As Fantasy Premier League evolves, so do the ways in which we evaluate defenders. Gone are the days when clean sheets and the occasional attacking return were enough. In the 2025/26 season, Defensive Contributions (CBIT or DEFCON points) add a new layer of depth, rewarding players who rack up clearances, blocks, interceptions, and tackles, even if their teams concede. In this article, we break down the best defender options across each price point, considering three key factors: clean sheet potential, attacking threat, and defensive contributions.
This is second part of the Price Point Series. In case you have missed it, Checkout the first part of the price point series- Best FPL Goalkeepers at Each Price Point for the 2025/26 Season
Link to all our 2025/26 Pre-Season articles including all team pre-season friendly updates, team previews, fixture analysis, position-wise analysis, differentials, players to target, budget enablers and more. Completely free to access as well!
FPL Defenders to Target at Every Price Point for 2025/26 Season:
£6.0M FPL Defenders – The Premium Set-and-Forgets

William Saliba (Arsenal)
Arsenal boasted one of the league’s strongest defences last season, topping the charts for fewest goals conceded and ranking second in clean sheets. Despite tricky early fixtures (MUN, LEE, LIV, NFO, MCI), Arsenal have shown they can keep clean sheets against top sides. While Gabriel was previously the standout Arsenal defender, Saliba now looks like the safest pick due to Gabriel’s absence in pre-season. Saliba offers security of starts, and even chipped in with two goals last campaign.

Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)

Liverpool topped the league for clean sheets last season, and with promising fixtures (BOU, NEW, ARS, BUR, CRY, EVE) in the first six, van Dijk stands out. He’s a major threat from set-pieces and is reportedly practising free-kicks this pre-season. While full-backs like Frimpong and Kerkez offer attacking promise, VVD combines attacking upside with reliability and DEFCON potential and is the top £6.0m pick this year.
Marc Cucurella (Chelsea)
Fresh from a Club World Cup win, Chelsea come into the season with momentum. Their defence has looked more solid, and their early fixtures (CRY, WHU, FUL, BRE) are among the best. Cucurella is nailed at left-back and scored five goals last season, a rare tally for a defender. Given his security of starts and attacking upside, he’s a strong differential in the premium bracket.
Frimpong & Kerkez
While exciting, both players come with rotation risks. Frimpong may be eased in and could rotate with Bradley. Kerkez could be used in rotation with Robertson. At £6.0m, van Dijk feels like the safer play to start the season.
Further Read: 2025/2026 FPL Team Structure Guide with Drafts & Ratings
£5.5M FPL Defenders – Mid-Priced, Maximum Impact

James Tarkowski (Everton)

Tarkowski averaged a monstrous 11.1 DEFCON per 90 last season, one of the highest among all defenders. Everton conceded just 44 goals, the same as Manchester City, and their early schedule is highly favourable. With strong set-piece threat and consistent baseline bonus, Tarkowski offers a very high floor and is a standout pick if fit for Gameweek 1. He missed the initial friendlies but was back for the 2-2 draw against Manchester United last night.
Murillo (Nottingham Forest)

Murillo was quietly one of the most impactful defenders last season. He racked up 507 total defensive contributions, earning 18 bonus points, more than any other defender. With excellent fixtures (BRE, CRY, WHU, ARS, BUR, SUN), and an average of 1.05 DC points per start, he’s a dream under the new DEFCON system. A reliable bonus machine.
Nikola Milenković (Nottingham Forest)
Milenković offers more attacking threat than Murillo, with a strong goal-scoring record. Though his DEFCON rate is slightly lower (8.4 per 90), his upside lies in headers and set-piece returns. With Forest expected to be among the better defences early on, doubling up on their CBs might be worth considering.
Muñoz (Crystal Palace)
One of the most explosive full-backs in the game, Muñoz racked up 4 goals and 6 assists last season. Though his defensive metrics aren’t elite, he still averages decent numbers across tackles and interceptions. With some great attacking fixtures in the first 10 (NFO, SUN, WHU, EVE, BOU), Muñoz is one of the few mid-priced defenders you can back in any matchup.
Ruben Dias (Manchester City)
A nailed starter in City’s backline, Dias offers clean sheet potential above all. His DEFCON output is modest, and attacking returns are rare, but if City tighten up, which they’re expected to, Dias is a stable, if unspectacular, option at £5.5m.
Further Read: Premier League Penalty & Set Piece Takers | 2025/26 PL Season
£5.0M FPL Defenders – The Sweet Spot for Value

