Question 1

Who has the stronger DEFCON rate: Bentancur or Palacios?

Accepted Answer

Barely anything in it. Bentancur averages 14.59 defensive contribution actions per 90 and Palacios averages 14.40 - a gap of 0.19 that is inside the natural noise of any per-90 metric. On the workload alone this is a coin toss and the decision should rest on fixture, price and attacking output rather than DEFCON.

Question 2

How do the raw defensive workloads of Bentancur and Palacios compare?

Accepted Answer

Bentancur has logged 37 combined clearances, blocks, interceptions and tackles across 370 minutes (9.0 per 90). Palacios has logged 21 across 275 minutes (6.9 per 90). Bentancur earned the +2pt DEFCON bonus in 2 of 5 appearances this season; Palacios earned the +2pt DEFCON bonus in 2 of 4 appearances this season. Higher raw counts reflect a higher defensive workload; higher per-90 rates reflect efficiency at sustaining that workload.

Question 3

Does the Gameweek 6 fixture change the DEFCON case?

Accepted Answer

Bentancur is away at Man Utd (FDR 4) and Palacios is at home to Fulham (FDR 2) in Gameweek 6. DEFCON output is action-based rather than result-based, so a tough fixture does not shrink the base rate the way it might reduce a clean sheet probability. That said, both players are more likely to see defensive volume in tougher matches - the DEFCON case can actually be marginally stronger against stronger opposition.

Question 4

Which midfielder should I pick for Gameweek 6 on DEFCON grounds?

Accepted Answer

The DEFCON workloads are too close to call. Both Bentancur and Palacios deliver similar defensive contribution rates, so the pick should come down to price, fixtures and attacking output rather than DEFCON. On the defensive contributions alone this is a genuine coin toss.

Rodrigo Bentancur vs Exequiel Palacios DEFCON: Fantasy Premier League Gameweek 6

Rodrigo Bentancur vs Exequiel Palacios: DEFCON Analysis

Bentancur vs Palacios Gameweek 6

Bentancur has the DEFCON edge but costs £0.5m more than Palacios. Where should the money go?