As the start of the 2023-24 Fantasy Premier League season draws ever closer, we take a look at the wide range of players available for FPL managers to purchase, picking out some excellent value options in all positions.
In this article, we focus on the best premium defenders who are available at £5.5m or more.
Kieran Trippier (£6.5m) – Newcastle
The 2022-23 campaign marked a first full season back in the Premier League for Kieran Trippier following his January 2022 move to Newcastle, and what a season it was for the right-back! Trippier’s 198 fantasy points was the highest score gained among defenders, thanks largely to 16 clean sheets alongside one goal and nine assists. Whilst Newcastle were strong defensively, Trippier’s attacking threat down the right-hand side hugely enhances his FPL credentials. He is Newcastle’s primary set-piece taker, which also increases the likelihood of offensive returns. Unsurprisingly, his price has significantly risen for 2023-24, but Trippier’s FPL performances for the Magpies warrants that jump.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (£8.0m) – Liverpool
The most expensive defender in FPL, Trent Alexander-Arnold will cost a whole £1.5m more than Trippier. However, the Liverpool star’s potential points outlay justifies such a premium price-tag when factoring in his history from a fantasy perspective. Last season, Alexander-Arnold accrued 156 points, including 11 assists – the most of any defender. Despite that, it was his lowest FPL score since the 2017-18 season which proves just how lucrative the flying full-back normally is, scoring more than 200 points in both the 2019-20 and 2021-22 campaigns. Like Trippier, Alexander-Arnold is a regular set-piece taker for his club and is afforded plenty of attacking freedom. Whilst he will eat up a large chunk of an FPL manager’s budget, history suggests he is worth the spend.
Reece James (£5.5m) – Chelsea
Chelsea defender Reece James (£5.5m) was dogged by injury over the course of last season, severely limiting his game-time and FPL returns. The England international remains one of the most attacking full-backs in the Premier League and starts this upcoming campaign with a huge point to prove. Under new boss Mauricio Pochettino, James should be given license to roam forward whenever possible, as the likes of Danny Rose and indeed Kieran Trippier used to have back in Pochettino’s days at Spurs. His injury history and price-tag may turn a number of FPL managers away from James, which makes him a potential high-value differential for those willing to take the plunge.
