Defensive Contribution Points – GW3 Report

Defensive contribution points, or DEFCON points as they’re known in the space (we have limited characters on X) are FPL’s big change to scoring for the 25/26 season. These new DEFCON points change the way we play FPL; they change the types of players that are viable FPL picks and have altered team builds this season. GW3 was only our third data point to analyse DEFCON points and how they impacted scoring, so let’s assess what we saw and what we can take from that moving forward.

How Defensive Contribution points work?

Quick reminder on how DEFCON points are calculated:

• A Defender who completes a combined total of 10 blocks, clearances, interceptions and tackles in a single match will score two FPL points.
• Midfielders and Forwards also get rewarded for ‘ball recoveries‘ as well as blocks, clearances, interceptions and tackles. Because of this added defensive contribution for Defenders and Midfielders, they have to to get 12 defensive contributions in a match to be rewarded with 2 FPL points.
• All players can only score a maximum of 2 defensive contribution points per match, it is capped at 2.

Chelsea vs Fulham:

Chelsea vs Fulham DEFCON Points

Caicedo (23) - 2 points	Tete (11) - 2 points
Chalobah (11) - 2 points	Berge (11) - 0 points
Tosin (11) - 2 points	Andersen (10) - 2 points
Joao Pedro (10) - 0 points	Sessegnon (10) - 0 points
Cucurella (9) - 0 points	Lukic (10) - 0 points

• This was actually a fairly evenly played game with two controversial decisions that helped Chelsea on their way to a hotly contested 2-0 win. 54%-46% possession in Chelsea’s favour, 13 shots to 11 in Chelsea’s favour and 28 fouls. It was tight, physical game between two clubs that don’t particularly like each other; it was almost the perfect game state for DEFCON points.
• 4 defenders and a defensive midfielder producing DEFCON points. Sessegnon played in defence against Chelsea but being a Midfielder in FPL means no DC points for 10 defensive contributions.
• This game is perfect proof of why Caicedo has value at £5.5m. A clean sheet plus 23 defensive contributions (sadly only leading to 2 DEFCON points). That is 2 out of 3 GWs Caicedo has produced DEFCON points.
• Joao Pedro getting 10 contributions is somewhat noteworthy but he had 5 or less in the first 2 GWs.
• Andersen has 8, 10 and 11 defensive contributions through 3 games. If Fulham’s defence can be a top half of the league defence and produce enough clean sheets, Andersen might be great value at £4.5m with his consistent DC points.

Manchester United vs Burnley:

Manchester United vs Burnley DEFCON Points

Fernandes (17) - 2 points	Cullen (14) - 2 points
Amad (10) - 0 points	Ekdal (12) - 2 points
Mount (7) - 0 points	Ugochukwu (10) - 0 points
Dalot (6) - 0 points	Hartman (8) - 0 points
Casemiro (6) - 0 points	Esteve (7) - 0 points

• 3 DEFCON point scorers in a 3-2 game seems low, but United did dominate the possession and chance creation for the majority of the game with 64% possession and 26 shots to 6. We have seen so far this season in games that are mostly dominated by one team, and played in the oppositions half that that is not an ideal game state for DEFCON points.
• Fernandes has now hit double digit defensive contributions in every single game this season – 11, 13 and now 17 in GW3. For a player with the chance creation and goal scoring abilities he has, while being on penalties, the ability to consistently produce 2 DC points on top of that makes him someone who every FPL manager has to at least consider owning.
• Burnley Defenders consistently produce DC points or get close to it, but they won’t keep clean sheets and their main value comes from simply being bench options that do start for £4.0m-£4.5m.

Tottenham vs Bournemouth:

Tottenham vs Bournemouth DEFCON Points

Porro (12) - 2 points	Senesi (14) - 2 points
Bentancur (10) - 0 points	Adams (12) - 2 points
Van de Ven (9) - 0 points	Adli (11) - 0 points
Romero (7) - 0 points	Semenyo (10) - 0 points
Kudus (6) - 0 points	Truffert (9) - 0 points

• This was a game that Spurs might have dominated possession in, but Bournemouth were comfortably the better team on the day amassing 20 shots and 1.6xG to Tottenham’s 5 shots and 0.2xG. The game being a draw or within 1-0 goal the entire game is a good game state for DEFCON points.
• Porro had his most defensive contributions in a game this season but he only had 6 and 4 in the first 2 GWs. His attacking output plus clean sheets is where he gets most of his value but managers who own Porro won’t turn their nose up at the occasional game with DC points.
• Senesi is the definiton of a DEFCON monster. He has registered 2 DC points in all 3 GWs so far this season with 15, 14 and 14 defensive contributions in said games. If Bournemouth can be an average or even above average defence, he could provide some real value at £4.6m.

