Fantasy Premier League's New Rule: Players Who Could Score Big With Defensive Contributions

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For two years between 2015 and 2017, N'Golo Kanté represented one of the Premier League's most transformative players. An indispensable cog in Leicester City's remarkable 2015-16 title-winning campaign and Chelsea's triumph under Antonio Conte the following season, the diminutive Frenchman won consecutive league titles, earned PFA Team of the Year honors twice, and claimed Premier League Player of the Season for 2016-17.

Yet for Fantasy Premier League managers, Kanté was essentially invisible. With just one goal and four assists across those two dominant seasons, he offered minimal fantasy value despite being arguably the league's most influential player. The 2025-26 FPL season will change that paradigm forever.

Revolutionary Rule Changes Transform FPL Strategy

Fantasy Premier League has introduced groundbreaking defensive contribution points that will fundamentally alter squad-building strategies. Outfield players will now earn direct rewards for their defensive work, creating value where none previously existed.

The new system operates on position-specific thresholds. Defenders earn two FPL points for reaching a combined total of 10 clearances, blocks, interceptions, and tackles (CBIT) in a single match. Midfielders and forwards face a higher threshold of 12 defensive contributions, but their total includes recoveries, creating the CBIRT metric (clearances, blocks, interceptions, recoveries, and tackles).

This represents the most significant scoring reform in FPL history, potentially elevating previously overlooked players into premium fantasy assets.

Analyzing Last Season's Data: Hidden Gems Revealed

Examining 2024-25 data reveals which players would have benefited most from these rule changes. The defensive contribution system strongly favors center-backs, with every top-10 performer in CBIT frequency playing central defense.

James Tarkowski emerges as the standout beneficiary. The ever-present Everton defender hit the 10+ threshold in 22 games, which would have earned him 44 additional FPL points. This bonus would have catapulted him from joint 26th to eighth among defenders for overall points, demonstrating the rule's transformative potential.

Fellow Everton defender Jarrod Branthwaite also features prominently, reaching the threshold in 16 games. This consistency pattern rewards regular starters who naturally accumulate more defensive actions through sustained playing time.

When analyzing hit rates relative to starts, Dean Huijsen (now at Real Madrid) led with an impressive 73.1% success rate. His replacement in Bournemouth's defense could represent exceptional value for astute FPL managers.

Ethan Pinnock presents an intriguing opportunity at Brentford, priced £0.5 million lower than Nathan Collins despite achieving a superior hit rate. The presence of multiple players from relegated teams Leicester, Ipswich, and Southampton suggests similar value opportunities exist among promoted sides.

Midfield Revolution: Defensive Players Gain Prominence

The midfield landscape shows equally dramatic shifts. The top 10 beneficiaries from defensive contribution points are exclusively defensive midfielders, with Chelsea's Moisés Caicedo leading the charge.

Caicedo hit the 12+ CBIRT threshold in 21 games, equivalent to 42 additional points. His combination of secure minutes and third-best hit rate (55.3%) makes him an compelling option for 2025-26.

Manchester United's Casemiro topped the hit rate rankings at 66.7%, while Mats Wieffer (60.0%) and Rodrigo Bentancur (52.4%) offer potential value plays. Bournemouth's Ryan Christie and Tyler Adams emerge as budget-friendly options in the £5.0m midfield bracket.

Notably, you must scroll to 13th place before finding a non-defensive midfielder among the top performers – Bruno Fernandes with 22 potential bonus points.

Team-Based Strategy: Targeting Defensive Contribution Hotspots

Team analysis reveals clear targeting strategies for maximizing defensive contribution points. Everton led all clubs with 57 instances of defenders hitting the CBIT threshold, followed by Nottingham Forest (50), Crystal Palace, and Fulham (both 48).

Conversely, Manchester City, Aston Villa, Arsenal, and Chelsea defenders were least likely to accumulate defensive contribution points, reflecting their possession-heavy playing styles.

For midfielders and forwards, Bournemouth (46), Brentford (44), and Wolves topped the charts, with Everton and Nottingham Forest again featuring prominently (38 each).

The Possession Connection: Understanding the Mechanics

The correlation between defensive contributions and possession statistics reveals the underlying mechanics. Teams with lower possession naturally provide more opportunities for players to accumulate clearances, interceptions, blocks, recoveries, and tackles.

This relationship particularly affects defenders, where the connection between limited possession and defensive contribution opportunities proves strongest. Smart FPL managers will target players from teams that frequently defend rather than dominate possession.

Strategic Implications for Squad Building

These rule changes will fundamentally alter FPL squad construction. Defensive midfielders and center-backs transition from afterthoughts to premium assets, while attacking full-backs and wide forwards face increased competition for roster spots.

The Kanté example perfectly illustrates this transformation. Across 2015-16 and 2016-17, he led the league in tackles (302) and interceptions (238), hitting the required 12 CBIRT threshold in 60 different matches. Under the new system, this would have generated 120 FPL points alone – more than any other player during that period.

Looking Ahead: The New FPL Landscape

The 2025-26 season promises to reward comprehensive football knowledge beyond traditional attacking metrics. Players who excel in the unglamorous defensive work will finally receive recognition in fantasy football's most popular format.

Successful FPL managers must now evaluate defensive work rates, team playing styles, and possession statistics alongside traditional attacking metrics. The days of ignoring defensive specialists are officially over.

While you cannot select prime Kanté for 2025-26, players with similar profiles will finally matter in Fantasy Premier League. The revolution in FPL scoring creates opportunities for those willing to embrace defensive contributions as a legitimate path to fantasy success.

Thanks to Stats Perform for providing statistical data and photography.

More information:24live.com

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