I’ve started this gameweek with the best cheap defenders in the “ones to watch” defensive options articles. We look at the cheap home and away rotation options and the bargain basement defensive options for GW6. We cover the GKs and the defenders
fantasy premier league best cheap defenders – “ones to watch” GW6
The cheap rotations
Here’s my latest thoughts on those players for 2 team rotation where you pick teams so you will always have someone playing at home. Statistically more clean sheets occur at home than away. This is particularly relevant if you’re playing 1 elite defender. Then in 3-4-3 or 3-5-2 you play the elite defender and then rotate 2 pairs.
Stoke and Swansea: Wilson (£4.5m) and N Taylor (£4.6m) plus GK Begovic (£5.0m) and GK Fabianski (£5.0m)
No clean sheets despite 2 good fixtures in GW4 and GW5 for these teams. The fixtures are excellent but neither have really performed in their home games since Swansea got 2 consecutive clean sheets in GW2 and GW3. While Stokes underlying shooting and big chances stats are good at home, Swansea’s are questionable. However the defenders values are excellent as are the fixtures.
Stoke had 7 home clean sheets and Swansea 6 home clean sheets last season. Home clean sheets this season to date: Stoke 0 Swansea 2
Next 10 fixtures: Newcastle H, Newcastle H, Swansea H, Leicester H, West Ham H, Arsenal H, Burnley H, C Palace H, QPR H, West Ham A
Potential clean sheets in the next 10: 5
Players in top 10 FPL managers: Begovic 2 Wilson 1 Taylor 4, Shawceoss 1
Leicester and Southampton: Moore (£4.0m) and Clyne (£5.3m) plus Schmeichel (£4.5m) and Forster (£5.0m)
Southamptons defence has gone from strength to strength. Leicester though have had such a difficult start that it’s difficult to judge but they have shown resilience on occaisons. Bertrand at £5.1n is another option for Southampton as is Alderweireld when fit at £5.0m
Leicester had 9 clean sheets in the Championship last season. Southampton had 7 clean sheets last season
Home clean sheets to date: Leicester 0 Southampton 2
Next 10 fixtures: QPR H, Burnley H, Sunderland H, Stoke H, WBA H, Leicester H, Sunderland H, QPR A, Arsenal A, Villa A
Potential clean sheets in the next 10: 4
Players in top 10 FPL managers: Clyne 4, Moore 4, Bertrand 2
Burnley and Hull: Duff (£4.1m) and Robertson (£4.5m) plus GK Heaton £4.5m and GK McGregor (£5.0m)
Before this you would have put Burney as the weak link in the partnership. However they have had 3 consecutive clean sheets while Hull have only 1 clean sheet and that was away. Hulls underlying stats are only ok but you’re relying on Bruces defensive coaching record and last season as the reason for the faith. A change of formation and a more attacking approach are the main reasons to worry for Hull. Trippier at £4.9m is the attacking option for Burnley although yet to return to date
Burnley had 11 Championship home clean sheets last season. Hull had 8 home clean sheets. Home clean sheets this season to date: Burnley 2 Hull 0
Next 10 fixtures: WBA A, Palace H, West Ham H, Everton H, Southampton H, Hull H, Stoke A. Villa H, Newcastle H, WBA H
Potential clean sheets in the next 10: 4
Players in top 10 FPL managers: Chester 2, Duff 1, Bruce 1
Aston Villa and WBA: Hutton (£4.2m) and Pocognoli (£4.4m) plus GK Guzan (£4.6m) and GK Foster (£4.5m)
Again a perfect home and away rotation due to geography and policing reasons. 2 great clean sheets away for WBA but none at home. Villa have been excellent defensively but got a wake up call at home to Arsenal in GW5.
Aston Villa and WBA both had 4 home clean sheets last season. Home clean sheets this season to date: Aston Villa 1 WBA 0
Next 10 fixtures: Burnley H, Man City H, Man Utd H, C Palace H, Spurs H, Newcastle H, Southampton H, Burnley A, West Ham H, Leicester H
Potential clean sheets in next 10: 3
Players in top 10 FPL managers: Hutton 3, Wisdom 4, Foster 2
Sunderland and Newcastle: Van Aanholt (£4.5m) and Coloccini (£4.5m) plus GK Mannone (£4.5m) and GK Krul (£4.5m)
This may have the perfect home and away rotation due to the geography but neither team have performed defensively at all. Underlying stats offer little hope.
Newcastle and Sunderland had 6 clean sheets each last season. Home clean sheets this season to date: Sunderland 0 Newcastle 0
Next 10 fixtures: Swansea H, Stoke H, Leicester H, Spurs A, Palace A, Everton H, QPR H, West Ham A, Burnley A, Liverpool A
Potential clean sheets in the next 10: 2
Players in top 10 FPL managers: Krul 4, Van Aanholt 3, Coloccini 1, Mannone 1
The bargain basement options
These are defenders for your bench at the cheapest possible price. Probably the most relevant if you’re playing 2 elite defenders and want the cheapest possible defensive bench for your 3rd defender.
Hutton £4.2m
A secure gametime filler. The Villa defence has started well although they had a wake up call against Arsenal. Little attacking precedent.
Moore £4.0m
It’s hard to judge Leicester due to the fixtures but they have shown resilience against Arsenal and Chelsea. The fixtures are now far easier if he needs to drop off your bench.
Duff£4.1m
3 consecutive clean sheets make Burnley a surprisingly good bech option
Those with gametime doubts:
Dummett – regained his place over Haidara but a very shaky defence and 1 start isn’t really a sign of security
Wisdom – has Gamboa in his shadow although holding him off well so far
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fantasy premier league best cheap defenders
fantasy premier league best cheap defenders
