With the cold snap across the Atlantic threatening to make its way over to the UK this weekend, our community writers were keeping a watchful eye on the weather forecasts. The fixture list is also under close examination with impending blank and double Gameweeks to navigate.

Among the chief concerns for the community in our hot topics this week was Diego Costa’s three-match ban, which is forcing many wildcarders to revisit their plans. We also look at Fantasy Football addiction and assess Fantasy managers’ ongoing search for bargains and differentials in midfield. Elsewhere, we catch up with the latest statistics in our Members Tables to help pinpoint the best potential prospects over the coming Gameweeks.

The Community Articles

With some worrying weather reports brewing across the Atlantic, fears are mounting that the UK could be hit hard by snow over the weekend. With the spectre of postponed matches looming, Triggerlips has been looking at the options at avoiding snowmageddon for our Fantasy squads.

For Bouncebackability the forthcoming blank Gameweek 28, for the League Cup finalists and their scheduled opponents is another concern. Here he looks over the implications and possible double Gameweek scenarios.

Following on from last week’s comparison of points per minute and value among Chelsea’s midfielders Jaffalicious has broadened his research to include all defenders, midfielders and forwards. There was further detail about the best budget backline options from Dynamic, in his look at the best three way rotation combinations in defence.

Goalkeepers were another focus for our community scribes, with Mouldmaster taking a look at Arsenal’s budget stopper David Ospina and how he fits into the latest goalkeeper rotation options.

Demi popped by to invite the community to join him in a game of Fantasy Cricket. Details on the game and how to take part can be found here.

The community received a huge boost last week in the Scout Picks when their Gameweek 22 champion Brooksyp got the better of all three scouts. Innsie, who was crowned Gameweek 23 champion will be hoping with similar success with his XI.

Don’t forget, if you’ve got some analysis, scout reports or features brewing, be sure to visit our community section to submit your article.

The Hottest Topics

With his reckless stamp on Liverpool’s Emre Can during Chelsea’s League Cup semi-final Diego Costa earned a three-match ban and some filthy looks from his many owners in the community. For some, though, his absence is proving the perfect excuse to freshen up their frontlines, as our discussion on the Chelsea striker’s antics showed. Further replacements were also on offer in Captain Shirokov‘s look at the current best forward lines.

While Sergio Aguero is proving a popular pick there is no such love for forwards at City’s closest rivals. Ruth NZ is among those to believe it is time to avoid the Manchester United attack after Louis van Gaal’s tactical tinkering saw them fail to muster a goal against lowly Cambridge United in the FA Cup last week. Ruth was back again later in the week to ask the community to be brave and list their weaknesses, something Costa should perhaps consider.

Prior to the ban announcement, there was no such cynicism for the potential of attackers Aguero or Costa to shine in Sinik’s discussion on the Premier League’s top goalscorers’ essential status. Wilshire Knowledge was among those to sing the praises of Aguero, while Adriano believes both deserve this lofty status.

Differentials also came under the radar when we asked where all the bargain midfielders have gone given Gylfi Sigurdsson’s three match ban and Stewart Downing’s tough upcoming fixture list. The ensuing discussion offered up a raft of potential new bargains.

Hooperman, meanwhile, has taken a look at new Sunderland forward Jermaine Defoe’s prospects as a differential to current budget forward favourite Harry Kane.

Finally, the latest session of Fantasy Football managers anonymous was in session this week when we asked the community when they first became addicted to the game. For Innsie, it was in the final few minutes of an exam when his mind turned to impending price changes. Similarly, Henry Hill realise he was addicted when, in a shop, he handed over the exact change at the counter and remarked how it was lucky “there weren’t any price rises overnight.”

The Members Tables

Doosra’s Deadly Assassins table continues to be our most popular Members Table. Its strong focus on shooting accuracy and chance creation will prove comforting viewing for those backing a certain Arsenal midfielder with the captaincy armband this week.

Those looking to find the top points scorers of the future are urged to visit my assist imminent and goal imminent tables, where some familiar and surprising names nestle alongside each other.

If you’re a member and are yet to get to grips with the custom statistics tables, you can view this movie for an explanation of how they work. Also, remember to tag them so that people can find the tables with ease.