The Watchlist Updated – Gameweek 1 – Defenders

After running the rule over the Goalkeepers for the first four to six Gameweeks of the season, we turn our attentions to what’s on offer in defence. Southampton’s new right-back makes his debut at the summit, whilst some favourable opening schedules ensure Leicester and Bournemouth offer kindly priced options with the prospect of points at both ends of the pitch.

With a strong start to the season (new, EVE, wat, NOR, wba, MUN) and a price tag of 5.0 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), Southampton right-back Cedric Soares kicks off the campaign at the top of our opening rankings. The former Sporting Lisbon defender has also picked up a couple of assists in pre-season and with the Saints’ other nailed-on starters at the back (Jose Fonte and Ryan Bertrand) valued at 5.5, the more budget-friendly Soares offers us a reliable route into a rearguard that’s registered 15 shut-outs in each of the last two seasons. Maya Yoshida (4.5) could emerge as Fonte’s regular partner in the heart of defence but the arrival of Steven Caulker makes Soares a safer bet to open the season.

Laurent Koscielny (6.0) gets the slightest of nods as our preferred Arsenal defender, although the saving offered by his centre-back partner Per Mertesacker (5.5) makes it a very close call. With the changes to the BPS scoring system very much in his favour, though, the Frenchman gains our approval for what look to be decent opening fixtures (WHM, cpl, LIV, new, STO, che) for the Community Shield winners. Hector Bellerin’s attacking threat down the right flank is also worth a mention but concerns over rotation with the now fully-fit Mathieu Debuchy – particularly when the Champions League resumes next month – dent his prospects.

The combination of his set-piece threat and Leicester’s strong fixtures (SUN, whm, TOT, bou, AVL, sto) sees Robert Huth gain our approval for the start of the new season. The Germany international led all defenders for goal attempts (13) from Gameweek 30 onwards last season, and was unlucky not to score more than once in his 14 league appearances for the Foxes. Although Wes Morgan is now available following his busy summer playing for Jamaica, Huth’s history with new boss Claudio Ranieri makes him one of the most appealing 4.5 defenders as we formulate our five-man backlines. Whilst Kasper Schmeichel is similarly priced between the posts, Huth’s goal threat may ultimately prove better value for money.

Bournemouth’s Simon Francis (4.5) zooms straight towards the top of the Watchlist rankings by virtue of the Cherries’ kind fixture list (AVL, liv, whm, LEI, nor, SUN). The right-back produced more key passes than any other defender in the Championship last season, registering six assists. Tyrone Mings, also priced at 4.5 in FPL, has similar attacking instincts to Francis, but having only joined from Ipswich this summer, he may take more time to settle. Francis gains a slight edge at this point given his familiarity with his team-mates – his partnership with Matt Ritchie down the right-hand side played a key part in the Cherries’ title winning campaign.

For so long last season, Branislav Ivanovic (7.0) was nearly untouchable at the top of the Watchlist. The Chelsea man’s stock is slightly hit by the Blues opening fixtures, with clashes against City, Everton and Arsenal in the first six, although the Serbia international’s tendency to start seasons with attacking returns has to be considered. Having said that, the saving of 1.0 for Cesar Azpilicueta makes it a very close call between the pair but Ivanovic’s raids down the right mean he remains our favourite Chelsea asset at the back. Looking at the current ownership of the pair, Ivanovic’s stands at 31.5%, while Azpilicueta is owned by 20.1% of FPL managers.

Patrick van Aanholt finds himself on our ladder due to the uncertainty surrounding Sunderland’s starters at centre-half. The former Chelsea defender registered five assists last term, despite only making 28 appearances for the Black Cats. If Dick Advocaat’s side are as tight at the back as they were at the tail end of last season, the 5.0-priced Van Aanholt could still be worth that extra outlay, given he plays just two of last year’s top seven in the first 14 Gameweeks. At the same price, though, Costel Pantilimon’s save point potential may sway it for some.

Micah Richards slots into the middle section of our defender rankings. There is a some concern over how well the Villa defence will fare under Tim Sherwood, but some kind early fixtures, allied with a 4.5 price tag, strengthen the former City man’s appeal. If you’re willing to fork out 5.0, though, team-mate Leandro Bacuna has been stationed on the right of midfield over the summer, making him one of the few out of position options around.

Tottenham new boy Toby Alderweireld is expected to partner compatriot Jan Vertonghen in the centre of defence. The Belgian will only set us back 5.0 in FPL, compared to 5.5 for the other projected starters Danny Rose, Kieran Trippier and Vertonghen. Tottenham’s fixtures after the Gameweek 1 clash at Old Trafford (STO, lei, EVE, sun, CPL) should give Alderweireld some opportunities to register defensive returns.

Russell Martin gets the nod as our favoured Norwich defender, with the skipper’s two goals and five assists last season showing he’s capable of producing attacking points. He’s accrued five goals and four assists in his three Premier League seasons with the Canaries, although those were mainly from right-back, with the Scotland international now established at the heart of the Norwich defence. With the fixtures also favourable, the 4.5-rated defender is one to consider for our rotations at the back, with Bournemouth’s Francis looking a prime candidate, offering (AVL, sun, STO, LEI, BOU, SUN, whm, WAT) over the first eight Gameweeks. Canaries stopper John Ruddy offers a similarly-priced alternative, though, and offer save points aplenty between the posts.

Another close call while formulating this week’s rankings was which Man United defender to select. Until Luke Shaw can string a run of matches together, we’ve opted for new signing Matteo Darmian on the ladder. The Italy international is comfortable going forward having played as a wing-back for much of his career, and should be handed a licence to attack by Louis van Gaal. Difficult matches in the opening six Gameweeks (TOT, LIV, sot) do, however, mean there are probably better options than the 5.5-valued defender for the start of the new campaign.

The third defender from the newly promoted sides on our ladder is Watford’s Sebastian Prodl. The former Werder Bremen centre-back appears to be a likely starter for the Hornets, although with so many new additions at Vicarage Road, it is difficult to be sure of new boss Quique Sanchez Flores’ preferred starting XI. The schedule is fairly tricky for the Golden Boys, but Prodl’s threat from set plays, having scored three goals in 22 appearances last term, sees the Austria international sneak a place towards the bottom of our Watchlist.

Strong home clashes (LEI, BOU, NEW) in the first five Gameweeks bring West Ham’s Aaron Cresswell into our thoughts, although away trips to Arsenal, Liverpool and City explain why he’s so far down our initial rankings. The left-back may also lose some of his set-piece duties to new signing Dimitri Payet, but Cresswell still looks a likely source of attacking points thanks to his quality delivery into the box from open play.

Two “big-hitting” defenders sneak their way onto our ladder, although there are some question marks over both Aleksandar Kolarov (5.5) and Martin Skrtel’s (5.5) prospects heading into the new season. Kolarov ended last term as City’s first choice left-back, and with Gael Clichy missing the Citizens final pre-season match and reportedly a doubt for the opener at West Brom with a knock, the Serbia international looks set to start at the Hawthorns. His attacking threat when he plays is significant, but with rotation likely throughout the season, opting for Kolarov always carries plenty of risk. Skrtel looks assured of his place in Liverpool’s defence, but the Reds’ mixed fixture list (sto, BOU, ars, WHM, mun, NOR) does hinder his viability given the plentiful options available to Fantasy managers. Uncertainty over his partner in central defence, be it Mamadou Sakho or Dejan Lovren, doesn’t help, either.