Profile
Maxence Lacroix has become a reliable FPL defender in the Crystal Palace back line. Listed at £5.2m, after starting the season at £5.0m, he sits in the mid-price defender bracket and offers a blend of security, minutes and steady return potential. His status is a, so he is available, and his role looks stable judging by the 2845 minutes already logged.
For FPL managers, that minute load matters. Palace defenders who stay on the pitch tend to collect clean sheet points, baseline bonus involvement and the occasional attacking return. Lacroix is not a high-volume attacking defender, but he is clearly trusted, and that trust has translated into a useful fantasy season.
This-season output
Lacroix has produced 148 total points, which is an impressive return for a defender at this price point. His 4.6 points per game shows he has not been a one-week wonder either, and his 5.0 form across the last five gameweeks suggests he is still ticking along at a usable level.
The output profile is built first on defensive returns. He has delivered 11 clean sheets, which is the foundation of his value. On top of that, he has chipped in with 1 goal and 2 assists, enough to add occasional upside without making attacking returns the core selling point.
Where Lacroix has helped managers is in the supplementary scoring. He has collected 11 bonus points, backed by a healthy 504 BPS. That tells you he can stay competitive in the bonus system when Palace keep things tight. His 113.5 ICT Index is respectable rather than explosive, which fits the eye test. He is more steady than spectacular, but steady defenders with strong minutes can be valuable in the run-in.
Ownership and price journey
Lacroix is selected by 7.6% of managers, so he is not a true differential, but he is far from overowned. That puts him in a useful middle ground. Buying him does not mean chasing an ultra-niche punt, but it still gives some room to gain rank if Palace deliver.
The market movement this gameweek is especially notable. He has seen +199,996 transfers in against just -9,332 transfers out. That is a huge positive swing and shows managers are actively targeting him. The price rise from £5.0m to £5.2m, a +0.2m move, reflects that demand.
When a defender gets that level of transfer attention late in the season, it usually comes down to three things, availability, secure starts and a belief that points can still come quickly. Lacroix checks all three boxes, even if he is not the most explosive defender in the pool.
Upcoming outlook
The fixture list is mixed on paper. In GW36, Palace travel away to MCI, yet Lacroix is still projected at 7.40 xP. That is the standout number in his short-term outlook and suggests the model still rates his all-round route to points, even in a difficult match. In GW37, Palace are away to BRE with 3.79 xP, and in GW38 they are at home to ARS with 3.35 xP.
Those final two fixtures are less exciting, so this is not a classic buy for a perfect schedule. It is more a buy based on role, consistency and confidence in his minutes. As for captaincy, the answer is straightforward. Lacroix should not be in serious captaincy plans despite the strong 7.40 xP in GW36. Defenders need a very specific fixture profile to become viable armband options, and away matches at Manchester City, Brentford and a home game versus Arsenal do not qualify.
Verdict
Watch to own. Lacroix is a sensible pick for managers who want a dependable defender with 148 points, 11 clean sheets and excellent minutes at 2845. The ownership at 7.6% is manageable, and the transfer trend of +199,996 in shows he has momentum in the market. The concern is fixture quality, because away trips to City and Brentford followed by Arsenal at home do cap expectations.
If you need a defender for safe starts and decent baseline output, he is viable. If you are chasing explosive upside, he is more of a fade than a priority. Do not captain him, but do consider him as a disciplined squad pick who can keep delivering solid FPL value.