Best FPL players for Gameweek 8: Top 5 best defenders | OneFootball

Who are the best FPL defenders for Gameweek 8?

Four-time top 1k and six-time top 5k finisher Abdul Rehman uses the Hub's Opta, Prediction, Comparison and Fixture tools to identify the best Fantasy Premier League defenders for Gameweek 8.

Don’t forget to check out our Ultimate FPL Gameweek 8 Guide, which has everything you need to make the best decisions ahead of the deadline.

Best FPL Defenders for Gameweek 8

Joao Cancelo (£7.1m) – Manchester City

Fixture: Wolves (a)

Manchester City have conceded six goals (third) with an Expected Goals Conceded (xGC) of 4.4 (first).

They have been unfortunate not to have kept more clean sheets, but their defensive stats show they are still the best defence in the league,

City have a very favourable fixture against Wolves, who have only scored three goals (twentieth) with an xG of 6.73 (fifteenth).

They are also the joint favourites in Gameweek 8 to keep a clean sheet (46%) according to the bookmakers.

Joao Cancelo is one of the best defensive options this week again, and he also has the attacking threat to add to his high clean sheet chance.

The Portuguese has one goal this season, with an xG of 0.3, and has created four chances, with an xA of 0.3. Although his attacking stats haven't been what they were last season, there still aren't many better defenders than him.

He is the second highest predicted scoring defender (4.9 points) for Gameweek 8 according to our Points Prediction Tool.

Kieren Trippier (£5.3m) – Newcastle United

Fixture: Bournemouth (H)

Kieran Trippier has three clean sheets and one goal so far. He has registered an xG of 0.32, and created 11 chances with an xA of 0.82.

He is the first choice right back for Newcastle United, who have clearly improved at both ends of the pitch.

The Toon welcome Bournemouth to St. James Park in Gameweek 8 in what is probably one of their most favourable fixtures of the season. The Cherries have only scored five goals (eighteenth) and have the worst xG (2.94) in the league.

Newcastle on the other hand have only conceded six goals (third) with an xGC of 10.8 (fifteenth).

With Trippier now playing in a much better defence, and the fact he is on a lot of set-pieces, he looks a fantastic option this week.

Newcastle are also joint favourites to keep a clean sheet this week also at 46%.

Trippier is the third highest predicted scoring defender (4.5 points) according to our Points Prediction Tool.

Ivan Perisic (£5.6m) – Spurs

Fixture: Leicester City (H)

Ivan Perisic has started three games this season in the league, and picked up two assists.

He has created eight chances with an xA 1.09. He is a very attacking player, and when he starts is a fantastic option against any opposition.

It’s clear Antonio Conte sees him as the first choice ahead of Ryan Sessegnon (£4.5m) but we know he will still be rotated.

However, I think Perisic starts this week due to Spurs’ game being on Sunday evening, and an international break to follow.

Tottenham Hotspur have a good fixture in Gameweek 8 against Leicester City. The London club have only conceded five goals (second) with an xGC of 4.9 (second) and look solid at the back.

This is a good fixture for Perisic to get returns at both ends of the pitch in my opinion.

The Foxes have been leaky so far conceding 16 goals (nineteenth) with an xGC of 11.1 (sixteenth) so he will have chances at attacking returns.

Spurs are also the second favourites to both keep a clean sheet in Gameweek 8 at 39%, and to score 2.5+ goals (40%).

Lucas Digne (£4.7m) – Aston Villa

Fixture: Southampton (H)

Aston Villa haven't kept any clean sheets so far, but they do have a decent chance this week.

With the reduced fixtures, it makes Lucas Digne an interesting pick this week.

The Villains kept 11 clean sheets (5th) last season, conceding 54 goals (10th) with an xGC of 53.1 (8th).

They play Southampton this Gameweek who have scored seven goals (seventeenth) with an xG of 7.38 (fourteenth).

The French left-back started 29 games last season, and picked up four assists, with an xA 3.68. He looks the best bet at the moment in the Villa defence, as he is nailed to start and has attacking threat also.

He has created six chances so far with an xA of 0.28, which is the highest amongst the Villa defence, and he also takes corners.

Over the last four seasons, he has scored four goals, and registered 26 assists, so we know he has plenty of attacking threat in him.

Neco Williams (£4.1m) – Nottingham Forest

Fixture: Fulham (H)

Neco Williams has one clean sheet to his name this season, and also one assist.

He has been very unfortunate to not have more attacking returns, however.

He has registered 13 shots, with an xG of 0.92 (second amongst defenders) and created nine chances, with an xA of 1.33 (second amongst defenders).

He is great value for only £4.1m.

Nottingham Forest don't have the best defence, but they do have one of their best chances to keep a clean sheet this week.

Fulham have been good going forward with nine goals (eighth) and an xG of 8.48 (thirteenth).

However, Forest are at home in this fixture, and with the Cottagers being fellow promotion rivals, you feel that this game will be quite close.

Also, Williams has immense attacking threat, and it’s only a matter of time before he racks up more returns in the final third.

His attacking stats are only bettered by Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.5m) this season, and he seems like a great budget option right now.

To conclude, I will rank these Gameweek 8 defenders in accordance with our Power Rankings for Hub members.

Best FPL defenders for Gameweek 8