The English Premier League is headed into an international break, and with three match days complete, fantasy sports fans are crunching the statistics for the next set of fixtures.
Here are the 5 defenders that you should look out for and get in your next fantasy Premier League team.
Danny Rose – Tottenham Hotspur
Danny Rose is eighth in tackles per game in the Premier League this season, and is one of only two defenders in the top 10. Rose is averaging 4.7 tackles after three matches. Add in his two interceptions and 4.7 clearances per match, and his selection in defence is a no-brainer. Rose will also pop up with a goal and assist every once in a while as well. In Tottenham’s last match against Liverpool, Rose tallied the leveller in the teams’ 1-1 draw. He is excellent at going forward, too. Expect him to get plenty of crosses in for Harry Kane to convert.
Curtis Davies – Hull City
Hull City’s central stopper has averaged seven interceptions per match this season. Although he only accounts for 1.3 tackles, he has tallied 11.7 clearances per game. Hull play Burnley in their next fixture, so expect a strong performance from Davies and the Tigers.
Scott Dann – Crystal Palace
Scott Dann may not weigh in with the tackles that others on this list due, 0.7 per match, but he does do well in other areas. Dann’s five interceptions per game make him a steal for most fantasy football managers. He has already popped up with a goal this Premier League season and is always a threat on set pieces. Dann is a sleeper pick for the next fantasy Premier League match day.
James Collins – West Ham
James Collins may also be a sneaky signing for any fantasy sports manager. Collins isn’t one of the top defensive names in the Premier League, but really, are any of the names on this list this week? Collins is averaging two tackles and 4.3 interceptions per game. Like the other defenders on the list, Collins will add a goal from a set piece, and is a good choice for the starting XI in your fantasy football team.
Nicolas Otamendi – Manchester City
Nicolas Otamendi has only appeared in two of City’s three fixtures this season, but is on the rise as a top defender in the Premier League in terms of stats. Otamendi may cost a bit of cash in fantasy football leagues, but he is well worth it for the team’s next fixture. In two matches, the City defender is averaging four tackles, two interceptions and seven clearances per game. He may be worth the cost to improve a fantasy football team, but buyer beware, cheaper players can be found with similar stats right now.
Bonus: Top goalkeeper
Tom Heaton – Burnley
For any fantasy manager looking for a goalkeeper, Burnley’s Tom Heaton is the way to go. The shot stopper has accumulated the most saves in the Premier League this term with 18. The Burnley goalkeeper averages six saves per match and 3.3 saves within the penalty area. Ten of his 18 saves have come from inside the 18-yard box, which means his reaction time has been brilliant when attackers have got in on goal. Heaton shouldn’t be overlooked for your next fantasy football team.
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