There’s been some significant rule changes introduced to FPL this season.
That includes defensive contribution points for outfield players, giving extra utility to centre-backs and defensive midfielders.
So, how does it work, and which FPL picks should we now be heavily considering for our Gameweek 1 squads?
Three reasons to join Fantasy Football Hub
- Upload a screenshot of your FPL team to get your team rated instantly by AI for free on Fantasy Football Hub’s My Team tool and then explore your AI-suggested transfers.
- Access team reveals from expert FPL managers, including the current FPL Champion from 2024/25, Lovro Budisin.
- There’s 50% off Fantasy Football memberships right now (you won’t see a better offer this season) and if you don’t win your mini league, you’ll get your money back.
Start optimising your team with Fantasy Football Hub today!
Defensive contribution points
Players can now earn two fantasy points for defensive contributions. Defenders will earn this two point bonus for reaching a combined total of 10 clearances, blocks, interceptions and tackles (CBIT) in a single match.
Midfielders and forwards will also be rewarded for ball recoveries in this defensive contribution metric, with a total of 12 actions needed to earn the two point bonus.
The key beneficiary of this new scoring metric will be centre-backs, particularly from sides who don’t have a lot of possession, including the promoted teams. Here are some of the standout picks from AI at different price points for the opening four gameweeks.
£4.5m: Chris Richards
- Predicted points: 17.1
Crystal Palace are a key team to consider from a defensive perspective with Chris Richards great value at this price point. From 22 starts, he amassed 16 defensive contribution points, hitting this two point bonus in more than a third of his appearances.
Richards has managed two attacking returns in two consecutive seasons. Palace have mixed fixtures to start, but this is less of a problem when targeting assets with good defensive contributions prospects.
£5.0m: Sven Botman
- Predicted points: 17.1
Another side with a mixed bag of fixtures is Newcastle United, who face Aston Villa and Liverpool in their opening two games. Sven Botman is expected to return to the heart of their defence after being hampered by injury last season.
Historically, he would have performed very well for defensive contributions. The Magpies defence kept 13 clean sheets last season, with clean sheet potential high for Leeds United and Wolverhampton Wanderers in Gameweek 3 and 4.
£5.5m: Murillo
- Predicted points: 18.2
Nottingham Forest centre-back Murillo ranked second for defensive contribution points last season, with 38 points from 36 starts. Picking up those two bonus points in half of his games makes him a very attractive asset, with Nottingham Forest keeping 13 clean sheets last season.
They are a side who don’t have a lot of possession in games, giving plenty of opportunity for Murillo to make clearances, blocks, tackles and interceptions.
£6m: Virgil van Dijk
- Predicted points: 18.9
Liverpool remain the most consistent defence in the Premier League. The kept 14 clean sheets last season and have added Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong to their back-line for 2024-25.
Van Dijk should be the key target for your FPL squad in Gameweek 1 though, with 22 defensive contribution points last season. He also carries significant goal threat from set pieces, with three goals and one assist in 2024-25.
When it comes to attackers, defensive-minded midfielders will be the key candidates for accruing these additional points, although there will be exceptions to the rule.
Here are the AI’s favourite picks at £6.0 million and under for the opening four gameweeks.
4. Moises Caicedo
- Price: £5.5m
- Predicted points: 17.3
Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo would have been the top-performing midfield asset in terms of defensive contributions last campaign, netting 42 points across the season. That equates to two bonus in more than 55% of his games.
This is great utility for a midfielder around this price point. Chelsea have great opening fixtures, with enticing options elsewhere in Robert Sanchez, Marc Cucurella, Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro for those three slots.
3. Carlos Baleba
- Price: £5.0m
- Predicted points: 17.1
Brighton’s Carlos Baleba was also among the top-performing midfielders for defensive contribution points last season, netting 30 points from 31 starts. This works out at scoring two bonus points in every other game on average.
He could well be the best midfielder at this price point, having also notched four goal involvements last season: three goals and one assist. It’s Fulham at home for the Seagulls opening game of the campaign.
2. Elliot Anderson
- Price: £5.5m
- Predicted points: 17.3
Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson is an intriguing option, with both goal threat and defensive contribution prospects. He has the early fixtures to prosper, plus eight goal involvements last season.
Significantly, he managed 36 defensive contribution points last season from 33 starts, which would have seen him finish the campaign on 143 points. He also has some set piece responsibility.
1. Granit Xhaka
- Price: £5.0m
- Predicted points: 17.8
Granit Xhaka returns to the Premier League after a two year absence where he went to Bayer Leverkusen, signing for promoted Sunderland. He comes in at a great price, especially bearing in mind his attacking potential, with 15 goal involvements for Arsenal in the 2022-23 season.
Sunderland have some sound opening fixtures, including West Ham and Burnley in their first two. Expect him to also rack up defensive contribution points.
Fantasy Football Hub is purpose-built to turn FPL managers into FPL winners. From their industry-leading AI to the experts who reveal their teams every gameweek, it’s no surprise tens of thousands of managers gain the edge with the Hub every season. Join the Hub today and if you don’t win your mini-league, you’ll get your money back!