Sunderland vs Brentford:

Sunderland vs Brentford DEFCON points

Le Fee (14) - 2 points	Collins (11) - 2 points
Mukiele (14) - 2 points	Van den Berg (11) - 2 points
Xhaka (11) - 0 points	O. Dango (7) - 0 points
Alderete (11) - 2 points	Yarmoliuk (7) - 0 points
Hume (9) - 0 points	Lewis-Potter - 0 points

• A game between two relegation candidates is something I have been wanting to keep an eye on to see if those are games that produce a high number of DEFCON point scorers because neither team has control of the game and it’s very transitional and set piece based with a lot of battles in midfield.
• Sunderland were the slightly better team, with more possession, shots and a higher xG but not significantly in any of the three.
• We had 5 DEFCON point scorers in this game, with 4 of the 5 being Defenders. The sole non Defender was Enzo Le Fee who was tied with Mukiele for 14 defensive contributions. Mukiele being a new signing and going straight in to the starting lineup and getting 2 DC points, for only £4.0m has to get FPL managers attention. It should. The former Leipzig and PSG man played well and should continue to start.
• Van den Berg and Collins will consistently produce DC points but rarely keep clean sheets.

Wolves vs Everton:

Wolves vs Everton DEFCON Points

Toti (11) - 2 points	Keane (14) - 2 points
S. Bueno (10) - 2 points	Garner (12) - 2 points
H. Bueno (9) - 0 points	Tarkowski (11) - 2 points
Andre (9) - 0 points	Grealish (11) - 0 points
Arias (7) - 0 points	Gueye (9) - 0 points

• Everton really might be the DEFCON kings. 3 players registering DC points against Wolves and Grealish and for the second consecutive week only missing out on DC points falling short by 1 defensive contribution.
• Tarkowski is right up there with Senesi and Van Dijk when it comes to consistency regarding DEFCON points so far this season. He has, like Senesi, 2 DC points in all 3 games so far with 15, 10 and 11 defensive contributions.
• Keane and Garner have both produced DEFCON points in consecutive GWs. Keane’s spot in the starting lineup will be under threat when Branthwaite returns from injury.
• Jack Grealish take a bow. He is a man reborn. 4 assists in 2 games with Everton – 2 in each and 11 defensive contributions in both games. Yes, that is 1 shy of the threshold for 2 DC points for a Midfielder or Forward, but if he can continue to produce G/A and defensive contributions at a consistent level, as he has through 2 games (obviously not 2 assists per game but you get the idea) then £6.7m is a bargain as far as I am concerned and he would be a near must own Midfielder.

Leeds vs Newcastle:

Leeds vs Newcastle DEFCON Points

Longstaff (13) - 2 points	Botman (9) - 0 points
Nmecha (9) - 0 points	Bruno G (9) - 0 points
Gruev (8) - 0 points	Tonali (6) - 0 points
Bogle (7) - 0 points	Schar (5) - 0 points
Rodon (7) - 0 points	Miley (5) - 0 points

• Somewhat surprising that a 0-0 game, that was clearly close throughout, with Newcastle edging the possession battle but Leeds edging it on shots and xG, only produced 1 DEFCON point scorer and not many other players were close. Especially a game involving Newcastle. Possibly just a tough summer and tough loss against Liverpool somewhat rearing it’s head temporarily in terms of their intensity and energy.
• Bruno Guimaraes now has 8, 11 and 9 defensive contributions through 3 games. He hasn’t quite hit the threshold but with his ability to occasionally contribute with goals as we saw against Liverpool, and clearly he will eventually do the same with DC points, he is someone worth monitoring. Overall I just think his price-tag is a little high for what he will actually produce points wise.

Brighton vs Manchester City:

Brighton vs Manchester City

Minteh (12) - 2 points	Rodrigo (10) - 0 points
Hinshelwood (8) - 0 points	Ait-Nouri (8) - 0 points
Mitoma (7) - 0 points	Marmoush (8) - 0 points
Gomez (6) - 0 points	Khusanov (6) - 0 points
Van Hecke (5) - 0 points	Nunes (6) - 0 points

• A game that seems so close via the final stat sheet only producing 3 DEFCON point scorers and so few defensive contributions overall, between two teams that play a style of football that is front footed, attacking and involves pressing and high lines, is really surprising. But if you actually watched the game, then it possibly makes a little more sense, because the first half was dominated by Man City. Possession, shots, xG, territory – Man City looked comfortable and dangerous. Haaland missed a couple of very good chances.
• The second half was what swung the game in Brighton’s favour significantly and made it seem like it was a close battle throughout – it was really the tale of two halves.
• Minteh has 7 and now 12 defensive contributions in his last 2 games which is worth noting and in my opinion has been Brighton’s best player through 3 games. He is the best Brighton player to own in FPL as things stand.
• City’s defensive and physical limitations were exposed again, so while they do play a style of football that you might think, as long as the game is close, will produce DC point scorers, their players themselves just aren’t very good defensive players or players whose strengths are in winning or attempting duels. They are a finesse team.

