FPL

FPL defenders sorted by defensive contributions per 2024/25 game

18 July 2025 79 comments
avfc82 avfc82
Share:

The all-new defensive contributions could play a crucial role in how we select our defenders in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) 2025/26.   

By now, you’ll all have probably seen who the leading names would have been for defensive contributions in 2024/25 – the likes of James Tarkowski, Murillo and the now-departed Dean Huijsen.

But what about, for instance, a defender with the potential to be a clearance machine who had a spell out with a mid-season injury? They likely won’t feature in any end-of-year table.

So, it’s for that reason that we’ve gone ‘by match’ in this article, as it levels the playing field somewhat regarding game-time.

We’ve used data from our Members Area for this piece – more of which below…

defensive contributions

BEST DEFENDERS FOR DEFENSIVE CONTRIBUTIONS PER MATCH IN 2024/25

79 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Moon Dog
      4 months, 19 days ago

      I hope the official FPL site will provide a "defensive contributions" stat for last season or this game is becoming pay-to-win.

      Open Controls
      1. dan slo
        • 11 Years
        4 months, 19 days ago

        Yes , if the dnt do it it's the end of the world as we know it

        Open Controls
        1. Tommy Template
          • 11 Years
          4 months, 19 days ago

          Its already on the official site for last season you just can only view them individually rather than combined but gives you a good idea of who does what. Clearances for example - https://www.premierleague.com/en/stats/top/players?statMetric=totalClearances&season=2024 just change the metric to the other bits. Opta will have the same stuff on their site too, no need to pay for any of it thankfully.

          Open Controls
    • SM001
      • 9 Years
      4 months, 19 days ago

      "The all-new defensive contributions could play a crucial role in how we select our defenders in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) 2025/26."

      NOPE!

      Open Controls
      1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
        • 9 Years
        4 months, 19 days ago

        Maybe for some, but nor for me either
        Attacking fullbacks is the most fun!

        Open Controls
        1. All de Gea no iDier
          • 7 Years
          4 months, 19 days ago

          Look again. Some of the highest performers were from relegated clubs and priced up at £4m.

          Open Controls
          1. SM001
            • 9 Years
            4 months, 19 days ago

            I don't need to look again, thanks. Highest performers in a stat where you can only score a max of 2 points a game. Tarkowski is top of the list with 44 points from last season which is a little over 1 point a game. This will have zero affect in how I pick defenders.

            Open Controls
            1. Tommy Template
              • 11 Years
              4 months, 19 days ago

              But you'll pick attacking defenders who can only get 3 points for an assist but they'll be far less likely to happen than these defensive rewards.

              Open Controls
              1. SM001
                • 9 Years
                4 months, 19 days ago

                And score goals which leads to bonus points.

                Open Controls
          2. Cluckfuster
            • 14 Years
            4 months, 19 days ago

            I'm going to play devil's advocate and say that 4.0 players won't exist

            Open Controls
            1. have you seen cyan
              • 6 Years
              4 months, 19 days ago

              If 4.0 players don't exist, then they are breaking the game IMO.

              Open Controls
              1. Cluckfuster
                • 14 Years
                4 months, 19 days ago

                I'm not saying I want it to happen, but I won't be surprised either.

                Open Controls
            2. RedLightning
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 15 Years
              4 months, 19 days ago

              I think they will exist, but very few will be expected to be nailed-on starters.
              Third choice goalkeepers should be 4.0m too.

              Open Controls
        2. Cluckfuster
          • 14 Years
          4 months, 19 days ago

          Exactly, if Tarkowski's price rises too much then the attacking fullbacks will be even more desirable

          Open Controls
          1. Tommy Template
            • 11 Years
            4 months, 19 days ago

            There's an excellent illustration on the official site's analysis of how we may need to change our mindset.
            https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/4361968/which-defenders-will-get-the-most-defensive-contribution-points-in-fpl
            Lacroix would have only scored 8 points less than Munoz last season if these rules had applied. Obviously depends on what they do with the prices but this rule change is significant in defenders. I personally think it makes premium defenders hard avoids because cleans are less common than they used to be all round the league, you get penalised in the bonus for conceding (assuming they haven't reversed last season's bonus changes) and now the defenders at more busy defensive teams are picking up rewards that just closes the gap up on defenders all round. Assists are only worth 1 point more than this new defensive thing and they are nowhere near as frequent as we think.

