As Fantasy Premier League managers can now select their 15-man squads, The Scout analyses standout budget and premium players in each position.
Ben Chilwell (CHE) £6.0m
The Chelsea wing-back has a somewhat mixed run of opponents at the start of the new season.
Half of the Blues’ opening eight matches score only two in the Fixture Difficulty Ratings (FDR), while the other half score four.
Chelsea’s first eight Gameweeks
| GW | Opponent | FDR | GW | Opponent | FDR |
| 1 | CRY (H) | 2 | 5 | TOT (A) | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | ARS (A) | 4 | 6 | MCI (H) | 4 |
| 3 | LIV (A) | 4 | 7 | SOU (H) | 2 |
| 4 | AVL (H) | 2 | 8 | BRE (A) | 2 |
Although that early schedule might put off some managers, Chelsea’s defensive record under Thomas Tuchel last season was hugely encouraging.
The Blues produced 11 clean sheets after the German was appointed head coach in Gameweek 20, more than any other side.
And their 13 goals conceded in that period also ranked first.
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Chilwell’s potential for attacking returns can make him Chelsea’s go-to defender this season.
The left wing-back was involved in more goals than any other player in the Blues’ backline last term, scoring three and assisting a further six in his 27 appearances.
That helped him average 5.1 points per match (ppm), second only to the 5.8ppm of Manchester City’s John Stones (£5.5m) among defenders in Fantasy.
Chilwell scores v Aston Villa
The underlying statistics further highlight Chilwell’s attacking prospects.
His 22 shots in the box and 30 chances created both put him among the top two Chelsea defenders last season.
When the Blues’ strong displays at the back under Tuchel are added to the equation, Chilwell's potential for goals and assists can help him challenge for top spot among defenders in 2021/22 Fantasy.
