Best FPL Budget Defenders Below £5.0m for GW9-GW13

There has been a lot of information to take in over the international break, and many new options have emerged in the budget defender category considering price drops, transfers, and fixture swings. In this article, we analyze the Best FPL Budget Defenders Below £5.0m for GW9 onwards.

Here is an overview of the fixtures between GW9-GW16:

Therefore, I will be giving an overview of the best FPL defenders below £5m, including team stats, ahead of FPL Gameweek 9. The players I will cover are:

• Wesley Fofana
• Emerson
• Tyrone Mings
• Vitaliy Mykolenko
• Ben Tarkowski
• Marc Guéhi 
• Tyrick Mitchell
• Max Kilman
• Diogo Dalot

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Best FPL Budget Defenders Below £5.0m for GW9-GW13

Fofana (£4.4m)

Not as much data is available for Fofana as he has had just 3 starts and played 270 minutes. In this time, he has had 4 touches in the penalty area and 3 total goal attempts, with 1 big chance and 1 shot on target accumulating an xG of 0.14. Fofana has created no chances, with an xA of just 0.06, and has no goal involvements as of yet.

Fofana’s Maps

• Fofana is a centreback who has played primarily on the right-hand side this season

Fofana is a budget route into the Chelsea defence, however they have disappointed so far this season, keeping only 1 clean sheet in 6 games. In terms of total shots conceded (62), they are still 5th among all teams, but 8 teams do beat them for shots on target conceded (27).

Over 6 games, they have scored 8 goals, and come in at only 17th among all teams for goal attempts (70), joint-12th for shots inside the box (49), and 12th for big chances (11).

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They do, however, have a great fixture run over the next few weeks. They will of course have UCL games alongside this, and Fofana will carry a rotation risk.

Further Read: Predicted GW9 Lineups Of All 20 Premier League Teams

Emerson (£4m)

Emerson has been a popular £4m defender on the Wildcard, and hasn’t been nailed in the West Ham defence. He has played just 149 minutes of football and has registered no goal attempts or chances created, and has an xA of just 0.02, with no chances created.

Emerson’s Maps

• Emerson plays in the left-back position

West Ham have also only kept 1 clean sheet in 7 games, come in at 7th for shots conceded (74), and 5th for shots on target conceded (21). Therefore, although their underlying defensive stats are quite positive, this has frustratingly not translated to clean sheet points.

In 7 games, West Ham have just 3 goals, the least among all teams along with Wolves. They come in at joint-11th for total goal attempts (79), 15th for shots inside the box (48), and joint-18th for big chances.

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Despite their poor form, they do have great upcoming fixtures where they will be the favourites. Wolves have particularly been struggling to get goals, and Southampton and Bournemouth are also not in great form at the moment.

Further Read: FPL Players And Teams To Target From FPL Gameweek 9

Mings (4.3m)

Mings is yet to register an xG, with only 6 penalty area touches and no goal attempts in total. He has also created just 1 chance, attempting no crosses and having an xA of just 0.05, with no total goal involvements.

Mings’ Maps

• Mings is a centreback whose main threat is through set-pieces

Villa have just 1 clean sheet in their 7 games so far and are fairly average in terms of defensive numbers. Overall, they are joint-10th for total shots conceded (88), and 13th for shots on target conceded (31).

However, they have been very poor going forward. In total, they have 6 goals, made 67 goal attempts (19th), had 41 shots inside the box (18th), and had 6 big chances (joint-18th).

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Villa’s clean sheet potential over the next few gameweeks is fairly positive, though have a tougher fixture against Chelsea and face Leeds and Fulham teams who have been in good form this season.

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Mykolenko (£4.5m) and Tarkowski (£4.4m)

Both centrebacks are yet to have a goal involovement.

Mykolenko has an xA of 0.18, having created 6 chances but no big chances as of yet. He has also attempted 14 crosses, with 5 being successful. In total, he has had 5 penalty area touches, with 4 total goal attempts, 1 shot on target, and 1 big chance, and a total xG of 0.21.

His teammate Tarkowski does have more promising statistics, with an xG of 0.47 having made 5 goal attempts and having 1 big chance. He has also created 4 chances including 1 big chance and has a total xA of 0.20.

Mykolenko’s Maps

• Mykolenko plays as a left-back

Tarkowski’s Maps

• Tarkowski is less attacking as a centreback

Along with Liverpool and Man City, Everton have conceded just 6 goals, with only Brighton conceding less, and have kept 2 clean sheets in 7 games. However, they are 18th overall for shots conceded (112) and15th for shots on target conceded (36). A more promising stat is that they have conceded 11 big chances; 7th among all teams.

In total, Everton have just 5 goals in 7 games, with only West Ham and Wolves scoring less. However, their underlying stats are slightly more promising. They are 15th for goal attempts (84) and joint-13th for big chances (10).

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Everton have some nice fixtures scattered around some tougher games against Man United, Tottenham, and also Newcastle.

Further Read: £8.0m-£8.5m FPL Midfielders Review And Best Options From GW9

Guéhi (£4.3m) and Mitchell (£4.5m)

Guéhi’s price has lowered due to Palace’s tough run of games, but he offers a very cheap route into a defence that did well last season. He has had a minimal goal-scoring threat, with an xG of 0.13 and an xA of 0.04, having just 2 goal attempts, 1 shot on target, 2 chances created, and 1 big chance created.

Mitchell is yet to register an xG, but has had 1 assist from an xA of only 0.18. In total, he has created 3 chances and 1 big chance.

