FPL Budget Picks: The Best DEF Under £5.0

Budget Defenders Under £5.0m: Who's Actually Worth Your Money

Sixty-one defenders qualify at £5.0m or under. Most of them will either get benched by their own manager or shipped four goals by October. Here's the dozen who won't — in order of preference.

De Cuyper (BHA, £4.8m) — Starts, proven, and Brighton have a very kind run beginning at Coventry. Our model has him good for around 31 points over the next six — premium output at a cleaning-lady price. About 2 in 10 already own him, so the secret's half out.

Muharemović (LEE, £5.0m) — Starts for Leeds, kind fixtures after Newcastle at home, projected around 30 over six. Not proven at this level yet, which is the honest catch. Barely 1 in 3 in 10 own him — practically nobody.

Van Hecke (TOT, £4.9m) — Nailed at Spurs, favourable run starting with Everton at home. Solid rather than spectacular.

Bobby Thomas (COV, £4.0m) — A £4.0m defender who actually starts is the whole game. Favourable fixtures, Brighton first up.

Egan (HUL, £4.1m) — Starts, decent run once Chelsea away is out of the way.

van Ewijk (COV, £4.0m) — Same Coventry story as Thomas, slightly less of it.

Ballard (SUN, £4.9m) — Proven starter, good fixtures after Arsenal visit. Hardly owned.

Thiaw (NEW, £5.0m) — Newcastle clean sheets at £5.0m, owned by almost nobody. Quietly tempting.

Ajer (BRE, £4.5m) — Starts, fine fixtures, fine.

Mitchell (CRY, £4.5m) — Starts, but a very tough run of fixtures. Pass for now.

N.Williams (NFO, £5.0m) — Average fixtures, and you can get more for the same money above.

Ajayi (HUL, £4.1m) — Starts, kind run, but Egan's the Hull pick.

The call is simple. De Cuyper is the buy — starter, proven, lovely fixtures, and the best projected return in the bracket. If your budget genuinely can't stretch past £4.0m, Bobby Thomas is the best alternative: he plays every week, and at this end of the market a defender who plays is worth two who might. Romance is for forwards. Buy the ones who start.