Fantasy Premier League 2013 Week 8: Defenders That Will Score Big Points

Admit it. The captain, and most likely the vice captain, in your fantasy team is either a forward or a midfielder.

We all go with the headline-grabbers when picking our skippers, but the stats suggest we should be doing things a little differently, with four defenders and two goalkeepers currently ranked among the top 10 highest Fantasy Premier League point scorers.

Dotted around the obvious standout stars like Daniel Sturridge, Yaya Toure and Aaron Ramsey are the likes of Southampton defenders Jose Fonte and Dejan Lovren, John Terry and Artur Boruc.

Your defense may not rack up massive points week in and week out, but when they do go beyond their job description and contribute in the attacking half of the field the rewards are plentiful.

Here’s a look at the defenders who will likely score big this weekend.

 

Leighton Baines

The Everton left-back is a regular fixture in a large portion of people’s teams—28.1 percent of them to be exact.

His ability from dead-ball situations is just the beginning of it. Two goals from free kicks against West Ham in Gameweek 5 handed him 16 points, which brought him to 42 points after an impressive five-game stretch.

He showed again in midweek for England what he can do in the final third of the pitch, a pinpoint cross picking out Wayne Rooney, who nodded home.

His attacking threat can sometimes overshadow the work he does on the other side of the ball. The athletic full-back rarely gets left stranded and can stay with the speediest of wingers.

Baines has struggled, numbers wise anyway, in his last two outings against Manchester City and Newcastle, but expect the Merseyside native to come good at home to Hull this weekend.

 

John Terry

The Chelsea captain scored his first goal of the season in his side’s 1-1 draw with Tottenham, and with 45 points he is the third-highest-ranked defender this season.

Terry has scored 33 Premier League goals for his club, a hefty return for a centre-back, and he tends to thrive in this area under Jose Mourinho. The Portuguese manager is known to spend endless hours on set pieces, and Terry is often a direct beneficiary such is his ability to win headers.

Chelsea host Cardiff City this weekend. The Welsh outfit have scored seven in seven matches, and they shouldn’t pose too much trouble for Terry and his fellow defenders.

If the Englishman can keep a clean sheet, as expected, and nick one at the other end then he will get some points on the board again this weekend.

 

Patrice Evra

While question marks remain over Evra, there is no denying his ability with the ball at his feet. He offers Manchester United another dimension going forward, and with the wingers in front of him inconsistent, the Frenchman has the chance to make an impact out wide.

For too many seasons Evra went unchallenged at left back, and after David Moyes’ efforts to tempt Baines from Everton the 32-year-old will be looking to prove a point to his new manager.

After the defeat to West Bromwich Albion, in which Alexander Buttner looked ropey at best, Manchester United fans will have noted the important role Evra still plays at the club.

Evra has 26 points on the board this season, and United fans will be hoping he can kickstart a revival of sorts, starting this weekend against Southampton.. He has the experience and the talent to do so. 

  

Seamus Coleman

The two highest-scoring defenders this season have been the Southampton pair of Fonte and Lovren, while West Ham’s Winston Reid has also impressed. But with the Saints and Hammers facing Manchester United and Manchester City respectively, Coleman has pipped in ahead of them this week.

While Baines grabs the headlines on the left-hand side of the pitch, Coleman has been no slouch on the right. Jeff Stelling and Co on Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday singled out the Irishman for praise ahead of Everton’s last match after his impressive start to the season.

Coleman is ranked the seventh-best defender in Fantasy Premier League this year, and you get the sense his best is still to come.

The 25-year-old will be up against countryman Robbie Brady—if he returns to full fitness in time—this weekend. Coleman will know Brady’s game from spending time with him in the Irish setup, and if he can get the ball at his feet then he has the potential to accumulate some numbers.