Our series of Burning Questions, honing in on some of the biggest pre-season dilemmas facing Fantasy managers, got underway earlier this week. Having quizzed our contributors and moderators on the impact of Alexis Sanchez in his first season in the English top-flight, we now turn our attentions to defensive matters.

Last season’s change to the Bonus Points System (BPS) in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game proved beneficial to a number of defenders. As many as 11 backline options posted a score of 130+ points in FPL last season – a feat matched by 11 forwards – and with the introduction of a new rule rewarding successful dribbles, many anticipate full-backs could be more prominent this time around.

With this in mind, then, we ask the question: Which, if any, defensive heavy-hitters justify inclusion in our initial squads?

Tom Fenley says…
All the top sides have strengthened defensively, so there is a lot of upheaval to figure out. Obviously defences usually work better the more familiarised they are with each other, so at the start of the season, with the budget and the doubts on playing time, committing funds to defence will be a gamble. I prefer bringing in the big hitters once everything is a bit more settled and I’ve increased team value, this also means you’re not messing with rotation plans established pre-season.

However, if you like to spend on heavy-hitters, to state the obvious, I think Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea are always a good bet and if any of their backline nails down a regular role they’d be worth it; Filipe Luis, at 6.0, would certainly offer good value if he starts. Elsewhere, Luke Shaw is not worth the risk from the start with his fitness issues, especially with the cheaper options at United. I think Jan Vertonghen at Spurs should be on our watchlists and very much doubt Leighton Baines, Seamus Coleman, Branislav Ivanovic or any defender over 6.0 will be in my team until after December.

D1sable says..
Well, I think a Chelsea defender ticks this box quite comfortably. It just seems lunacy to go without when Jose Mourinho has proven in the past that shut-outs are everything to him. After an initially shaky start last season, the Blues turned it around defensively and began to churn out the clean sheets – I would expect that trend to continue from the off this time and fear with early wildcards in play we could end up paying over the odds for a defender if we’re not on board initially.

Elsewhere, Luke Shaw deployed at wing-back in a 3-4-1-2 also teases me and especially with the BPS changes (where players are now rewarded for dribbles) but I guess that’s the United supporter in me clouding my judgement somewhat.

7ShadesofSmoke says…
Chelsea and Manchester United are screaming out for initial investment across the back four. They both have kind opening fixtures and managers who instill a level of discipline in their squads should reap defensive returns. The main issue for Fantasy managers to address in pre-season is identifying which players will earn ‘nailed-on’ tags in their respective starting XIs.

Two new left-backs, Luke Shaw and Filipe Luís have made an impression on my early thoughts. Both should become first choice and have the quality to harvest returns from forays into opposition territory – they’re also available at 6.0 apiece, a full million cheaper than perennial premium left-back Leighton Baines, who opens the season with a tricky set of fixtures.

Andy says…
I’m a firm believer that any Fantasy manager can carve a successful season with or without any defender – they’re the filler required to balance the more “exciting” attackers. Shopping in the bargain basement will allow Fantasy managers extra funds to stock up on luxury attacking line-ups.

With that being said, I see a whole bunch of expensive defenders I’d happily have in my team and I’ve had two of them in my FPL draft since the game opened up a few weeks back. Luke Shaw is one – the prospect of United’s new 3-4-1-2 system excites me enough to include him in the mix but the main man from my perspective will always be Leighton Baines.

As the costliest option out there the Everton left-back is comparatively expensive, sure. Yet, for me, he’s still an absolute bargain. He may not be £4.5 million these days but you just have to look at his scoring history over the last few years to appreciate his Fantasy value. Baines is basically a midfielder on the pitch with the added bonus of extra clean sheet points in the Fantasy stakes. And he takes penalties. And has a share of set-pieces. Barring injury, he will be in my starting line-up all season – just like last year and the year before that.

Applebonkers says…
There’s an argument that Jose Mourinho’s side are ‘season keepers’ but I’m still hesitant to ever ignore fixtures. Therefore Leighton Baines is probably off the initial shopping list (he’ll definitely be coming in at some point) due to Everton’s tricky start. With the kindest of opening fixtures, Manchester United defenders certainly have the potential to be heavy hitters even if 5.5 isn’t classed as such. The supposed formation is a dream, too; if you’re not a winger you’re a winner.

As far as Chelsea defenders, my thoughts are that if they don’t cost 6.5 then they aren’t worth the gamble. Many are leaning towards Filipe Luis being the most nailed of the full-backs options which I probably agree with (he’s just walked away from an incredible team) but I don’t think such a small saving is worth the reduction in attacking threat from John Terry and Gary Cahill. In north London, the entire Arsenal defence look 0.5 underpriced to me and, while Tottenham look due for an upturn under Mauricio Pochettino, Jan Vertonghen is much harder to justify with 5.0-priced alternatives at the Lane.

