When it comes to FPL budget defenders, historically, the teams that finish mid-table have been packed with them. However, last season was different.
Despite being the league leaders for the majority of the season, Arsenal relied heavily on a defense composed entirely of budget defenders, while struggling Manchester United’s full-backs appeared to be overpriced.
Newcastle United also had a fair share of successful budget defenders in FPL.
Anyway, the upcoming season is different. In fact, every season is different and can’t be compared with the previous one.
Our main criterion for budget defenders is a price tag of £5.5m or lower. This automatically takes many performing budget defenders of last season out of contention because they are no longer within the budget price tag.
Currently, there are over 150 players who meet this criterion, but many of them are not worth mentioning. Some won’t even see a minute of playing time, while others are currently injured or out on loan.
After carefully filtering out those players, I have compiled a list of recommended budget defenders for the 2024/25 Fantasy Premier League season.
I will keep updating the list throughout the season.
Top 5 Best Budget Defenders:
1. Pedro Porro (Spurs)
- Price: £5.5m
Pedro Porro is an outstanding budget defender option in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) for several reasons.
Last season, he was the top points scorer in his price bracket of £5.5m and under, amassing a remarkable 136 points. This demonstrates his ability to consistently deliver high returns for FPL managers.
In the league season for Spurs, Porro scored 3 goals and provided 8 assists, highlighting his significant contribution to the team’s attacking play.
His price of £5.5m makes him an affordable yet highly productive choice for those looking to bolster their defense without overspending.
Porro’s disciplined play is another key factor. He received no red cards and only 3 yellow cards last season, minimizing the risk of suspensions and ensuring he remains a reliable option throughout the campaign.
On the field, Porro is a constant threat to the opposition, both from the wing and during set pieces.
His exciting playing style allows him to join the attack on counter-attacks, providing additional opportunities for goals and assists.
This attacking potential, combined with his defensive duties, makes him a valuable dual-threat player in FPL.
Overall, Pedro Porro’s impressive points tally, affordable price, disciplined play, consistent threat from the wing and set pieces, and exciting playing style make him a top budget defender option in FPL.
2. Joachim Andersen (Crystal Palace)
- Price: £4.5m
Joachim Andersen is an excellent budget defender option in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) for several reasons.
Last season, he was the top points scorer in his price bracket of £4.5m and under, accumulating an impressive 121 points. This showcases his ability to consistently deliver solid returns for FPL managers on a budget.
In the league season for Crystal Palace, Andersen scored 2 goals and provided 3 assists, demonstrating his capacity to contribute offensively as well as defensively.
Priced at just £4.5m, he represents great value for money, allowing FPL managers to allocate funds to other areas of their team while still benefiting from his reliable performances.
Andersen’s disciplined play further enhances his appeal. He received no red cards and only 7 yellow cards throughout the season, reducing the risk of suspension and ensuring he remains a dependable option week after week.
Overall, Joachim Andersen’s impressive points tally, affordable price, ability to contribute goals and assists, and disciplined play make him a top budget defender option in FPL.
3. Konstantinos Tsimikas (Liverpool)
- Price: £5.0m
Konstantinos Tsimikas is a noteworthy budget defender option in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) for several reasons.
While it’s true that he’s not a guaranteed starter and was sidelined by injury for most of last season, his potential upside makes him a player to consider.
Despite limited minutes—never playing more than 874 minutes in a single campaign during his four seasons with Liverpool—Tsimikas has consistently shown his quality as a full-back.
When given the opportunity, he has been a significant threat from the flanks, contributing both defensively and offensively.
If Tsimikas can secure regular minutes and avoid injuries, his potential for assists is high.
He has the capability to deliver 10 to 15 assists in a season, given his crossing ability and attacking intent. This potential makes him a valuable asset, especially at his budget-friendly price.
Considering these factors, Tsimikas is worth adding to your watch list. Keeping an eye on his playing time and fitness could lead to a savvy acquisition, providing excellent value for money and significant points potential when he gets the chance to shine.