Guéhi’s Maps

• Guéhi plays as a centreback

Mitchell’s Maps

• Mitchell plays in the left-back position

Last season, Palace’s defensive assets proved to be good value. However, they have struggled at the start of this season, keeping just 1 clean sheet in 6 games, conceding 97 shots (14th) and conceding 24 shots on target (7th). They have had a tough opening run of fixtures, facing Arsenal, Liverpool, and Man City, so this can partly explain their lack of clean sheets compared to others teams.

This can also account for some of their poor attacking numbers, coming in at 18th for goal attempts (68), 16th for shots on target (45), and joint-10th for big chances (13).

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After a tough GW9 fixture, Palace have a great fixture run that could make their very cheap defenders great differentials over the coming weeks.

Further Read: FPL GW9 Wildcard Team & Drafts to Consider | Wildcard Guide

Kilman (£4.5m)

Kilman is a nailed, cheap route into a very strong defence, though doesn’t offer a lot of goal-scoring threat. He has an xA of just 0.07, creating no chances so far, and an xG of 0.10. Overall, he has 4 penalty area touches and 2 goal attempts, but none on target.

Kilman’s Maps

• Kilman plays as a centreback

Wolves have had a solid start to the season defensively, conceding 7 goals and keeping 3 clean sheets in 7 games. Among all teams, they are 9th for total shots conceded (86), joint-9th for shots in target conceded (27), and 4th for big chances conceded (8).

However, along with West Ham, they have scored the fewest goals (3) among all teams. They are joint-7th for goal attempts (82), but are 17th for shots inside the box (44) and 17th for big chances (9). Desipte offering little attacking threat, Kilman could provide much-needed clean sheet points in the easier fixtures, and if the games are low-scoring then he could also pick up some bonus points.

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Wolves have a tough GW10 fixture against Chelsea, but other than that they have quite favourable fixtures, and Kilman could be a great long-term pick.

Further Read: FPL GW9 Differential Picks to Consider Ahead of GW9 Deadline

Dalot (£4.5m)

Dalot has the most promising attacking stats out of all the options here. He has had a total of 16 touches in the penalty area, and has an xG of 0.35 and an xA of 0.65, so far getting 1 assist. He has also had a total of 4 goal attempts, with 3 shots on target and 1 big chance, and has created 10 chances in total, with 1 big chance created.

Dalot’s Maps

• Dalot plays as an attacking right-back

Despite a disappointing opening few games, Man United have hit better form. They have 2 clean sheets in 6 games and have conceded 8 goals. Overall, they are joint-10th for shots conceded (88), 8th for shots on target conceded (25), and 6th for big chances conceded (10). Therefore, their defenders could prove to be great value.

Attacking-wise, Man United are just 16th for goal attempts (75), 11th for shots inside the box (51), and joint-6th for big chances (15).

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However, Dalot’s upcoming fixtures, especially compared to some of the other assets discussed here, will be very off-putting. In the next 5, they face Man City, Tottenham, Chelsea, and Newcastle, which will be touch games defensively.

Other Budget FPL Defenders Options:

Williams (£4.1) will still be in many FPL teams, however, I would not recommend buying him. He offers great attacking upside, but unfortunately, Nottingham Forest have been poor defensively and this really hinders his appeal. Therefore, stretching to one of the options here would be a better long-term move in my opinion.

Patterson (£4.1m) I think is a solid pick, but is currently ruled out due to an ankle injury for 4-5 weeks

Leicester have a very good fixture run coming up, and this definitely makes James Maddison a top transfer target. However, despite there being appealing games for a clean sheet, I would be very wary of opting for Leicester’s defensive assets and would personally avoid going for Justin (£4.3m).

Best FPL Budget Defenders – The Verdict

Given how much Chelsea spent on Fofana, you would think he will be nailed in their defence, but this is no guarantee. In particular, James is a top pick and doubling up on Chelsea’s defence could be risky given their form, but at such a low price I think he is a good option, just not one I would personally go with.

Although we can’t expect too much from a £4m defender, stretching the funds to one of the other assets over Emerson would be my move, particularly considering West Ham’s form.

Mings is very cheap and has some great upcoming fixtures. Villa’s defence was not as strong as the likes of Wolves and Palace last season, so there are other budget options I prefer because of this, but at £4.3 he is still a solid pick.

Although Everton do have some favourable games coming up, I would prefer some of the other options who are part of a stronger defence over Tarkowski or Mykolenko. However, if Patterson returns to fitness I think he has great upside for such a cheap defender.

I think Palace’s defence will provide great value over the coming gameweeks, and although Mitchell has the better attacking stats I think Guéhi is a steal at £4.3m and would be a top pick from this article.

Wolves’ defenders have gone quite under the radar. However, I think Kilman is a solid pick, particularly in the longer term as Wolves are great defensively. He doesn’t offer a lot of attacking upside, but could definitely accumulate bonus points in those low-scoring games. Overall, he’s not as exciting as some of the other assets here, but I think he will be great value.

I really like Dalot as an asset and he offers huge upside, but I would be wary to invest in Man United’s defence given their upcoming fixtures. I think when their fixtures become more favourable, he will definitely be someone to consider.

Thank you very much for reading this article. Hopefully, it will be of help if you are planning to make moves in your defence or help you construct your Wildcard team. Any feedback is always welcome – you can follow me on Twitter @soph_fpl. Good luck for GW9.

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