Here’s the usual midweek-ish browse through the thoughts in my head prior to the weekend, offering an early view on the likely sources of fantasy football points and pain…

Best For Clean Sheets…

With so many home sides looking strong this weekend, clean sheets look plentiful in another week of potential heavy defensive scoring.

Everton have go into their home game with Stoke having won 4 of the last 5 at Goodison, conceding just one goal in the process. Pulis’ side are poor travelers and although they are in decent form, they will likely find it tough against the resolute home defence. Jagielka, Baines and, if you have the cash, Lescott, all look set for returns.

Chelsea also look good at home to Man City, with 3 sheets in 4 going into the game against a City attack that always struggles away from Eastlands. The Robinho factor, is the random element here, but you still have to back the Chelsea defence for returns. Bosingwa is your safe bet again, Terry and Cole will surely start but there is some doubt over just if and when Alex will be ousted for Carvalho now he’s fit.

Moving down a price bracket and Bolton have kept just one clean sheet in 16 games but did manage that one last time out at the Reebok against Newcastle. Fulham arrive with a poor away record, with very few goals scored, and off the back of three consecutive defeats. Steinsson and Cahill offer some mid-price value for the week then. Andy O’Brien is still a risk with Puygrenier a factor. Gardner is your ultimate gamble here – he could make a start in midfield and see attacking profits.

Staying in the mid-price bracket and the West Ham defence must also be fancied against a West Brom side who have constantly struggled to make an impression away from the Hawthorns. The Hammers are in strong form with 4 clean sheets in the last 6, making Upson a strong prospect. Ilunga and Tompkins are your budget options here.

Sunderland look your option for the “cheap sheets” with a home game against a Wigan side who managed just 2 goals in their last 8 games. Sunderland have been tight at the Stadium of Light, conceding just 3 in the last 5. The only concern here is that the Sunderland back four have rotated of late, with Ferdinand missing out against Spurs with a knock. We need more team news before a selection can be made, although Collins is playing well and looks a likely starter no matter what.

Best For Goals…

As I’ve mentioned, the home sides look strong this week and so they provide the likely sources for attacking points. Everton could put a few past Stoke, particularly if Moyes starts with the dangerous Saha up front. Cahill will also fancy his chances against the Stoke defence that has conceded an average of 2 goals a game over their last 5 away games.

Chelsea will have confidence when City arrive at the Bridge on Sunday. City will have played in the UEFA Cup on Thursday and could be tired, while Chelsea have had a couple of extra days rest after their win over Juventus. Drogba and Lampard will be heavily backed in this one – and quite rightly so. I see a comfortable enough home win by the popular 2-0 scoreline.

West Ham’s ability to put three or four past West Brom is likely to be tempered by the absence of Carlton Cole through suspension. Injuries to Beharmi and Collison could also disrupt them and it remains to be seen whether Nsereko and Di Michele can click together in this one. A win by a two-goal margin looks on the cards though and Di Michele has already generated some short-term fantasy interest.

Aston Villa vs Spurs could have goals in it. Villa need wins to keep ahead of Arsenal in fourth, while Redknapp’s side have goals in them after a run that has seen them notch 13 goals in their last 8 games. Keane owners might do well to hold firm for this week then.

The Hull vs Newcastle and Boro vs Portsmouth games could go either way given what’s at stake. An early goal in either could spark a feast, particularly with Newcastle likely to have Owen and Martins available to them at the KC Stadium. Similarly Boro will need Downing to stamp his authority and provide the spark against Portmsmouth who will themselves look to Kranjcar and Pennant. Goal potential then and some handy differentials on offer if you need a gamble.

Best for Frustration…

While fixtures like United vs Liverpool provide a decent starts to our Saturday TV schedule, they very rarely presents in fantasy terms. United go into the game knowing that a draw would keep Rafa’s side at arms length and so it seems likely that Ferguson will be fairly cautious in his lineup. That will likely mean no Giggs or Scholes, with the toil of Fletcher or Anderson preferred alongside the reliable Carrick. Someone will look to sit on Gerrard in the “hole” behind Torres and that could make for a tight affair with few goal opportunities. The likes of Ronaldo, Rooney, Berbatov, Gerrard and Torres are likely to see more profitable games than this then, although we could well be in for a couple of clean sheets in exchange.