Fantasy Premier League: Season two of DEFCON – how to maximise your defensive contribution points

One of the biggest changes to Fantasy Premier League last season was the introduction of defensive contributions (also known as DEFCON).

After an entire season of data, managers now have a much better understanding of which players consistently benefit from the new scoring system that awards points for defensive actions and, more importantly, how to use that knowledge to gain an edge.

While goals and assists will always be the biggest source of points in FPL, defensive contributions provide another route to returns, particularly for defenders and defensive midfielders.

Here’s everything you need to know about maximising your DEFCON returns in 2026-27.

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What are defensive contributions? 

Defensive contributions reward players for defensive actions completed during a match.

Rather than relying purely on attacking returns or clean sheets, players can now earn additional FPL points by reaching certain defensive thresholds.

The specific actions include:

• Clearances
• Blocks
• Interceptions
• Tackles
• Recoveries (for midfielders and forwards only)

A defender needs to reach 10 DEFCONs per game to achieve an extra two points, and midfielders need to hit 12.

Why DEFCON matters 

One or two extra points may not seem significant.

However, over a 38-game season, those additional returns quickly add up.

For example, a player who regularly collects DEFCON points could finish 20-50 points ahead of another with similar clean-sheet numbers.

Last season, Elliot Anderson (£6.5m) scored the most points from defensive contributions — an extra 52. This is equivalent to 10 goals for a midfielder.

Marcos Senesi (£6.0m), meanwhile, picked up the most points from this metric among defenders (50 points). The equivalent to 16 assists or eight goals for a defender.

As you can see, the difference over a season can be huge. Those small weekly gains could be the difference between winning and losing mini-leagues.

Target defenders who defend 

The biggest mistake many managers made last season was underestimating the value of DEFCON points.

The top five highest-scoring defenders were centre-backs. Centre-backs who regularly face pressure tend to produce the highest number of clearances, blocks and interceptions.

Players such as Senesi, James Tarkowski (£6.0m) and Maxence Lacroix (£6.0m) frequently hit the required thresholds because they’re constantly involved defensively.

While they may not possess the attacking upside of a roving full-back, their reliable defensive contribution points help compensate for that.

When choosing between two similarly priced defenders, defensive contributions should come first in your thinking: simply because it is a lot more predictable and repeatable than attacking returns.

Don’t ignore attacking defenders 

Although centre-backs often dominate defensive contributions, attacking full-backs can still provide value.

Players such as Pedro Porro (£5.5m) and Nico O’Reilly (£6.5m) combine clean-sheet potential with attacking returns.

The ideal FPL defender now offers multiple routes to points:

• Clean sheets
• Attacking returns
• Defensive contributions

Picking defenders with a mix of the above metrics is the way forward.

Defensive midfielders finally matter 

Defensive midfielders have also been big beneficiaries of DEFCONs.

Historically, these players were almost impossible to justify in FPL because they rarely scored or assisted.

Now, players such as Anderson, James Garner (£6.0m) and Ethan Ampadu (£5.5m) can quietly accumulate points through their defensive work while occasionally chipping in with attacking returns.

This trio were the top three scoring midfielders for DEFCON points last season.

DEFCONs do not suddenly make every holding midfielder a great pick. However, if you’re choosing between similarly priced midfielders, someone capable of regularly earning defensive contribution points suddenly becomes much more appealing.

Team strength still comes first 

DEFCON should complement your decisions, not replace them.

A defender playing for Arsenal or Manchester City remains more attractive than a defender from a struggling team.

Just as an example, Burnley’s Maxime Esteve picked up the fifth-most DEFCON points (38) among defenders but finished 62nd on the list of highest-scoring defenders.

It’s all about balance.

Understand player roles 

Not every defender in the same team will produce similar DEFCON numbers.

Take Fulham as an example. Joachim Andersen (£5.0m) managed 40 DEFCON points, whereas his centre-back partner Calvin Bassey (£4.5m) scored just 16.

Understanding each player’s role is crucial.

Likewise, some midfielders are tasked almost exclusively with protecting the defence, making them much more likely to benefit from defensive contributions than advanced playmakers.

Always look beyond the player’s listed position. This can be hard to identify at the start of the season as players who were good for DEFCON last season may not provide the same value due to factors such as a change in management, tactics or role.

The firmer trends will be picked up as the season progresses, and it’s the FPL managers who react the quickest that will benefit.

Balance is key 

The strongest FPL defences usually contain a mix of player profiles.

For example:

• One premium attacking defender like Gabriel (£8.0m) or Virgil van Dijk (£6.5m)
• One reliable DEFCON specialist, such as Tarkowski
• A few value defenders with good fixtures, secure minutes and a chance of DEFCON points.

This gives your squad multiple routes to points while reducing reliance on clean sheets alone.

Ones to watch

Alongside the established DEFCON performers, several new signings could quickly emerge as excellent FPL options this season.

The DEFCON data above was provided by FPL content creator Alex Vollo.

Mamadou Sangare (£5.5m) — Brentford

The Brentford midfielder averaged just over 14 defensive contributions per 90 for Lens last season, while also producing three goals and four assists. That combination of defensive output and attacking involvement is exactly what we are looking for. At £5.5m, he could become outstanding value.

Christian Norgaard (£5.0m) — Everton 

Norgaard could be an excellent budget option if he nails down a place in Everton’s midfield. He recorded five goals and five assists for Brentford in 2024-25, showing that he can offer more than defensive points alone. His opportunities were limited at Arsenal but he achieved a DEFCON return in 50 per cent of his appearances in 2024-25. Secure minutes could make him a very appealing pick.

Tarik Muharemovic (£5.0m) — Leeds United 

Muharemovic looks especially well-suited to the DEFCON system. Leeds’ new centre-back averaged an impressive 17 defensive contributions per 90 minutes for Bosnia & Herzegovina at the World Cup, having also recorded just over 11 per 90 for Sassuolo in Serie A last season.

Luka Vuskovic (£5.0m) — Brighton 

Vuskovic may be the most exciting defensive option of the lot. Brighton’s new signing averaged 13 defensive contributions per 90 minutes for Hamburg last campaign.

He also scored an outstanding six goals. If he establishes himself as a starter, he has the potential to become one of the best-value defenders in FPL.