
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      really want to know

    2. thegaffer82
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Germany manager didn't seem to indicate it was a bad injury, so, one would assume it's not gunna keep him out very long.

    3. Nate(U)dog(ie)
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Doubt it's long, Tuchel was saying he thought he might be able for training yesterday, he wasn't in the end but can't imagine it's a long-term thing if he thought he could be up for it

    4. Jordan.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      same question every page for the last 18 hours

    5. Jam0sh
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Cheers

  5. PompeyUpNorth!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Bench in correct order?
    D Luiz Livra White.

    1. DMP
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Ill have to play one of Luiz or Tino .. Not sure who..

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

      I like Livra first

      1. PompeyUpNorth!
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Cheers

  6. Kodap
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Already had to take a -4 this week due to injuries, brought son in & now there’s rumours he’s out.. can’t catch a break! Shall I field this team and rely on my bench if he’s out?

    Sanchez
    Trent - Livra - Cancelo
    Salah (c) - Son - Gray - ESR
    Toney - Antonio CR7

    Steele - Williams - Sissoko - Rudiger

    1. TheBiffas
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Just field that. Son will be good long term

  7. COLLIN QUANER
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Need your thoughts guys. I want a City defender but can only afford Walker or Laporte atm. Who would you go for/think is more nailed to start?

    1. PompeyUpNorth!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      I’d go Laporte out of those 2

      1. COLLIN QUANER
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Thanks

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

      Laporte

      1. COLLIN QUANER
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Thanks

    3. Lecky Legs FC
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      I'm in the same shows mate but feel Laporte will be safer bet than Walker

      1. COLLIN QUANER
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        I've been leaning towards Laporte but slightly worried about Stones getting minutes soon. I think I'll go for it though

    4. I Must Break You
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Why waste a transfer on either?

      1. COLLIN QUANER
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Can't afford Dias/Cancelo without multiple hits and don't want to Wildcard just yet

  8. ExpressoMySonny
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Greenwood to mahrez as a one week punt?

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

      Sounds good

  9. R.C
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Ok done Duffy captain

    Son (C) Duffy (VC)

  10. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Start White or Raphina?

    1. ExpressoMySonny
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Flip a coin Raph could play 20 mins and score

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

      Raphinha

  11. Bobadoba
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Laporte or James?

    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      James

  12. Kane Train
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Best replacement for Son?

    A) Son > Trossard
    B) Son > Townsend
    C) Son & Ronaldo > KDB & Vardy -4

  13. Eh, just one more thing ...
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Christ …. Has the site just died again ……. Was working for about 10 minutes …..?

    1. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      And …. Seems to be working again … phew.

    2. Joey Tribbiani
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Casuals crawling back before deadline to get their team rated

  14. Maddamotha
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Replace Rudiger, or play Marcal or Sissoko? (Have Raph too but doubt he plays)

  15. Tabbara
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Who to bench
    Livramento or Gallagher
    Thanks

    1. Lecky Legs FC
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Gallagher

  16. mcginnntonic
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    WC 1.1m itb what to change?

    Sanchez Foster
    Trent Cancelo James Liv Duffy
    Salah Mahrez Raphina Mbeumo Bhill
    Lukaku Antonio Maupay

  17. FOO FIGHTER
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Which source started the Son rumour?

    1. Alonso The Great Midfielder
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      twitter obviously

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

      A Tottenham sauce.

  18. # Young Gun SEAMUS #
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Will Alonso start this week

    1. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Lol, anyones guess.

  19. Shark Team
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Would you sell Rudiger for any 5.7max defender for a hit?

    1. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      No … not if you have bench cover.

    2. thegaffer82
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Depends on your bench. If you don't have any decent bench options then I'd consider Laporte or R. James for him. Problem is, either could be benched/rested on any given week

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

    Start White or Livra?

    1. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Livra

    2. Bavarian
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      same delemma, starting White...

  21. Lecky Legs FC
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Sorry for the repost who to give the armband to this GW?

    A) Salah
    B) Vardy
    C) Lukaku

    1. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      A.

    2. I Must Break You
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Check the captain poll for your obvious answer

    3. Indio
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      I'd go A cap and C vice.

    4. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Salah form, fixture and will have an insane EO

      1. Lecky Legs FC
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        You've convinced me cheers all for the feedback

  22. Indio
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    What's better to complete my templatey WC, please?:

    A:
    Defence of Azpi, TAA, Cancelo, Livra, and Duffy, with Jimmy up top

    B:
    James, TAA, Cancelo, Dias, and Manquilo, with Toney up top?

    Thanks, and good luck all.

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

    A) Play Traore
    B) Traore > Grealish - 4

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

    On WC

    1. Azpi saka foden hwang (subs headache)
    2. James son esr davis (3-5-2)

  25. thegaffer82
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Really hope R. James plays and looks good (without getting any returns).
    Then I can get him in for Norwich game

    1. fish&chips
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Hope he plays and bangs. He owes me since bringing him in on my GW5 WC

  26. OverTinker
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Who bought FPL's old servers?

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

      Facebook?

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

      Blizzard, I hope 😉

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

      Twitter ofc to handle the Spurs traffic

    4. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      FPL hub hackers

  27. Mr_Barbs
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Play Marcal or Traore?

  28. Eric the King
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    So it’s come down to this on WC

    1) Foden and Toney / Armstrong, OR
    2) ESR and Werner

    Views??

    1. Fodderx4
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      1

  29. liiusions
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Start Zaha(ars) or Livra(LEE) this week?

  30. Fodderx4
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Play 1

    a) Toney
    b) ESR
    c) Livramento