Top 5 FPL Defenders to Pick for Gameweek 1

In the Fantasy Premier League (FPL), every position has its own importance, and defenders also play a crucial role in the FPL team. While an FPL manager has to select five defenders in the 15-member squad, the playing XI can’t be created without three defenders. So, the defensive values are significant in an FPL team, which takes at least close to 30 per cent of a team's score in a match.

How can FPL Defenders Benefit Managers?

For the FPL managers, the defensive clean sheet has a value of four points, which can’t be ignored. In the 2025/26 season, FPL defenders can also earn two defensive contribution points, where they have to score 10 CBIT (clearances, blocks, interceptions, and tackles) in a game to earn two points. It will surely make the defenders more valuable in the FPL.

It is tough to pick the top FPL defenders for the opening gameweek of a new season, as the defenders are generally picked up by their team's form and their own fitness. To pick top defenders for the FPL 2025/26 Gameweek 1 team, we have to consider the comfortable fixtures and consistent records in the recent past.

Top 5 FPL Defenders to Pick for Gameweek 1

Vitalii Mykolenko (Everton): £5.0m

Everton will start the new Premier League season against the promoted club Leeds United. While The Blues have a comfortable away fixture in the opening gameweek, Ukrainian left-back Vitaliy Mykolenko can be a popular FPL choice.

In the last two seasons, Vitalii produced 101 and 121 FPL points, respectively. While he was a consistent performer on the field in recent times, he also scored three goals and four assists in the last two seasons. If Everton manage to start the new PL season with a clean sheet, Vitalii can play a major role, and the FPL managers can benefit from it.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka (West Ham United): £4.5m

West Ham United also have a strong fixture in their opening gameweek of the Premier League 2025/26, as they will face the hosts Sunderland, the promoted club. Hammers’ DR Congo right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka returned to his popular form last season, when he scored 118 FPL points.

However, West Ham player Wan-Bissaka has much better records in the past, when he recorded 120, 127, and 144 FPL points for the 2018/19, 2019/20, and 2020/21 seasons while serving for Crystal Palace and Manchester United. Last season, he got regular matches for the Hammers, which he had missed the previous three seasons, and became one of the favorite FPL players under the budget choices.

Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool): £6.0m

Liverpool will defend the Premier League title, while the captain Virgil van Dijk has a big responsibility as a centre-back. He is one of the top FPL defenders who are popular, and managers can’t ignore him throughout the season. The Dutch centre-back is very much expected to be available for the opening gameweek after recovering from the illness, while they will host Bournemouth in the first game of the season.

Apart from the 2020/21 season, when he missed most of the season due to an ACL injury and surgery, Virgil scored more than 115 FPL points in six out of the last seven seasons. While he scored 208 and 178 FPL points in the 2018/19 and 2019/20 seasons, respectively, he also produced 183 and 143 FPL points in the 2021/22 and 2024/25 seasons, respectively. So, there is no doubt why he has been named among the best FPL defenders.

Nikola Milenković (Nottingham Forest): £5.5m

While Nottingham Forest shone last season, Serbian centre-back Nikola Milenković was one of the key factors. He is now known as one of the best defenders for FPL, as he scored 145 FPL points last season and finished as the second-highest scorer among the FPL defenders. Apart from his incredible defensive quality, he also recorded five goals and two assists last PL season. His last season's defensive contributions were 310, the sixth most among the defenders.

Forest will host Brentford in their opening gameweek of the new season. Once again, Forest defense will have to play important roles, while the Serbian centre-back can’t be ignored in the FPL.

William Saliba (Arsenal): £6.0m

Arsenal’s French centre-back William Saliba is another example of the best FPL defenders. In the last three seasons, he managed 117, 164, and 130 FPL points, respectively. In those three PL seasons, he scored two goals each, while also recording one assist each of the remaining two seasons before the assist-less last season.

Arsenal have a tougher challenge in the opening gameweek of the Premier League 2025/26, as they will face the hosts Manchester United. While Saliba is going to be crucial for the Gunners in their season opener, their next fixture is a comfortable one against the promoted side Leeds United. Saliba is one of the full-season choices among the best defenders for FPL, and he can surely stay for the first two gameweeks of the new FPL season.