Evaluating Premier League defenders from a fantasy perspective is never easy to do at the beginning of the year, but by the end of the season, the proof is in the statistics when it comes to breaking down the top performers. Usually, the best fantasy defenders come from the teams that allowed the fewest tallies on the year. Manchester United and Tottenham allowed just 35, Arsenal and Leicester City allowed just 36, Manchester City and Southampton allowed 41, and every other team – except for West Brom – allowed at least 48.
Here is a look at the top four fantasy defenders in the Premier League for the 2016 season.
Hector Bellerin, Arsenal
The 36 goals conceded by Arsenal this season were just one more than Manchester United allowed as they finished second in the Premier League in that department. The Gunners’ improved defensive play was a big reason why they were able to edge out Tottenham on the final day of the season for second place in the table and Bellerin’s overall performance was a big reason why Arsenal’s back end was so strong as a whole. Bellerin registered five assists to rank third on his team in that department behind only Mesut Ozil and Olivier Giroud but it was the defensive numbers he registered that really put him over the top including just 36 goals allowed and 18 clean sheet bonuses. Bellerin finished with the top fantasy score in the Premier League for his position by a considerable margin.
Chris Smalling, Manchester United
Manchester United’s lack of firepower at the offensive end of the pitch led to Louis van Gaal taking a more defensive-minded approach and the success the club had in its own third is a big reason why they finished fourth in the Premier League table. United conceded a league-low 35 goals on the season (Tottenham also allowed 35 goals). Smalling’s fantasy numbers benefited a lot because of it including a ridiculous 20 clean sheet bonuses. Smalling finished the year with only one assist and two shots on target but his dominance at the defensive end of the pitch was enough to ensure he finished with the second-best fantasy score at his position this season.
Toby Alderweireld, Tottenham
Tottenham matched Manchester United for the fewest goals conceded this season with 35 but they will look back on the year and wonder what could have been if they hadn’t conceded 10 goals in their final four games while posting an 0-2-2 mark. A 5-0 loss to Newcastle United in the season finale represented a big chunk of that total but the reality is that Hotspurs were on pace to finish with the best goals allowed mark in the Premier League by a wide margin and place second in the table before their collapse down the stretch dramatically shifted the outcome. Alderweireld delivered a strong overall performance including a pair of assists and 14 shots on target and there is a good chance he could have challenged Bellerin for the top spot on this list with a better finish.
Tottlenham ended up third in the EPL table and a big reason why is that they allowed just 35 goals on the season. That was the fewest in the Premier League this season. It’s no wonder that one of their back end players is among the top fantasy defenders this year.
Nacho Monreal, Arsenal
Monreal benefited from the same defensive statistics that helped propel his teammate Bellerin to the top of this list but he finished with three assists compared to Bellerin’s five and wasn’t as active in his own end. Monreal still finished with an impressive overall score to edge out Liverpool’s Nathaniel Clyne and West Ham United’s Aaron Cresswell for fourth on this list of the top fantasy defenders in the Premier League this season.
Arsenal finished second in the Premier League table standings this season and allowed just 36 goals in 38 contests. Only two other teams allowed fewer goals than them, which is mostly why Monreal makes our list as one of the top fantasy defenders.
