Top 3 picks
1. Guéhi tops this list on pure value and still looks like the safest all-round buy. At £5.1m, he has delivered 162 points, the best total of this group, with a strong 6.8 form and huge backing at 32.7% selected. The route to points is well balanced too, 3 goals, 5 assists, 12 clean sheets and 13 bonus. That mix matters for points per million because he is not reliant on just clean sheets. You are buying reliability, attacking threat and bonus potential in one slot.
2. Truffert is the standout budget-friendly value play. For just £4.7m, he has returned 146 points, with 1 goal, 4 assists, 10 clean sheets and an excellent 15 bonus. The key detail is that his 6.0 form is still healthy, while ownership sits at only 4.6%. That makes him one of the best combinations of value and differential upside in the defender pool. If you want strong points per million without paying into heavy ownership, Truffert is difficult to ignore.
3. Senesi narrowly edges the rest of the chasing pack because his production is so stable. He costs £5.2m and has posted 161 points, almost matching Guéhi, from 6 assists, 10 clean sheets and 14 bonus. The lack of goals is the only reason he sits below the top two, but assist volume from defence is valuable, and his 21.2% selection shows managers have noticed. With a 6.0 form, he remains one of the strongest mid-price defender picks by value.
Honourable mentions
- Van Hecke, £4.6m, 139 points. Strong value with 3 goals, 3 assists, 9 clean sheets, but his 4.8 form is a touch below the top tier.
- Mukiele, £4.6m, 139 points. Very appealing profile with 3 goals, 5 assists, 8 clean sheets and 11 bonus. His 6.0 form makes him one of the more interesting alternatives.
- O’Reilly, £5.2m, 153 points. The explosive option, 5 goals, 4 assists, 13 clean sheets and a class-leading 7.0 form. Slightly pricier, but the ceiling is obvious.
- Lacroix, £5.2m, 148 points. Solid rather than spectacular, with 11 clean sheets and 11 bonus. A dependable value pick, but less attacking than others nearby.
Watch list
- Alderete, £4.1m, 116 points. The cheapest name in the top 10, and that alone keeps him relevant. 9 clean sheets at this price is useful, although 3.2 form is a warning sign.
- Richards, £4.4m, 124 points. Good season-long value thanks to 11 clean sheets, but the current 2.5 form makes him more of a bench enabler than a starter.
- Andersen, £4.5m, 125 points. Steady output, 8 clean sheets and 8 bonus, with a respectable 5.2 form. Not exciting, but still viable in rotation.
Among emerging names, the profile to chase is clear, defenders priced under £4.8m who combine clean-sheet base with either assists or bonus. That is why Truffert and Mukiele stand out so strongly even beyond their raw rank.
Verdict
Guéhi is the best in class for points per million because he pairs the highest total, 162 points, with a still-manageable £5.1m price and elite all-round output. If you want the best cheaper alternative, Truffert is the value specialist at £4.7m and 146 points. For managers chasing upside, O’Reilly is the premium-value swing with the best recent form at 7.0. The safest recommendation is Guéhi, the smartest budget play is Truffert.