Cheap defenders have a far easier route to bonus points
The lower bar for defensive actions makes budget centre backs viable options again.
The game changed the rules on defensive actions, and almost nobody adjusted their squad accordingly.
If you play in defence, you need 10 clearances, blocks, interceptions, and tackles in a match to collect two extra points. If you play anywhere else, you need 12. That two-action gap sounds like a slight adjustment on paper. In practice, it turns out to be a massive hurdle.
17.0%Defenders hit target19 of 112 in GW2
5.6%Midfielders hit target10 of 180 in GW2Proportion of starting players hitting the defensive action threshold in gameweek 2.
In gameweek 2, 19 of 108 defenders who featured reached the 10-action threshold. That is roughly one in every six defenders on the pitch getting a free payout for simply doing their job.
For midfielders and forwards, only 10 out of 180 reached 12 actions. That is a 5.6 per cent hit rate. Expecting your central midfielder to clean up enough loose balls to hit 12 actions is mostly wishful thinking, whereas a busy central defender hits 10 without needing to go out of his way.
The defenders who made the work look easy
When you look at who actually topped the raw charts in gameweek 2, central defenders in deep blocks dominate the board.
Top players for defensive actions in gameweek 2.
Mukiele and Muharemović both managed 19 defensive actions in a single ninety-minute display. Mukiele walked away with 9 points, aided by a clean sheet and one bonus point.
Then consider Ajer. Brentford conceded in a messy 1-1 draw, yet Ajer still ended up on 3 points purely because he chipped, blocked, and cleared his way past the 10-action mark. Without that rule, he gets 1 point and sits quietly on your bench. With it, he pays off his cheap price tag.
Midfielders face a much steeper mountain
A few midfielders did get over the line. Stach logged 16 actions for Leeds, while Scott got 15 for Bournemouth on his way to a 12-point haul. But those performances are exceptions rather than standard protocol.
EganStachComparing a 4.0m defender against a 6.0m midfielder across two gameweeks.
Look at Egan alongside Stach. Both players sit on 17 points overall. But Egan costs 4.0m and hits 17.0 defensive actions per 90 minutes. He only needs 10 in any given match to unlock his bonus. Stach costs 6.0m and has to hit 12 actions every single time.
When choosing a 4.0m bench fill, you usually buy a player who gets you 1 point for a late cameo. Egan and his teammate 
Mendy are averaging 17.0 and 16.36 actions per 90 minutes over the first two matches. That gives them a high floor every week.
Players with over 60 minutes played ranked by defensive actions per 90.
Two gameweeks is a tiny sample size. Tackling numbers wobble based on match state, referee strictness, and whether a team is defending a lead. Nobody should pretend Khalaili will average 18.99 actions per 90 across thirty-eight games.
Yet the structural advantage stays constant. Defenders have a lower bar to clear, and teams fighting near the bottom of the table will spent long stretches making clearances and blocks.
Before the next deadline, check your fifth defender spot. If you are holding a quiet full back who rarely touches the ball, swapping to a high-volume central defender like Egan gives you a steady stream of extra points for no added cost.