The Best FPL Defenders

There are two main types of defenders: centre-backs and full-backs. The best defenders in FPL are full-backs and wing-backs. Sometimes, you want to choose a centre-back over a full-back to minimize risks. FPL defenders playing as midfielders (wingers) are the hidden gems!

FPL defender points are as follows: 2 points for completing the 90 mins, 4 points for a clean sheet, 6 points for a goal, and 3 points for an assist.

The two types of FPL defenders

There are two main types of defenders: centre-backs and full-backs. An FPL manager must categorize each defender because the scoring potential between centre-backs and full-backs is huge.

Of course, we cannot say all centre-backs are worse than all full-backs, but it’s a perfect generalization. As an FPL manager, you should focus on full-backs and, more precisely, wing-backs.

Here is how the defenders differ from each other:

• Centre-backs are the central defenders. If a team plays with a 3- or 5-man defense line, there are three centre-backs. If a team plays with a 4-man defense line, there are two centre-backs.
• A right-back is the right-sided defender in a four-man defense line, and a left-back is the left-sided defender. Together, they are called full-backs.
• Full-backs are called wing-backs if a team operates with a 3-5-2 or 3-4-3 formation.

Popular centre-backs in FPL are Gabriel (Arsenal), Virgil Van Dijk (Liverpool), and Cristian Romero (Tottenham). Popular full-backs are Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Diogo Dalot (Man Utd), and Pedro Porro (Tottenham).

Nowadays, most teams use a four-man backline, while a 3-4-3 system was more famous a few years ago.

Best defenders in FPL

The best defenders in FPL are full-backs and wing-backs. You want to focus on full-backs or wing-backs because they have many attacking responsibilities in modern football. Wing-backs are generally the most attacking defenders.

Full-backs and wing-backs get into attacking positions all the time. This allows them to receive assists from crosses and sometimes even goals. Some full-backs, like Trent Alexander-Arnold, also have set-piece duties. See the image below, where TAA is walking toward a corner flag to give a corner kick.

Centre-backs generally score goals only from set pieces—a typical centre-back scores 2-3 goals per season, sometimes not even that. The best full-backs can get up to 10 assists per season or sometimes even more.

Even if assist points are only half of goal rewards (3 pts. Vs. 6 pts), attacking involvement also increases chances for bonus points. A player like Trent Alexander-Arnold often gets 2 or 3 bonus points even if he doesn’t score a goal or get an assist.

When is a centre-back the best defender for an FPL manager?

Sometimes, you want to choose a centre-back over a full-back to minimize risks. There are other factors you must also consider besides scoring potential.

The main reason for choosing a centre-back over a full-back is guaranteed game time. Centre-backs are often players who never get substituted. Players like Gabriel or Virgil Van Dijk play 90 minutes every match. You know they are always selected, and you never have to fear that they will be substituted early.

Remember that a defender needs to play 60 minutes to get the clean sheet points. It’s also terrible for the scoring potential if the player is substituted for around 70-75 minutes each match. This eats about 25 % of the game time.

Full-backs are rotated much more than centre-backs. They also tend to get injured more. We have witnessed many times, with teams like Manchester City or Liverpool, how full-backs are substituted even at half-time.

This is why you sometimes have to pick a centre-back over a full-back, even if the full-back would have higher scoring potential on paper. You need your players to play to get points. The clean sheet points are, after all, the primary source of points for all defenders.

Fantasy Premier League defenders as midfielders: the hidden gems

FPL defenders playing as midfielders (wingers) are the hidden gems! Sometimes, you might even have a full-back or wing-back who plays a forward position in a 3-4-3 formation! The obvious benefit is that such defenders get even more chances for attacking returns.

This kind of error happens now and then because FPL, the game, decides positions for each player based on the previous season and pre-season. Sometimes, a club’s manager changes a player’s position. If you find players like this, they could be precious.

Wing-backs are practically defenders who play as midfielders. There are not so many of them these days. The 3-4-3 formation (where wing-backs are used) was more used a few years ago.

There are also other exceptions. Take Man City’s right-back Rico Lewis, for example. The Man City formation is very fluid, meaning Rico Lewis sometimes plays like an attacking midfielder in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Lewis gets near the penalty box many times during a match.

Below is Manchester City’s starting line-up for the opening match of the 2024/2025 season vs. Chelsea. Right-back Rico Lewis starts in midfield, and he was actually even more attacking than the graphic shows.

You can only know players like this by watching the games. If you don’t have time to watch games, use FPL Youtubers to gain this valuable information.

FPL defender points

FPL defender points are as follows: 2 points for completing the 90 mins, 4 points for a clean sheet, 6 points for a goal, and 3 points for an assist. Defenders can also gain bonus points like all other players.

As mentioned earlier, a defender must play 60 minutes or more. Otherwise, he doesn’t get clean sheet points.

Defenders can also receive negative points like other players: -1 for a yellow card, -2 for an own goal, -2 for a penalty miss, and -3 for a red card.

Defenders will also get one minus point for each goal the team concedes. If your team loses 1-4, your defenders get -2 points from four conceded goals.