Fantasy premier league DGW31 – “ones to watch” best defenders/GKs

Here’s our fantasy premier league article where we rank the best defenders and GK’s for DGW31.  There’s a table of stats plus some narrative and the next 6 fixtures to help you make your decision.  Plus we look at a range of alternatives in the team depending on value and attacking ability.  We also look at the GK option in the team

Fantasy premier league DGW31  – “ones to watch” best defenders/GKs

I’ve tried to balance out attacking potential vs the premium price you pay for that player rather than just going for the attacking player automatically.     I’ve put together a table of stats with a key below it to rank the 10 best defenders.  Below that I’ve put some narrative on each player plus their next 6 fixtures.   I’ll also try and talk about the GK option.  I haven’t included any defenders from the DGW31 teams Aston Villa and QPR as I don’t think they warrant it.

Key:

Last 5 games:  Clean sheets in the last 5 fixtures

Mins per FPL point:  How long it takes a player to earn an FPL point.  The lower the better obviously

Goals/Assist;  Goals/Assists so far in the season

CS – H/A:  The clean sheets so far this season.  Home/Away

Fixture ease:  The easiness of the next 6/(3) fixtures.  Done from an attacking point of view but does give an indication of fixture ease

Top 10 FPL managers own:  How many of the 10 top FPL managers I follow have the player in the team (In brackets is the amount of players from that team in the FPL managers teams)

Ivanovic

Chelsea and Southampton are definitely the leading defences and with Ivanovic’s goal threat and a double game week 34 coming up without a blank GW33 then Chelsea are my number 1 defensive option.  Ivanovic’s goal threat makes him a better option than Terry at £6.8m who’s the only other non rotated defensive option.  GK Courtois seems too expensive given he’s the 14th ranked GK.

Next 6 gameweeks

Stoke (H)
QPR (A)
GW33 Man Utd (H)
DGW34 Arsenal (A)
DGW34 Leicester (A)
Crystal Palace (H)
Liverpool (H)

Bertrand

The attacking options in the Southampton defence are the FBs Clyne and Bertrand with Clyne being slightly more expensive.  Without the attacking threat CB Alderweireld at £4.8m is great value.  Even better value still is GK Kelvin Davis at £4.4m who should become the first choice GK after Forster became out for the season.  Neutral on blank GW33 and DGW34/37.

Everton (A)
Hull (H)
Stoke (A)
Spurs (H)
Sunderland (A)
Leicester (A)

Lescott

I’ve gone for Lescott as my WBA choice as he seems the safest pick at the moment with Dawson who is cheaper but facing a 1 match suspension.  He definitely has attacking potential with 8 goals in the 7/8 season.  WBA also have a cheap GK option with Foster out for the season in £4.0m Myhill.  Neutral on blank GW33 and DGW34/37

QPR (H)
Leicester (H)
Crystal Palace (A)
Liverpool (H)
Man Utd (A)
Newcastle (A)

Kompany

Despite all the criticism of the defence Man City are one of the few sides with 3 clean sheets in the last 5 and only 3 less than Chelsea.  Kompany is hideously expensive at £6.4m but there’s no one else you can guarantee will start. Hart is £6.1m and despite being the most expensive GK he’s 5th in the total points scoring for GKs.  Neutral on blank GW33 and DGW34/37

Crystal Palace (A)
Man Utd (A)
West Ham (H)
Aston Villa (H)
Spurs (A)
QPR (H)

Naughton

Swansea are a side that keep churning out clean sheets despite not having the greatest underlying defensive stats.  Good fixtures coming up.  Naughton for value is the only choice.  Neutral on blank GW33 and DGW34/37

Hull (H)
Everton (H)
Leicester (A)
Newcastle (A)
Stoke (H)
Arsenal (A)

Moreno

The Liverpool defence is another in great form with 3 clean sheets in the last 5 games.  Alot of positional shuffling makes it hard to guarantee anyone starting although Moreno has started the last 12.  GK Mignolet is not too bad value in comparison at £5.2m.  If they win a FA cup replay they will have a blank GW33 and a DGW24 or 37

Arsenal (A)
Newcastle (H)
Hull (A)
West Brom (A)
QPR (H)
Chelsea (A)

Bellerin

The Arsenal RB may not be nailed on with some games shared between him and Chambers but he’s so cheap it maybe worth the risk.  Koscielny is the only nailed on defender but he’s £1.4m more expensive at £6.0m.  GK Ospina is also good value at £4.9m.  Blank GW33 and a DGW37

Liverpool (H)
Burnley (A)
– Gameweek 33 –
Chelsea (H)
Hull (A)
Swansea (H)

Smalling

The Man Utd defence is another in form with 3 in the last 5 but again consistency of selection and formation makes things difficult.  Smalling has started the last 4 and does have good attacking potential.  GK De Gea at £5.9m is the safest option.  Neutral on blank GW33 and DGW34/37

Aston Villa (H)
Man City (H)
Chelsea (A)
Everton (A)
West Brom (H)
Crystal Palace (A)

Jenkinson

Creswell is undoubtedly the best attacking option for West Ham but he’s £0.6m dearer and I question whether the West Ham defence is worth the £5.6m he costs.  CB selection is difficult.  GK Adrian is a similar price at £5.1m

Leicester (A)
Stoke (H)
Man City (A)
QPR (A)
Burnley (H)
Aston Villa (A)

Van Aanholt

Sunderland have a good defensive record although whether the new manager changes this remains to be seen.  Van Aanholt is the best attacking option as well as the cheapest.  Got back into the side but remains to be seen if he can hold it.  Gk Pantilimon is great value at £4.6m

Newcastle (H)
Crystal Palace (H)
– Gameweek 33 –
Stoke (A)
Southampton (H)
Everton (A)

Follow us on twitter @fantasyfoot20 or facebook at www.facebook.com/fantasyfootballgeek

This website is free. If you find it useful please support us via the donate button on the site

fantasy premier league league code: 11254-4258
Telegraph fantasy football: Code 8000919 league name: fantasy football geek
Sky Sports fantasy football: League name: FANTASY FOOTBALL GEEK PIN 8026353
Sun Dream Team: PIN 8295737
Fox Sports EPL fantasy: Classic 3195-609 H2H 3195-610
Fox Sports fantasy A League 8318-1626

Fantasy premier league DGW31

Fantasy premier league DGW31