With each team having played out ten matches, the home and away split evens out over the next six Gameweeks.
However, this still represents a crucial turning point in the season, with Southampton’s hugely favourable start to the campaign, for example, about to come to an abrupt end.
There are also more crunch matches between top six rivals to come, which limits the potential of Manchester United and Arsenal players in particular.
Here’s our regular summary of the teams with those weaker schedules, following our assessment of those with favourable fixtures yesterday.
West Ham United
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The Prospects – Goals
Given their indifferent form and a gruelling run of opponents, particularly at home, there’s likely to be little interest in West Ham’s attackers during this period.
Liverpool’s porous defence away from home, having shipped 15 goals on their travels, does offer some hope this weekend, though.
Similarly, Watford lead the way for goals conceded at home, with 11, potentially providing another decent match-up.
But Leicester City are expected to be more resolute under new manager Claude Puel, and while Everton are vulnerable right now, they could be a different proposition come Gameweek 14.
It’s difficult to see West Ham getting much too joy from the Manchester City and Chelsea fixtures, with the Blues’ backline expected to have N’Golo Kante back to protect them, perhaps even for Sunday’s clash with Manchester United.
The Prospects – Clean Sheets
The defensive prospects appear even gloomier.
Liverpool arrive at the London Stadium on the back of consecutive 3-0 victories and looking to take advantage of an injury-ravaged Hammers backline.
Slaven Bilic’s men then travel to Watford, to face a side who have struggled at home, though they still possess plenty of attacking threat under Marco Silva.
Leicester were hugely impressive against Everton last weekend, while despite their struggles, the Toffees have scored two goals in two of their last three encounters at Goodison Park.
It’s fair to say that a trip to the Etihad Stadium offers barely any chance of defensive returns, while a match-up with Chelsea is another unfavourable clash.
The Turning Point
Gameweek 18 marks the point at which Hammers assets will be back on our radars, as they embark on a 10-match run that includes just one testing fixture.
Verdict
West Ham players have barely featured in the thoughts of Fantasy managers, and there certainly looks no reason to change that stance over the coming period.
Arsenal
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The Prospects – Goals
Seven goals in two matches suggests that the Arsenal attack is beginning to flourish, but a run of tough opponents at home is a concern.
Spurs, Man United and Liverpool are among the next five visitors to the Emirates Stadium, with the potential for goals surely limited against those first two opponents.
The short-term prospects are also a concern, with Man City allowing just seven shots on target over the last four Gameweeks, while Burnley have kept clean sheets in three of their last four at Turf Moor.
The Huddersfield Town clash stands out as a plum fixture, with the Terriers conceding 10 goals over the last four Gameweeks.
The Prospects – Clean Sheets
The Gunners have conceded against both Everton and Swansea City, which provides little confidence that they can accrue many clean sheets during this spell.
Over the next two Gameweeks, Man City and Spurs are both fancied to register against Arsene Wenger’s rearguard.
The trip to Turf Moor will present a different type of test, although the Clarets have only netted three goals in five home matches.
Huddersfield have failed to score in four of their last five, and should certainly present a good opportunity for defensive points.
But Man United will pose a counter-attacking threat at the Emirates, before the trip to Southampton offers a second strong opportunity for a shut-out, although Saints are surprisingly joint-third for penalty area shots over the last four Gameweeks, with 37.
The Turning Point
The schedule does begin to ease from Gameweek 16 onwards and, despite those home meetings with Liverpool and Chelsea, Arsenal assets should be back on our radars during that stretch.
Verdict
Given his form and more affordable price tag, it may only be owners of Aaron Ramsey who will be content to hold during this tough spell.
Other Arsenal attackers appear unlikely to live up to their premium price tags, and with clean sheets prospects thin on the ground, there also looks little appeal in owning any members of the backline, though some may be willing to gamble on further attacking returns from Sead Kolasinac.
