We roll out the first instalment of our recommended player picks for the next four-to-six Gameweeks this afternoon. As always, we start at the back, analysing Goalkeepers and Defenders, where the top three are set to capitalise on some eye-catching festive fixtures – our refresh is available in the sidebar on your right:

Goalkeepers

With a trip to Hull and home games against Norwich, West Ham and Cardiff in the next five, Simon Mignolet retains top spot in the keeper standings. Liverpool have conceded just three goals in six matches at Anfield, boosting the Belgian’s clean sheet prospects over the festive period, though there are cheaper options in the Reds backline to consider.

Petr Cech also keeps his lofty position in this week’s refresh. Chelsea’s schedule over the next four Gameweeks (SOT, sun, sto, CPL) suggest more defensive returns could be on the way after Jose Mourinho’s side registered a first clean sheet in seven at West Ham last weekend – with more attack-minded options in Jose Mourinho’s defence, though, their stopper’s appeal is somewhat diminished.

Three clean sheets in the last four highlights Arsenal’s current form. Wojciech Szczesny rolls up to Cardiff this weekend and also faces back-to-back home games against Hull and Everton before the schedule takes a tricky turn in Gameweek 16. Despite the goal threat of the Gunners centre-backs, the Pole remains their top scoring option at the back.

One goal conceded in the last three keeps Newcastle’s Tim Krul firmly in our thoughts. The Dutchman has three favourable home games (WBA, SOU, STO) and a visit to Palace in the next six to continue his ascent up the Fantasy rankings – again, though, at 5.0, his appeal lessens as a result of cheaper Magpies alternatives.

A clean sheet against Sunderland last weekend elevated Asmir Begovic to joint-second in the FPL keeper rankings. With home games against Cardiff and Villa, supplemented by a trip to Hull in the next five, the Bosnian’s owners will be expecting further returns – Begovic has produced five bonus points and earned save points in seven of his 12 appearances thus far.

Games against the bottom three (FUL, cpl, SUN) in the next four bode well for Jussi Jaaskelainen’s prospects. With Winston Reid sidelined, there’s no doubt the West Ham backline is not quite as resilient but Sam Allardyce’s side could well be set to add to their haul of six clean sheets against such goal-shy opponents. Whilst Jaaskelainen owners will be happy to hold, those looking for a route into the Hammers defence have cut-price alternatives to consider.

Brad Guzan has home games against two of the bottom three in the next six, as Sunderland and Palace both roll up to Villa Park. With trips to Fulham and Stoke also on his agenda, the US international is afforded the chance to add to a run of two clean sheets in the last three Gameweeks. Norwich’s John Ruddy also squares up to the bottom three across the next six – Palace and Hull roll up to Carrow Road, whilst the Canaries also wing their way to the Stadium of Light.

Artur Boruc remains low down in this week’s refresh. The Saints stopper has delivered a single clean sheet in five now and with Chelsea and City in the next three, his short-term prospects are hardly appealing – home games with Villa and Spurs and a trip to Cardiff offers a little more optimism for his 23% owners.

Finally, David De Gea is handed a schedule which may see a turnaround in fortunes. The United stopper has a single clean sheet in the last eight but with a trip to toiling Tottenham preceding three home games in five (EVE, NEW, WHM) in addition to trips to Villa and Hull, his prospects look a little more enticing.

Defenders

With the fixtures falling kindly for Chelsea, their skipper makes his way to the top of the defender rankings. Only John Terry and Branislav Ivanovic looks secure starters for the Blues at the back – the former’s greater goal threat and propensity for picking up bonus gives him the edge over the Serbian.

Arsenal’s upturn in resilience and kind run of fixtures should afford Per Mertesacker the chance to continue racking up the points. The big German earned his second double figure haul of the season last weekend and, whilst he may be the costliest Gunners defender at 5.7, has earned 12 points more than any of Arsene Wenger’s back-four.

Liverpool right-back Glen Johnson takes a drop in the rankings due to the recent installation of Jon Flanagan on the other side of defence. The latter comes in at 4.5 to Johnson’s 5.7 and with Brendan Rodgers singing his praises, many Fantasy managers currently considering a route into the Reds backline may well be tempted by a punt on the youngster instead.

Jonny Evans has started the last five for United now, with Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic’s game time affected by injuries. Michael Carrick’s absence looks set to keep Phil Jones in central midfield, leaving Evans – at just 5.0 – the chance to cement a regular role in the heart of defence over the above-mentioned schedule. Back in the Newcastle starting line-up after recent injury, Fabricio Coloccini has earned maximum bonus points on both occasions he has produced a clean sheet. If the Magpies can register a few more shut-outs, their skipper, at 4.9, looks the likeliest beneficiary.

Ron Vlaar’s guaranteed game time helps the Villa skipper get the nod. At just 4.5, he has earned bonus in all four games his side have registered a clean sheet, though 3.9 priced Nathan Baker offers a cut-price alternative, with slightly less security of starts. Elsewhere in the midlands, the penalty box menace of Gareth McAuley has already produced two goals and an assist for West Brom. At 5.4, the Baggies centre-half isn’t cheap but with Liam Ridgewell struggling with a calf complaint and Ben Foster’s imminent return diminishing Boaz Myhill’s appeal, McAuley looks a secure route into Steve Clarke’s defence.

Back-to-back clean sheets, allied with the installation of Tony Pulis at the Selhurst Park helm, brings Joel Ward into consideration. The Eagles right-back comes in at just 4.0 (as does Danny Gabbidon and Dean Moxey) but Ward looks a guaranteed starter under the new manager, affording a greater degree of confidence ahead of a trip to Norwich and home games with West Ham and Cardiff in the next three.

Martin Olsson rises in this week’s refresh. Coming in at 4.2, he’s started each of the last seven at left-back for Norwich but with both Anthony Pilkington and Robert Snodgrass ruled out through injury, there’s the possibility he’ll be moved into midfield, with Nathan Redmond shifted to the right flank. Cardiff’s Ben Turner, at just 4.0, is another cut-price option – he has games against Stoke, Palace and West Brom in the next four.

Erik Pieters’ attacking potential has helped him score more points than any Stoke defender so far. At 5.0, he’s cheaper than Mark Hughes’ centre-backs and has a pair of assists, two bonus points and a couple of clean sheets in the last five Gameweeks.

Southampton’s Nathaniel Clyne remains in the lower ranks this week due to a fairly unappealing schedule, whilst an injury to Leighton Baines brings Phil Jagielka into consideration for the first time this term. Everton entertain Stoke before a couple of tricky trips to United and Arsenal. The schedule takes a real turn for the better from Gameweek 16, though –Jagielka has picked up more bonus points than any defender or midfielder, with his game clearly ideal for the new BPS scoring matrix.

Martin Demichelis has started the last four for City and offers a route into a backline that has conceded once in the last three. With Matija Nastasic subbed off with a knock last weekend, the Spaniard looks the most secure option for a home clash against Swansea and trips to West Brom and Southampton, though we’ll be reassessing his prospects if, as expected, Vincent Kompany returns in the next couple of weeks.

With a trip to City up next, our enthusiasm for Swansea skipper Ashley Williams is somewhat curbed. After the Etihad, though, three home games in four (NEW, HUL, EVE) and a trip to Norwich boost the 4.8 priced centre-back’s potential over the festive period.