Defenders have a much lower bar for extra points
Clearing and tackling paid off for budget options in gameweek 5, but do not mistake one busy afternoon for a habit.
The rules for defensive contributions are stacked in favour of center backs. A defender needs 10 clearances, blocks, interceptions, and tackles in a match to pick up two extra points. Everyone else on the pitch has to reach 12.
That distinction showed in this week's numbers.
22 of 97Defenders hit threshold22.7% of defenders who played
14 of 185Mids & forwards hit threshold7.6% of attackers who playedDefensive contribution hit rates in gameweek 5. Defenders need 10 actions, others need 12.
In gameweek 5, 22 of 97 defenders who featured reached their lower bar. Only 14 of 185 midfielders and forwards made it to 12. You are three times as likely to get these points from a budget defender than a defensive midfielder.
The workload came from sitting deep
Pinnock topped the chart this week with 19 defensive actions against Nottingham Forest. He walked away with an eight-point haul without scoring or setting up a goal.
Total tackles, clearances, blocks, and interceptions recorded in gameweek 5.
Botman put up 18 actions against Hull, while Schuster managed 16 alongside an assist and a clean sheet against Chelsea for a massive 14-point day.
For midfielders like Bentancur and L.Miley, hitting 16 or 17 actions gets them over the line for two bonus points. But they earned four total points each. That is a poor return for a midfielder unless they happen to chip in with an attack.
One busy weekend is not a season trend
It is tempting to look at Pinnock or Botman and think you have spotted an easy points loop. One match proves very little. Teams facing heavy pressure register high numbers of clearances and blocks simply because they cannot get out of their own box.
Over the five gameweeks played so far, the per-90 rates show who actually works for these points every week rather than who just had a chaotic Saturday.
PinnockBentancurSeason-to-date underlying numbers through gameweek 5.
Bentancur averages 14.59 defensive actions per 90 across 370 minutes this season, while Pinnock sits on 14.04 per 90 across 282 minutes. They both clear their respective thresholds on average across a full match.
The difference is that Pinnock costs 4.5m in defence, where a clean sheet doubles his floor. Bentancur costs 5.5m in midfield, where defensive output rarely converts into double-digit hauls without a goal contribution.
If you are looking for a cheap fifth defender before the deadline, check who faces top sides next. A defender expected to clear 15 balls out of his penalty area is a far safer bench pick than a 5.5m holding midfielder who needs 12 tackles just to reach four points.