After breaking down the teams who face the most favourable schedules over the next six Gameweeks, we now focus on those with less appealing fixtures to come.
Our analysis shows that investment in Arsenal and Manchester United should perhaps be tempered, while two of the six teams with just two home fixtures in this window also feature.
Arsenal
(SWA mci TOT bur HUD MUN)
The Prospects – Goals
The Gunners enter a testing period on the back of an impressive 5-2 victory at Everton, but opportunities for goals may be limited during this stretch.
Saturday’s meeting with Swansea City is undoubtedly a chance to fill the boots once again, but in back-to-back clashes against Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, they face two of the three leading defences.
Burnley, meanwhile, have only conceded twice in four at Turf Moor, before a home encounter against Huddersfield Town provides more respite – the Terriers have leaked seven goals in their last three clashes.
A match-up against Manchester United provides a further deterrent based on how Jose Mourinho approached the trip to Liverpool earlier this month.
The Prospects – Clean Sheets
The next six opponents provide similar concerns from a defensive standpoint.
Swansea have failed to score in three of their four road trips, which suggests that Arsene Wenger’s side can secure a fourth consecutive clean sheet at home.
But Man City and Spurs lead the way for goals scored over the last four Gameweeks with 16 and 12 respectively, making defensive returns unlikely.
A trip to Turf Moor will also test the Gunners’ rearguard, although Sean Dyche’s side have only netted twice, and created just two big chances, over the last four Gameweeks.
Huddersfield have failed to score in their last three away matches and provide a second plum home fixture during this stretch, before the visit of Man United provides another fixture that will test the Gunners’ resolve.
The Turning Point
The fixture list turns dramatically from Gameweek 13 onwards, with only the occasional test against one of their top-six rivals.
Verdict
Those holding Arsenal assets may be tempted to sell following this weekend, with defenders particularly undesirable in the short-term.
Should the attackers sparkle against the Swans as they did in Gameweek 9, there could be a temptation to hold, although there looks little incentive to invest until at least Gameweek 13.
Manchester United
(TOT che NEW BHA wat ars)
The Prospects – Goals
The immediate outlook fails to improve, with the shock 2-1 defeat to Huddersfield now followed by difficult match-ups against Spurs and Chelsea.
But the period between Gameweeks 12 and 14 offers significant relief.
While Newcastle United, Brighton & Hove Albion and, in particular, Watford are all currently performing well, they should provide good opportunities for the Red Devils to recapture their early-season form.
Encounters against Arsenal and Man City then follow, offering further rigorous tests of United’s title credentials.
The Prospects – Clean Sheets
Although the shut-out against Liverpool proved that Jose Mourinho’s tactics can nullify even the most potent attacks, meetings with Spurs and Chelsea don’t look promising.
On the flip side, home encounters with Newcastle and Brighton are very encouraging.
But Watford have scored an impressive eight goals over the last four Gameweeks, while Arsenal have netted 11 times in four home matches.
The Turning Point
Gameweek 17 ushers in a hugely favourable run of fixtures, as Mourinho’s United avoid all of last season’s top six over their next eight matches.
Verdict
The kind run between Gameweeks 12 and 14 means that those who currently own Romelu Lukaku and any member of the United backline may be inclined to sit tight.
But any interest in midfield options such as Henrikh Mkhitaryan will surely be on hold until the fixture swing from Gameweek 17.
West Ham United
(cry LIV wat LEI eve mci)
The Prospects – Goals
Only two of the next six are at the London Stadium, although that may well be welcomed by the under-pressure Slaven Bilic.
The 3-2 win over Spurs in the EFL Cup will be a confidence booster ahead of the crucial trip to Crystal Palace. The Eagles have conceded seven goals in four home matches, but haven’t allowed a single big chance over the last two Gameweeks since switching to 4-4-2.
While Liverpool present a tough match-up, they do present a pretty kind fixture from an attacking point of view, having conceded more away goals (15) than any other side.
Similarly, although performing very well, Watford have shipped goals at home, but Leicester City could present more of a barrier following the appointment of Claude Puel as manager.
