<p><a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fpl-2025-26-changes-defensive-contributions/">Defensive contribution points</a> &#8211; otherwise known as DefCon &#8211; are a new introduction to FPL in 2025/26.</p>
<p>Here, we list the highest scoring assets for defensive contributions so far, and take note of significant players. This article will be updated regularly throughout this season.</p>
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<p><em><strong>Last updated: 20/08/25</strong></em></p>
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<h2>What are the rules on points for defensive contributions?</h2>
<p>Check out our full article on points for defensive contributions <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fpl-2025-26-changes-defensive-contributions/">here</a>.</p>
<p>In summary, defenders and midfielders in FPL can now gain additional points through their defensive actions, such as tackles and clearances &#8211; read on to see which players have picked up defensive contribution points so far.</p>
<div id="attachment_73334" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-73334" class="size-full wp-image-73334" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Tarkowski.jpg" alt="James Tarkowski. Picture by Getty Images" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Tarkowski.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Tarkowski-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Tarkowski-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-73334" class="wp-caption-text">James Tarkowski. Picture by Getty Images</p></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Who&#8217;s leading the way for defensive contributions?</h2>
<h3>2 points</h3>
<h3>Defenders</h3>
<ul>
<li>Ola Aina</li>
<li>Rayan Aït-Nouri</li>
<li>Daniel Ballard</li>
<li>Dan Burn</li>
<li>Matty Cash</li>
<li>Matthijs de Ligt</li>
<li>Maxence Lacroix</li>
<li>Tyrick Mitchell</li>
<li>William Saliba</li>
<li>Fabian Schär</li>
<li>Marcos Senesi</li>
<li>James Tarkowski</li>
<li>Sepp van den Berg</li>
<li>Virgil van Dijk</li>
<li>Leny Yoro</li>
</ul>
<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>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Midfielders</h3>
<ul>
<li>Tyler Adams</li>
<li>Moisés Caicedo</li>
<li>Josh Cullen</li>
<li>Martin Ødegaard</li>
<li>Amadou Onana</li>
<li>Anton Stach</li>
<li>Marcus Tavernier</li>
<li>André Trindade</li>
<li>Mats Wieffer</li>
<li>Martin Zubimendi</li>
</ul>
<div id="attachment_74176" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-74176" class="size-full wp-image-74176" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/GettyImages-2230790410.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/GettyImages-2230790410.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/GettyImages-2230790410-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/GettyImages-2230790410-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-74176" class="wp-caption-text">Martin Odegaard. Picture by Getty Images</p></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Who should we keep an eye on?</h2>
<p>Big name players at centre-back such as <strong>Virgil van Dijk</strong>,<strong> William Saliba </strong>and<strong> James Tarkowski</strong> made a strong start for defensive contributions.</p>
<p>In total 11 central defenders picked up defensive contribution points, while only four fullbacks managed to hit the threshold.</p>
<p>The usually attack-minded Rayan Ait-Nouri did pick up points for his defensive contributions however, due in part to the hybrid centre-back/fullback role he played for Manchester City in Gameweek 1.</p>
<div id="attachment_74175" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-74175" class="size-full wp-image-74175" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/GettyImages-2230759160.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/GettyImages-2230759160.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/GettyImages-2230759160-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/GettyImages-2230759160-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-74175" class="wp-caption-text">Rayan Ait-Nouri. Picture by Getty Images</p></div>
<p>In midfield, it was largely defensive-minded midfielders who scored points, although there were a couple of outliers.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s worth keeping an eye on <strong>Martin Odegaard </strong>and <strong>Marcus Tavernier </strong>who could add the string of defensive contribition points to their attacking bows this season if Gameweek 1 is anything to go by.</p>
<p>Arsenal host Leeds United in Gameweek 2, and the Norwegian may be of interest to FPL managers playing their <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/best-gameweek-2-free-hit-team-fpl/">Free Hit</a> chip.</p>
<div id="attachment_74185" style="width: 850px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-74185" class="wp-image-74185 size-full" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/playerstats-Odegaard-bordered.jpeg" alt="" width="840" height="690" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/playerstats-Odegaard-bordered.jpeg 840w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/playerstats-Odegaard-bordered-300x246.jpeg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/playerstats-Odegaard-bordered-768x631.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px" /><p id="caption-attachment-74185" class="wp-caption-text">Martin Odegaard&#8217;s <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/opta/" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c="1" title="FPL Stats by OPTA - Player and Team Stats">stats</a></p></div>
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FPL defensive contributions tracker: Who picked up points in Gameweek 1?

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