In a list with several players having a good season, it is necessary to look at the average rating achieved by Gakpo before his mid-season move to Liverpool. Additionally, we need to highlight Kökçü’s season leading his team to the title.
| Player | Rating | Defense | Minutes Played | Team |
| Cody Gakpo | 8.55 | Back 4 | 1122 | PSV Eindhoven |
| Orkun Kökçü | 8.27 | Back 4 | 2696 | Feyenoord |
| Václav Černý | 8.19 | Back 4 | 2380 | Twente |
| Xavi Simons | 8.14 | Back 4 | 2513 | PSV Eindhoven |
| Oussama Tannane | 8.03 | Back 4 | 1964 | NEC Nijmegen |
| Joey Veerman | 7.95 | Back 4 | 2481 | PSV Eindhoven |
| Edson Álvarez | 7.94 | Back 4 | 1797 | Ajax |
| Kudus Mohammed | 7.90 | Back 4 | 1251 | Ajax |
| Dušan Tadić | 7.89 | Back 4 | 1995 | Ajax |
| Tijjani Reijnders | 7.89 | Back 4 | 3046 | AZ Alkmaar |
| Ramiz Zerrouki | 7.84 | Back 4 | 2806 | Twente |
| Steven Berghuis | 7.76 | Back 4 | 2070 | Ajax |
| Mats Wieffer | 7.74 | Back 4 | 1475 | Feyenoord |
| Kenneth Taylor | 7.68 | Back 4 | 2497 | Ajax |
| Sven Mijnans | 7.67 | Back 4 | 1160 | AZ Alkmaar |
| Ibrahim Sangaré | 7.60 | Back 4 | 2303 | PSV Eindhoven |
| Steven Bergwijn | 7.53 | Back 4 | 2340 | Ajax |
| Melle Meulensteen | 7.42 | Back 4 | 1337 | Vitesse |
| Johan Bakayoko | 7.39 | Back 4 | 1334 | PSV Eindhoven |
| Thom Haye | 7.35 | Back 4 | 1751 | Heerenveen |
| Jordy Clasie | 7.33 | Back 4 | 2895 | AZ Alkmaar |
| Anas Tahiri | 7.27 | Back 4 | 1676 | Heerenveen |
| Quinten Timber | 7.26 | Back 4 | 1638 | Feyenoord |
| Lutsharel Geertruida | 7.23 | Back 4 | 450 | Feyenoord |
| Thom Haye | 7.22 | Back 5 | 879 | Heerenveen |
| Jens Toornstra | 7.13 | Back 4 | 2330 | Utrecht |
| Philippe Rommens | 7.11 | Back 4 | 2478 | Go Ahead Eagles |
| Marouan Azarkan | 7.10 | Back 4 | 1503 | Excelsior |
| Osame Sahraoui | 7.07 | Back 4 | 1114 | Heerenveen |
| Oussama Idrissi | 7.05 | Back 4 | 1397 | Feyenoord |
| Iliass Bel Hassani | 7.04 | Back 5 | 1003 | RKC Waalwijk |
| Jesper Karlsson | 7.03 | Back 4 | 1732 | AZ Alkmaar |
| Sven Mijnans | 7.03 | Back 4 | 1477 | Sparta Rotterdam |
| Javairô Dilrosun | 7.02 | Back 4 | 1880 | Feyenoord |
| Vito van Crooy | 7.01 | Back 4 | 2857 | Sparta Rotterdam |
| Jens Odgaard | 7.00 | Back 4 | 1413 | AZ Alkmaar |
Conditions for the presented data:
– Minimum minutes played in the season: 450 minutes (equivalent to 5 full games) per type of defense played (Back 4 or Back 5);
– Relegation/Promotion play-off data excluded;
Data from FBref.