The complexity of the fixture schedule is ramping up as conflicting league and cup commitments clash for a number of teams and key Fantasy assets. Fortunately, some of our regular community posters have been on hand to start guiding us through the blanks and doubles, as well as offer advice on formation, team value and the pecking order within the improving Everton defence.

Ronald Koeman’s assets in attack also come under the watchful gaze of our community writers, while our Members tables take a peak at some of the key statistics for success in FanDuel.

We look back on all that, plus take time out to scan the top of our community leagues, who are no doubt already getting to grips with impending changes in the fixture calendar.

The Community Articles

Poor old Romelu Lukaku. Despite being one of Fantasy Football’s most significant and free-scoring assets over several seasons, he is still struggling to shake off his reputation for “trolling” Fantasy Football managers with unexpected disappointments.

Self-confessed fan of the Everton striker, MGPT, has decided to take action to debunk this myth, assessing Lukaku’s Premier League record in a bid to defend the striker’s honour.

The majority of the top five in our career Hall of Fame may take some convincing on that score, according to TopMarx’s latest look at this elite group. His analysis of their Gameweek 22 moves shows that just one of these top ranked managers have invested in the Belgian’s talents ahead of Everton’s kind run of fixtures.

Finally, for those who fancy honing their skills in a different sport, Rugby fan Hutch James served up this guide to the Fantasy game taking place around the forthcoming Six Nations tournament.

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 the first postponements now in place for Gameweek 26 due to the EFL Cup final, Jarvish dropped by to advise people to start preparing early. One of his latest posts on the issue, features an excellent spreadsheet on the current picture regarding blanks and double Gameweeks by Perchinho.

Preserving the Wildcard looks to be key given these impending fixture list complications, added Jarvish in another hot topic on how to get the best use of this chip – a crucial weapon over the vital second phase of the campaign.

We also joined the discussion with this hot topic focusing on those players set to face a Premier League blank due to the forthcoming Wembley showpiece in February.

However, this week saw some better news regarding missing players, as Ozil delivered us an updated report from the Africa Cup of Nations, bringing news of returning stars such as Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha, who will be back in domestic action following the conclusion of the tournament’s group stages.

Formation changes also topped this week’s agenda, with a points bonanza from defenders in Gameweek 22 giving many of those who responded to our Rough with the Smooth round-up the opportunity to ponder a switch to a four-man backline.

Sneivitz is among the community’s advocates of spending more in defence this season, especially as many are being utilised in attacking roles for their clubs.

Everton wing-backs Leighton Baines and Seamus Coleman are among such forward-thinking defenders, according to In Conte we Trust’s look at this dynamic duo.

The Toffees midfield is also providing us with options, with Athletico Timbo dropping by to take a look at the merits of the improved form of Ross Barkley and Kevin Mirallas.

Not a week goes by without the Fantasy Premier League’s transfer market attracting debate.

This time Wakey took his turn on the soap box to lament some Fantasy managers’ obsession with chasing profit over points. He returned later in the week with some further musings on team value and the options open to those short on funds.

Ville Ronka is a Fantasy manager who can never be accused of wasting knee jerk transfers. According to our latest Hall of Fame update, he has retained his place at the summit based on a tried and tested patient approach to FPL management: so far this season he has yet to make a single points hit.

Given his success and an unexpected return to form for forgotten players such as Liverpool’s Robert Firmino, we wondered whether patience could once again prove a virtue in FPL.

Even the most patient of Fantasy managers would have long given up on Saido Berahino after months on the sidelines for West Brom. But now, 0.5m cheaper and perhaps an assured starter for new club Stoke City, we asked whether the striker could possibly return to the radar, along with a number of other cut-price gems.

We also took a look at some of the bargains at relegation battling sides who could well offer strong potential for the season run-in.

With a less than successful recent spell at West Brom, Berahino certainly has ‘something to prove’ – a cliché that comes under criticism from Epic Fail in his myth-busting look at some of Fantasy Football’s most overused terms.

Finally, FPL Virgin has been thinking about how FPL can make better use of its chips, with some new suggestions to consider.

The Members Tables

Maximillianfescue has compiled this handy table looking at some of the best data when considering a attacking assets, including goal involvement.

For those taking part in our FanDuel social league, my table looking at the key criteria for success in this format, should prove useful.

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.

The Community Tournaments

In Red Lightning’s Top 10k Any Season mini-league, there’s no change at the top with Raul Seleccion still dominating proceedings. It is also business as usual in his January to May league, where Ogie Nolan continues at the summit. Ogie, whose team was mentioned on this week’s Scoutcast, is also top of our Members League.

Arutla Jatin is another dominant manager and retains top spot in our main league. He is up to second, 51 points behind overall leader Knut Hebaek.

In TorresMagic’s Last Man Standing the safety score was 44, which saw 100 players depart and 699 remain.

Torres Magic retains his lead in the FFS Moderators and Contributors league, 12 points ahead of second placed Spencer.

There’s also no movement at the top of my Millionaires Club, for those with an unfortunate Gameweek 12 rank above the one million mark, with Gilles Wanlin continuing his ascent up the rankings in style. He is now ranked an impressive 74,223.

Elsewhere, Jaffalicious delivered his latest report from the UEFA Champions League tournament, which has now reached the last 16 stage.

If you are running a community tournament and would like the latest scores included in future Community Round Ups, please email me a brief summary of the current leaders and a link to your league, spreadsheet or head to head competition, at jonty@fantasyfootballscout.co.uk.