Question 1

Who has the stronger DEFCON rate: Pinnock or Richards?

Accepted Answer

Barely anything in it. Pinnock averages 11.92 defensive contribution actions per 90 and Richards averages 11.67 - a gap of 0.25 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 Pinnock and Richards compare?

Accepted Answer

Pinnock has logged 85 combined clearances, blocks, interceptions and tackles across 642 minutes (11.9 per 90). Richards has logged 105 across 810 minutes (11.7 per 90). Pinnock earned the +2pt DEFCON bonus in 5 of 8 appearances this season; Richards earned the +2pt DEFCON bonus in 7 of 9 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 10 fixture change the DEFCON case?

Accepted Answer

Pinnock is away at Everton (FDR 3) and Richards is at home to Liverpool (FDR 4) in Gameweek 10. 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 defender should I pick for Gameweek 10 on DEFCON grounds?

Accepted Answer

The DEFCON workloads are too close to call. Both Pinnock and Richards 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.

Ethan Pinnock vs Chris Richards DEFCON: Fantasy Premier League Gameweek 10

Ethan Pinnock vs Chris Richards: DEFCON Analysis

Pinnock vs Richards Gameweek 10

Pinnock has the better DEFCON rate and is £0.4m cheaper - is it a no-brainer for your squad?