Defender threshold makes cheap points easier to reach
Defensive contribution points heavily favour defenders over midfielders after four gameweeks.
One in five defenders bagged two extra points for defensive work this week. Only one in fourteen midfielders did the same.
The math is simple enough. Defenders need 10 tackles, blocks, clearances and interceptions in a match. Midfielders need 12. That two-action gap sounds small, but over 90 minutes it is the difference between a tidy bonus and a blank.
18.9%Defenders hitting threshold20 of 106 players in GW4
7.2%Midfielders hitting threshold13 of 181 players in GW4Defenders need 10 defensive actions while midfielders need 12 in a single match.
Out of 106 defenders who played in this week, 20 hit their 10-action target. Across 181 midfielders and forwards, just 13 made it to 12.
If you are hunting for cheap, passive points to sit on your bench, positions matter more than work rate.
Midfielders had to sweat for their reward
That does not mean midfielders cannot do it. Janelt put in 20 defensive actions against 
Bournemouth, leading the entire league. He cost 5.0m and racked up 4 points without a goal or assist.
Garner and 
Charles both managed 17 actions from central midfield. But doing that every week is a heavy engine requirement for a player who also needs to get forward to justify selection.
Midfielders require 12 actions for threshold while defenders need 10.
One match of high tackling is not a reliable trend. Midfielders who clear the bar often do so because their team lost possession for long spells. Janelt has generated 55 defensive actions across 360 minutes, averaging 13.75 per 90. He has two goals from 0.50 xG so far, which means his goal returns will slow down. His defensive floor is real, but expecting 20 actions every fixture is a dream.
Cheap defenders offer a cleaner floor
If you want steady baseline points from budget options, look at centre-backs in teams that defend deep.
Egan costs 4.1m and has logged 55 defensive actions in 360 minutes. That matches Janelt step for step, but Egan only needs 10 in a game to unlock his extra points. His teammate 
Mendy sits on 14.10 defensive actions per 90 across 249 minutes at the same 4.1m price tag.
EganJaneltEgan hits his lower threshold much more consistently for 0.9m less.
Both players sit on 25 total points after four matches. The difference is that Janelt needed two goals to reach that total, overperforming his expected goals by 1.50. Egan got there purely on minutes and defensive work. When the goals stop for Brentford's midfielder, the 4.1m defender will be matching his output for nearly a million less.
Minimum 180 minutes played. Rates under 60 minutes are excluded as noise.
Four matches is a small sample. Single-game action spikes usually reflect a tough fixture rather than a permanent role change. Mainoo produced 13 defensive actions against 
Manchester City because his team spent most of the afternoon chasing the ball.
Before the next deadline, check your fifth defender slot. If you are holding a 5.0m defensive midfielder for baseline safety, swap him for a 4.1m defender who needs two fewer tackles to reach the exact same reward.