Thursday evening finds me in an optimistic mood. I smell the alluring aroma of big fantasy returns this weekend. Follow my nose as I wander through the gameweek fixtures and preview the potential points bonanza…

Best For Clean Sheets…

This isn’t just any gameweek; this is a big big tasty high-scoring gameweek. Well it is if things go to form. On paper, there’s points at both ends for us fantasy managers, with some fixtures that look to be dripping in big profits.

When it comes to defensive points we have an array of options. The big defences – Chelsea and United, have away fixtures but against opponents that could easily see clean sheet returns. Ancelotti’s side look the more secure away at Wigan, particularly as United still have concerns over the fitness of Ferdinand. Ashley Cole will be another popular selection this week then and is odds on for tomorrow’ Scout Picks.

Away from these two, I’m looking to Everton at basement club Portsmouth and Liverpool at home to struggling Hull. It’s hard to see either of the Merseyside clubs slipping up here and, although neither defence has been particularly miserly, they’re worth backing here, with Johnson and Baines again the likeliest picks. Baines’ points potential from set-plays could be under threat from Bilyaletdinov but I don’t expect the Russian to start at the weekend. It’s a concen in the mid-term though.

Lower down the price bracket we have City at home to a inconsistent West Ham and Sunderland facing Wolves at the Stadium of Light. Less secure clean sheet options perhaps. but the likes of Given, Bridge and Lescott (if you have the cash) look strong for City, while Turner is again the sure bet in Steve Bruce’s side, with the rest of the Sunderland defence in flux following the emergence of Da Silva and Mensah in the midweek Carling Cup tie.

For outside bets you can gamble on Villa at Blackburn (Collins and Dunne the most likely), while the Birmingham vs Bolton fixture looks to be a good 0-0 candidate. Brum’s Roger Johnson and Bolton’s Gary Cahill, being our best options here.

Best For Goals…

Goals have been plentiful so far this season and, looking at this gameweek’s fixtures, there’s every chance that the trend will continue. There’s a good five or six games that appear to have three or four goals in them this week. The problem then, is that we appear to have just too much to chose from. Narrowing your selection looks tricky, with so many strong points scorers facing potentially kind outings.

Having said that, I don’t see heavy wins for United or Chelsea in their away games at Stoke and Wigan. A couple of goals each is likely to be enough for three points – although Rooney and Drogba are again, likely to be in profit.

Liverpool at home to Hull looks a stronger option for a three goal return. Hull have the worst defence in the league and meet a Torres on form and a Gerrard overdue a big haul. Both Benayoun and Kuyt should start having been rested in the midweek cup tie and will also be threats. Early substitutions to spare players for Tuesday’s Champions League tie with Fiorentina is my worry here though. That could hamper Torres in particular.

Everton have strong goalscoring form going into their trip to lowly Portsmouth, although there is a lot of doubt hanging over Moyes’ team selection. Cahill and Fellani both missed out in the midweek cup tie, while Saha was also rested so should start in this one. The bonus point magnet that is Steven Pienaar, also looks a certain starter, so any of those four look good selections, not just for this gameweek but for the three or four that follow. Bilyaletdinov is the joker in the pack here – but like I say, I’m not expecting him to start, despite his contribution in Cup games to this point.

Spurs and Burnley is a game that has goals scrawled all over it. Owen Coyle’s side can’t plug their defensive gaps on the road, whilst Spurs have an injury ravaged defence that will be tested by Nugent, Blake Fletcher and Elliot. I can see a four or five goal match here, with Lennon and Defoe the obvious attacking threats from the home side, although Crouch, after his hat-trick in the Carling Cup, also looks a good option if you’re prepared to gamble on his start.

As for Arsenal, they more or less guarantee goals. The Gunners stuck four past Wigan last time out and are the league’s leading scorers. Fulham don’t have confidence right now and aren’t threatening too much in attacking terms. That might see Arsenal needing just a couple at the Cottage, although I don’t see Wenger’s side letting up with goals coming from all quarters at present. Player selection is the major difficulty here. The Champions League is looming, while Wenger has plenty of options having rested so many players in the Carling Cup tie. The latest news from the Emirates hints at a return for Arshavin which muddies the waters further. Eboue, Rosicky, Edudardo and Bendtner are all vying for starts in the flanking roles and are all risky. Van Persie has a fitness test tomorrow apparently, so Bendtner will look good if news isn’t positive on that front. If you want real security from the Gunners, then Fabregas is your man, with Diaby the gamble.

Finally we have City at home to West Ham. Again, form says that we should see goals here, with Bellamy on fire for City, ably supported by Wright-Phillips, Ireland, and Barry who could all be in profit from midfield. We could also see a couple of goals coming from in-form Villa at Blackburn, Sunderland should also be good for two at home to the Wolves defence. That brings Ashley Young, Milner, Agbonlahor and of course Darren Bent into our thinking.

Best For Frustration…

It’s going to take a real formbook breaker to disappoint us this week. Perhaps Liverpool with struggle with Hull, Wigan and Stoke to put up a fight in their games with Chelsea and United. Fulham might even surprise Arsenal. I really can’t see it though.

For me, the main concerns I have surround investment in Villa being stifled by Big Sam’s Blackburn as they go all out for a clean sheet and kill the game at Ewood. While West Ham, being West Ham, may just have a good day and hold City to a low scoring encounter. The Hammers have conceded just a single goal in three away games so far this term so be wary of going overboard on City’s pricey talent.