Attacking returns key to budget defenders outshining premiums in FPL

A significant drop in clean sheets has impacted how managers are assessing defenders in 2023/24 Fantasy Premier League.

Only 14 clean sheets have been recorded in 2023/24, down 33 per cent from a total of 21 in the first four Gameweeks of the previous campaign.

See: All you need as FPL returns 

This has also impacted the player standings in Fantasy.

A mere two of the 10 top-scoring defenders have managed more than one clean sheet in the first four rounds of matches.

Tottenham Hotspur pair Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie (both £4.7m) are the players in question, delivering shut-outs against Manchester United and AFC Bournemouth.

By contrast, eight of the top 10 defenders at this point last season had managed a minimum of two clean sheets.

This means the most successful defenders in the early stages of the new Fantasy season have been more reliant on attacking returns.

Defenders with most attacking returns, GW1-4

Seven defenders have claimed two or more attacking returns in the first four Gameweeks.

Handily for Fantasy managers, six of those cost under £5.0m, with the exception being Pervis Estupinan (£5.3m), the most-popular defender in the game.

From a tactical perspective, six of the seven play either as full-backs or wing-backs for their clubs, with Spurs’ centre-back Romero the odd man out.

Best budget defenders to target

Malo Gusto (Chelsea) £4.2m
An injury to Reece James (£5.3m) has allowed the young Frenchman to secure a role on the right of Chelsea’s defence.

Gusto has been quick to underline his potential for huge hauls with a 14-point return against Luton Town in Gameweek 3, thanks to two assists and a clean sheet.

Gusto's second assist v Luton

Although there is a chance James could be available later this month, Gusto’s recent displays suggest head coach Mauricio Pochettino could ease the England international back into action.

If he can retain his role in the short term, at least, Chelsea’s upcoming schedule makes Gusto a standout budget pick at £4.2m.

According to the Fixture Difficulty Ratings (FDR), three of their next four matches score only two.

Matty Cash (Aston Villa) £4.6m
The Aston Villa right-back has boasted the greatest goal threat of any defender in Fantasy this season.

Cash’s nine shots, seven shots in the box and five shots on target all place first in his position. 

He has scored twice and also produced a clean sheet at home to Everton in Gameweek 2.

Cash's first goal v Burnley

Villa’s upcoming schedule suggests Cash can continue to prosper at both ends of the pitch.

Six of their next eight matches score only two in the FDR.

Destiny Udogie (Spurs) £4.7m
Two assists, two clean sheets and four bonus points highlight his many routes to returns for Postecoglou’s Spurs.

Udogie’s role as an attacking full-back has lifted his ownership to 13 per cent, making him the most popular defender for the north London side in Fantasy.

He has the schedule to reward that growing band of owners, with four of Spurs’ next six matches scoring just two in the FDR.
 
Serge Aurier (Nott'm Forest) £4.5m
Nottingham Forest’s Ivorian has a kind run of home matches that lifts his appeal as a rotation pick at the back.

Aurier has three fixtures at the City Ground in the next five Gameweeks, including encounters with promoted pair Burnley and Luton. 

He supplied two assists and claimed a 10-point haul in his only home outing of the campaign so far, against another promoted side, Sheffield United, in Gameweek 2.

Aurier's second assist v Sheff Utd

Sven Botman (Newcastle) £4.5m
Managers must monitor the Dutchman’s fitness after he missed Newcastle United’s last match with an ankle injury.

Should Botman be available for Gameweek 5, the Magpies’ upcoming run of opponents suggest he can prove far better value than his premium-priced team-mate Kieran Trippier (£6.5m).

Four of their next six matches score only two in the FDR, including back-to-back encounters with Sheff Utd and Burnley in Gameweeks 6 and 7.