Who are the best cheap FPL defenders for the run-in?
Squad depth is vital right now, especially for those using a Bench Boost chip. These are the best FPL defenders under £4.5m.
FPL defenders
Using the chip data at LiveFPL, over 46% of top 10k managers and 77% overall are yet to play their Bench Boost chip. Furthermore, those still to Wildcard are 16% and 65% respectively. Therefore there is keen interest on which cheap defenders can cover surprise rotations, Bench Boost potential and offer formation flexibility.
Here is a rundown of the best FPL defenders currently priced below £4.5m.
Connor Roberts (£4.4m)
Mentioned several times because of Burnley’s status as the only team to double in both Gameweeks 31 and 33. Although poor goal scorers, the Clarets’ defence is solid and respectable. In fact, only one side below eighth-placed Wolves have conceded fewer goals than Burnley’s 38. Their total for conceded shots on target is eighth-best, also keeping seven clean sheets. Investment in Roberts or Charlie Taylor (£4.4m) could be sensible.
These are their remaining opponents, using Fantasy Football Scout’s Fixture Ticker. Another match with Aston Villa will be added – likely into Gameweek 34 or 35.
Tino Livramento (£4.4m)
Once owned by over two million managers, Livramento is now a name barely mentioned amongst the FPL community. Yet he has started four of their last five league matches.
Southampton’s Double Gameweek 33 is decent, with clean sheet potential surrounding this versus Leeds, Brighton and Crystal Palace. Centre-back Jan Bednarek comes at the same price and has scored three goals.
Ben Davies (£4.4m)
Overshadowed by Matt Doherty costing slightly more and playing as an attacking wing-back, there may not be much clamour for Ben Davies. However, he has started all-but-one match since Gameweek 10 and those saved pennies could make a huge difference to a manager’s Wildcard.
There are so many ‘blue’ fixtures for Tottenham and – although there is no Double Gameweek 33 – there is still a north London derby against Arsenal to be added.
Daniel Amartey (£3.9m)
Leicester centre-back Amartey gets the nod over Luke Thomas (£4.3m) here because of the slightly lesser rotation risk. He has played every minute of their last 11 league outings, except the 3-2 defeat to Spurs.
Whereas the Foxes defence ranks terribly for goal attempts conceded, shots allowed in the box and expected goals conceded (xGC), they have 11 matches left when most have eight or nine. But the return to fitness of Jonny Evans and Wesley Fofana is a worry, as is James Justin and Timothy Castagne for Thomas.
Joel Veltman (£4.2m)
Elsewhere, Brighton have lost six successive matches and scored just once in that time. Only one clean sheet has occured from 12 attempts and their Double Gameweek 33 looks horrible.
With this in mind, Veltman is probably just a reliable source of appearance points. But his home match with Norwich could cover the probable absence of Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Fabian Schar (£4.3m)
It’s a coin toss between Schar and Dan Burn (£4.4m) for the Newcastle choice. Slightly cheaper and with a recent goal and assist, the Swiss international might just shade it.
After Spurs this weekend, the Magpies have three consecutive home games followed by a trip to Norwich. Their points total of 31 isn’t quite safe and – looking at the fixtures afterwards – will need a win from these four. Three clean sheets from nine matches should have been more, were it not for stoppage time 1-0 defeats at both Chelsea and Everton.
Mason Holgate (£4.2m)
The Toffees second clean sheet in 16 attempts was arguably undeserved. Their slide towards relegation may have been paused with that dramatic late win but fixtures will soon get tough.
Wednesday’s clash with Burnley is huge and could be Everton’s best chance of points for a while. Despite this, the later addition of Crystal Palace (H) and Watford (a) offers some hope. So, having played every league minute since Frank Lampard’s arrival, Holgate is a good, cheap FPL defender.
