FPL Budget Picks: The Best DEF Under £5.0
The call — Cheap defenders: who actually plays for £5.0m or less Fifty-seven defenders qualify at £5.0m or under, and one of them is projected for 33 points over the next six weeks. That's De Cuyper, Brighton, £4.8m — a nailed starter with a very kind run of fixtures, and our model's clear favourite at the price. About 2 in 10 managers already…
What has not being with FFIQ cost you this season?
One squad, picked before a ball was kicked and run for six gameweeks on three transfers — no hits taken. Scored on FPL’s own results.
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Down the rest of the list, one line each, because at this price the only question is who plays:
Muharemović (LEE, £5.0m) — starts, lovely fixtures beginning CRY (H), owned by hardly anyone (~4 in 10... no, 4 in 100 — barely anyone). Not proven yet, which is the catch.
Thiaw (NEW, £5.0m) — proven, starts, very kind run opening with HUL (H), and about 2 in 100 own him. Quietly the best differential in this bracket.
Van Hecke (TOT, £4.9m) — proven starter, decent fixtures, AVL (H) first up. Solid, unspectacular.
Ballard (SUN, £4.9m) — starts and he's proven, but the run is only average and it opens at MCI (A). Wait a week if you must have him.
Vuskovic (BHA, £5.0m) — starts with the same lovely Brighton run, but De Cuyper is the Brighton pick. Don't overthink it.
Konsa (ARS, £4.5m) — proven, starts, great fixtures. The best £4.5m body here, and about 2 in 10 agree.
Ajayi (£4.2m) and Egan (£4.1m, both HUL) — both start, average fixtures, NEW (A) first. Fine bench fodder.
van Ewijk and Bobby Thomas (both COV, £4.0m) — both start, very kind run despite NFO (A) up first. If you need £4.0m defenders who actually play, this is where you shop.
Davis (IPS, £4.0m) — starts, but the fixtures are rough, beginning EVE (A). Pass.
The romance pick is the £4.0m punt. The value pick is the one who starts every week with fixtures behind him. De Cuyper is both nailed and cheap enough — good for a steady 5-6 most weeks on this run — and if you want a route nobody else has taken, Thiaw at £5.0m with almost zero ownership is the alternative.
The call: buy De Cuyper. Thiaw if you want to be different.