Fantasy Bundesliga tips: Defenders to consider for the 2020/21 season
Here are the defenders you should consider when picking your Fantasy Bundesliga team.
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Pavel Kaderabek is a doubt for Hoffenheim's Bundesliga opener against FC Köln after he was forced off with a bruised thigh in his side's DFB-Pokal game against Chemnitzer last week. Joshua Brenet (Hoffenheim, 3M) came on to replace him and should start on Saturday if the Czech international doesn't recover in time.
Jannes Horn (FC Köln, 3M), who just like Brenet is available for just 3 million, has received a lot of praise from FC Köln coach Markus Gisdol in pre-season after making his return from a loan spell at Hannover 96. Horn started and made an assist in Köln's 6-0 win over Altglienicke in the DFB-Pokal and could get the nod at left-back again on Saturday at the expense of Noah Katterbach, who is still working to get back to full fitness after an injury.
After leaving Fortuna Düsseldorf following their relegation from the Bundesliga, Niko Gießelmann, Union Berlin, 4M) made his competitive debut for Union Berlin, setting up his side's 1-0 winner against Karlsruher in the DFB-Pokal last week. The 28-year-old should keep his place ahead of Christopher Lenz on the left side of defence and could offer good value for money with a price tag of just 4 million.
Borna Sosa (Stuttgart, 4M) missed Stuttgart's 1-0 win over Hansa Rostock in the DFB-Pokal due to an injury, but should be fit to start the Bundesliga opener after returning to training on Tuesday. The left-back, who racked up a goal and three assists in 13 games in the 2019/20 campaign before suffering a season-ending injury, plays for a Stuttgart side with a favorable opening schedule and may be worth a punt, considering his low price. If you want a different option from Stuttgart, Pascal Stenzel (Stuttgart, 5M) is available for a million more. The right-back played every 2. Bundesliga game for Stuttgart last season, chipping in with two assists.
Following Philipp Max's departure to PSV, Iago (Augsburg, 5M) is Augsburg coach Heiko Herrlich's preferred option at left-back. The 23-year-old started and set up a goal in Augsburg 7-0 win over MTVE Celle in the DFB-Pokal last week. He didn't see a lot of playing time in his first season at WWK Arena, but managed to both score and assist in 10 games.
Daley Sinkgraven (Leverkusen, 6M) was often rotated with Wendell last season, but the left-back should be in line to start against Wolfsburg after playing 90 minutes and making an assist in Leverkusen's 7-0 win over Norderstedt in the first round of the DFB-Pokal.
Other likely starters in this price range include Maxence Lacroix (Wolfsburg, 4M), Makoto Hasebe (Frankfurt, 4M), Ömer Toprak (Werder Bremen, 4M) and Raphael Framberger (Augsburg, 6M).
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Showing his attacking prowess, Paulo Otavio (Wolfsburg, 8M) emerged as Wolfsburg's main left-back during last season, starting ahead of Jerome Roussillon before sustaining an ankle injury that ruled him out for the season. The 25-year-old is now fit and raring to go again, having chipped in with an assist in Wolfsburg's 4-1 win against Fürstenwalde in the DFB-Pokal.
Over the years, Theodor Gebre Selassie (Werder Bremen, 8M has shown that he is a full-back, who likes to come forward. With Werder heading into the season with a favorable opening schedule, the right-back looks like a solid signing for your Fantasy team. The same goes his teammate Ludwig Augustinsson (Werder Bremen, 9M. The left-back is a good crosser of the ball and contributed with two goals and four assists last season. Most recently, he set up a goal in Werder's 2-0 win over Carl Zeiss Jena in the opening round of the DFB-Pokal.
As per usual, Daniel Brosinski (Mainz, 9M) chipped in with a handful of goals and assists last season, scoring twice and setting up his teammates four times. The 32-year-old full-back is his team's penalty taker, which obviously increases his chances of hitting the back of the net.
After a disappointing 2019/20 campaign, Danny da Costa (Frankfurt, 10M) looks nailed on to start for Frankfurt once again. The right-back was an excellent Fantasy asset in the 2018/19 season, which saw him score two times and make four assists, and he's certainly an interesting option if he can replicate that form. Starting off the season at home against Bundesliga newcomers Bielefeld, the 27-year-old is an intriguing pick for the first round.
Christopher Trimmel (Union Berlin, 10M) was a consistent source of points last season, setting up 11 goals, and should be solid pick for the upcoming campaign as well, although his price tag is arguably a little steep all things considered.
Martin Hinteregger (Frankfurt, 11M) showed that he is one of the top set-piece threats in the league last season, scoring eight times in 31 Bundesliga games.
Much like Trimmel, Christian Günter (Freiburg, 11M) consistently picked up points throughout last season, netting twice and setting up 10 goals.
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When he's on his game, Ramy Bensebaini (Gladbach, 12M) is a real difference-maker. The left-back, who is on penalty duty for Gladbach, racked up five goals and four assists in just 19 Bundesliga appearances in his first season at Borussia-Park, and there should be much more to come from him.
A full-back by trade, Lukas Klostermann (RB Leipzig, 12M) was mostly played as a centre-back last season, but he was used as a right wing-back in Saturday's 3-0 win over Nürnberg. Should he stay in this position, it would certainly make him interesting from a Fantasy perspective.
Still, it's probably worth paying a million more to get his teammate Angelino (RB Leipzig, 13M), who has had his loan spell at RB Leipzig extended by a year. The left-back spent the second half of last season loan from Manchester City and looked very impressive going forward, contributing with a goal and five assists in 19 games in all competitions.
With the attacking prowess they possess, it's hard to look past Raphael Guerreiro (Dortmund, 14M) and Alphonso Davies (Bayern München, 15M), who have both been moved from midfield to defence on the game. Davies is a must-have player for the start of the game, but Guerreiro is a doubt due to injury, so you should keep an eye on his situation if you plan on bringing the Portuguese international into your side.
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Other Fantasy Bundesliga articles:
Fantasy Bundesliga tips: Goalkeepers to consider for the 2020/21 season
Fantasy Bundesliga tips: Midfielders to consider for the 2020/21 season
Fantasy Bundesliga tips: Strikers to consider for the 2020/21 season
Fantasy Bundesliga: Must-haves and differentials for Matchday 1
Predicted line-ups: Bundesliga Matchday 1