            Open Controls
            1. Cluckfuster
              • 14 Years
              4 months, 19 days ago

              That's a great insight, thank you for bringing it to my attention.
              Ideally I want five defenders, priced at 4.5 each, who play for bad teams that also keep clean sheets. So five Everton defenders seems reasonable.

              Open Controls
              1. SM001
                • 9 Years
                4 months, 19 days ago

                "who play for bad teams that also keep clean sheets"

                If they kept clean sheets they wouldn't be bad teams

                Open Controls
                1. Cluckfuster
                  • 14 Years
                  4 months, 19 days ago

                  As alluded to in my comment... I present you with... Everton!

                  Open Controls
                  1. SM001
                    • 9 Years
                    4 months, 19 days ago

                    Which is why Pickford was such a popular pick. I won't be picking or starting Tarkowski over an attacking full back just for an extra 2 points every other game.

                    Open Controls
      2. TimeDrifter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        4 months, 19 days ago

        I agree but don't you feel bad for whoever was forced to write 9 Scout articles about this 'Huge rule change'. I guess there's a 'huge' shortage of other news to report on.

        https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2025/07/18/fpl-2025-26-huge-rule-change-as-defensive-contributions-come-in
        https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2025/07/18/who-would-have-been-the-top-scoring-defenders-in-fpl-2024-25-with-defensive-contributions
        https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2025/07/18/fpl-2025-26-defensive-contributions-what-is-a-recovery
        https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2025/07/18/fpl-defenders-sorted-by-defensive-contributions-per-2024-25-game
        https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2025/07/18/how-to-find-the-players-with-the-most-fpl-defensive-contributions
        https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2025/07/18/fpl-2025-26-defensive-contributions-what-is-a-clearance
        https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2025/07/18/fpl-2025-26-defensive-contributions-what-is-an-interception
        https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2025/07/18/fpl-2025-26-defensive-contributions-what-is-a-block
        https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2025/07/18/fpl-2025-26-defensive-contributions-what-is-a-tackle

        Open Controls
        1. RedLightning
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 15 Years
          4 months, 19 days ago

          Yes. The five 'what is a recovery/clearance/interception/block/tackle' articles could easily have been combined into a singe article.

          Open Controls
    • FPL Virgin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 months, 19 days ago

      Excellent article. Exactly what we need.

      Open Controls
    • FPL Virgin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 months, 19 days ago

      "....whether centre-backs from sides coming up from the Championship this season are going to be £4.0m again is another question."

      Hmmmm. What do scout know that we don't?

      Open Controls
    • FPL Virgin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 months, 19 days ago

      URGENT!

      When will we get a combined defensive contributions stat in the members area?

      It makes zero sense to have to manually add 'Clearances, Blocks and Interceptions' (CBI) and 'Tackles Won' together.

      Open Controls
      1. FPL Virgin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        4 months, 19 days ago

        Please tell me there is a CBIT stat in the members area.

        Open Controls
        1. FPL Virgin
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          4 months, 19 days ago

          And a CBIT-R stat for midfielders

          Open Controls
      2. RedLightning
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 15 Years
        4 months, 19 days ago

        TopMarx is working on it.

        Open Controls
        1. FPL Virgin
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          4 months, 19 days ago

          I knew he would. He's the best. Top bloke.

