Our weekly look at the upcoming fixture landscape begins, as ever, with the sunny side of the street. Factoring in the imminent blanks, we cast an eye over teams with the most favourable schedules across the next four to six Gameweeks – two of the top seven are on our radars, while Norwich and Stoke provide intriguing options for managers casting around for Gameweek 29 sticking plasters:

Norwich

Under-pressure manager Chris Hughton earned another stay of execution with his team’s spirited thwarting of Tottenham. The unexpected result shows us that their best weapon in the war against relegation – their home form – might be something for Fantasy managers to take advantage of. With three nice-looking home games in the next six (STO, SUN, WBA) and the first of those being a precious Gameweek 29 fixture, many are eyeing up one or more Canary-shaped plugs for the holes in their squads that weekend.

Clean sheets in each of their last four home games (including Man City and Tottenham) bring Norwich’s defensive assets firmly onto our radars. At 5.0, John Ruddy is an expensive goalkeeping option but his premium buys you plenty of save points. In defence, the 4.3-priced Martin Olsson remains the standout choice, with both security of starts and cost on his side. In midfield, the emerging form of Robert Snodgrass has made him a viable acquisition; he has notched two goals and an assist in five matches, with the underlying stats hinting at more to come.

Everton

Very nearly snatching a point at Stamford Bridge, Everton are showing themselves to be formidable foes, even when not playing brilliantly. Scoring in just one of their last four games, the Toffees are clearly toiling but the return of Romelu Lukaku coincides perfectly with an upturn in fixtures. For despite their postponed Gameweek 29 fixture, Everton have a mouth-watering set of matches, with three home games and a trip to Fulham in the next five Gameweeks. The Toffees also have two encounters to rearrange – against Sunderland and Palace, presenting Fantasy managers with the prospect of a couple of double Gameweeks somewhere along the line. Such fixtures ought to bring Fantasy profit at both ends of the pitch.

In defence, managers who held onto Seamus Coleman through his injury may be rewarded for their patience, while Phil Jagielka and Leighton Baines also look good options. In midfield, Kevin Mirallas seems to be the likely lad, having looked like hitting some form a few weeks ago although, with a plethora of attacking midfield options at Roberto Martinez’s disposal, his security of start is dented somewhat. Martinez will be hoping that Lukaku’s return to fitness will kick-start a faltering attack; earlier this season, the Belgian notched eight times in nine games and with on-loan Lacina Traore sidelined due to a hamstring injury, only Steven Naismith could rob him of game time.

Chelsea

A last gasp goal from John Terry saved Jose Mourinho’s blushes against Everton last weekend and kept the Blues at the top of the table. They’ll be hopeful of staying there for a while now as their medium-term schedule brightens a little. Four appealing matches in the next six, as well as a Gameweek 29 fixture means that Chelsea remain firmly on Fantasy radars.

The Blues have now conceded just three goals in their last 11 games to push their defence to the top of many Watchlists. Terry’s goal was a timely reminder of what he brings to the table for his extra cost – Gary Cahill and Branislav Ivanovic are both decent options, too, with the latter’s recent forays into enemy territory edging him into the lead. Meanwhile Cesar Azpilicueta is the budget-friendly option at the back, though hasn’t so far offered the same attacking (or bonus point) potential as the rest of his defensive colleagues. In midfield, only Eden Hazard seems to be firing right now, though Willian’s underlying stats are worth keeping an eye on, whilst up top, the threat of rotation between Fernando Torres and Samuel Eto’o make both options unappetising.

Stoke

Limiting City to a single goal at the Etihad must rank as one of the achievements of the season for Mark Hughes’ side. Not exactly a prolific source of Fantasy profit this term, the Potters could nevertheless turn their forthcoming schedule into points as they have four strong games in the next six, including a trip to Norwich in Gameweek 29. The good times extend for a little while beyond that, too.

The expected return of Robert Huth should help to shore up their failing defence – the German can be expected to oust Marc Wilson from the XI, making Erik Pieters the only sub-5.0 option at the back . With set pieces and a wicked long range shot in his locker, Charlie Adam is the midfield option of choice – both he and Peter Crouch have notched three times apiece in the last seven but with forward slots at a premium, few will be willing to take a punt on the latter.

ALSO CONSIDER

Southampton
One of only four of the current top 10 teams blessed with a match in Gameweek 29, Southampton have three decent fixtures (cpl, NOR, NEW) in the next six. They also face Liverpool next week which, while as stern a test as their defence may face, isn’t such a bad option for their attack, as Swansea and Fulham found out. Artur Boruc remains a great option in goals, while Calum Chambers is the budget choice in defence. Adam Lallana will be hopeful of adding more goals to his tally whilst Rickie Lambert and Jay Rodriguez retain their appeal.

Newcastle
The return of Fabricio Coloccini, Cheick Tiote and Löic Remy helped Newcastle to their first goal, win and clean sheet in four games. Alan Pardew will be hopeful of putting their recent performances behind them and chalking up a respectable league finish. Despite the blank, the schedule mainly smiles kindly on the Tyneside team, with trips to Hull and Fulham and the visit of Crystal Palace in the next four Gameweeks. Mike Williamson and Tim Krul could earn their owners a few more budget clean sheets while Remy will be keen to return to the form that saw him score eight goals in as many games earlier in the season.

Crystal Palace
Tony Pulis has done a fine job of lifting the Eagles out of the relegation zone but the task is far from finished. His main aim will be to turn around an away form that has seen them win just once on the road since he joined in November – certainly, trips to Swansea, Sunderland, Newcastle and Cardiff in the next six offer the chance to do so. The defensive displays that brought Palace onto Fantasy radars over the festive period will be tested by those road trips but it may be the turn of their attack to bring Fantasy points: Tom Ince has been impressing while Jason Puncheon may still have penalties in his locker. Glenn Murray could snatch them from him, however: the striker has finally returned to the fold to share some of the pitch time with Marouane Chamakh and, if he can reprise his Championship goalscoring form, could become the most unlikely of budget enablers.