Frisking the Fixtures – Gameweek 33

Following Wednesday’s confirmation of Double Gameweek 37, we take our final look at the remaining schedule with our last fixture analysis article of the season.

With the picture now complete, we reveal and assess the teams with the strongest season run-ins who will doubtless dominate our recruitment and selection policy from this point onwards.

Tottenham Hotspur (stk MCI/bha blank WAT wba/NEW LEI)
Mauricio Pochettino’s side now have a confirmed Double Gameweek 37 alongside the existing pair of matches in Gameweek 34.

But a blank in Gameweek 35 means that looks the most opportune moment for managers to deploy their Free Hit chip if they still have it available.

However, there is also the option to move for Spurs players in Gameweek 36, even by taking points hits if necessary given the outstanding run-in.

With just one top seven opponent left to play, in the shape of Manchester City’s visit to Wembley Stadium in Double Gameweek 34, there looks every reason to load up on Spurs assets.

Looking at the defensive prospects, the clean sheet potential looks encouraging – with Man City and Leicester City arguably the only strong attacking opponents remaining.

Goals and assists also look likely for Spurs, though, particularly in ties with Newcastle United and Watford who will be expected to be safe, and West Bromwich Albion who will likely already be relegated by Gameweek 37.

Jan Vertonghen and Harry Kane look the safest picks, with the Spurs striker surely determined to do his utmost to secure a third consecutive Golden Boot.

His chances look to have increased after Mohamed Salah’s suspected groin injury, and the fact that the Egyptian’s minutes may now be reduced during the run-in should Liverpool progress to the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League.

Central to Kane’s appeal is the fact that he scored five times during Double Gameweek 37 last season, and faces two kind match-ups this time around.

For those with the Triple Captain chip still to play, that looks the obvious time to use it.

Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen appear a little more secure than Son Heung-min as midfield options, given the threat of Erik Lamela and possible rotation around the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United.

Son’s Wembley form does make the South Korean a tempting option through the final three Gameweeks, though.

Chelsea (WHU sot/bur blank swa LIV/HUD new)
The Blues now have two Double Gameweeks in 34 and 37, with both matches in the latter round at home.

But, like Spurs, the blank in Gameweek 35 looks advantageous to those wielding the Free Hit chip at that point.

The good news is that the champions have just one top six opponent left to play, but there are doubts over confidence levels and squad unity under Antonio Conte.

Now eight points behind fourth-placed Spurs, there’s also a chance that Conte may prioritise the FA Cup if a top-four finish looks beyond them.

Willian and Marcos Alonso remain the likely targets, with Eden Hazard struggling to justify his price tag and consigned to a differential role.

Willian is certainly proving more popular in the transfer market, attracting over 44,000 new owners, while only 7,000 have moved to snap up Hazard.

Leicester City (NEW bur/SOT blank cry WHU/ARS tot)
Foxes players have been popular targets in recent times, and with their Double Gameweek 37 confirmed alongside the existing Double, that looks set to continue.

But they are another side who blank in Gameweek 35, again playing into the hands of managers who still have their Free Hit chip available.

They now face four of their next six matches are at home, although they have drawn their last three at the King Power Stadium with a 1-1 scoreline.

Ben Chilwell is a big target after successive assists, with the left-back the most transferred in defender since Saturday’s deadline, attracting over 38,000 new owners.

Harry Maguire is still our favoured defender, though, due to his strong goal threat and superior bonus point potential.

Over his last six matches, the former Hull City stopper is ranked top among defenders for efforts in the box (ten) and second only to Chelsea’s Alonso for total attempts (12 to 13).

The centre-back is also top for clearances, blocks and interceptions (CBI) among Leicester players with 208, boosting his chances of picking up bonus points.

Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy are the obvious picks in attack and, given their security of starts, look set to remain mainstays for Wildcard teams.

The Foxes are targeting UEFA Europa League qualification via a seventh place finish, which suggests they will remain motivated for the run-in. They are currently placed in eighth, just three points behind Burnley.

Manchester United (mci WBA/bou blank ARS bha/whu WAT)
Jose Mourinho’s men also face Doubles in both Gameweeks 34 and 37, with United’s perhaps the most favourable of the lot given all four opponents are currently outside the top eight.

