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Chilwell v James: Who is the best Chelsea defender in FPL?

Reece James (£6.0m) and the fit-again Ben Chilwell (£6.0m) have been priced up identically in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) ahead of the relaunch for the 2022/23 season.

Both players are unsurprisingly cheaper than the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.5m), Andrew Robertson (£7.0m) and Joao Cancelo (£7.0m), FPL’s three top-scoring defenders of 2021/22.

While some Fantasy managers will be tempted to punt on a Chelsea defensive double-up, how do Chilwell and James stack up in comparison if it’s an ‘either/or’?

We investigate in this latest Premium Members article.

PERIOD OF ANALYSIS

Typically in pre-season, we concentrate on players’ exploits in the previous campaign.

But Chilwell made only six starts and one substitute appearance in an injury-ravaged 2021/22, so we’ve extended the lookahead to Gameweek 20 of 2020/21 onwards – Thomas Tuchel’s first match in charge of Chelsea – in order to increase the data sample size.

Although we’re mostly comparing James and Chilwell in this article, we’ve also included the same underlying stats for Alexander-Arnold, Robertson and Cancelo for 2021/22 only, just as a point of reference.

GOAL THREAT

PlayerMins per penalty box touchMins per shotMins per shot in the boxMins per big chanceMins per shot on target
Chilwell24.352.964.4370.5148.2
James29.358.5110.81033.7221.5
Alexander-Arnold33.256178.4n/a190.3
Robertson27.3141.2231847317.6
Cancelo29.939.8104.1819.3140.3

Chilwell has generally posed the bigger goal threat under Tuchel.

While there isn’t a great deal separating the pair when it comes to minutes per shot (52.9 v 58.5), Chilwell really stands out when it comes to higher quality, close-range efforts.

While just under 50% of James’s shots have been from outside the area, over 80% of Chilwell’s attempts have come from inside the opposition box.

In fact, Chilwell’s stats compare really well with the numbers that Alexander-Arnold, Cancelo and Robertson were posting last season.

ASSIST POTENTIAL

516 Comments Post a Comment
  1. adstomko
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Interesting prices for Spurs.
    I think Perišić could be a bargain at 5.5m because he will likely be subbed just after 60mins for Sessegnon, potentially with a clean sheet in the bag. Romero at 5m is also a bargain Bit disappointed Lloris is 5.5m but at least Kane is < 12m.
    I think I'm going big on wing-backs given many will be subbed after the 60th minute.

    Here is my team so far. Anything you would alter?

    Ederson
    Trent, Van Dijk, Chilwell, Perišić, Trippier
    Salah, Saka, Maddison
    Kane, Johnson
    (4.0, 4.0, 4.5, 4.5)

    1. Je suis le chat
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Welcome Perisic to my team, also happy enough Lloris and Son are a bit overpriced - will avoid.

    2. TheTinman
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      £5.5m wing back you want him playing as many minutes as possible to get goals and assists.

      Most goals in football come later on. The value in the wingback is the 15pt hauls because of attacking return + clean sheet.

      He can also be rotated with Reguillen and Sessengon. Not ideal.

      If you just want cleans sheets get Tomiyasu for £4.5m

      1. adstomko
        • 7 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        True, but most top teams will concede towards the end if they're 2-0/3-0 up, so could affect those with a clean sheet bonus at the end.

    3. Nate(U)dog(ie)
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Might want to check the community article from a couple of weeks back about how Conte used Perisic when last at Inter when they had 5 subs available. Didn't make it to 60 much and didn't start every game by any means. He's also only played in Serie A or the Bundesliga for the last 12 or 13 years and is getting on. I really don't see him being a regular starter.

      1. adstomko
        • 7 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Fair enough, cheers for that. Think Romero might be worth 5m then, even as a CB

      2. Pegboy
        • 13 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Agree he'll be rotated and subbed off early (Conte has always done it with his WBs when he's had the chance), but I'd be astounded if he doesn't start the majority of games (particularly if Reguilon goes).

    4. Nikolas
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Perisic never played in defense he is attacking winger all his life , now that gives even more appeal for him if we forget that there is Kane Kulu and Son there .

  2. Hotdogs for Tea
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    What is all this love for Neto ?

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Good young player, gets fpl returns, is cheap. What's not to like?

      • Andy_Social
        • 11 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        price and fixtures. The usual.

      • HuttonDressedasLahm
        • 14 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Great shout but almost guaranteed to be THE early season trap

        1. Tomerick
          • 9 Years
          1 year, 8 months ago

          At 5.5 don’t really see him as a trap. If he doesn’t perform in the good fixtures, you’ll see which cheapie does and move to them

          1. Andy_Social
            • 11 Years
            1 year, 8 months ago

            This. He's not a keeper. He's my first bench/4th mid rotator.

      • Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        I think he's overhyped. Although the first few games are quite good so he's a harmless early punt.

