Fantasy Premier League have announced the first major change to the game ahead of next season, introducing points for defensive contributions.
The alteration will give defenders and defensive midfielders the opportunity to earn more points than ever before, based on their defensive actions.
Typically, most players in the backline are overlooked unless they provide some sort of attacking threat, like Trent Alexander-Arnold, while defensive midfielders are ignored almost entirely. Rodri may be a Ballon d’Or winner, but he’s seldom a pick in FPL.
Aside from clean sheets or bonus system points, it has felt for a long time like the work these players do on the other side of the ball has gone unrewarded. Now, they have the opportunity to rack up more points, making them more enticing picks and potentially changing our team-building strategies ahead of Gameweek 1.
So how will it work?
Brand new for the 2025/26 season 🤩
Introducing defensive contribution points 🛡️#FPL pic.twitter.com/LAseSwN2DO
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) July 18, 2025
Fantasy Premier League: How defensive contributions will work?
From this season onwards, any defender who successfully completes a combined total of 10 clearances, blocks, interceptions and tackles (CBIT) in a single match will score two points in FPL.
These defensive contributions will be capped at two points per match, however. Meaning a defender can only attain two points even if they have 20 CBITs, although the more they have the more likely it is they could gain bonus points.
James tarkowski would have been the biggest beneficiary had this change been implemented last season, gaining an extra 44 points over the course of the campaign. That’s a massive boost, and it will make defenders on so-called lesser teams more attractive as FPL assets.
Midfielders and forwards can also benefit from these changes, and will even get extra rewards from their defensive efforts if it leads to a counter-attack.
In addition to their clearances, blocks, interceptions and tackles, their “ball recoveries” will also count towards their total of defensive contributions (CBIRT).
These players, though, will need to provide more defensive contributions to get their two points in FPL. Whereas defenders only need 10 contributions, midfielders and forwards need to get 12.
Moises Caicedo would have gained the most points in this bracket of players, adding 42 points to last season’s total. The Chelsea midfielder was considered the club’s best performer for much of last season, so it’s great to see a footballer like him get some deserved rewards in Fantasy Premier League.
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