4. Max Kilman (West Ham)
- Price: £4.5m
Max Kilman stands out as an excellent budget defender option in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) for several reasons. Priced at just £4.5m, he offers incredible value, especially given his ability to score goals, which is rare for defenders in this price bracket.
Kilman recently signed with West Ham, a team that provides a stronger overall squad compared to his previous club, Wolves. This move not only boosts his prospects for clean sheets but also places him in a better environment to showcase his defensive and offensive skills.
Last season, Kilman played the maximum possible minutes in the Premier League, totaling 3,420 minutes. This demonstrates his reliability and durability, key factors for FPL managers looking for a dependable starter. Moreover, he maintained discipline, receiving only 7 yellow cards throughout the entire season, reducing the risk of suspension and ensuring he remains a consistent presence in the lineup.
Given his affordable price, goal-scoring potential, move to a stronger team, impressive playing time, and disciplined play, Max Kilman is a top budget defender option in FPL.
5. Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton)
- Price: £5.0m
Jarrad Branthwaite emerges as an excellent budget defender option in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) for several compelling reasons.
Despite Everton’s struggles last season, finishing 15th, Branthwaite managed to score an impressive 124 points in FPL, making him the top points scorer in his price tag of £5.0m and under.
In terms of offensive contributions, Branthwaite scored 3 goals and provided 1 assist in the league season for Everton. This demonstrates his ability to contribute not just defensively but also in attacking situations, a valuable trait for any FPL defender.
Discipline is another strong point for Branthwaite, as he received no red cards and just 8 yellow cards throughout the season.
This reduces the risk of suspensions and ensures he remains a consistent presence in the lineup.
His standout performances have not gone unnoticed; he was named the young player of the season and is considered one of the best center-backs in the league.
To further underline his capabilities, you can check out his performance against the top 6 teams in the league from last season in the video below.
Best 4.5 Defenders in FPL:
Max Kilman stands out as the best £4.5m defender in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) for several compelling reasons.
Last season, he played the maximum possible 3,420 minutes in the Premier League, showcasing his reliability and durability as a player.
This level of consistency is crucial for FPL managers looking for dependable starters.
Additionally, Kilman maintained discipline with only 7 yellow cards and no red cards, reducing the risk of suspension and ensuring he remains a consistent presence in the lineup.
Kilman’s recent move to West Ham, a team stronger than his previous club Wolves, further enhances his appeal.
This transfer not only improves his prospects for clean sheets but also places him in a better environment to showcase his defensive and offensive skills.
Finding a defender who can score goals at a price tag of £4.5m is rare, and Kilman’s ability to contribute offensively adds significant value to his selection.
Combining his affordable price, impressive playing time, disciplined play, and improved team dynamics, Max Kilman emerges as the top 4.5 defender option in FPL.
Other than him you have the option of Dan Burn of Newcastle United, Joachim Andersen of Crystal Palace, and Lewis Dunk of Brighton, who can be a really good option.
Conclusion:
That’s all in FPL budget defenders. Transfer in some of them and fix your team now so that you can aim for the top 5% of managers list globally. That bracket will help you win the weekly, monthly, and season-end rewards.
To be successful in FPL, you always need a strategy to balance your team and play your best 11 in a way that if someone is not playing, a player from the bench can cover things up.
And to do that, you can’t fill your team with all the top and mid-value players because the budget won’t allow it and you can’t fill the team with all the cheap players either because then it will be impossible to score any good points.
I believe that a mix of these players can help you line up a solid FPL team with budget players who are at least starting the games and capable to score big.
So besides top players of the Premier League, you will need the gems that come at mid and low prices but are great squad players plus they have the potential to become the stars themselves.
And of course, you also need budget players, that not only fill your squad but are capable to contribute from the bench.
An ideal FPL defender is one who is playing out of position, playing regularly, and has a good offensive threat. Playing a player solely for a clean sheet is never a good idea.
Wishing you the best of luck. 🙂