Abseiling down the precipice of another double gameweek, there could well be rich fantasy returns lying at the end. Although it’s hard to fight back the nerves and trepidation when Bobby Zamora is potentially on the other end of the rope. Hold on tight – here’s the picks for this extended gameweek…

With four teams offering double returns for this gameweek, our selections are once again warped by the frenzy to bring in as many players from these four sides as possible. A closer look at what’s on offer soon reveals few quality options however, with Everton, Blackburn and Hull offering scant fantasy fruit for the picking.

Their candidates are obvious – Saha from Everton, Dunn from Blackburn and Hunt/Bullard from Hull. Fulham, with their kindish fixtures at Birmingham and at home to Blackburn, have more on the menu. Schwarzer and Hangeland the key targets for those looking to hone in on the potential clean sheets. Zamora the most secure, if somewhat impotent threat up front.

Dempsey is the most obvious midfield candidate. Hodgson, normally the most stable of selectors, may have new rotation options for the second fixture against Blackburn, with Davies and possibly Murphy closing on returns to fitness, but with Kamara ruled out, Dempsey could well start up front and is on spot-kicks.

Many of the aforementioned make it into the Picks this week then. Schwarzer, overlooked so far this term after starring as a major bargain last season, gets the nod for me between the sticks. I personally prefer this to the Hangeland option, mainly because I see the Fulham clean sheets as shaky at best. Schwarzer will at least deliver double save points and pips the likes of Sorensen and Hart for the keepers spot.

In front of him I’ve gone for the security offered by the Chelsea and United defences who both face kind opponents at home. Paddy Power has Chelsea, United and Spurs as their top three clean sheet prospects and, while I can see Wigan nicking one at White Hart Lane, I’m finding it hard to dispute the first two. Ivanovic in the ailing Chelsea defence and Evra in the equally injury ravaged United rearguard get the selection. With Terry and Evans both injury doubts, Vidic and Carvalho are you other options if you’ve the cash to splash.

The other two defensive slots go to the goal threat’s offered by Blackburn’s Samba and Stoke’s Shawcross. Rovers have trips to Bolton and Fulham in the gameweek and while I’m not banking on clean sheets from Samba, Big Sam’s side could always surprise us and the giant defender is overdue some attacking returns. Shawcross is another due a goal but also offers a decent possibility of a clean sheet at home to Portsmouth. There are perhaps better options for clean sheets elsewhere – a Hull defender with two home games (WHM EVE) and Birmingham’s Roger Johnson at home to Fulham for example. However, we’ve seen this season that we can rely on our defenders provide points from clean sheets alone and that’s enough for me to keep faith in those that offer that little bit more at the sharp end of the field.

Moving to midfield and Fabregas remains essential. Van Persie’s absence from the Arsenal lineup should see even more responsibility on the shoulders of the Gunners skipper – that could even extend to penalty kicks. Blackburn’s Dunn and Fulham’s Dempsey with decent form and double fixtures take their places alongside Fabregas. There’s little justification needed with either.

I’ve given the final midfield berth to Chelsea’s Kalou who looks a certain starter against Wolves with Drogba now confirmed as absent through injury. Not a long or even mid-term selection but for this one gameweek, Kalou offers outstanding value as a midfielder who will likely fill a strikers role alongside Anelka.

Anelka himself also warrants selection with Chelsea looking good for two or three goals at the Bridge against McCarthy’s obliging defence. The Frenchman should be on penalties and maybe even free-kicks in the absence of Lampard and Drogba – that should promise some form of return on investement.

The final spot in the eleven goes to United’s Rooney – the recipitant of much investment in the wake of recent injuries to Van Persie, Torres and Drogba. Rooney showed form in the 1-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge last time out and is up against his former club at Old Trafford. That should provide the motivation to help him break his recent fantasy dry spell.

When it comes to bench options, I can offer you plenty. Hull’s Bullard and Hunt provide strong potential with two home games in which they need to be key performers. As mentioned in my Watchlist article, I also like the look of Bolton’s Matt Taylor over the weeks to come. That starts this week against Blackburn.

Up front there are even more riches. Fulham’s Zamora, Birmingham’s Benitez, Beattie of Stoke and Tottenham’s Defoe all look very good options for those fishing in mid-price or budget waters. I’ve settled on Beattie because I’ve just got a sneaky about the former Saint up against Portsmouth.