fantasy premier league GW20 best defenders and defences

Here’s my view for the fantasy premier league GW20 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 Sunday

fantasy premier league GW20 best defenders and defences 

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 but I’ve now also taken into account more recent form going back 10 games or so which means the rankings may jump around a little more.  In the narrative I’ve tried to deal with recent form and injury issues which will help you make an assessment on your view of the best transfer.

Notes

Man Utd – Back to some normaility with a clean sheet against an admittedly timid Chelsea side.    2 clean sheets in the last 6.  Only £5.6m GK De Gea and Smalling at £6.8m seem certain to start.  Jones at £5.0m and Darmian at £5.4m seem viable options but who knows if they will start.  Shame as home to Swansea is a good time to buy

Arsenal –  Its 2 clean sheet in the 6 games without Coquelin and 2 in the last 6. CB Gabriel at £4.3m put in an excellent performance against Bournemouth and continues as a threat to Mertesacker who maybe rested against Newcastle

C Palace – GKs Hennessey  (£4.1m) and GK McCarthy £3.9m) are a great cheap double up.    Dann at  CB is a good attacking option although expensive at £5.8m.  3 clean sheets in the last 6

Watford  – 3 clean sheets in the last 6.  Great value defence.  Has been some tinkering and Ake is now banned after being sent off

Spurs – 3 clean sheets in the last 6. Fullback rotation seems to be a risk.  Alderweireld is expensive at £6.0m.  Vertonghen has played 90 mins in every PL game at £5.5m

Liverpool – 2nd consecutive clean sheet makes it 3 clean sheets in the last 6.

Stoke – A surprisingly attacking performance in the 4-3 win against Everton was out of character but forced in the circumstances.  Good cheap pick in Wollscheid at £4.5m. The £5.2m GK Butland is a good GK option and some points ahead in total points for the GKS. 3 clean sheets in the last 6.

Man City – City got their first clean sheet without Kompany in the team in the 0-0 draw with Leicester.  Kompany is now out for 3-4 weeks although time frames seem to mean nothing with his injury.   With him 7 from 8 games have seen clean sheets.  12 games without him have seen 1 and they’ve conceded 4 goals twice.   1 clean sheet in the last 6.  Sagna at £5.5m has started the last 11 but has Zabaleta as competition

Chelsea –   A defensive performance got a clean sheet at Old Trafford.  Still some rotation at CB and a new manager makes choices difficult.  2 clean sheets in the last 6.

Southampton – Goal of the season contender Martina at £4.1m started his 2nd consecutive game at RB.  He’s great value in a defence where everyone certain of a place is relatively expensive.    1 clean sheet in the last 6.

Swansea – 3 consecutive clean sheets although £4.1m Rangel who seemed certain of selection was part of an 8 player rotation.  New manager also adds risk but he does have good cheapie potential.  3 clean sheets in the last 6

Leicester – Simpson is probably the most nailed on £4.0m ish defender at £4.1m.   Certainly improving as a defensive team as the 0-0 with City showed.  2 clean sheets in the last 6

WBA – Finally a clean sheet after 8 games with 1.   £4.3m Olsson stayed in the team even with Yacob returning as Evans joining him in a back 3 .   1 clean sheets in the last 6

West Ham – A recent very defensive approach due to attacking injuries has seen 3 clean sheets in the last 6.    Reid injured is not helpful and he doesn’t have a return date.  However it does open the way for £4.3m CB Collins until he does return

Everton – Even for Everton at the moment the loss to Stoke was a defensive disaster.   Jagielka injured certainly isn’t helping.  1 clean sheets in the last 6.

Newcastle –  GK Elliot offers a £4.0m GK option although he is doubtful for GW20.  LB Dummett at £4.3m also offers some savings having started the last 11. 1 clean sheet in the last 6.

Norwich – Finally a clean sheet.  £3.9m CB Bennett is holding his place although the return of RB Wisdom could see Martin return to CB and Bennett dropped.    1 clean sheets in the last 6.   £3.9m GK Rudd started his 5th consecutive game

Bournemouth – £4.0m cheapie Smith has had some gametime and started the last 5.   Captain and CB Elphick supposedly will be back at GW21 which could see Francis move to RB and Smith ousted.  2 clean sheet in the last 6

A Villa – Richards returned in the 1-1 draw against Norwich which should help the defensive situation.  Hutton though seems a good FPL bench warming prospect at £4.2m.  0 clean sheets in the last 6.

Sunderland – No improvement in defence really despite big Sam’s influence.  2 clean sheets in the last 6 could be worse

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