Nottingham Forest vs West Ham:

Nottingham Forest vs West Ham DEFCON Points

Sangare (14) - 2 points	Paqueta (15) - 2 points
Anderson (11) - 0 points	Fernandes (11) - 0 points
Gibbs-White (6) - 0 points	Diouf (9) - 0 points
Ndoye (6) - 0 points	Soucek (9) - 0 points
N. Williams (5) - 0 points	Kilman (8) - 0 points

• A strange game. It was 0-0 until the 82nd minute and a fairly uneventful game in the first half that was even in possession and only produced 4 shots. West Ham scored 3 goals after the 82nd minute to win the game.
• Paqueta has now had 11 and 15 defensive contributions in back-to-back games. If he can consistently hit those numbers while being the creative and goal scoring threat we have seen him be, plus he is on penalties, £5.9m might be good value for Paqueta. However, it is just one good game for West Ham after being horrendous the first 2 GWs. I would not be in a rush to transfer in a West Ham asset.
• New signing Matheus Fernandes with 11 defensive contributions from left-wing. He is a real talent and I think was a major addition to this team and is one to watch going forward.
• Elliot Anderson is the DEFCON nearly man. 11 defensive contributions in all 3 games this season, falling 1 shy of hitting the DC point threshold each GW. But that is clearly just random, he is not destined to never get DC points and he is still someone at £5.5m that is a solid midfield enabler.

Liverpool vs Arsenal:

Liverpool vs Arsenal DEFCON Points

Szoboszlai (14) - 2 points	Rice (13) - 2 points
Gravenberch (9) - 0 points	Mosquera (9) - 0 points
Kerkez (9) - 0 points	Gabriel (7) - 0 points
Mac Allister (9) - 0 points	Calafiori (7) - 0 points
Van Dijk (8) - 0 points	Timber (7) - 0 points

• This was a game played at a slow tempo, especially in the first half. Both teams were not taking risks in possession nor pressing each other like crazy in that first half and so you would expect DEFCON points to be at a minimum in a game like that.
• Szoboszlai was the best player in the game alongside Gravenberch and Van Dijk. A goal plus 2 DEFCON points, and 3 Bonus Points – a huge GW for any owners of the Hungarian midfielder. The issue with owning him is that there is a chance he plays right-back in a lot of games this season, but he won’t get the full benefit of clean sheets and his opportunities for goals and assists will go down playing at right-back vs in midfield in all likelihood.
• Kerkez is a very front footed and busy defender who takes his 1 on 1 matchups almost personally. He had a very good game and if Liverpool’s defence steadies, and with easier opponents coming up we could start to see more clean sheets plus more chance creation from Kerkez. Add DC points every few weeks and he may prove worthy of his £6.0m value.
• Van Dijk with only 8 defensive contributions this week compared to his monster first 2 GWs however even in a game played at this place he was still on 2 away from getting DC points. He might be the best Defender to own this season.
• Rice with 13 defensive contributions after really low totals in GW1 and GW2 is a good sign – as that will be a big part of his value along with the potential goals and assists he can get from set pieces.

Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace:

Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace DEFCON Points

Rogers (7) - 0 points	Richards (13) - 2 points
Tielemans (7) - 0 points	Munoz (11) - 2 points
Buendia (7) - 0 points	Lacroix (9) - 0 points
Maatsen (6) - 0 points	Mitchell (9) - 0 points
McGinn (6) - 0 points	Guehi (9) - 0 points

• Only 2 DEFCON point scorer in this game – 2 Palace Defenders. Palace Defenders, particularly Lacroix, but also Munoz and Richards are going to be DEFCON monsters all season.
• Richards has 8, 8 and 13 through 3 games. Lacroix has 8, 1 then 11. Lacroix has 16, 12 and then 9 in GW3 and there’s an argument for owning him over Munoz being £0.5m cheaper.
• Villa have had a terrible start to the season and are goalless through 3 games. They are probably one of the worse DEFCON point teams in the league outside of Onana.

DEFCON Scoring GW3:

Highest DEFCON Scorers GW3

1. Caicedo - 23

2. B. Fernandes - 17

3. Paqueta - 15

4. Senesi - 14

5. Mukiele - 14

6. Szoboszlai - 14

7. Sangare - 14

8. Keane - 14

9. E. Le Fee - 14

10. Cullen - 14

• It was the lowest number of DEFCON point scorers in a GW this season.
• Even games, that are more back and forth, that are in the balance until late into the game are definitely an optimum game state for DEFCON points.
• As we saw in GW1 and 2, games played at a faster pace, with teams that play high tempo, high pressing football also help produce DC point scorers but the teams involved do matter – Man City as the example where it doesn’t always lead to DC points.
• Comfortable wins where one team dominates possession and the chance creation numbers, are clearly the worst game stat for DC points because the second half of those games tend to be played at a slower tempo with far less risks being taken by both teams.
• Games between relegation candidates do seem to produce a good number of DC point scorers.
• Everton, Bournemouth, Fulham, Chelsea, Crystal Palace and Liverpool are a few teams that have consistently produced a good number of DEFCON point scorers every week, or have many players fall just short. I would throw Newcastle and Spurs into that conversation also despite not doing so this week. This can be down to personnel, play style or in most cases both.

 

 

Make sure to check out our Premier League predicted lineups with injury news, data and tactical insights every single Gameweek!