FPL Budget Picks: The Best DEF Under £5.0

Budget Defenders Under £5.0m: Who Actually Plays

The best cheap defender in the game right now costs £4.7m, starts every week, and about 2 in 10 managers already know it. De Cuyper at Brighton is projected for around 31 points over the next six gameweeks — that's premium-defender territory at a price that leaves you change for the shiny stuff up top.

Sixty defenders qualify at £5.0m or under. Most of them are landfill. Here's who's actually worth your money, in order.

De Cuyper (BHA, £4.7m) — Starts, proven, and Brighton's fixtures are about as kind as it gets, opening at Coventry. The complete package at this price. Buy.

Muharemović (LEE, £5.0m) — Projected for 30 over six with a lovely run, though it starts with Newcastle at Elland Road. Not yet proven at this level, but he starts, and barely anyone owns him — about 1 in 3 of a 10. If you want the one nobody else has, it's him.

Thiaw (NEW, £5.0m) — Quietly excellent. Proven, nailed, good fixtures after Leeds away, owned by almost nobody. The sensible sleeper.

Ballard (SUN, £5.0m) — Starts, proven, decent run once Arsenal at home is out of the way. Fine third defender.

Van Hecke (TOT, £4.9m) — Nailed at Spurs with Everton at home first up. Solid, unspectacular.

Bobby Thomas (COV, £4.0m) — Now we're talking value. Four million, expected to start, decent fixtures. Unproven at this level, but at £4.0m a starter is a starter. Same goes for van Ewijk (COV, £4.0m) — over 1 in 10 already own him for good reason.

Egan and Ajayi (HUL, £4.0m/£4.1m) — Both start for Hull, both cheap as chips, but Chelsea away first is grim viewing. Bench fodder that actually plays — which is the whole job description.

Ajer (BRE, £4.5m) and N.Williams (NFO, £5.0m) — Fine, nailed, nothing wrong with them. Just less on offer than the names above.

Mitchell (CRY, £4.5m) — Starts and he's proven, but Palace's fixtures are horrible. Avoid until the run turns.

The romance pick this week is whoever scored in preseason. The value pick is the man who plays 90 minutes for £4.7m with Coventry up next.

The call: De Cuyper is the buy — starter, proven, best fixtures, best projection. If you need £5.0m spent or want a pick almost nobody owns, Muharemović is the alternative. Filling a bench slot? Bobby Thomas at £4.0m. Everyone else is just noise with a price tag.