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While we would all love to have a backline full of premium assets such as Andy Robertson and Aymeric Laporte, it is often picking the right budget defenders that can act as a differential to move up mini-leagues. For the purpose of this article, 5.0m is being set as the outer limit and there are 118 players that fit this criteria at the time of writing.
At this price point, it is difficult to find defenders that you are happy to field every week regardless of opposition as it does not include any players from the ‘top six’ sides. This is why I have put a preference on defenders with attacking threat so that even if their team concedes, they have potential to deliver points via their attacking attributes.
1) Willy Boly (Wolves, 5.0m)
Wolves had an incredible season for a promoted team last year, finishing seventh and qualifying for the Europa League. They kept nine clean sheets and only four teams conceded fewer goals than their 46.
They only allowed opponents 51 ‘big chances’ with only the top two sides bettering that number. As a result, their wingbacks Doherty and Jonny have both received significant price hikes, by 1.5m and 1.0m respectively. However, Boly’s price has only been bumped by 0.5 to 5.0m, despite the center-back scoring only 20 points less than the Irishman.
An ever-present in their defence, he also chipped in with four goals, indicating his significant attacking threat. His style of play is also suited to the Bonus Points System (BPS) and only Doherty picked beat him for bonus points amongst their defenders, 12 to 10.
Wolves were particularly effective against the top teams last season and Boly can be considered the most ‘fixture proof’ amongst defenders in this price bracket.
2) Jose Holebas (Watford, 5.0m)
Like Wolves, the Hornets had a great 2018/19 campaign which collapsed after they qualified for the FA Cup Final and diverted their focus there.
Although Watford’s defensive stats of just seven clean sheets doesn’t make for great reading, Holebas’ attacking threat more than makes up for it. A constant menace down their left flank, the Greek also takes the majority of set pieces such as corners and free kicks for the Hornets and his delivery is absolutely lethal.
Only Digne (280) attempted more crosses than his 209 and no defender contributed more than his seven assists, almost double that of next place Monreal who had four. He also has an eye for goal and scored three last season.
It is these attacking numbers that make the Greek almost fixture proof and very explosive. However, he does have a knack for picking up yellow cards, accruing 33 over the last three seasons.
3) James Tarkowski (Burnley, 5.0m)
Burnley had a bit of a mixed 2018/19 campaign as their involvement in the Europa League early doors derailed their Premier League efforts.
They conceded 41 goals in the first half of the season, just two less than relegated Fulham and kept only four clean sheets. In the second half, they kept the same number of clean sheets but conceded only 27 goals, which is more like a Sean Dyche team.
The Clarets kept a combined 22 clean sheets in the two seasons prior to 2018/19 and defence has always been a priority for the Lancashire side. Set pieces have also been a crucial part of their style, and none of their defenders took more shots in the opposition’s penalty area than Tarkowski’s 22.
The Englishman registered three goals from nine shots on target and was afforded five ‘big chances’. He also scored more bonus points (seven) than any other Burnley defender.
Given Burnley’s poor away form, he is best used in a rotation primarily for the home matches but his goal threat means that he is capable of a huge point haul on his day.
4) Enda Stevens (Sheffield United, 5.0m)
A promoted defender priced more than £4.5m would not usually make my list, but Sheffield’s three-man defence means that Stevens plays as a wing-back and has the license to maraud down the flanks.
He was an ever-present in the Blades defence, featuring for 45 games, registering four goals and six assists. The Blades had the best defensive record in the Championship conceding just 41 goals in 46 games.
They kept 21 clean sheets and 12 of those were at home. In fact, their total of 17 goals conceded at home was the lowest in the Championship and like Burnley, they are likely to rely on a tight backline to secure Premier League survival.
While most of the other Sheffield defenders are recommended only in a rotation strategy for their home games, Stephens can be backed for attacking returns even in difficult fixtures as almost their entire creativity down the left flank comes from him.
5) Lewis Dunk (Brighton, 4.5m)
Defensive options at £4.5m are really poor this season, especially with the managerial uncertainty at Newcastle. I would have liked to include Aarons from Norwich but the fact that the Canaries kept just 13 clean sheets out of a possible 46 in the Championship put me off.
A similar story applies to Aston Villa’s defenders - The Villans’ attacking approach led to them conceding a staggering 36 goals in their 23 home games, the second-worst in the Championship. They registered only 12 clean sheets in total, with 10 teams faring better. Although Brighton kept only seven clean sheets in the 2018/19 campaign, the appointment of a new manager in Potter presents some reason for optimism.
The Seagulls have an attractive opening set of fixtures with home games against West Ham, Southampton, and Burnley in the first five gameweeks.
Potter is likely to persist with the Duffy-Dunk partnership and the Englishman also has a significant attacking threat, chipping in with three goals and two assists over the last two seasons. At £4.5m, he should ideally only be used for Brighton’s home games.
