FPL Budget Picks: The Best DEF Under £6.5

Budget defenders: who actually plays, who actually pays

Seventy-four defenders qualify under £6.5m this season. Most of them are either glued to a bench or defending behind a team that leaks goals for fun. Here's who's worth your money, in order.

De Cuyper (BHA, £5.0m) — top of the pile. Starts every week, Brighton's fixtures are about as kind as they come, and our model has him down for 30 points over the next six — a steady 5-a-week from a fiver. About 3 in 10 already own him. Sunderland away first up. Boring, reliable, exactly right.

Gvardiol (MCI, £5.7m) — nailed, lovely fixtures once Liverpool away is out of the way, good for 28-odd points over six. Just under 3 in 10 own him.

Calafiori (ARS, £5.8m) — the template pick, about 5 in 10 own him, but he projects noticeably lower than the two above. Leeds at home next is fine; you're paying for the badge, not the points.

Guéhi (MCI, £6.0m) — nearly matches De Cuyper for points, owned by fewer than 2 in 10. The catch: it's the same City clean sheet as Gvardiol, 30p dearer.

Hall (NEW, £5.3m) — starts, decent run, Coventry away next. A tidy 27-point six weeks.

Tarkowski (EVE, £6.2m) — solid but you're paying £6.2m for what £5.0m gets you elsewhere.

Down the bargain bins: Davis (IPS, £4.0m) starts and projects well, but he's unproven at this level and the fixtures are nasty. Bogle (LEE, £4.6m) and Muharemović (LEE, £5.0m) both start behind lovely Leeds fixtures — once Arsenal away passes — and hardly anyone owns either. Bobby Thomas (COV, £4.0m) is the true enabler: starts, kind fixtures, Newcastle at home first, owned by fewer than 1 in 10. Egan (HUL, £4.1m) is playable. Virgil (£6.5m) is the romance pick — £6.5m for 23 projected points is the worst value on this list, whatever the name on the shirt.

The call: De Cuyper is the buy — best points on the list at £5.0m, starts every week, lovely fixtures. Best alternative is Guéhi if you've the extra £1.0m and want a City sheet fewer managers own. And if you need a £4.0m who actually plays, it's Bobby Thomas, not a bench statue.