FPL defensive contributions: how DefCon points work and who earns them

The rule in one line

• —Defenders: 10 clearances, blocks, interceptions and tackles (CBIT) in a match = 2 points
• —Midfielders and forwards: 12 defensive contributions including ball recoveries (CBIRT) = 2 points
• —Goalkeepers: not eligible
• —Capped at 2 points per match: 20 CBIT is still 2 points

What counts as a defensive contribution

For defenders it is clearances, blocks, interceptions and tackles added together. For midfielders and forwards, ball recoveries count as well, which is why their target is higher.

A recovery is more than picking up a loose ball. What the player does next matters: starting a counter-attack or making the first controlled pass after a scramble for the ball is what gets it counted.

Is it still in the game for 2026/27?

Yes. Defensive contribution points arrived in 2025/26 and stay for 2026/27 with the same thresholds. You can watch the count build during a match on the FPL match pages.

One related change: in the bonus points system, defenders now need three clearances, blocks or interceptions for a bonus-point-score point instead of two. That makes it a little harder to collect both DefCon points and bonus points from the same defensive game.

How FPL bonus points work →

Who it helps

Mostly centre-backs and defensive midfielders. They were often ignored in FPL because they rarely score, and a midfielder only gets 1 point for a clean sheet. A holding midfielder who regularly hits 12 contributions can now return 4 points a week from playing 60 minutes and DefCon alone.

For attackers it barely matters. Forwards rarely reach 12.

How to pick for DefCon

• —Look at how often a player reaches the threshold, not his season total. Hitting 10 in half his games is worth more than two huge games
• —Minutes come first. A player who is subbed at 60 minutes has less time to get there
• —Teams that spend a lot of time defending give their centre-backs more chances
• —Treat it as a floor, not a ceiling: DefCon is capped at 2, goals and clean sheets are not

A note on FPLHERMES projections

Our current projections do not add defensive contribution points. For centre-backs and holding midfielders who hit the threshold often, treat our expected points as slightly low. We say this openly so you can adjust for it.