          Open Controls
    • All de Gea no iDier
      • 7 Years
      4 months, 19 days ago

      https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2025/07/18/how-to-find-the-players-with-the-most-fpl-defensive-contributions

      Open Controls
    • Tommy Template
      • 11 Years
      4 months, 19 days ago

      I think the defensive contributions are going to end up like save points for keepers and its going to completely mess with people's heads about how to pick defenders. Bad fixtures for clean sheets will become great fixtures for defensive contributions etc....

      Open Controls
      1. dan slo
        • 11 Years
        4 months, 19 days ago

        Save points for keepers has not completely messed with people's heads
        Hahaha

        Open Controls
        1. Tommy Template
          • 11 Years
          4 months, 19 days ago

          yeah but you only have to pick one keeper and most set and forget. You ever tried rotating them? Messes with your head. You will have to choose between a few in defence and the traditional going for the more likely clean might not be the best way. 'Banker' clean team concedes and then your bench defender/s pick up extras despite not cleaning either. Those extra 2 points when it happens will get annoying just like trying to rotate keepers and the benched one doing better.

          Open Controls
        2. Zalk
          • 14 Years
          4 months, 19 days ago

          Yeah, and they've been there since the start I think.

          Open Controls
    • Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 months, 19 days ago

      A small bug on web & mobile:

      From the 'My Profile' page, if you tap to view the left sidebar (navigation menu), part of the profile page remains as an overlay that covers the sidebar & makes navigation trickier.

      Open Controls
    • 1912 F.A Cup Winners
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 months, 19 days ago

      Is this the latest FPL will ever have been released??

      Open Controls
      1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 months, 19 days ago

        Apart from Covid season

        Open Controls
        1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          4 months, 19 days ago

          *reply to myself above haha

          Open Controls
      2. bitm2007
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 months, 19 days ago

        Was July 19th in 2016, 25 days before the opening PL fixture which is the equivalent of this coming Monday this year.

        Open Controls
        1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          4 months, 19 days ago

          Ooo really, can’t see it being this Monday unless they are going to surprise us and not to any price reveals

          Open Controls
      3. RedLightning
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 15 Years
        4 months, 19 days ago

        19th July in 2012 and 2016. My records don't go any further back than that.
        15th August in 2020 (following Covid the previous season).

        Open Controls
        1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          4 months, 19 days ago

          Ah interesting…. We must be very close then… surely next week

          Open Controls
          1. RedLightning
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 15 Years
            4 months, 19 days ago

            Yes. I am hoping that they might start revealing a few prices tomorrow and then launch early next week, as long as they have finished testing the updates by then.

            Open Controls
            1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 8 Years
              4 months, 19 days ago

              Fingers crossed mate!!! Certainly hope so!! I’m itching to start tinkering again!!

              Open Controls
    • TheBiffas
      • 5 Years
      4 months, 19 days ago

      Erik Ten Hag's Leverkusen just lost 5-0 to Flamingo U20's

      Open Controls
      1. St Pauli Walnuts
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 months, 19 days ago

        Trust the process

        Open Controls
    • CoracAld2831
      • 4 Years
      4 months, 19 days ago

      In order to get to the top 1% league, one's end rank has to be lower than 115 018

      My end rank was 183 797 so i am 68 779 places short.

      Unlucky.

      Open Controls
      1. CoracAld2831
        • 4 Years
        4 months, 19 days ago

        *had to be

        Open Controls
    • Moxon
      • 11 Years
      4 months, 19 days ago

      100% set on BB GW1 and WC GW2.

      Excited to get to tinkering. What is everyone else thinking?

      Open Controls
      1. Punned It
          4 months, 19 days ago

          I was sold on BB1 even before the double chips.

          Open Controls
        • Admiral Benson
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          4 months, 19 days ago

          I think the BB chip is rubbish and all for getting it out of the way. But BB week 1 usually means WC week 2 and you’re therefore giving up your most powerful chip (WC) for the sake of maybe 10-15 points max from BB1.

