Top Premier League Defenders 2025/26

Defenders in FPL earn points through clean sheets, bonus points, and occasional goals from set pieces. The best defensive assets are full-backs who push forward — combining clean sheet potential with attacking returns makes them some of the most valuable picks in the game.

These rankings sort defenders by Tilt Score for the 2025/26 season. Clean sheets are the foundation, but the Tilt Score also rewards attacking contributions, consistency, and recent form. A defender trending upward will rank higher than one coasting on early-season points.

Check each player's detail page for their Tilt Score breakdown and defensive stats. The DEF card stat on FieldTilt measures tackles, recoveries, and interceptions — useful for identifying defenders who are active even when clean sheets dry up. Visit the Stats Hub for more category breakdowns.