FPL Tips: Why You Should Use a Five-Man Defence from GW12

Defenders have outshone their attacking counterparts in the 2025/26 Fantasy Premier League (FPL) season, making five-man defence an option worth considering. 

Forwards have traditionally been the most expensive players in FPL. Decent attackers tend to go for over £7.5 million, while top-rated strikers exceed the £10.0 million mark.

Erling Haaland was the most expensive forward in the FPL last season, costing a record-breaking £15.0 million. After a relatively timid 2024/25 campaign, the forward started the 2025/26 FPL at £14.0 million.

Erling Haaland became the first player to reach triple digits this season 💯

It's the fifth time a player has hit the 100 points mark inside the first 11 Gameweeks 👏 pic.twitter.com/a0f1m8CRbG

— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) November 12, 2025

Midfielder Mohamed Salah started the 2025/26 FPL season as the most expensive player, carrying a £14.5 million price tag. The best defenders in the FPL, meanwhile, topped out at just £6.0 million (initial price).

Most FPL managers tend to prioritise midfielders and forwards in their lineups, believing these players will contribute more points.

However, since the introduction of Defensive Contribution points this season, defenders have quietly emerged as the most valuable players in the FPL.

Defenders Have Dominated FPL This Season

Erling Haaland has been the highest-scoring player in FPL this season. The Manchester City striker has accumulated 102 points in 11 matches and enjoys over 70% ownership despite his steep price. However, even Haaland has not yet scored the most points in an FPL Gameweek.

Defenders, meanwhile, have completely dominated the game, taking maximum points in seven of 11 FPL Matchdays so far. Midfielders took the remaining four spots, meaning no forward has topped the scoresheet at the end of a Gameweek.

Arsenal defenders = points 🫡 pic.twitter.com/eMAID3XEER

— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) November 5, 2025

Both 20+ hauls this season have come from defenders. In Gameweek 2, Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber scored a season-best 24 points.

In Gameweek 9, Tottenham Hotspur defender Micky van de Ven joined him in the 20-point club by scoring 23.

Van de Ven’s performances have made Europe’s elite take notice. Fifteen-time European champions Real Madrid reportedly hold a genuine interest in signing the Spurs defender.

Here are the highest FPL point scorers in 11 Gameweeks this season:

Why It Is a Good Idea to Use Five Defenders in FPL This Season

With most forwards underperforming, it may not be the smartest idea to keep using three forwards in FPL this season. Erling Haaland has proven that he is a must-have asset, but no other forward has delivered consistent returns.

Based on what we have seen so far, here are the top reasons why switching to a back-five is solid play from GW12:

Defenders Are Delivering the Biggest Hauls

Seven out of 11 is not a fluke. It is a trend worth looking into. With DEFCON in play, top-quality defenders are regularly scoring two bonus points.

If a defender plays over 60 minutes, avoids a booking, concedes less than two goals, and completes his DEFCON quota, he scores a minimum of four points. No other position offers such returns.

They Offer the Best Value

Gabriel has been the highest-scoring defender in FPL this season. The Arsenal man has scored 81 points from 11 games and still costs only £6.6 million. Only Haaland has scored more points than him this season.

Gabriel’s teammate Jurrien Timber, who costs £6.1 million, has accumulated 67 points. Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, who is worth only £5.1 million, has 64 points.

No other position offers nearly as much value.

Clean Sheets Have Become Predictable

This season, it has been relatively easier to predict clean sheets.

Arsenal have been the best in the division, keeping seven clean sheets in 11 games. Chelsea, Crystal Palace, and Newcastle United have all kept five clean sheets.

Picking defenders from teams that regularly keep clean sheets is a great way to score consistent points.

Full-backs Regularly Score Attacking Points

Burnley left-back Quilindschy Hartman has provided four assists in the Premier League — the joint-highest in the division.

Malick Diouf, who plays as a right-back for West Ham United, is the joint-second with three assists.

The likes of Jurrien Timber, Micky van de Ven, and Reece James regularly penetrate threatening areas and stand a chance to score or assist.

Finding the right balance between defenders who keep clean sheets and those who deliver attacking returns is the secret to FPL success.

SportsCasting’s Ideal Five-Man Defence

Arsenal have been the most consistently solid team in the league. Ideally, we would have picked the defensive pairing of Gabriel (£6.6m) and Jurrien Timber (£6.1m). However, Gabriel’s injury during the international break complicates matters.

With the Brazilian out for up to two months, you could go for another Arsenal asset in William Saliba or Riccardo Calafiori.

However, considering neither has been good on the attacking front and the Gunners’ tricky fixture run, Virgil van Dijk might be a better pick.

Liverpool have a favourable run of fixtures, as three of their next five opponents are currently in the bottom five. Van Dijk is also a threat from set-pieces, meaning attacking returns may also be on the cards.

Micky van de Ven is an excellent low-cost option, providing high attacking returns. The Tottenham Hotspur defender is currently going for £4.8m.

Quilindschy Hartman may have already peaked, but at £4.0m, he is too lucrative to pass on.

Malick Diouf is our final pick. The £4.3m West Ham defender has arguably been his team’s standout performer and will continue to be involved in attack.