The short answer
Defenders are more valuable in FPL Draft than many managers realise because the defensive-contribution scoring system gives high-volume centre-backs another route to points beyond clean sheets.
Gabriel remains our No.1 defender. After him, the best picks combine secure starts with either attacking threat or defensive-contribution volume.
OneFPL top 25 FPL Draft defenders
| Rank | Player | Club | Why he ranks here |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gabriel | Arsenal | 209 points last season, elite clean sheets, set pieces and DefCon |
| 2 | Josko Gvardiol | Man City | Strong attacking upside and safest current City defensive route |
| 3 | Virgil van Dijk | Liverpool | Elite minutes, set pieces and DefCon |
| 4 | Neco Williams | Nott'm Forest | Attacking role plus improving team structure |
| 5 | Marc Guéhi | Man City | Strong prior output with City clean-sheet upside |
| 6 | Nico O'Reilly | Man City | Advanced role potential but rotation risk |
| 7 | Daniel Muñoz | Crystal Palace | Wing-back attacking ceiling |
| 8 | James Tarkowski | Everton | DefCon, set pieces and almost unmatched minutes security |
| 9 | Maxence Lacroix | Chelsea | Strong physical profile and high team upside |
| 10 | Pedro Porro | Spurs | Elite attacking history, but monitor fitness and early minutes |
| 11 | Malick Thiaw | Newcastle | Four league goals last season plus 24 DefCon points |
| 12 | Adrien Truffert | Bournemouth | Attacking full-back upside |
| 13 | Nikola Milenković | Nott'm Forest | Set-piece threat and centre-back volume |
| 14 | Murillo | Nott'm Forest | Secure role with DefCon appeal |
| 15 | Jeremie Frimpong | Liverpool | Huge attacking upside if starts are consistent |
| 16 | Jan Paul van Hecke | Spurs | Strong defensive-contribution profile |
| 17 | Micky van de Ven | Spurs | Minutes and clean-sheet route |
| 18 | Milos Kerkez | Liverpool | Iraola has given him more attacking freedom |
| 19 | Harry Maguire | Man Utd | Excellent first two fixtures plus set pieces and DefCon |
| 20 | Lewis Hall | Newcastle | Attacking upside if fully fit |
| 21 | Riccardo Calafiori | Arsenal | Goal threat and elite defence; role competition remains |
| 22 | Cristhian Mosquera | Arsenal | £5.5m normal-FPL value and current Saliba replacement |
| 23 | Matty Cash | Aston Villa | Attacking full-back route |
| 24 | Nathan Collins | Brentford | Reliable starts and aerial threat |
| 25 | Luka Vušković | Brighton | Set-piece upside with centre-back DefCon potential |
Why Gabriel is a first-tier Draft defender
Gabriel scored 209 FPL points in only 30 starts last season. Official FPL notes that he combined three goals, five assists, 18 clean sheets and 22 defensive-contribution points.
In normal FPL, his £8.0m price creates a budget debate. Draft removes that price entirely.
That makes Gabriel a legitimate early-round player rather than simply "the best defender".
Attacking defenders versus DefCon defenders
There are two main ways to build your Draft defence.
Attack-first: Muñoz, Frimpong, Kerkez and Porro can win a week with goals and assists.
Floor-first: Van Dijk, Tarkowski, Thiaw, Milenković and Van Hecke can add defensive-contribution points even when clean sheets fail.
The best Draft squads usually mix both.
See OneFPL's defensive-contribution guide for a deeper explanation of the scoring route.
The Arsenal question
Saliba's injury has changed Arsenal's early hierarchy.
Official FPL's final Scout Selection says Cristhian Mosquera has secured the centre-back role alongside Gabriel. That makes Mosquera far more useful in Draft than his original pre-season ranking suggested.
Calafiori remains appealing after scoring in the Community Shield, but role security matters more in Draft because a benched defender cannot simply be transferred for free to an owned rival.
Read the updated best £5.5m Arsenal defender guide.
When should you draft defenders?
Do not fill your defence too early, but do not assume all defenders are interchangeable.
A useful approach:
- Take Gabriel when he becomes the best player available.
- Prioritise one more high-end defender with a unique role.
- Fill the final slots with secure starters and high DefCon floors.
- Use waivers aggressively when a new full-back or centre-back becomes nailed.
Compare all positions in the OneFPL Top 100 Draft rankings.
OneFPL verdict
Gabriel is in his own tier. After him, target defenders with two or more scoring routes rather than chasing clean sheets alone.
FAQ
Who is the best defender in FPL Draft?
Gabriel is No.1 because his clean sheets, set-piece threat and defensive contributions create an elite season-long floor.
Are centre-backs good in FPL Draft?
Yes. Defensive-contribution points have made secure, high-volume centre-backs much more valuable.
Should I draft attacking full-backs early?
Only the ones with secure minutes. A rotating wing-back is much less valuable in Draft than a nailed centre-back with DefCon.
Sources
OneFPL analysis. OneFPL is an independent Fantasy Premier League companion and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to the Premier League or Fantasy Premier League.
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