A trip to Everton perhaps depends on the Toffees’ confidence by that point, while Man City are arguably the most effective defence in the league currently.
The Prospects – Clean Sheets
Given that two of the Hammers’ three clean sheets have arrived in home matches, it’s at the back where the outlook appears particularly bleak.
The Palace clash looks the kindest fixtures of the next six, considering that the Eagles have only scored in one match this season.
But shackling the Liverpool attack will be a tough ask, while Watford are a dangerous proposition under the forward-thinking Marco Silva.
Leicester impressively rank fourth for big chances over the last four Gameweeks (nine) and offer up another tricky opponent, while Everton could be in a healthier state by the time the two teams meet in late November.
The trip to the Etihad surely provides little hope of defensive returns.
The Turning Point
Extending beyond Gameweek 15, the picture gets even bleaker, with home ties against Chelsea and Arsenal to follow.
Gameweek 18 looks the times to re-assess West Ham assets, with the schedule brightening considerably from then on.
Verdict
It’s fair to say that Fantasy managers can abandon Hammers options during this stretch, particularly with so many other mid-table sides enjoying kind runs over forthcoming Gameweeks.
Huddersfield Town
(liv WBA bou MCI ars eve)
The Prospects – Goals
Despite the shock 2-1 victory over Man United, the fixtures indicate that goals are likely to remain in short supply.
With West Brom and Man City the only two home opponents, there are immediate concerns over the scoring potential of David Wagner’s side.
In addition, the away trips offer little opportunity.
Liverpool have only conceded once at home, but the Bournemouth clash looks slightly more promising – the Cherries have registered just one shut-out.
Things become more difficult again, however, with a trip to Arsenal, who’ve been very comfortable at home to lesser sides, while Everton could be a tricky opponent by Gameweek 15.
The Prospects – Clean Sheets
Of the two home fixtures, defensive returns look possible against a West Brom outfit who have failed to score in two of their last three away matches.
But the Terriers look to have little chance of putting the brakes on a rampant Man City attack.
Clean sheets also look a tough ask on Huddersfield’s travels, with the Bournemouth fixture again appearing pivotal to their hopes during this stretch.
Keeping out Liverpool, Arsenal, and, to a lesser extent Everton, may prove beyond Wagner’s men.
The Turning Point
The schedule begins to turn for the Terriers from Gameweek 16, with the next nine rounds of matches offering up very obliging opponents.
Verdict
Huddersfield look set to remain a no-go area for Fantasy managers, although, given his dominance at set-pieces, Aaron Mooy could keep ticking over.
But beyond the Australian, our search for value looks to lie elsewhere.
Also be wary of…
West Bromwich Albion
The Baggies continue to be a closed book for Fantasy investment, with a testing short-term schedule (MCI hud CHE tot), married to a mixed bag of opponents from then on.
Tony Pulis’ side are indeed without a period of sustained favourable fixtures until the New Year – aside from a brief window of opportunity between Gameweeks 14 and 16 (NEW CRY swa).
With only one clean sheet in seven, West Brom defenders hold little appeal at this point, while – as is so often the case – their attacking options are best avoided.
Southampton
No team enjoyed a kinder start to the campaign than Saints, but it’s undoubtedly time to be very wary and to start building exit plans.
The run from Gameweek 12 onwards can only be described as brutal, with fixtures against Liverpool, Man City, Arsenal and Chelsea around the corner, with the outlook only brightening in the New Year.
Members of a Southampton backline – who have been pretty productive over the opening months – will soon be surplus to requirements.
Newcastle United
The picture remains rosy in the short-term, with a trip to Burnley and home ties with Bournemouth and Watford offering mixed expectations of attacking and defensive returns.
But, overall, the prospects look patchy for the Magpies from then on.
From Gameweek 12, their potential dips a little, with the home fixtures becoming more vital to the cause – three of their following four away trips see them face Man United, Chelsea and Arsenal.
Those holding Rob Elliot as first choice may need to revise their plans or rely solely on save points and look to the home fixtures for their main source of points.
Owners of the likes of Joselu, Matt Ritchie or Christian Atsu should consider making alternative plans in the very near future.
