Who’s got the most defensive contributions in FPL - and why?

The Scout on the big winners in the new defensive contributions metric across the opening seven Gameweeks of 2025/26 Fantasy Premier League.

Who are the top-performing players for defensive contribution points?

AFC Bournemouth's Marcos Senesi (£5.0m), Everton's James Tarkowski (£5.5m) and Fulham's Joachim Andersen (£4.5m) top the table below, each totalling 12 points from their contributions, the equivalent of THREE extra clean sheets.

The trio of centre-backs have collected the two extra points from their actions in six of their seven matches, a success rate of 85.7 per cent.

In Senesi's case in particular, this has made him a key figure for managers' backlines. When you add his two assists and three clean sheets, the Bournemouth star sits on 46 points, just two off the top of the defender standings. 

Listed in the table below are the 18 players who have both a minimum of six points from their defensive contributions so far AND a minimum success rate of 50 per cent. 

Best players for defensive contribution points

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Which position in Fantasy is benefiting most from defensive contribution points?

In terms of positions, defenders lead the way - they supply 12 of the 18 players in the table above, DOUBLE the total of six midfielders. 

Notably, all 12 of the defenders play as centre-backs, with full-backs struggling to benefit from the new metric.

After Senesi, Tarkowski and Andersen's 12-point totals, there are a further six defenders who have collected eight points for their efforts; Sunderland pair Nordi Mukiele (£4.0m) and Omar Alderete (£4.1m), Crystal Palace's Maxence Lacroix (£5.1m) and Chris Richards (£4.5m), Everton's Michael Keane (£4.5m) and Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk (£6.1m). 

Burnley's Josh Cullen (£5.0m) has been the standout midfielder, picking up two extra points on five occasions, with Chelsea's Moises Caicedo (£5.8m) and Sunderland's Granit Xhaka (£5.0m) just behind on eight points each.

Caicedo has scored three goals on his way to second place in the midfielder standings on 45 points. His potential for attacking returns and defensive contributions has made him one of the most consistent players in Fantasy, delivering a minimum of four points in six of the first seven Gameweeks. 

Defensive contribution points have also increased the consistency of Cullen and Xhaka. They have each produced a minimum of four points in five of the first seven Gameweeks. 

Meanwhile, not a single forward has earned any defensive contribution points over the first seven Gameweeks, with goals, assists and bonus points their only sources of returns in Fantasy. 

Which clubs are profiting the most?

The promoted contingent supply a combined seven of those 18 players in the table above, with Burnley and Sunderland the leading clubs, with three each.

In Burnley's case, it seems that investing in their midfielders will pay off. Cullen's new team-mate Florentino (£5.0m) has started each of the last three Gameweeks and earned defensive contribution points in all of them. 

As the table above highlights, Sunderland centre-backs Mukiele and Alderete are among the most reliable around, with success rates of 80.0 and 66.7 per cent respectively.

Xhaka's set-pieces, meanwhile, have helped him supply an assist in three of the last five Gameweeks, and his additional attacking potential could ultimately make the Swiss the best among the promoted midfielders. 

Crystal Palace and Everton both provide two centre-backs in the analysis, although it's fair to say that Michael Keane (£4.5m) is expected to drop to the bench when Jarrad Branthwaite (£5.3m) returns from injury.

Why are certain clubs profiting more than others?

One of the most simple ways to judge the sides who are most likely to collect defensive contribution points is to look at their possession statistics. It stands to reason that the teams who have less of the ball are the ones who need to make the most defensive actions to win it back.

As many as 13 of the 18 players in the table above come from clubs that rank among the bottom seven for keeping possession, with Burnley, Palace, Sunderland and Everton supplying a combined 10 of those 13 players. 

Clubs with least possession

West Ham United's 45.4 per cent possession also earns them a place in the bottom seven, level with Leeds United.

West Ham's Konstantinos Mavropanos (£4.4m) has a decent success rate of 60 per cent for defensive contributions, collecting extra in three of his five outings. The centre-back now looks one to watch under new head coach Nuno Espirito Santo, whose success at Nottingham Forest last season was built on their solid defence.

Which opposing clubs are benefiting and why?

The table below shows the clubs whose style of play has allowed their opponents to earn defensive contribution points.

Aston Villa lead the way here. As many as 13 opposition defenders have picked up two points for their actions against Unai Emery's side. Combined with six midfielders, this means 19 players have earned defensive contribution points in contests against Villa.

Liverpool and Everton run them closest, with 18 and 17 successful opponents respectively, while, similarly to Villa, 13 defenders have picked up defensive contribution points against Bournemouth.

Midfielders, meanwhile, have profited the most when playing against Man Utd - picking up extra on eight occasions - with Liverpool and Newcastle United's opponents just behind on seven. 

Opposition players with defensive contribution points

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Why are their opponents profiting?

By assessing those same sides and factoring in possession, as well as crosses, you get a better idea of why this is the case.

Liverpool, Arsenal and Villa all place among the top five teams this season for possession, so their opponents will have needed to win the ball back more often with actions such as tackles and interceptions.

Crossing, meanwhile, typically leads to defensive actions such as clearances. The table below shows Spurs, Newcastle, Arsenal and Bournemouth all rank among the top five sides for this statistic, an indication they have been keeping their opponents busy at the back.

Clubs' possession and crossing ranks