        I think I might go differential for that slot and pick Mac Allister or Wissa.

    2. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Impossible to make a Salah/Son/Haaland team?

      1. Zilla
        • 6 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Later in the season to have a balanced side along

      2. Stimps
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Diaz instead of Salah and TAA, Robbo double up at the back is what I'm thinking

    3. Zimo
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Perisic and Neto or Chilwell and a 4.5 defender

      1. @persecuted_by_mods
          1 year, 8 months ago

          Chilly because of Perisic sub risk

        • OPTA FPL
          • 12 Years
          1 year, 8 months ago

          Neto ia must have at thiat price + fixtures

      2. @persecuted_by_mods
          1 year, 8 months ago

          Those of us who've managed to do 0 drafts so far, we're so close now!

          1. TheTinman
            • 8 Years
            1 year, 8 months ago

            Yeah, itchy trigger finger now...

          2. Nate(U)dog(ie)
            • 3 Years
            1 year, 8 months ago

            Yeah actually looking forward to playing around with it a bit, season is only a little over a month away now

        • SADIO SANÉ
          • 8 Years
          1 year, 8 months ago

          jesus there a quite a few of you on here that are super salty at any tiny/small victory; a simple 'well played' or 'good shout' from time-to-time would be nice lol

          1. SADIO SANÉ
            • 8 Years
            1 year, 8 months ago

            and yes I'm salty about the saltiness 😆

            1. TheTinman
              • 8 Years
              1 year, 8 months ago

              Honestly this isn't the place to come for comrardry anymore. Too many of the users being influenced by the cesspit that is twitter.

              1. SADIO SANÉ
                • 8 Years
                1 year, 8 months ago

                yeah, it's kinda ridiculous - there are plenty of good posters though

                1. Brimble82
                  • 5 Years
                  1 year, 8 months ago

                  Ummm... my comment was comradery based!

                2. SADIO SANÉ
                  • 8 Years
                  1 year, 8 months ago

                  and I come here for the ticker (which has just been made worse a couple of days ago), the price change hot topic, and MAINLY the comments section

          2. Make Arrows Green Again
            • 7 Years
            1 year, 8 months ago

            I've been hitting F5 all day waiting for you to comment so I can say both 'well played' and 'good shout'.

            Thank goodness you're finally here.

            Well played' and good shout

            1. SADIO SANÉ
              • 8 Years
              1 year, 8 months ago

              thank you brother, appreciate it

          3. Tomerick
            • 9 Years
            1 year, 8 months ago

            Booooo

          4. Grande Tubarão
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 2 Years
            1 year, 8 months ago

            Yeah, it’s kind of funny what people get so worked up about on here sometimes.

          5. Eze Really?
            • 9 Years
            1 year, 8 months ago

            Time you changed user name bud. (smile)

            1. SADIO SANÉ
              • 8 Years
              1 year, 8 months ago

              I'm waiting for them to celebrate a goal together so I can change my profile pic 😀

          6. Nate(U)dog(ie)
            • 3 Years
            1 year, 8 months ago

            Just remember what it's like here on matchday, any sort of fun or positivity you have will be sucked out of you if you come on here. Sometimes having unsociable work hours or a kid that doesn't sleep great isn't so bad, coming on here in the late hours often tends to bring some more detailed (and pleasant) discussion

            1. SADIO SANÉ
              • 8 Years
              1 year, 8 months ago

              yeah that's true, I usually come on after the 'score check' drama when people are especially angry

        • Athletic Nasherbo
          • 7 Years
          1 year, 8 months ago

          Death of the 4.5 playing midfielder it seems!

          1. Ser Davos
            • 8 Years
            1 year, 8 months ago

            Could be a hen's teeth job and the equivalent of 4m GK, defenders and 4.5 FWDs

          2. St Pauli Walnuts
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 5 Years
            1 year, 8 months ago

            Chukwuemeka! ... okay, he only fits 50% of your criteria but here's hoping for a great pre-season.

        • Iceball
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          1 year, 8 months ago

          Will fpl open today? I though it had open, change password and all that...but I can still see gw38 team...

          1. @persecuted_by_mods
              1 year, 8 months ago

              Today or tomorrow, likely tomorrow as there's still teams reveals to go and I don't think they'd want to launch it in the evening but who knows

          2. Sheffield Wednesday
            • 3 Years
            1 year, 8 months ago

            Taking a look at the new kits on the official site - it looks like Southampton away kit is camouflage this season. Didn't see that coming.

          3. Hazardous1983
            • 13 Years
            1 year, 8 months ago

            cant update profile stick on that screen so annoying

          4. Dale Sartip-Zadeh
            • 2 Years
            1 year, 8 months ago

            definitely Reece James

          5. Damien Sartip-Zadeh
            • 2 Years
            1 year, 8 months ago

            Great defenders