It’s time to shine a spotlight on FPL defenders ahead of Gameweek 9.
With Crystal Palace having kept three clean sheets in a row, Joachim Andersen (£4.9m) remains at the top of the tree when it comes to FPL points among defenders, with the Dane having amassed 51 points to date. Andersen’s value has already risen by 0.4m since the start of the season, but with Palace facing off against Newcastle in Gameweek 9, followed by top-of-the-table Spurs in Gameweek 10, would-be investors should be cautious about bringing him into their squads.
There should be no such trepidation around Kieran Trippier (£6.7m) though, with the Newcastle full-back absolutely flying right now from an FPL perspective. Having gained 44 of his 49 points in the last four gameweeks alone, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for fantasy managers to ignore him.
FPL bosses who have invested in Tottenham defenders so far have veered towards full-back Destiny Udogie (£4.9m), but Gameweek 8 saw Micky van de Ven (£4.5m) remind everyone that centre-backs can score big too as he scored a mammoth 15 points thanks to his game-winning goal against Luton. Spurs are at home to Fulham in Gameweek 8, so another clean sheet could well be on the cards for the Premier League leaders.
Although Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.9m) is yet to live up to his status as the most expensive defender in FPL, seasoned veterans will know perfectly well what an explosive asset he can be, and with Liverpool taking on Everton in Gameweek 9, followed by fixtures against Nottingham Forest and Luton, Trent could offer excellent differential value if you jump on him early. Alternatively, an injury sustained by Andy Robertson (£6.6m) while on international duty could pave the way for Kostas Tsimikas (£4.4m) to get a run of games in Jurgen Klopp’s side. The Greek left-back represents a far cheaper alternative to his teammate on the opposite flank.
Speaking of attacking full-backs, Reece James (£5.3m) looks set to make his long-awaited return to action this weekend. The injury-prone Chelsea man is an excellent FPL asset when he can stay fit, but FPL managers may remain cautious over selecting him to due to his injury history.