But again, they also blank in Gameweek 35, making investment tricky for those without the Free Hit.

The back four selection against Swansea City underlines the trouble in second-guessing Mourinho, however, although Chris Smalling has now made nine consecutive league starts. Regardless, David De Gea and Antonio Valencia appear the only safe picks in defence.

At the other end of the pitch, Romelu Lukaku is the most consistent attacker, though Jesse Lingard returned to the side with an assist last weekend and is a cut-price option who now looks more secure due to his recent form for club and country.

Alexis Sanchez’s 14 points in Gameweek 33 ensures he remains a powerful differential, though investment is a risk given the impact of the 11.5-priced midfielder on squad balance.

Arsenal (SOT new WHU mun BUR/lei hud)
While the Gunners have no Double Gameweek 34, they do play in Gameweek 35, when they host West Ham United at the Emirates, and now face a Double Gameweek 37.

Their run-in is very kind, with only one top six opponent remaining.

Europa League progress would raise further fears over rotation, though, particularly after Henrikh Mkhitaryan was benched on Sunday.

Should they qualify for the semi-finals, the first leg would be played three days before the Gameweek 36 trip to Man United, while the second leg is three days prior to the home clash against Burnley.

The final takes place on May 16, three days after the final day trip to Huddersfield Town.

Back-to-back clean sheets have boosted confidence in the Arsenal defence, with Shkodran Mustafi the main contender. He has three goals, one assist and 10 bonus points since Gameweek 12.

With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ineligible to play in Europe, he remains the stand-out option in attack. An average of 6.5 points per match is second only to Man City’s Sergio Aguero among forwards.

Given that many are sacrificing him for Kane in Gameweek 34, the Gabon international could prove to be an effective end-of-season differential providing Arsenal can end the campaign strongly.

Also consider…

Burnley (wat LEI/CHE stk BHA ars BOU)
The major appeal of Clarets players is the fact they are the only side to play four times in next three Gameweeks.

That includes their Double Gameweek 34, with Sean Dyche’s men the only team to play both matches at home.

Matt Lowton and Ashley Barnes were popular picks for those managers who played the Wildcards prior to Gameweek 32, and are strong budget enablers.

Meanwhile, Chris Wood and Johann Berg Gudmundsson, providing he is fit following a calf injury, are other viable options.

With seven goals from their last three encounters, compared to just one clean sheet in their last ten, it’s somewhat surprisingly in attack where we may be most rewarded.

Manchester City (MUN tot SWA whu HUD/BHA sot)
Last night’s 3-0 defeat to Liverpool in the Champions League quarter-final first leg could be a pivotal moment for Fantasy managers.

Should Pep Guardiola’s side fail to overcome the three-goal deficit, rotation is less likely to be a big concern during a very favourable run-in, including an exceptional Double Gameweek 37.

Using the Triple Captain chip on an attacker such as Aguero would be a consideration as an alternative to Kane, as would tripling up on City assets with the Bench Boost.

City also have a plum home fixture against Swansea City in Gameweek 35, which is likely to provide the trigger point for investment for non-Free Hitters, and mean a triple-up for those wielding their Free Hit chip.

But in the event they do qualify for the semi-finals, the first leg will take place prior to the Gameweek 36 trip to West Ham United, while the second leg comes before the home meeting with Huddersfield.

Gabriel Jesus and Bernardo Silva could emerge as differential targets in that scenario, with increased pitch time the main factor, along with their more budget-friendly price tags.

Swansea City (wba EVE mci CHE bou/SOT STK)
With their favourable Double Gameweek 37 confirmed, Swansea now look set to become the go-to source for budget options.

Certainly, for those using the Bench Boost in Double Gameweek 37, Lukasz Fabianski and Jordan Ayew are likely to be popular choices. Ayew is available to return in Gameweek 34 following his three-match ban.

At the back, Mike van der Hoorn and Federico Fernandez are the cut-price options.

Conveniently, the Free Hit chip can help avoid the daunting trip to Man City, leaving the home clash against Chelsea a week later as the trickiest remaining fixture.