FPL History: Highest Scoring FPL Defenders Since the First FPL Season

The defenders may not be amongst the highest-scoring players in FPL every season, but they are the budget ones and form an integral part of your team. In this blog, we will cover the highest-scoring FPL Defenders every season since FPL started in the 2002/2003 season.

Link to all our FPL history blogs covering highest-scoring players each season, highest scoring midfielders, defenders, forwards, goal keepers, origin of FPL, and more. Give them all a read if you’re interested to know what happened back in the days.

Highest scoring FPL Defenders in a single FPL season since 2002/03 (season wise):

2002-03 (151 points), 2003-04 (168 points) – Sami Hyypia

Sami Hyypia made himself a must-have with 2 continuous seasons as top-scoring FPL defender in the very starting of FPL. He complimented the 2002-03 season in which he had 3 goals, 2 assists, and 14 clean sheets with 4 goals and 15 clean sheets in the 2003-04 season at the heart of Liverpool’s defense.

Further Read: FPL History: Highest Scoring FPL Players Each Year Since The First FPL Season in 2002/03

2004-05 (196 points), 2005-06 (184 points) – John Terry

Ending Sami Hyypia’s dominance as top-scoring FPL defender was second highest point scorer of 2003-04 season (155 points), John Terry. 2004-05 season was the year of Chelsea defense. They kept a Premier league record 25 clean sheets under the newly appointed manager Jose Mourinho. Terry’s 196 points came with the help of 3 goals, 1 assist, and 25 clean sheets. In the following season, he continued his dominance with 184 points with help of 4 goals and 20 clean sheets.

Further Read: Most FPL Points Scored By Players In An FPL Gameweek | FPL History

2006-07 (164 points) Matthew Taylor

Playing in left of midfield, Matthew Taylor was an out-of-position defender in the 2006-07 season. Even though Portsmouth didn’t keep that many clean sheets, with the help of 8 goals, 4 assists, and 9 clean sheets, playing in an advanced role Taylor became the top-scoring FPL defender. The second place that season went to Jamie Carragher with 163 points.

Further Read: FPL History: Highest Scoring FPL Goalkeepers Since The First FPL Season

2006-07 (164 points), 2007-08 (196 points) – Joelon Lescott

Lescott joined Everton in the 2006-07 season from Wolves and went on to become Everton’s player of the season for the next two seasons. He was the joint top point scorer of the 2006-07 season along with Matthew Taylor. In that season he managed 2 goals, 1 assist, and 13 clean sheets. In the following season, he became the top point scorer again with 196 points. He scored 8 goals, assisted 1, and managed 14 clean sheets.

Further Read: FPL History: Highest Scoring FPL Players Each Year Since The First FPL Season in 2002/03

2008-09 (187 points) – Nemanja Vidic

Manchester United almost managed to level Chelsea’s clean sheets in a season record in 2008-09 with 24 clean sheets (just 1 less than Chelsea in 2004-05). During the 2008–09 season, Vidić was a pivotal part of the United defense in the absence of a number of other defenders during various parts of the season. He started every match in the domestic league, with United going on a record run of 14 consecutive clean sheets in Premier League matches. Towards the end of the 2008–09 season, Vidić was shortlisted for the PFA Player of the Year award. He was the top-scoring FPL defender with 4 goals, 1 assist, and 23 clean sheets. The next highest scorers were Lescott (172 points) and Carragher (161 points).

2009-10 (168 points) ,2011-22 (159 points) – Patrice Evra

United defensive assets continued their domination as top-scoring FPL defenders this time with Evra. In 2009-10 the United Left Back contributed 3 assists and managed 16 clean sheets. Then again in the 2011-12 season, he was the highest-scoring among FPL defenders with 159 points coming with help of 4 assists and 18 clean sheets, 14 points more than second-placed Kompany (145 points).

2010-11(178 points), 2012-13(177 points) – Leighton Baines

In the 2010–11 season, Baines played every minute of Everton’s Premier League matches. His contribution was rewarded with the club’s Player of the Season, Players’ Player of the Season, and Goal of the Season awards. He contributed 5 goals and 11 assists throughout the season, 5th overall(assists) in the league, and was the league’s highest assisting defender. During the 2012–13 season, Baines created 116 chances for his teammates, more than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues. He scored 5 goals, assisted 5, and kept 11 clean sheets to become the highest points scorer among FPL defenders that season.

Further Read: History Of Fantasy Football And Origin Of FPL

2013-14 (180 points) – Séamus Coleman

The next Evertonian defender toping FPL defenders chart was Séamus Coleman in the 2013-14 season with 180 points. The 2013–14 season proved to be Coleman’s best to date as he scored six league goals, more than his previous seasons at the club combined. In April, he was named in the PFA Team of the Year. He was also named Everton’s Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year. Coleman was part of a defense that conceded just 39 goals to help Everton finish fifth with a club record of 72 Premier League points. He created 45 chances during the season, the third-highest amongst Everton players, and had the second-highest pass completion at 88%. The next highest scoring defenders in FPL that season was Terry (172 points) and Coleman’s teammate Baines (169 points).

Further Read: FPL History: Highest Scoring FPL Midfielders since the first FPL season

2014-15 (179 points) – Branislav Ivanović

The Chelsea defender was the top scorer in FPL in 2014-15 Chelsea’s title-winning season. The 179 points came by the courtesy of 4 goals, 5 assists, and 17 clean sheets (highest that season). The next highest scorers in FPL were Terry with 177 points and Jagielka 142 points.

Further Read: FPL History: Highest Scoring FPL Goalkeepers Since The First FPL Season

2015-16 (172 points) – Héctor Bellerín

Arsenal and United were top for clean sheets in 2015-16 season with 18 each but it was the Arsenal right-back who topped the FPL points chart for defender with 172 points. He scored 1 goal and assisted 5 with his 18 clean sheets in 36 appearances. The next highest point scorer that season was his North London rival Alderweireld (166 points).