          Open Controls
      2. The Legend Squad
        • 11 Years
        4 months, 19 days ago

        WC into double BB? WC17, BB18, BB19?

        Open Controls
        1. RedLightning
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 15 Years
          4 months, 19 days ago

          The second batch of chips only become available after the GW19 deadline, so you won't be able to play your second Bench Boost till GW20.
          It's an idea, but it might be dangerous to leave the first Bench Boost that late, and there might be more rotations than usual around Christmas time.

          Open Controls
      3. GENERATION X
        • 12 Years
        4 months, 19 days ago

        Never saw Mark Sutherns going down a road like this but effectively a simple game has ate itself a little bit like football itself. No surprise and I guess its just a young/new persons bag now. Adapt to survive etc

        Open Controls
        1. RedLightning
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 15 Years
          4 months, 19 days ago

          They can't please everyone, however hard they try.
          And we don't know how many of these changes were recommended by Mark and how many were decided by others.
          Also, we don't yet know what they are going to do with the prices.

          I don't like the doubling up of the chips, but the defensive contributions points could lead to fairer rewards for central defenders, defensive midfielders and others.

          The defensive contributions points will make it initially more difficult to compare players based on last season's points, but after a few weeks those of us who don't want to dig into the intricate details of how the scores are made up should again be able to just look at this season's scores without having to worry too much about their defensive contributions element.

          Open Controls
          1. Moon Dog
              4 months, 19 days ago

              Triggerlips put it best:
              https://x.com/NickTriggerlips/status/1946132656095379649

              You can no longer play the game by only watching games and making a judgement on players. Now you have to read stats tables to compete. I disagree that you'll be able to ignore it after a few weeks. When you see a defender making forward runs that aren't picked out, and think they might have a nice attacking potential, you now have to cross-reference that against defensive stats to see if that attacking potential is worth it. The beauty of FPL, and what sets it apart from other fantasy games, has been its simplicity and focus on attacking returns, allowing all types of managers to compete. It's now tied at the hip to data & stats tables.

              Open Controls
              1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
                • 9 Years
                4 months, 19 days ago

                Yes, you can. He must be confused.

                Open Controls
          2. Sheffield Wednesday
            • 5 Years
            4 months, 19 days ago

            What I like about the changes most is that I can now pick a fantasy football team that more closely resembles a team that I would pick in real life [budget allowing. and if they get the prices right] complete with a couple of CB and one or two DM. No more four LB and 5 AM.

            Open Controls
        2. noquarternt
          • 10 Years
          4 months, 19 days ago

          Be interesting to see how the pricing reflects the point scoring changes, is it a case of players like Rice and Rodri having a higher base point level and then getting the odd mega haul on the cheap?

          Open Controls
          1. magyarhyperion
            • 2 Years
            4 months, 19 days ago

            Rodri yes but Rice is actually very bad at deffensive stats. Semenyo and Bruno will be essentials.

            Open Controls
        3. FPL Virgin
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          4 months, 19 days ago

          This article is incorrect.

          https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2025/07/18/how-to-find-the-players-with-the-most-fpl-defensive-contributions

          Tackles and not 'tackles won' is what counts towards defensive contributions.

          Mark has confirmed this on the above average FPL show today.

          Open Controls
          1. Sheffield Wednesday
            • 5 Years
            4 months, 19 days ago

            Have you a link to where Mark said this? I don't follow live media much so pardon my ignorance.

            Open Controls
            1. FPL Virgin
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 9 Years
              4 months, 19 days ago

              Watch the latest episode of above average FPL on YouTube.

              It's also in the official FPL announcement. It just says tackles and everyone has assumed it is tackles won.

              Open Controls
              1. Sheffield Wednesday
                • 5 Years
                4 months, 19 days ago

                Oh I see, 'Above Average FPL' is the title. thanks.

                Open Controls
                1. FPL Virgin
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 9 Years
                  4 months, 19 days ago

                  Yep Mark was in the chat and text one of the hosts to confirm it was him.

