1.  De Gea

Last 10 overall defensive record  1    Fixture ease 11 DGW    Clean sheets in last 6 games: 6    

United have well and truly sorted their defence out and its 6 clean sheets in a row for them.  De Gea is the only certainty for game time in a highly rotated back 5.  Only negative is the fact that once the league is won then Lindegaard may get some gametime

2. Fabianski

Last 10 overall defensive record  9    Fixture ease 3 DGW    Clean sheets in last 6 games: 3   

 Overall defensive record has fallen down but its a kind fixture list and a double gameweek coupled with incredible value at £4.3m.  Only negative is gametime risk if Szczesny gets his place back.

The rotation keepers

1.  Robles

Last 10 overall defensive record  6    Fixture ease 19    Clean sheets in last 6 games: 2

Taken over from Al Habsi on an “in form will play” policy. Extremely cheap at £4.0m and the defence is  surprisingly strong in underlying stats.  Only difficulty is that he’s only played the last 2 so vulnerable to a return from Al Habsi and also its difficult to assess when to play him as Wigan are often better away than home    

2.  Boruc

Last 10 overall defensive record  10    Fixture ease 5    Clean sheets in last 6 games: 1

A vastly improved defence under the new managers pressing high up the pitch policy and with good fixtures he looks like a good candidate for a rotation defence.  Much better at home than away

Unfortunately these 2 don’t rotate home and away well but it is possible to play Southampton at home and Wigan away as Wigan are better away than at home

Defenders

1.  Distin

Last 10 overall defensive record  4    Fixture ease 7 DGW    Clean sheets in last 6 games: 2

If you’re swimming in cash then go for Baines but at £2.3m cheaper then I think Distin is a better bet.  No attacking potential with only 1 assist all season but a secure home at a reasonable price for what will be a few clean sheets before the end of the season given a relatively good fixture list.

2.  Mertesacker

Last 10 overall defensive record  9    Fixture ease 3 DGW    Clean sheets in last 6 games: 3

Nothing is certain in the Arsenal back 4 or GK position that for sure but Mertesacker is probably the closest thing.  Great fixtures have made for a slightly faltering defensive performance. Dont expect much attacking potential with only 2 goals and no assists all season.

3.  Clichy

Last 10 overall defensive record  2    Fixture ease 13    Clean sheets in last 6 games: 3

With Kompany back City will return to be the best defensive team in the league and with Maicon and Richards back in training I can see a couple of rotations for Zabaleta given the high amount of games played this season.  Clichy then becomes the best value and less rotatable given the lack of games Kolarov has been having

4.  Dawson

 Last 10 overall defensive record  3   Fixture ease 18    Clean sheets in last 6 games: 0

Having very good underlying stats despite the lack of clean sheets in the last 6.  However the key to this is that at £4.6m you get a defender in the 3rd best defensive team who’s started the last 12 games despite CB rotation.  Furthermore  he isn’t in the starting line up for tonights Europa league game so should start again in fantasy premier league.  The fixtures being difficult when he’s at this level and can be rotated for the better games without over pricing your bench.

 5.  Agger

Last 10 overall defensive record  6   Fixture ease 10    Clean sheets in last 6 games: 2

Now in my mind overtaken Johnson as the best asset.  Similarly priced but shown better attacking stats than Johnson recently.

Budget options under £5.1m

 Bertrand – With Cole injured for at least 2 weeks then Bertrand becomes a great option at £3.9m even if it is potentially short term.

 Wilson –  The Stoke defence isn’t what it was but still has potential for clean sheets at home and at £3.9m he’s an essential part of your cheap defence.   

 Martin –  An ok defence at home and he’s good value for a home rotation and the best chance for attacking returns 

 Demel – Cheap home rotation also has the advantage of being often subbed at just after 60 minutes before West Ham concede 

 Clyne – A good budget option for an improving defence with good fixtures.  Has good attacking potential

Figueroa – A very improving defence when its in the mood.  Unpredictable when to play him though as they are often better away than home making rotation a difficult choice

Smalling – With everyone injured or being rotated at the moment and the league likely to be won soon Smalling may get a reasonable run of games where the only certainty in the back 4 is Evra at £7.3m.