Further Read: FPL History: Highest Scoring FPL Midfielders since the first FPL season

2016-17 (178 points) – Gary Cahill

In Chelsea’s title-winning season and under new management in Antonio Conte, Cahill continued his partnership with John Terry in defense at the start of the season. The Center Back went on to become top scoring FPL defender with his 6 goals and 15 clean sheets in 37 appearances. His points tally was followed by his teammates Alonso (177 points) and Azpilicueta (170 points).

Further Read: FPL History: Highest Scoring FPL Players Each Year Since The First FPL Season in 2002/03

2017-18 (175 points) – César Azpilicueta

The Chelsea defender after being third for points scored in the previous season became No.1 in 2017-18 season with 175 points. He scored 2 goals assisted 6 and kept 15 clean sheets in the season. Next, after Azpilicueta was his teammate Alonso with 165 points and Otamendi with 156 points.

Further Read: History Of Fantasy Football And Origin Of FPL

2018-19 (213 points) – Andrew Robertson

The record FPL points for a defender were achieved by Liverpool’s left-back Andrew Robertson. Liverpool kept the most clean sheets in that season (21) and failed to win the league by just 1 point. When you have someone like Virgil Van Djik to cover behind you, you can go as high up the pitch as you wish and Robertson did exactly that. With 11 assists and 19 clean sheets to his name, he scored 213 points. His points tally was followed by teammates Van Djik (208 points) and Trent (185 points). 

Further Read: FPL History: Highest Scoring FPL Goalkeepers Since The First FPL Season

2019-20 (210 points) – Trent Alexander-Arnold

The fullbacks played a very crucial role in ending Liverpool’s 30-year wait for the Premier League title contributing 25 assists out of which 13 came from the Right Back, Trent Alexander-Arnold. He was taking most of the set pieces. He appeared in every premier league game and topped FPL charts with 4 goals and 12 clean sheets added to his assist record. The next highest scorers in FPL were Robertson (181 points) and Van Djik (178 points).

Further Read: FPL History: Highest Scoring FPL Players Each Year Since The First FPL Season in 2002/03

2020-21 (171 points) – Stuart Dallas

Listed as a 4.5 m defender in FPL, Dallas barely played in defense the whole season. Playing as a center mid for a very attacking Leeds team Dallas became the top-scoring FPL defender with 8 goals, 2 assists, and 12 clean sheets to his name. This season he has shifted to a midfielder at 5.5m. The next highest scorers to Dallas were the Liverpool fullbacks, Robertson (161 points), and Trent Alexander-Arnold (160 points).

Further Read: Most FPL Points Scored By Players In An FPL Gameweek | FPL History

2021-22 (208 points) – Trent Alexander Arnold

Trent Alexander Arnold finished as the leading points scorer among defenders for 2021/22 season with 2 goals, 12 assists and 18 clean sheets. In fact, he finished 3rd for overall points only behind Salah(265 points) and Son(258 points)- Both of whom won the Golden Boot with 23 goals each. Arnold as expected dominated all the charts among defenders- Top for assists(12), Top for Key passes(90), Top for Big chances created(18), Top for Expected assists(10.8) and Top for Bonus points(32).

Cancelo finished second among defenders with 201 points while Robertson completed the podium on 3rd with 186 points.

Fun Fact-

TAA could have had beaten his teammate Robertson’s record of 213 points(2018/19) which is the highest ever by a defender in FPL. All he required was 12 points from the final 5 games, but he managed to get only 6 points from the last 5 games.

2022-23 (198 points) – Kieran Trippier

Trippier started the season at 5.0 million, reached the peak price of 6.2 million and ended the season at 6.0 million. Newcastle kept 12 clean sheets from the first 21 games. Trippier started the season really well and was on course to beat Robertson’s 213 points- But Newcastle keeping only one clean sheet from GW22- GW38 didn’t help things.

Trippier attacking threat, crosses and set pieces made him a bonus point magnet. He got 9 assists and 39 bonus points which helped him reach here. His 39 bonus points was easily the highest among defenders and 3rd among all players. Trippier accumulated a xA of 12.92 which was the highest among defenders.

Fun Fact– Trippier started the last day on 198 points and could have reached the podium if he had a 15 point haul(Goal, Clean sheet) vs Chelsea. Instead, he scored a own goal and finished with 0 points.

2023-24 (182 points) – Ben White

Ben White got 4 goals, 5 assists and 18 clean sheets to finish as the Highest scoring Defender in the 2023/24 season. He slotted in as RB and linked up really well with Saka to help Arsenal finish second in the league. White started the season at 5.5 million and finished the season at 6.1 million. White’s best haul came in DGW34 where he got 26 points courtesy 2 goals and 2 clean sheets vs Chelsea and Wolves.

Arsenal were easily the defensive side in the league.

Arsenal Defense in the 2023/24 season:

• Most clean sheets(18)
• Least Goals Conceded(29)
• Least xGC(28.32)
• Least Big Chances conceded(43)

Arsenal Counterparts Saliba(164) and Gabriel(149) finished second and third in the Defender list to complete the Arsenal domination.

All-time list of highest scoring Defenders at the end of 2022/23 FPL Season:

• Robertson(213 points)- 2018/19
• Trent Alexander Arnold(210 points)- 2019/20
• Van Dijk(208 points)- 2018/19
• Trent Alexander Arnold(208 points)- 2021/22
• Cancelo(201 points)- 2021/22
• Trippier(198 points)- 2022/23
• John Terry(196 points)- 2004/05
• Lescott(196 points)- 2007/08
• Vidic(187 points)- 2008/09

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