                  Open Controls
          2. All de Gea no iDier
            • 7 Years
            4 months, 19 days ago

            You spend so much time sniping and knocking this site I wonder why you are still here.

            Open Controls
        4. shorey143
          • 4 Years
          4 months, 19 days ago

          Nice to see considered changes but ultimately where the CBs score points is against teams they will be on the back foot and ultimately concede against. Which means more bench points ultimately

          Open Controls
          1. Silecro
            • 8 Years
            4 months, 19 days ago

            Thats why Tarkowski is mentioned, predominantly defensive team with great chance for clearances, but still good enough of a defence to warrant a semi-regular clean sheet.

            NFO defenders should also be up there

            Open Controls
        5. Pep Roulette
          • 8 Years
          4 months, 19 days ago

          Hey fam! What happened to this site?

          Open Controls
          1. Herger
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 4 Years
            4 months, 19 days ago

            Why was my reply to this deleted?

            Open Controls
            1. Herger
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 4 Years
              4 months, 19 days ago

              Nevermind. Didn’t realise he was just posting it everywhere. I replied to one of his others

              Open Controls
        6. Herger
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 4 Years
          4 months, 19 days ago

          Appreciate everyone’s doing their best but it’s a struggle to understand how the website’s somehow got worse after such an overhaul.

          Open Controls
          1. have you seen cyan
            • 6 Years
            4 months, 19 days ago

            Yea. If some things don't get reverted back, I suspect this place is going to die.

            1. Website is now useless on mobile
            2. Live comments box does not auto update and now only shows 5 comments
            3. At least 5 other more minor issues, but still issues

            Not sure who at FFS has passed off these changes, but they have made the website worse. Which is quite a feat.

            I will see how it goes when this place is busier, and maybe they will fix some things in the coming weeks. But if its left like this, I personally won't be frequenting this place like I used to, I will go to another site. Who is going to sit here refreshing the page to see the last 5 comments all the time? On match days there are 5 comments every 15 seconds...

            I think there changes are financially motivated, as in, we refresh the page more often and they get more ad views. If that is their motivation behind this, then they have made a very bad judgment, because they will end up with no one here refreshing the page.

            Open Controls
            1. WVA
              • 9 Years
              4 months, 19 days ago

              Yep I’m getting really frustrated, loved the site as it was too!

              Open Controls
        7. have you seen cyan
          • 6 Years
          4 months, 19 days ago

          Is anyone familiar with Ndiaye's defensive stats? I know he was classified as a forward last season, but maybe he gets reclassified to a mid. If so, he might be one of the players to benefit the most form these changes, especially given he has actual goal threat. I can see him being reclassified too.

          Open Controls
          1. Holmes
            • 12 Years
            4 months, 19 days ago

            Nothing special

            6 CBIT is his best score in entire season

            Open Controls
          2. Holmes
            • 12 Years
            4 months, 19 days ago

            I think his recovery numbers were pretty good, picked him in FPL challenge for that.

            Open Controls
            1. Sheffield Wednesday
              • 5 Years
              4 months, 19 days ago

              172 recoveries over the season, 19th in the league for that stat.

              Open Controls
          3. have you seen cyan
            • 6 Years
            4 months, 19 days ago

            Ok thanks, nothing amazing then.

            Open Controls
        8. MADCHESTER UTD
          • 10 Years
          4 months, 19 days ago

          Another way of trying to get all players involved such as CDM’s would’ve been to separate the positions eg of the 5 mids, 2 of them have to be from the CDM list. That way we would have to have the likes of caceido in (but without this defensive point bonus). Or could have the CDM’s extra point for a CS

          As for double chips I was going to BBGW1, WC2 just to get rid of the annoying BB chip early but the 2nd BB chip will still be an annoyance now.

          But same for all so willing to give it a chance without moaning so much. At least the AM chip has gone

          Open Controls

        You need to be logged in to post a comment.