In terms of numbers I’m all for pumping at least three heavy-hitters in from the off – with big defenders you expect clean sheets rather than just hope for them. With Aleksandar Kolarov you expect assists too, of course. Go on, I dare you.

SWANNY14 says…
Personally, I can never go into a new season without at least two heavy-hitters shoring up my backline. Call me safe, or call me boring, but I need that stability in defence. Last term saw many of us turn to the likes of Chelsea’s Cesar Azpilicueta and Man City’s Martin Demichelis as cheaper routes into two of the best defences in the league, but their performances in 2013/14 have subsequently seen both move into the heavy-hitter bracket with a 6.0 price tag, thus eradicating their budget appeal.

Jose Mourinho’s men, in particular, look certain to carry their defensive form into the new season and although they offer options at 6.0, I reckon the attacking potential of Branislav Ivanovic, at 7.0, is the best bet, with the Serbian affording us a greater security of game time.

On the other hand, Fantasy managers will be holding out hope that Man United’s rearguard options, kindly priced due to their defensive shortcomings last season, will be buoyed by their new manager, new system and absence of Champions League rotation this time round. Should Louis Van Gaal lead the revolution at Old Trafford, their defensive options will surely make a mockery of their mid-price valuations and prove just as indispensable as any City, Chelsea or Arsenal big-hitter.

Gavigan says…
Expensive defenders are really only worth investment if you feel sure they are going to start well out of the blocks. Traditionally, clean sheets are difficutl to predict in the opening Gameweeks with the form book often upset. If you feel that Chelsea will show resilience from day one then Gary Cahill or Branislav Ivanovic have to be targets. The same applies for Leighton Baines and Seamus Coleman if Everton start well although, given the fixtures, that’s far more unlikely.

Roscola says…
Three teams spring to mind as talking points: Chelsea, United and Everton. If we had absolute certainty over Jose Mourinho’s line-up, then they would all seem like very strong candidates. But we don’t, and I’m personally going to wait for more assurance. United’s fixtures plus van Gaal’s tactical nous suggest that it would be mad to go without at least one Reds defender and Luke Shaw’s wing-back role is hugely tempting. Everton are a very tricky one. Traditionally solid clean sheet performers, their full-backs are now bona-fide Fantasy royalty. But horrendous opening fixtures plus the traditional form-sapping rigours of Europa mean that they just don’t justify their eye-watering price (yet).

Evs says…
If we’re including keepers here, then United’s David De Gea appeals, although Phil Jones – if he stays fit – does interest me as he seems to nick a goal now and again. It’s difficult to look past Chelsea, with Gary Cahill the stand-out pick – Jose may rotate the ageing John Terry more often, while there’s too much uncertainty surrounding the full-back positions. Arsenal also flourished at the back last year but Mathieu Debuchy now has some competition from Callum Chambers, while the situation looks similar on the left as Nacho Monreal and Kieran Gibbs vie for the starting role. With Per Mertesacker being potentially rested after World Cup duty and Arsenal not having the best fixtures I would hold for now. Sadly the price tag on the ever-consistent Leighton Baines (7.0) is a step too far for me.

Jonty says…
The first name on my team sheet when the Fantasy Premier League game opened in mid July was John Terry. He plays for one of the most defensive teams the Premier League has seen, is nailed on and has goals in his locker. Last season he more than justified his price tag and I expect more of the same this season. Factor in his lack of international duty, Chelsea’s strong early fixtures plus a pre-season that has seen him score three goals already and Terry looks to be a great option for initial squads. Last season’s tally of three goals, an assist, 16 clean sheets and 29 bonus points make an even more compelling case to draft in the former England captain. Will he be rotated? Perhaps in some games, but then so will his team-mate Gary Cahill, particular on his returns from England duty.

Mark says…
I’m going to afford myself one luxury item in defence and, right now, that’s going to be Jan Vertonghen. While there are cheaper options in the Spurs ranks, I think that Christian Eriksen’s delivery from set-plays is going to feed Vertonghen at least five goals over the season. Eriksen’s set-pieces were unplayable at times at the tail-end of last and produced goals – Vertonghen can be fearsome at set-plays and has the nimble feet of a goal sniffer around the six yard box.

Poor old Leighton gets overlooked, then, mainly because I tend to use fixtures to govern the majority of my defensive acquisitions and I’m not sure that Everton can deliver value over the first six Gameweeks given their tough Goodison encounters. United are a different matter and, right now, I’ve gone with Jonny Evans from the off (which might change should Thomas Vermaelen land at Old Trafford). A renowned Fantasy Football frustration, he nonetheless looks assured of his start and will earn me some precious time to assess Luke Shaw’s prospects fully.

I always feel that we get more time to jump on defensive bandwagons. It’s takes a goal or two or obvious value appeal before price rises become a major factor at the back. That should mean I get some time to assess Shaw and Luis at Chelsea before deciding whether to move. For now, then, it’s all about the first few Gameweeks and I’m going Vertonghen for flair and Evans for the security of strong fixtures.