Southampton
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The Prospects – Goals
Mauricio Pellegrino’s men have only scored nine goals despite a very generous start to the campaign, and this demanding run of fixtures is hardly conducive to improving that record.
The away trips looks particularly troublesome, with Liverpool conceding just once at Anfield so far, while Man City are still limiting their opponents to very few chances.
The Bournemouth clash offers some hope, as the Cherries have mustered just one shut-out, although they have only conceded three goals over the last four Gameweeks.
The home encounters against Burnley and Everton look crucial, then, though the Clarets are notoriously difficult to break down, while changes are underway at Goodison Park, potentially making that match-up trickier than it currently appears.
A home fixture with Arsenal is also likely to limit the potential of the Southampton attack, with the Gunners only allowing eight shots on target over the last four Gameweeks.
The Prospects – Clean Sheets
While Saints’ strength lies at the back, the fact that they face all of last season’s top six before the turn of the year severely limits the potential of their defence.
During this spell, much will rest on those Burnley and Everton fixtures. Both clubs sit in the bottom six for the fewest big chances created over the last four Gameweeks, with four and two respectively.
The other home encounter, against Arsenal, offers little promise – the Gunners have registered more shots (81) than any other side over the last four Gameweeks.
The next two road trips are particularly tough.
Liverpool have produced more shots (111) in home matches than any other team, while Man City lead the way for home goals with 21.
Bournemouth have only scored three times at the Vitality Stadium, though, and provide a reasonable match-up.
The Turning Point
Arguably, Saints have the most testing run prior to the availability of the second Wildcard in Gameweek 21.
The fixture list begins to turn from Gameweek 22 onwards, with only a couple of tough home matches interrupting a serene run.
Verdict
Once Gameweek 11 is out of the way, there looks to be no appetite to keep hold of any Southampton assets.
Defenders have been popular options during the opening months of the campaign, but a mass exodus now appears inevitable.
Also be wary of…
Manchester United
In the short-term, this remains a mixed period for Jose Mourinho’s men, including matches against Chelsea, Arsenal and the Manchester derby – clashes that will likely decide their title credentials.
The performance and tactics on show at Stamford Bridge will go a long way to confirming the Fantasy potential over this spell, although the three fixtures between Gameweeks 12 and 14 dangle the prospect of improved returns.
We should also be aware that the spell from Gameweek 17 to 21 appears kind enough to encourage investment. Phil Jones and Romelu Lukaku remain the standout Man United options.
Huddersfield Town
The visit of West Bromwich Albion, followed by a trip to Bournemouth, will be cited as crucial fixtures for David Wagner and provide some relief from what is a taxing mid-term schedule.
Match-ups with Man City, Arsenal and then Chelsea follow, ensuring that, if we’re still holding Terriers assets, we will need rotation options to work with them.
But broadly speaking, it’s unlikely we’ll be seriously considering Huddersfield players as budget options until at least Gameweek 16.
Newcastle United
Rafa Benitez’s side have struggled for a cutting edge and are in danger of treading water after an encouraging start. The weekend meeting with Bournemouth now looks vital.
Goals against Man United, West Brom and Chelsea in the next three away matches could be hard to come by, given the Magpies’ current plight.
In terms of the defensive prospects, the Watford match-up is a worry as they have travelled well this season, while if last weekend is anything to go by, Leicester’s counter-attacks will also be difficult to keep out.
Rob Elliot will perhaps have to rely more on save points to keep ticking over, while it may be best to look elsewhere for cheap defensive options.
West Bromwich Albion
Like West Ham, the Baggies are struggling for form at a time when injuries are taking their toll.
The fixture list offers little assistance, with the weekend trip to Huddersfield appearing a crucial encounter for Tony Pulis’ side.
Clashes with Chelsea and Spurs then follow, before a brief respite in the form of back-to-back home matches with Newcastle and Crystal Palace. But they follow that with another chastening spell against Liverpool, Man United and Arsenal.
It could be a while before we revisit Pulis’ charges.
