In Frisking the Fixtures, we pinpoint the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) teams and players with the strongest runs of matches over the next six Gameweeks – or longer, if appropriate.
Our colour-coded Season Ticker is the primary source for this piece.
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SEASON TICKER OVERVIEW: NEXT SIX GAMEWEEKS
We’ve not made any tweaks to our initial pre-season difficulty ratings just two games into the season.
You could make the case that Spurs may prove to be stronger than their current ranking suggests, given their impressive start under new manager Thomas Frank. Perhaps Aston Villa and Brighton deserve a downgrade based on their starts to the campaign.
However, a bigger sample is definitely needed before making any serious changes.
ASTON VILLA
Villa fans will be happy to see their team has a favourable schedule for the next five Gameweeks.
A goalless draw against Newcastle at Villa Park in their first game was uninspiring, and a really lacklustre performance against Brentford might have some Villa fans worrying. However, could the fixtures induce some form?
In Gameweek 3, they host a Crystal Palace side that has recently lost their star man, Eberechi Eze (£7.5m), to Arsenal, and now look set to see captain and defensive leader Marc Guéhi (£4.5m) depart for Liverpool. With Palace weakened on both fronts (and in European action less than 72 hours before this Sunday’s game), it could be a good time to face them.
There is some serious clean sheet potential in the matches in Gameweeks 4, 5 and 7. Sunderland, despite their Gameweek 1 heroics against West Ham, were very poor against fellow newly promoted Burnley in Gameweek 2. They rank 17th for xG after two Gameweeks. The Clarets and Everton are themselves teams built on solidity rather than attacking swagger.
A limited transfer window will have done Villa no favours, but Emery’s core squad remains intact, and this run of fixtures offers a chance to rebuild confidence. One of their few additions, Evann Guessand (£6.5m), made an energetic impact off the bench against Brentford and could see more minutes in the coming weeks. Emery surely has to introduce Guessand or Donyell Malen (£5.4m) into his safety-first starting XIs soon.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Spurs have started the season well, beating Burnley comfortably in Gameweek 1 and then seriously impressing everyone by winning 0-2 against Manchester City at the Etihad.
Thomas Frank’s start to life at Spurs has been pretty good, although it is early doors. Previous manager, Ange Postecoglou, also enjoyed a very positive beginning to his tenure at Spurs before things went south.
But Spurs fans will be licking their lips at the prospect of going unbeaten in their first few games, especially when they have a very kind fixture list from Gameweeks 3 to 9. There’s not another big-six club in sight, indeed.
Heading into Gameweek 3, Spurs should be fairly confident at home against Bournemouth. Despite a win over 10-man Wolves, the Cherries’ early-season performances have been unconvincing (especially defensively), and the cohesion needs working on after a summer personnel shake-up.
Better is to follow, on paper at least, against West Ham, Wolves, Leeds and Everton, which will give the Lilywhites a great chance to show if they can keep up their decent start to the campaign. You’d think only Brighton and Villa could be trickier but those sides have struggled in their opening two fixtures as well.
The caveats would be European involvement and the end of the transfer window. How much will Frank rotate when the UEFA Champions League starts? We already saw him rest two key midfielders in Gameweek 1, which followed the Super Cup. Further recruitments, especially in attack, could also jeopardise the minutes of players like Brennan Johnson (£7.1m).
Mohammed Kudus (£6.6m) looks like being key to Frank’s system, at least, having started all three competitive matches so far this season. He’s also joint-second in the division for chances created (six).
LEEDS UNITED
Leeds will be glad to see that their next seven fixtures are reasonable after getting smashed 5-0 by Arsenal in Gameweek 2.
Back at Elland Road for Gameweek 3 in what would usually be a tricky game against Newcastle, Daniel Farke’s side might see an opportunity to take advantage of a difficult period for The Magpies, both on and off the pitch. The visitors may be down four players.
Between Gameweeks 4 and 9, there are some really good opportunities to get some more points on the board.
The away fixtures at Fulham and Wolves offer a decent chance to secure points on the road (the Cottagers laboured against the strugglers last season), with Wolves looking particularly weak.
But even better is to come in Gameweeks 8 and 9, with Burnley and West Ham United back-to-back.
Anton Stach (£5.0m) impressed in the opener against Everton with two defensive contribution (DC/DefCon) points, an assist and a clean sheet. He’s also on set plays and is the Premier League’s leading chance creator in 2025/26, so could be a solid fifth midfielder for their upcoming fixtures at his price.
Fellow cheapo Joe Rodon (£4.0m) exhibited his own ‘DC’ potential in Gameweek 2, having banked a shut-out on the opening weekend.
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
Wolves have started the season very poorly, but a win in the cup against fellow strugglers, West Ham United, might give them some confidence going into the next few Gameweeks.
The opening exchanges of any Premier League season can often be misleading, and a team’s fortunes can change very quickly. Wolves were one of the most in-form clubs when manager Vítor Pereira first arrived and they could easily rediscover that confidence, especially if they hold onto Norwegian striker Jørgen Strand Larsen (£6.5m).
For context, their defeats have come to Manchester City and a Bournemouth side that had a man advantage for half the game. Wolves had decent chances to score in both matches.
Fixtures-wise, it’s mostly good over the next seven Gameweeks. All three newly promoted clubs are to come; Wolves are the first club to face all three in 2025/26. Everton at home is before that, although Pereira could have done without Jack Grealish (£6.5m) arriving to bolster the Toffees’ attack.
ALSO CONSIDER
Finally, two teams with some good fixtures in the next four Gameweeks but stiffer tests in Gameweeks 7 and 8.
Nottingham Forest have three superb matches either side of the tricky trip to Arsenal, where they suffered a 3-0 defeat in 2024/25.
The Tricky Trees may be awaiting their first clean sheet of this season but only Newcastle United (eight) have allowed the opposition fewer shots than Forest (18) in 2025/26.
Chelsea’s favourable run of matches leading up to their Gameweek 7 clash with Liverpool was highlighted before the season began, and there are still some decent-ish challenges ahead.
Despite some injury setbacks, including an injury to starman Cole Palmer (£10.5m), they still look solid and have depth in pretty much every position. Palmer will probably be sidelined for the Fulham match in Gameweek 3, but we will most likely see him back in the starting line-up after that.
Fixtures against Brentford, Man United and Brighton – all teams with teething issues in the opening two Gameweeks – will be opportunities to get some points on the board, too.
