Fantasy premier league best defenders and defences GW17

Here’s my view for GW17 on the fantasy premier league best defenders and defences.  I’ve used a number of stats, actual and underlying.   I’ve kept with the blended home and away version rather than splitting them out.   I’ve also added the premium attacking defender and the value defender and also given you the value of the player as at Wednesday. 

Fantasy premier league best defenders and defences GW17

I’ve provided the information in a very simple table form with a few general notes on the table and an attempted explanation for any surprises.  I’ve tried to sacrifice some value and attacking where there isn’t a decent amount of gametime security.  Obviously in the top 4 challenging teams the squad sizes and the number of games sees that rotation can be a risk so it’s impossible to be 100% especially around Xmas.    I’ve also added my fixture ease ranking as a proxy for defensive fixtures although it is intended as an attacking fixture check.  The first number is the ranking ease of the next 6 fixtures and the 2nd number is the next 3.  It’s also important read the notes on each club below as they include the clean sheets in the last 6 games.  The stats are over the season so in the narrative I’ve tried to deal with recent form and injury issues which will help you make an adjustment on the overall ranking

Notes

Arsenal – The ongoing question will be how will the absence of Coquelin affect the defence. That  at least got 1 positive vote after a clean sheet at Villa.  Mertesacker is cheap but does have some competition from Gabriel.  Everyone else seems pretty secure.  1 clean sheets in the 3 games without Coquelin and 2 in the last 6.

Man Utd – A number of injuries has significantly diminished their defensive strength and until they get players back this is a false position.  Darmian and more importantly Smalling could be back for GW17 and with Jones fit that could give them some sort of back 4 if you add Blind at LB.  That will remove all of the young cheapies from the line up.  £5.7m GK De Gea is cheaper than Smalling (when fit) who’s the only real certainty given the unpredicatble selections of LVG.  3 clean sheets in the last 6.

Man City – Kompany is the key.   Again he didn’t play despite some predictions to the contrary and he’s supposedly back this week against Arsenal.  With him 7 from 8 games have seen clean sheets.  9 games without him have seen none and they’ve conceded 4 goals twice.  1 clean sheets in the last 6

Liverpool – Moreno is a good relatively cheap attacking choice.  Lovren injured for the month won’t help the clean sheets.  1 clean sheet in the last 6 is poor as it is.

Spurs – Alderweireld keeps seeing the transfers in although there are cheaper options.  Only 1 clean sheet in the last 6 though

Watford – probably the best £4.5m ish defence.  Nyom seems secure and got his first attacking return. 3 clean sheets in the last 6 is very impressive.

Southampton – Yoshida at £4.2m has some cheapie potential but has only started 3 of the last 5 and seemingly depends on Koeman playing a back 3 or not having faith with Cedric for a particular game.   2 clean sheets in the last 6.

C Palace – GKs Hennessey at £4.0m is a great back up or him  and McCarthy are a great double £4.0m combination if you want to save cash.  2 clean sheets in the last 6

Stoke – £4.8m Shawcross is the best pick with GK £4.9M Butland.  Wollscheid is the cheapie and has started the last 10 but there are a number of other CBs.  Incredibly 5 clean sheets in the last 6.

WBA – Olsson has some cheapie potential at £4.3m and has started the last 3.  He may lose his place if Evans is pushed back from CDM when Yacob returns from injury.  GK Myhill is a cheap route but will eventually be replaced by GK Foster although no time frame yet.  0 clean sheets in the last 6 but fixtures were tough

Leicester – a tough schedule ahead but Simpson is a great £4.0m bench filler.  Huth suspended for 1 game wont help.  2 clean sheets in the last 6

Everton – Baines played 90 minutes against Norwich in GW16.   He will be the best attacking option at £6.1m but probably wont have pens and it remains to be seen how much set piece involvement he has.    1 clean sheet in the last 6.

Chelsea –   Zouma looks good value if the defence can ever recover.   2 clean sheets in the last 6.

Swansea – A new manager coming makes it difficult to predict who will be playing. No clean sheets in the last 6

A Villa – Richards seems the best attacking and most secure choice however is an injured although expected back for GW17.    Only 1 clean sheet  1 in the last 6.

West Ham – CB Reid being injured won’t help the clean sheet situation.  2 clean sheets in the last 6

Bournemouth – £4.0m cheapie Smith has had some gametime and started the last 2.   Captain and CB Elphick will be back in a few weeks which could see Francis move to RB and Smith ousted.  1 clean sheet in the last 6

Newcastle –  GK Elliot offers a £4.0m GK option.  LB Dummett at £4.3m also offers some savings having started the last 8.  Unbelieveably it’s 3 clean sheets in the last 6.

Sunderland – Big Sam continues to improve a previously hapless defence.  2 clean sheets in the last 6.   PVA is a great attacking LWB but needs monitoring for security

Norwich –  1 clean sheet in the last 6 although there has been a much more defensive attitude which has stopped the mass leaking of goals.  £3.9m GK Rudd started his 2nd consecutive game
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