<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 are expected to 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: 5/1/25</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 Gameweek 20?</h2>
<p>48 players picked up defensive contribution points in Gameweek 20 &#8211; 24 defenders, 23 midfielders and 1 forward.</p>
<p><strong>Gabriel</strong> and <strong>Nordi Mukiele </strong>were among the more highly-owned returners in defence, with both looking like popular transfers-in ahead of Gameweek 21.</p>
<p>Regulars <strong>James Tarkowski</strong>, <strong>Joachim Andersen</strong> and <strong>Maxence Lacroix </strong>continue to rack up points, gaining ground on <strong>Marcos Senesi </strong>who leads the way for defensive contribution points at the season halfway mark.</p>
<div id="attachment_73737" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-73737" class="size-full wp-image-73737" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Senesi-3.jpg" alt="Marcos Senesi. Picture by Getty Images" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Senesi-3.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Senesi-3-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Senesi-3-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-73737" class="wp-caption-text">Marcos Senesi. Picture by Getty Images</p></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>In midfield, defensive success stories this week included <strong>Rayan Cherki</strong>, <strong>Declan Rice</strong>, and <strong>Bruno Guimaraes</strong> all of whom are on the up in terms of ownership, while budget picks <strong>Elliot Anderson</strong> and <strong>Granit Xhaka</strong> continue to chip away with returns.</p>
<p><strong>Jarrod</strong><strong> Bowen </strong>was the sole representation among forwards &#8211; not for the first time this season.</p>
<div id="attachment_74106" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-74106" class="size-full wp-image-74106" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Bowen-3.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="809" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Bowen-3.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Bowen-3-300x237.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Bowen-3-768x607.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-74106" class="wp-caption-text">Jarrod Bowen. Picture by Getty Images</p></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<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:</p>
<h3>30 points</h3>
<ul>
<li>Marcos Senesi (DEF)</li>
</ul>
<h3>28 points</h3>
<ul>
<li>James Tarkowski (DEF)</li>
</ul>
<h3>26 points</h3>
<ul>
<li>Elliot Anderson (MID)</li>
<li>Joachim Andersen (DEF)</li>
</ul>
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<h3>24 points</h3>
<ul>
<li>Maxence Lacroix (DEF)</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>22 points</h3>
<ul>
<li>Nathan Collins (DEF)</li>
</ul>
<h3>20 points</h3>
<ul>
<li>Granit Xhaka (MID)</li>
<li>Michael Keane (DEF)</li>
<li>Nordi Mukiele (DEF)</li>
</ul>
<h3>18 points</h3>
<ul>
<li>Maxime Esteve (DEF)</li>
<li>Chris Richards (DEF)</li>
<li>Ethan Ampadu (MID)</li>
<li>James Garner (MID)</li>
<li>Rodrigo Bentancur (MID</li>
</ul>
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<div id="attachment_73883" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-73883" class="size-full wp-image-73883" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/GettyImages-2228208044.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="721" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/GettyImages-2228208044.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/GettyImages-2228208044-300x211.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/GettyImages-2228208044-768x541.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-73883" class="wp-caption-text">Granit Xhaka. Picture by Getty Images</p></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>16 points</h3>
<ul>
<li>Declan Rice (MID)</li>
<li>Virgil van Dijk (DEF)</li>
<li>Ibrahima Konate (DEF)</li>
<li>Sepp van den Berg (DEF)</li>
<li>Casemiro (MID)</li>
<li>Moises Caicedo (MID)</li>
<li>Dan Ballard (DEF)</li>
<li>Andre (MID)</li>
<li>Mats Wieffer (MID)</li>
<li>Jan Paul van Hecke (DEF)</li>
</ul>
<h3>14 points</h3>
<ul>
<li>Cristian Romero (DEF)</li>
<li>Omar Alderete (DEF)</li>
<li>Adam Wharton (MID)</li>
<li>Yehor Yarmoliuk (MID)</li>
<li>Marc Guehi (DEF)</li>
<li>Konstantinos Mavropanos (DEF)</li>
<li>Trevoh Chalobah (DEF)</li>
<li>Joao Gomes (MID)</li>
<li>Hjalmar Ekdal (DEF)</li>
<li>Florentino (MID)</li>
<li>Nikola Milenkovic (DEF)</li>
</ul>
<div id="attachment_75673" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><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>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>12 points</h3>
<ul>
<li>Malick Thiaw (DEF)</li>
<li>Kenny Tete (DEF)</li>
<li>Joao Palhinha (MID)</li>
<li>Josh Cullen (MID)</li>
<li>Dan Burn (DEF)</li>
<li>Anton Stach (MID)</li>
<li>Pascal Strujik (DEF)</li>
<li>Adrien Truffert (DEF)</li>
</ul>
<h3>10 points</h3>
<ul>
<li>Gabriel (DEF)</li>
<li>Murillo (DEF)</li>
<li>Calvin Bassey (DEF)</li>
<li>Tyrick Mitchell (DEF)</li>
<li>Emmanuel Agbadou (DEF)</li>
<li>Kevin Danso (DEF)</li>
<li>Max Kilman (DEF)</li>
<li>Nico Gonzalez (MID)</li>
<li>Mateus Fernandes (MID)</li>
<li>Tim Iroegbunam (MID)</li>
<li>Joelinton (MID)</li>
<li>Vitaly Janelt (MID)</li>
<li>Fabian Schar (DEF)</li>
</ul>
<div id="attachment_74012" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-74012" class="wp-image-74012 size-full" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Gabriel-3.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Gabriel-3.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Gabriel-3-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Gabriel-3-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-74012" class="wp-caption-text">Gabriel. Picture by Getty Images</p></div>
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FPL defensive contributions tracker: Who picked up points in Gameweek 20?

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