Best FPL Defenders Under £4.5m: Gameweek 34

The case for Nordi Mukiele in the under-£4.5m defender bracket comes down to three things: a Easy fixture against Nott'm Forest (H) in Gameweek 34, form of 5.0 points per game over the last six gameweeks, and 5.0 expected points from the model. At £4.5m, Nordi Mukiele does not require you to sacrifice depth elsewhere in the squad to the same degree as premium options. Owned by 7.5% of managers, the data makes a clear case at this price point.

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Luke Shaw is the number 2 ranked defender under £4.5m heading into Gameweek 34, with the model projecting 4.2 expected points. At £4.5m, that is one of the stronger expected-points-per-pound returns in this bracket. Form of 3.7 points per game over six gameweeks backs the projection, and a Medium rated fixture against Brentford (H) provides a clear pathway to a return. Owned by 0.8% of managers, Luke Shaw sits in a useful ownership bracket. Not so template that missing a return costs rank, not so obscure that a haul goes unnoticed.

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At £4.5m, Joachim Andersen faces Aston Villa (H) in Gameweek 34, a fixture rated Medium for difficulty. The model projects 3.7 expected points, and form of 3.7 per game over the last six gameweeks suggests consistent involvement rather than a one-week spike. Within the under-£4.5m defender bracket, 3.7 xPts places Joachim Andersen near the top of what this price range currently offers. At 4.8% ownership the rank impact of a return is real but manageable.

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The case for Calvin Bassey in the under-£4.5m defender bracket comes down to three things: a Medium fixture against Aston Villa (H) in Gameweek 34, form of 3.7 points per game over the last six gameweeks, and 3.7 expected points from the model. At £4.4m, Calvin Bassey does not require you to sacrifice depth elsewhere in the squad to the same degree as premium options. Owned by 0.6% of managers, the data makes a clear case at this price point.

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Omar Alderete is the number 5 ranked defender under £4.5m heading into Gameweek 34, with the model projecting 3.3 expected points. At £4.1m, that is one of the stronger expected-points-per-pound returns in this bracket. Form of 3.3 points per game over six gameweeks backs the projection, and a Easy rated fixture against Nott'm Forest (H) provides a clear pathway to a return. Owned by 6.1% of managers, Omar Alderete sits in a useful ownership bracket. Not so template that missing a return costs rank, not so obscure that a haul goes unnoticed.

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At £4.5m, Lucas Digne faces Fulham (A) in Gameweek 34, a fixture rated Medium for difficulty. The model projects 3.0 expected points, and form of 3.0 per game over the last six gameweeks suggests consistent involvement rather than a one-week spike. Within the under-£4.5m defender bracket, 3.0 xPts places Lucas Digne near the top of what this price range currently offers. At 1.6% ownership the rank impact of a return is real but manageable.

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The case for Michael Keane in the under-£4.5m defender bracket comes down to three things: a Easy fixture against West Ham (A) in Gameweek 34, form of 2.7 points per game over the last six gameweeks, and 2.7 expected points from the model. At £4.5m, Michael Keane does not require you to sacrifice depth elsewhere in the squad to the same degree as premium options. Owned by 2.9% of managers, the data makes a clear case at this price point.

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Reinildo is the number 8 ranked defender under £4.5m heading into Gameweek 34, with the model projecting 2.7 expected points. At £3.8m, that is one of the stronger expected-points-per-pound returns in this bracket. Form of 2.7 points per game over six gameweeks backs the projection, and a Easy rated fixture against Nott'm Forest (H) provides a clear pathway to a return. Owned by 2.8% of managers, Reinildo sits in a useful ownership bracket. Not so template that missing a return costs rank, not so obscure that a haul goes unnoticed.

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At £4.4m, Ezri Konsa faces Fulham (A) in Gameweek 34, a fixture rated Medium for difficulty. The model projects 2.3 expected points, and form of 2.3 per game over the last six gameweeks suggests consistent involvement rather than a one-week spike. Within the under-£4.5m defender bracket, 2.3 xPts places Ezri Konsa near the top of what this price range currently offers. At 7.8% ownership the rank impact of a return is real but manageable.

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The case for El Hadji Malick Diouf in the under-£4.5m defender bracket comes down to three things: a Medium fixture against Everton (H) in Gameweek 34, form of 2.3 points per game over the last six gameweeks, and 2.3 expected points from the model. At £4.1m, El Hadji Malick Diouf does not require you to sacrifice depth elsewhere in the squad to the same degree as premium options. Owned by 2.4% of managers, the data makes a clear case at this price point.

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Micky Van de Ven is the number 11 ranked defender under £4.5m heading into Gameweek 34, with the model projecting 1.5 expected points. At £4.4m, that is one of the stronger expected-points-per-pound returns in this bracket. Form of 1.0 points per game over six gameweeks backs the projection, and a Easy rated fixture against Wolves (A) provides a clear pathway to a return. Owned by 18.0% of managers, Micky Van de Ven sits in a useful ownership bracket. Not so template that missing a return costs rank, not so obscure that a haul goes unnoticed.

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At £4.1m, Leny Yoro faces Brentford (H) in Gameweek 34, a fixture rated Medium for difficulty. The model projects 1.4 expected points, and form of 1.3 per game over the last six gameweeks suggests consistent involvement rather than a one-week spike. Within the under-£4.5m defender bracket, 1.4 xPts places Leny Yoro near the top of what this price range currently offers. At 1.3% ownership the rank impact of a return is real but manageable.

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The case for Santiago Bueno in the under-£4.5m defender bracket comes down to three things: a Easy fixture against Spurs (H) in Gameweek 34, form of 1.5 points per game over the last six gameweeks, and 1.0 expected points from the model. At £4.4m, Santiago Bueno does not require you to sacrifice depth elsewhere in the squad to the same degree as premium options. Owned by 0.1% of managers, the data makes a clear case at this price point.

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Chris Richards is the number 14 ranked defender under £4.5m heading into Gameweek 34, with the model projecting 0.5 expected points. At £4.4m, that is one of the stronger expected-points-per-pound returns in this bracket. Form of 1.0 points per game over six gameweeks backs the projection, and a Hard rated fixture against Liverpool (A) provides a clear pathway to a return. Owned by 2.4% of managers, Chris Richards sits in a useful ownership bracket. Not so template that missing a return costs rank, not so obscure that a haul goes unnoticed.

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At £4.4m, Harry Maguire faces Brentford (H) in Gameweek 34, a fixture rated Medium for difficulty. The model projects 0.5 expected points, and form of 0.0 per game over the last six gameweeks suggests consistent involvement rather than a one-week spike. Within the under-£4.5m defender bracket, 0.5 xPts places Harry Maguire near the top of what this price range currently offers. At 1.3% ownership the rank impact of a return is real but manageable.

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The case for Trai Hume in the under-£4.5m defender bracket comes down to three things: a Easy fixture against Nott'm Forest (H) in Gameweek 34, form of 0.3 points per game over the last six gameweeks, and 0.3 expected points from the model. At £4.5m, Trai Hume does not require you to sacrifice depth elsewhere in the squad to the same degree as premium options. Owned by 0.3% of managers, the data makes a clear case at this price point.

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