Maxence Lacroix (Crystal Palace)

Lacroix combines attacking threat with defensive steel — 10.1 CBIT/90 and 0.13 xGI/90 – among the highest in this group. While Palace did perform well defensively (11 clean sheets last season) last season, fixtures are slightly tricky with Chelsea, Villa, West Ham and Liverpool in the first 6.
Antonee Robinson (Fulham)

Robinson led all defenders with 10 assists last season, frequently bombing forward and overlapping on the left. Though he overperformed his xA, his involvement in the final third can’t be ignored. Fulham’s fixtures are decent, and despite lower DEFCON numbers, he remains a viable attacking differential.
Nathan Collins (Brentford)

Collins was quietly brilliant last season — 7 assists, 2 goals, and 11 bonus points. A set-piece threat and strong DEFCON performer (9.4 CBIT/90), he could be Brentford’s defensive gem, especially with Kelleher’s arrival improving their goalkeeping. Despite mixed fixtures, his profile suits both clean sheets and bonus potential.
📊For defenders priced 5.0 or less, Collins ranks:
🔸2nd for Big Chances
🔸4th for xG
🔸2nd for Goal Involvements(2G,7A)
🔸2nd for FPL Points
Levi Colwill (Chelsea)
The most nailed Chelsea defender apart from Cucurella, Colwill is a starter but lacks attacking threat or strong DEFCON numbers. With Chelsea expected to improve defensively, he’s a safe, if unexciting, option in the £5.0m bracket.
Further Read: FPL Rotational Pairs & Combinations for the 2025/26 FPL Season
£4.5M FPL Defenders – Budget Enablers with Reliable Returns

Adrien Truffert (Bournemouth)

Truffert replaces Kerkez and brings attacking pedigree from Rennes – 0.18 xGi per 90 and strong underlying passing and tackling metrics. A high-upside full-back who could be a major differential.
🍒🔥Adrien Truffert- The exciting £4.5 Hidden Gem!
🔹Kerkez Replacement
🔹Attacking LB. Can play LM too
🔹21 Goal Contributions(5 Goals, 16 Assist) over the last 3 seasons
🔹⚽⚽ in the Pre-season friendly vs Bristol
Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa)
Pras’ favourite 4.5m defender scored 103 points last season, with 2 goals and 8 clean sheets. He’s nailed, rotates well with Arsenal defenders, and offers a reliable 100+ point baseline — perfect for budget stability. He is currently owned by 24% teams.
De Cuyper (Brighton)

Estupiñán’s exit opens the door for De Cuyper, who boasts 75 goal contributions in 220 club games. While Brighton’s rotation is always tricky, his attacking upside is worth tracking – xGI/90 of 0.45 last season!
Aaron Wan-Bissaka (West Ham)
Reinvented under West Ham, AWB posted 8 goal contributions and elite defensive numbers. With a nailed role and Sunderland in GW1, he could be a great early-season pick. Currently he is the highest owned defender this season. He had 3154 mins last season and 3.4 points/90.
Joachim Andersen (Fulham)
Despite Fulham’s poor clean sheet tally, Andersen’s 26 DEFCON points and set-piece threat (14 headed attempts) make him a valuable pick, especially with good home fixtures.
Micky van de Ven (Spurs)
Limited by injuries last year, but under Thomas Frank, Spurs could be much tighter. With Burnley in GW1 and Frank’s set-piece focus, van de Ven is a potential breakout pick at 4.5m. A popular pick – he is currently owned by 16% teams.
Further Read: Best Budget FPL Midfielders for the 2025/26 FPL Season
£4.0M FPL Defenders – Bench Enablers (with Upside)

Joe Rodon (Leeds)
Nailed starter for the best of the promoted teams, Rodon is ideal for DEFCON scoring – clearances, blocks, and interceptions should rack up quickly. Great bench pick with occasional startability.
Gudmundsson (Leeds)

More attacking than Rodon, Gudmundsson has set-piece duties and can even play in midfield. If Leeds score goals, he could return at both ends of the pitch.
Esteve (Burnley)

