This lunchtime we focus our attentions on the upcoming schedule, assessing those sides with the most favourable fixtures over the next four to six Gameweeks. Chelsea build momentum with back-to-back wins in all competitions ahead of a kind run of matches, West Brom and Stoke are once again included in our rundown, while third-placed West Ham have the platform to build on their impressive start over the next month or so.
WEST BROM
The Baggies have kept four clean sheets so far this term, and with Everton and Sunderland visiting the Hawthorns in the next three Gameweeks, further shut-outs could be on the cards. The Toffees have failed to score in their last two matches on the road, while Sunderland haven’t found the back of the net in their last couple of fixtures. The matches at Crystal Palace and Norwich may prove trickier in terms of potential defensive returns, but Tony Pulis’ men will travel with confidence, having kept Stoke and Aston Villa scoreless on their travels so far this season.
Boaz Myhill (4.6), Jonny Evans (4.8) and Craig Dawson (5.0) are the players to target from the West Brom rearguard, with Myhill, in particular, benefitting from the new Bonus Point System this year, bringing in six bonus points so far. Evans has started both matches since joining the Baggies, and registered two bonus points in the 1-0 win against Villa last weekend, while Dawson has played every minute this season and offers an attacking threat from right-back and at set-pieces.
Further forward, Saido Berahino (6.3) looks more likely to attract investment than Salomon Rondon (7.0) given the discrepancy in price, although the England U21 international may, like last Saturday, be stationed out wide when Pulis opts for a lone striker system. The match-ups against Crystal Palace, Sunderland, Norwich and Leicester all look very favourable in terms of trying to improve on their meagre four-goal haul. Constant rotation among the Baggies midfielders means investment in the likes of Callum McManaman (4.9) and James McClean (4.8) isn’t advisable.
WEST HAM
With Slaven Bilic’s men having remarkably won at Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City on their travels so far, the three away fixtures on the upcoming slate (sun, cpl, wat) offer genuine hope of further returns at either end of the pitch. The three home fixtures (NOR, CHE, EVE) are also very reasonable – Chelsea’s defence has been breached at least twice in all but one of their first six, though the Toffees have impressed on the road and have yet to concede away from Goodison Park.
At the back, Adrian (5.0) and Aaron Cresswell (5.6) appear to be the best options, with it also worth remembering the Spanish goalkeeper pulled off three penalty saves last term. Cresswell has two assists already this season, and looks worthy of the extra outlay over Winston Reid (5.0), who has yet to register any bonus points.
The Hammers are the joint leading scorers alongside Leicester this season, with 13, so investment in the attacking assets looks well advised over the coming period. Dimitri Payet (7.8) served notice of his potential with a 16-point haul against Newcastle in Gameweek 5, and has provided attacking points in four of his six appearances. Victor Moses (5.3) may still be short of match fitness, but with a goal and assist from his first two outings, looks a great differential candidate with an ownership of just 0.3% in Fantasy Premier League (FPL). Diafra Sakho (6.5) has scored twice and grabbed an assist in his last four outings, and remains one of the strongest forward options in the mid-price bracket.
STOKE
The Potters are still searching for their first win of the season after throwing away a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Leicester. Their fixtures over the next six Gameweeks (BOU, avl, swa, WAT, new, CHE) are very favourable, though, but more so in terms of potential attacking points rather than defensive returns, having failed to keep a clean sheet so far.
Jack Butland (4.5) was a popular pick during pre-season, and has delivered 22 points in FPL, more than Maarten Stekelenburg and Lukasz Fabianski (both 21), having earned at least one extra save point in each of the last five. After Marc Muniesa was dropped for the first time this term, Erik Pieters (4.9) looks the pick of the defenders in the absence of Ryan Shawcross, but the Dutch left-back has only created two chances in six appearances, so the likes of Simon Francis and Allan Nyom (both 4.5) probably offer better value at this point.
In midfield, Xherdan Shaqiri (7.0) has disappointingly failed to add to his assist against Norwich over the last three Gameweeks, so Marko Arnautovic (6.0) may represent better value, having created eight chances this season, one more than the Swiss international. If you can free a space in your three-man frontlines, Bojan (5.3) looks by far the best option in terms of Stoke attackers, playing in the number ten role at the Britannia. He scored and bagged full bonus against the Foxes, and should only improve over the next few weeks as he continues to build up his fitness levels. The former Barcelona man’s current ownership in FPL stands at just 1.3%.
