<p>Fantasy Premier League (FPL) introduced a major rules change for 2025/26, awarding extra points for <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fpl-2025-26-changes-defensive-contributions">defensive contributions</a>.</p>
<p>Centre-backs and defensive midfielders often benefit most from this new addition, widening the selection of players for FPL managers to choose from.</p>
<p><strong>James Tarkowski</strong>, <strong>Moises Caicedo </strong>and <strong>Elliot Anderson</strong> would have been among the biggest beneficiaries last season &#8211; but who is leading the way so far this time?</p>
<p>Here, we list the highest scoring assets for defensive contributions so far and take note of significant players and trends. This article will be updated weekly throughout this season.</p>
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<p><em><strong>Last updated: 23/03/26</strong></em></p>
<h2>What are the rules on points for defensive contributions?</h2>
<p>Defenders must register at least 10 clearances, blocks, interceptions and tackles in a single game to earn their two extra points.</p>
<p>All other outfield players must reach 12 &#8211; but ball recoveries are counted on top.</p>
<h2>Who scored defensive contribution points in Blank Gameweek 31?</h2>
<p>Blank Gameweek 31 produced a predictably slower week for defensive contributions, with 30 players hitting the required target &#8211; compared with 49 the gameweek prior.</p>
<p><strong>Joachim Andersen</strong> rewarded those who backed him against Burnley with a 4-pointer, while <strong>Virgil van Dijk </strong>was also a defensive points recipient despite Liverpool&#8217;s defeat at Brighton.</p>
<p>In midfield, there were no attacking returns for <strong>Dominik Szoboszlai </strong>who was targeted by many in the absence of regular penalty taker <strong>Mohamed Salah &#8211; </strong>but there were at least defensive contribution points to be had for the Hungarian.</p>
<p><strong>Elliot Anderson</strong> meanwhile rejoined <strong>Marcos Senesi </strong>at the top of the leaderboard, with the Bournemouth man failing to meet the threshold in the 2-2 draw with Manchester United.</p>
<p>There was also a rare foray into defensive returns for <strong>Igor Thiago </strong>against Leeds, with the Brentford man the only forward to receive defensive contribution points in Gameweek 31.</p>
<div id="attachment_75845" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-75845" class="size-full wp-image-75845" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/GettyImages-2243379134.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="699" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/GettyImages-2243379134.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/GettyImages-2243379134-300x205.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/GettyImages-2243379134-768x524.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-75845" class="wp-caption-text">Igor Thiago. Picture by Getty Images</p></div>
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<h2>Which FPL players have earned the most defensive contribution points?</h2>
<p>Here are the leading players for total defensive contribution points so far. See our <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/opta">Opta stats</a> page for the full list.</p>
<h3>44 points</h3>
<ul>
<li>Marcos Senesi (MID)</li>
<li>Elliot Anderson (MID)</li>
</ul>
<h3>42 points</h3>
<ul>
<li>Marcos Senesi (DEF)</li>
</ul>
<h3>36 points</h3>
<ul>
<li>James Tarkowski (DEF)</li>
<li>Joachim Andersen (DEF)</li>
</ul>
<h3>32 points</h3>
<ul>
<li>Maxence Lacroix (DEF)</li>
<li>James Garner (MID)</li>
</ul>
<div id="attachment_76898" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-76898" class="size-full wp-image-76898" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/GettyImages-2245984679.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/GettyImages-2245984679.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/GettyImages-2245984679-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/GettyImages-2245984679-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-76898" class="wp-caption-text">Maxence Lacroix. Picture by Images</p></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>30 points</h3>
<ul>
<li>Ethan Ampadu (MID)</li>
</ul>
<h3>28 points</h3>
<ul>
<li>Trevoh Chalobah (DEF)</li>
<li>Maxime Esteve (DEF)</li>
<li>Konstantinos Mavropanos (DEF)</li>
<li>Daniel Ballard (DEF)</li>
</ul>
<h3>26 points</h3>
<ul>
<li>Chris Richards (DEF)</li>
<li>Andre (MID)</li>
<li>Joao Gomes (MID)</li>
<li>Michael Keane (DEF)</li>
<li>Virgil van Dijk (DEF)</li>
</ul>
<h3>24 points</h3>
<ul>
<li>Alex Scott (MID)</li>
<li>Moises Caicedo (MID)</li>
<li>Nathan Collins (DEF)</li>
<li>Declan Rice (MID)</li>
<li>Adrien Truffert (DEF)</li>
<li>Pascal Struijk (DEF)</li>
</ul>
<h3>22 points</h3>
<ul>
<li>Malick Thiaw (DEF)</li>
<li>Nordi Mukiele (DEF)</li>
<li>Casemiro (MID)</li>
<li>Jan Paul van Hecke (DEF)</li>
<li>Nikola Milenkovic (DEF)</li>
<li>Ibrahima Konate (DEF)</li>
<li>Matheus Fernandes (MID)</li>
</ul>
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<div id="attachment_74174" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-74174" class="size-full wp-image-74174" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/GettyImages-2229445929.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/GettyImages-2229445929.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/GettyImages-2229445929-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/GettyImages-2229445929-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-74174" class="wp-caption-text">Virgil van Dijk. Picture by Getty Images</p></div>
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FPL defensive contributions tracker: Who picked up points in Blank Gameweek 31?

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