Fantasy Premier League tips: Best defenders to sign for gameweek 2

Here are our top five fantasy football picks among defenders heading into gameweek 2:

Luke Ayling

Elland Road plays host to Premier League football for the first time in 16 years on Saturday and Leeds face a fellow newly-promoted side. Fulham scored just 24 goals away from home in the Championship last season, fewer than bottom-of-the-league Hull City.

Leeds, by contrast, had the Championship’s best defensive record and conceded just 14 times at home. Of their backline, full-backs Ayling and Stuart Dallas offer the most potential for attacking returns.

Lucas Digne

Digne did not enjoy the best restart at the back end of last season but remains one of the most dynamic, creative full-backs in the Premier League, with plenty of attacking upside for fantasy managers.

Fresh from an assist for Dominic Calvert-Lewin last Sunday, the Everton left-back appears to have retained set-piece duties and faces a West Bromwich Albion defence who could emerge as one to target.

Tariq Lamptey

Brighton were unlucky in defeat to Chelsea on Monday night with Tariq Lamptey particularly impressive against his former club. What’s more, the £4.5m-rated right back appears to have established himself as a starter under Graham Potter.

Lamptey’s willingness to break forward could cause problems for Newcastle, who impressed against West Ham but have much to do before they prove they can stay clear of a relegation dogfight.

James Justin

Justin has earned a lot of attention from fantasy managers after a clean sheet and an assist in Leicester’s opening game against West Bromwich. A repeat performance would be ideal from a full-back who is £1.0m cheaper than Timothy Castagne on the opposite flank.

Burnley visit the King Power on Sunday evening and have had a difficult off-season, with few signings as well as tension between Sean Dyche and the board. They could react well to adversity, but a comfortable Leicester win feels more likely.

Rob Holding

Holding appeared to be on his way out of Arsenal on loan last week, right up until he started in the 3-0 win against Fulham, and Mikel Arteta confirmed post-match that the £4.5m-rated centre-half would be going nowhere.

Rotation with William Saliba is a risk but at his price, Holding offers a cheap route into a defence which is showing tentative signs of improvement. West Ham’s toothless display against Newcastle last week gives prospective buyers little to worry about.