FPL Budget Picks: The Best DEF Under £6.5

Eighty-three defenders qualify at £6.5m or less. Most of them are furniture. Here's the handful that matter, in the order our model actually likes them — and it likes De Cuyper best by a distance.

De Cuyper (BHA, £5.1m) — The pick of the bracket, and it's not close. Projected for around 32 points over the next six, which at this price is premium returns for pocket change. Brighton's run is lovely, starting CRY (H), and about 3-4 in 10 managers already know it. Proven at this level. Buy.

Calafiori (ARS, £5.9m) — The template option, owned by over half of all managers. A favourable run starting NFO (A), and Arsenal clean sheets fund themselves. Projects a bit lower than the names below him, but our model still prefers him — Arsenal's defence is the surest thing on this list.

Guéhi (MCI, £6.0m) — Quietly excellent. Good for about 30 points over six, a very kind run opening with IPS (H), and only about 2 in 10 own him. Gvardiol (£5.8m) is the cheaper City route but projects noticeably lower — if you're going City, go Guéhi.

Bogle (LEE, £4.7m) — The value play of the piece. Under £5m, decent returns projected, kind fixtures after MUN (H), fewer than 1 in 10 own him. If every pound matters, start here.

Tarkowski (EVE, £6.2m) — Proven, but the fixtures are tough from CHE (H) onwards. Pass for now.

Davis (IPS, £4.0m) and Bobby Thomas (COV, £4.0m) — Both project respectably for £4.0m, but neither is a proven starter. At this price, minutes are the entire game, and I'm not paying for a maybe. Watchlist only.

Van Hecke (TOT, £4.9m) and Muharemović / Vuskovic (£5.0m each) — Cheap, kind fixtures, barely owned. Van Hecke's the only proven one of the three. The other two are punts, and punts are how you end up playing your third sub.

Hall (NEW, £5.3m) — Proven, but a very tough run. Not now.

The call: De Cuyper is the buy — best projected returns in the bracket at £5.1m with lovely fixtures, and he actually plays. Best alternative is Calafiori if you want the safety of Arsenal's back line. If you're scraping for funds, Bogle at £4.7m does a proper job. Everything else is either a punt or a pass.