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<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 if the rule had been in place for 2024/25 &#8211; but who led the way in 2025/26?</p>
<p>With the season done and dusted, we list the highest scoring assets for defensive contributions and take note of significant players and trends.</p>
</p>
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<p><em><strong>Last updated: 27/05/26</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>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Who scored defensive contribution points in Gameweek 38?</h2>
<p>A total of 35 players earned defensive contribution points in Gameweek 38 &#8211; 18 defenders and 16 midfielders.</p>
<p>In defence, popular assets to pick up extra points in the final gameweek included <strong>Pedro Porro</strong>, <strong>James Tarkowski </strong>and <strong>James Hill</strong>.</p>
<p>Spurs hero <strong>Palhinha </strong>hit the mark after scoring the crucial winner for his side, while elsewhere in midfield we saw more points for regular returner <strong>James Garner &#8211; </strong>only <strong>Elliot Anderson </strong>has more defensive contribution points among all midfielders this season.</p>
<div id="attachment_79606" style="width: 850px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-79606" class="size-full wp-image-79606" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/headtohead-Garner-vs-Anderson-bordered.jpeg" alt="" width="840" height="690" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/headtohead-Garner-vs-Anderson-bordered.jpeg 840w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/headtohead-Garner-vs-Anderson-bordered-300x246.jpeg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/headtohead-Garner-vs-Anderson-bordered-768x631.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px" /><p id="caption-attachment-79606" class="wp-caption-text">James Garner v Elliot Anderson, <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/opta/" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c="1" title="FPL Stats by OPTA - Player and Team Stats">stats</a> this season</p></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Which FPL players earned the most defensive contribution points in 2025/26?</h2>
<p>Below are the final standings for total defensive contribution points this season.</p>
<p>Anderson and Senesi finished level with a whopping 52 points each &#8211; equal to picking up 17 assists in FPL terms.</p>
<p>See our <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/opta">Opta stats</a> page for the full list.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>52 points</h3>
<ul>
<li>Elliot Anderson (MID)</li>
<li>Marcos Senesi (DEF)</li>
</ul>
<h3>44 points</h3>
<ul>
<li>James Tarkowski (DEF)</li>
</ul>
<h3>42 points</h3>
<ul>
<li>Maxence Lacroix (DEF)</li>
</ul>
<h3>40 points</h3>
<ul>
<li>Joachim Andersen (DEF)</li>
<li>James Garner (MID)</li>
</ul>
<div id="attachment_78197" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-78197" class="size-full wp-image-78197" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/GettyImages-2264813824.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/GettyImages-2264813824.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/GettyImages-2264813824-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/GettyImages-2264813824-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-78197" class="wp-caption-text">Elliot Anderson. Picture by Getty Images</p></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>38 points</h3>
<ul>
<li>Maxime Esteve (DEF)</li>
<li>Ethan Ampadu (MID)</li>
</ul>
<h3>36 points</h3>
<ul>
<li>Konstantinos Mavropanos (DEF)</li>
</ul>
<h3>34 points</h3>
<ul>
<li>Andre (MID)</li>
</ul>
<h3>32 points</h3>
<ul>
<li>Virgil van Dijk (DEF)</li>
<li>Alex Scott (MID)</li>
<li>Nathan Collins (DEF)</li>
</ul>
<div class="mceTemp"></div>
<div id="attachment_74755" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-74755" class="size-full wp-image-74755" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/GettyImages-2234890737.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/GettyImages-2234890737.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/GettyImages-2234890737-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/GettyImages-2234890737-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-74755" class="wp-caption-text">Virgil van Dijk. Picture by Getty Images</p></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>30 points</h3>
<ul>
<li>James Hill (DEF)</li>
<li>Michael Keane (DEF)</li>
<li>Chris Richards (DEF)</li>
<li>Joao Gomes (MID)</li>
<li>Mateus Fernandes (MID)</li>
</ul>
<h3>28 points</h3>
<ul>
<li>Declan Rice (MID)</li>
<li>Casemiro (MID)</li>
<li>Trevoh Chalobah (DEF)</li>
<li>Daniel Ballard (DEF)</li>
<li>Florentino (MID)</li>
</ul>
<div id="attachment_75673" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-75673" class="size-full wp-image-75673" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/GettyImages-2244471743.jpg" alt="Declan Rice" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/GettyImages-2244471743.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/GettyImages-2244471743-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/GettyImages-2244471743-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-75673" class="wp-caption-text">Declan Rice. Picture by Getty Images</p></div>
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Who earned the most defensive contribution points in FPL 2025/26?

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