Started all 46 games last season. His massive defensive numbers (234 clearances, 58 blocks, etc.) make him a bonus magnet under DEFCON scoring. The safest £4.0m starter.
Reinildo (Sunderland)

Sunderland’s injury crisis opens the door for Reinildo. Naturally a left-back, he can cover centre-back too, and has two goals and an assist for Atletico last season. Solid short-term pick.
Further Read: Best FPL Budget Enablers For The 2025-26 FPL Season
Conclusion: FPL Defenders by Price Point – Key Takeaways
With DEFCON scoring in play, the way we pick defenders has changed. We now must look beyond clean sheets and goals, focusing also on baseline bonus and defensive actions. Here are my top picks across the price points:
- £6.0M: Virgil van Dijk: Set-piece threat, nailed, clean sheets incoming
- £5.5M: Nikola Milenković: Attacking and defensive value combined.
- £5.0M: Nathan Collins: Strong CBIT profile with attacking returns.
- £4.5M: Ezri Konsa: Reliable, nailed, rotates well.
- £4.0M: Esteve: Defensive beast, bonus magnet, guaranteed starter.
Choose your structure wisely – whether you go premium-heavy or spread the funds, there’s value at every tier. And in a season where every block and interception counts, your defenders might just become the difference-makers.’
Further reads from ALLABOUTFPL ahead of FPL GW1 of the 2025/26 FPL Season
Must Read Articles:
2025/2026 FPL Team Structure Guide with Drafts & Ratings
FPL Rotational Pairs & Combinations for the 2025/26 FPL Season
Premier League Penalty & Set Piece Takers | 2025/26 PL Season
Best FPL Budget Enablers For The 2025-26 FPL Season
Best FPL Picks Outside Big 6 Teams | 2025/26 FPL Season
List of Free to Join Prize FPL Mini Leagues Ahead of 25/26 Season
FPL Players To Avoid in Your GW1 Drafts | 2025/26 FPL Season
Underpriced FPL Assets at Each ‘Big Six’ Club | 25/26 Season
FPL 2025/26 Team Structure and Planning based on Fixtures
2025/26 Premier League Clubs Pre Season Friendlies Fixtures List
Funny & Creative FPL Team Names for the 2025/26 Season
2025/26 FPL Season- New Rules & Changes | What’s New in FPL?
GW1 Drafts & Team Structure:
Initial FPL GW1 Drafts for the 25/26 FPL Season with Pros & Cons
Position Wise Analysis:
Goal Keepers:
Best FPL Goalkeepers to Target For The 2025/26 FPL Season
Best FPL Goalkeepers at Each Price Point for the 2025/26 Season
FPL Rotational Pairs & Combinations for the 2025/26 FPL Season
Defenders:
Best £4.0 Million FPL Defenders for the 2025/26 FPL Season
Best £4.5 Million FPL Defenders for the 2025/26 FPL Season
Best £5.0-5.5 Million FPL Defenders for the 2025/26 FPL Season
FPL Rotational Pairs & Combinations for the 2025/26 FPL Season
Best FPL Defenders at Each Price Point for the 2025/26 Season
Midfielders:
Best Budget FPL Midfielders for the 2025/26 FPL Season
Forwards:
Best FPL Budget Forwards (£4.5 – £6.0 Million) | 25/26 FPL Season
Best FPL Mid Priced Forwards (£6.5 – £7.5 Million) | 25/26 FPL Season
Fixture Analysis:
FPL 2025/26 Team Structure and Planning based on Fixtures
FPL Fixture Analysis for The 2025/26 FPL Season | PL Fixtures
Fan Team Articles:
2025/26 FanTeam Season Game Strategy Guide | EPL Fantasy
FanTeam EPL Fantasy Season Game Drafts with Keynotes
If you’re new to FPL, here is a link to all our FPL Beginners Guide including FPL Beginner’s Guide- How to play?, Bench boost, Team value, Triple captain, Effective ownership, Price Changes, Free Hit, Bonus Points, and more.
Link to all our 2025/26 Pre-Season articles including all position-wise analysis, team previews, fixture analysis, position-wise analysis, and more. Completely free to access as well!
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Bakchod FPL
Latest posts by Bakchod FPL (see all)
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