One of the tough decisions that faces fantasy football managers every season is how best to build their Premier League defence.
On the one hand, part of you wants to build your Dream Team around towering centre-backs who could provide a real goal-threat from set-pieces.
In stark contrast to this, another guaranteed way to soak up points this season is to fill your defence with the very best attacking full-backs on offer.
A position which seems as though it could have been designed by the fantasy football gods is the latest incarnation of wing-back.
The evolution of this new role in recent years has made full-backs one of the most important parts of a fantasy football team.
Sign up to play Dream Team 2018/19 now
- Dream Team is back and better than ever ahead of the new Premier League season
- Completely free to play
- £400k jackpot up for grabs across the season
- SIGN UP FOR DREAM TEAM 2018/19 HERE
These are statistically the best attacking full-backs/wing-backs who could score you more points in fantasy football than many strikers this season…
SIGN UP NOW – It’s time to pick your fantasy football team for the new season
1 Marcos Alonso – £4.5m
Alonso has quickly become one of the best wing-backs in Europe since his move to Chelsea in 2016.
The Spaniard had another standout campaign for the Blues, picking up 204 points and thriving in what was an otherwise underwhelming Antonio Conte side.
Alonso’s marauding antics from left wing-back saw him score eight goals and pick up four assists last season.
The leggy defender also showed his consistency by picking up three star man awards and 24 7+ratings throughout Chelsea’s campaign.
The 27-year-old is somewhat of a set-piece specialist at Stamford Bridge, with his ability from free-kicks definitely something for Dream Team managers to consider.
Alonso will set you back £4.5m – a relative steal considering just how much he brings to fantasy football.
2 Kyle Walker – £4.5m
Walker’s big-money move to Man City raised a few eyebrows last season, however he fully justified his hefty pricetag with a brilliant debut season in Manchester.
The marauding full-back took his game to a new level under the stewardship of Pep Guardiola and showed just how effective wing-backs can be.
The 28-year-old picked up a mammoth 171 points in fantasy football last season, making him the second highest scoring fullback.
Walker chipped in with seven assists and 21 7+ratings throughout City’s steamrolling successful season.
Guardiola’s man is almost certainly a must have for your fantasy football team this season at £4.5m, with his attacking prowess matched with his side’s ability to keep cleansheets.
3 Antonio Valencia – £4m
Valencia took over the armband at Man United last season, highlighting just how important the veteran is to his side.
The Ecuadorian uses his powerful frame to bulldoze the opposition defence, as he often bursts forward with pace and power to start attacks.
The 32-year-old picked up an impressive 158 points in last season’s game, making him one of the most effective attacking full-backs.
Valencia scored three and picked up one assist during the campaign, with 23 7+ratings showing just how consistent the United man was.
Jose Mourinho’s man can be picked up for £4m in this year’s game – a relative steal considering he is a guaranteed starter who will play in four competitions this season.
4 Danilo – £3m
A potentially surprise inclusion onto the list, Danilo’s impressive debut season went somewhat under the radar.
The former Real Madrid man was originally brought in to provide backup to Walker, however his useful versatility man that he found himself deployed on the opposite side of the pitch at left wing-back.
The 27-year-old wasn’t always a guaranteed starter at the Etihad last season, however he never failed to impress when given the opportunity.
Danilo ended the campaign with an impressive 152 points to his name, after he scored three goals as well as pop up with three assists.
The Brazilian also earned himself one star man award and 19 7+ratings this season. Very underrated.
Danilo can be snapped up for just £3m in this year’s game, making him an option you should seriously consider if you are looking to save your budget for other positions.
5 Ben Davies – £3.5m
Davies was a relative unknown entity when he initially arrived at Spurs from Swansea in 2014.
Since his move however, the 25-year-old has emerged as one of the most consistent performers in the Premier League and also one of the best full-backs.
The Welshman was an ever-presente in Mauricio Pochettino’s side last season, ending the campaign on a respectable 149 points in fantasy football.
Davies chipped in with two goals and six assists last season, as well as picking himself up one star man award and 20 7+ratings.
The full-back is expected to feature heavily again for Spurs this season, with the long-term future of Davies’ main rival, Danny Rose, still uncertain.
6 Nacho Monreal – £4m
Monreal has been one of the Premier League’s most underrated performers for quite some time.
The veteran Spaniard has shown his versatility by slotting in at central defence when necessary, stepping out of the comfort zone of his familiar left-back role.
The 32-year-old was one of the bright sparks in what was an otherwise underwhelming campaign for Arsenal, as his side slumped to sixth position in the Premier League.
Despite the poor performances around him, Monreal still finished on 140 points in fantasy football, with six goals, three assists and two star man awards making him one of the highest points scoring defenders on the game.
The Spaniard also showed his consistency by picking up an impressive 20 7+ratings.
Monreal is available for £4m in this year’s game and could earn you big points from the back once again.
7 Kieran Trippier – £4m
Trippier is still the name on everybody’s lips even after the World Cup has been and gone.
The Spurs man was one of the best players at the tournament and fully grasped his opportunity to start for his country in his familiar right wing-back role.
The 27-year-old made sure the departure of Walker was barely felt in north London last season, with his performances rivalling that of his former teammate at City.
Trippier earned himself 129 points in fantasy football, with a whopping ten assists making up the bulk of these points, alongside one star man award and 18 7+ratings.
England’s World Cup hero is available for £4m in this year’s game, a relative steal considering the fact that he will be buoyed after his performances in Russia this summer.
SIGN UP NOW – It’s time to pick your fantasy football team for the new season
How does Premier League fantasy football work?
Every single season the Premier League gets more intriguing – and playing Dream Team really is the perfect way to enhance your experience of it.
You’ll be assigned a total budget of £50m for each side you pick and you’ll be able pick a maximum of 10 free teams.
The Game Weeks run from Friday to Thursday, effectively meaning the new Game Week starts after the last Europa League games are completed.
You get three transfers a month on the first Friday of every month so using them wisely is essential.
Every player on the game will be assigned a price at the start of the season which will then vary and fluctuate on a weekly basis dependent on their performances.
For example, last season we valued Mo Salah at £4m at the start of the season but the Egyptian King rocketed to over £11m by the end after his stunning goalscoring form.
Make sure to check out our website or app to see how our simplistic points system works.