CHELSEA
Confidence seems to slowly be returning at Stamford Bridge after the wins against Maccabi Tel-Aviv and Arsenal, and a trip to lowly Newcastle looks an ideal fixture on which to continue the momentum. The other five fixtures (SOT, AVL, whm, LIV, sto) should see the Blues handed plenty of opportunities to add to the nine goals they’ve scored already this term, while clean sheets also look possible, with Aston Villa and Stoke in particular not firing on all cylinders in front of goal.
Asmir Begovic (5.0) and Cesar Azpilicueta (6.0) should be the primary targets from the Chelsea backline, with the former offering outstanding value should Jose Mourinho’s side be able to tighten things up at the back. Kurt Zouma (5.4) has started the last four league matches, and could be worth the gamble given his price tag, although it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if he were to occasionally find himself named among the substitutes.
With Diego Costa (11.0), banned for the next two Gameweeks, Radamel Falcao or Loic Remy could prove short-term punts, though most will be looking to focus on the Blues midfield instead. Over the last two Gameweeks, Eden Hazard (11.3) has created nine chances and registered six goal attempts. The Belgian seems to finally be returning to somewhere near his best form, but perhaps still isn’t doing enough to just the extra outlay over Pedro (9.5). The Spain international has managed seven goal attempts over the same period, and certainly looks to offer more of a direct goal threat.
ALSO CONSIDER…
Manchester City
Despite setbacks against Juventus and West Ham, City still look set to provide us with plenty of Fantasy options over the next month or so, given their strength of schedule (tot, NEW, BOU, mun, NOR, avl). At the back, Joe Hart (5.7) and Aleksandar Kolarov (6.1) should keep bringing in the points, with the Tottenham, Newcastle and Aston Villa attacks among the least prolific so far this term. The return to fitness of Vincent Kompany (6.4) should help matters at the back, while the situation at right-back will need to be monitored, with Pablo Zabaleta (5.8) likely to return to action shortly, placing doubt on Bacary Sagna’s position in the side.
Sergio Aguero (13.2) is struggling to live up to his price tag, despite picking up an assist against the Hammers. Nonetheless, with 16 shots from inside the box this season, third among strikers, chances are he’s going to be back in the goals sooner rather than later. Kevin de Bruyne bagged 10 points on his first start for City and delivered a goal and assist in the cup last night, whilst David Silva is expected to recover from a calf injury in time for the weekend. Yaya Toure (9.0) and Raheem Sterling (8.9) have plenty of backers, but both need to start delivering soon or face being moved on by their owners – the latter’s goal and two assists last night should ease concerns over his form.
Crystal Palace
With Alan Pardew admitting his focus is more on scoring goals than keeping clean sheets, it’s no surprise the Eagles have yet to register a shut-out so far this term. Investment in the likes of Alex McCarthy (4.1) and Pape Souare (4.5) doesn’t look wise, particularly in the former, with Julian Speroni (4.5) back in the frame to start in goal. Match-ups against top scorers West Ham and Leicester also offer concern.
Fantasy managers aren’t short of viable options from the midfield, with Bakary Sako (5.6), Yannick Bolasie (6.3) and Jason Puncheon (5.9) all providing strong claims. Bolasie has started the last two matches as a lone striker, but was switched to his usual wide role at half-time against Spurs, and with Palace failing to score in their last two matches, Pardew may explore other options in attack. With four reasonable fixtures (wat, WBA, WHM, lei) coming up, owning one of the trio would seem a decent tactic right now.
Norwich
Alex Neil’s men only face one difficult fixture (whm, LEI, new, WBA, mci, SWA) over the coming period, so the likes of Russell Martin (4.5), Wes Hoolahan (5.1) and Nathan Redmond (5.7) certainly look worthy of some consideration. The Canaries are yet to keep a clean sheet, but the match-ups against Newcastle, West Brom and Swansea in particular could offer hope of defensive returns for the likes of Martin and John Ruddy (4.5).
Hoolahan was left out of the starting XI against Liverpool, but is the key man at Carrow Road in the matches Neil believes they are more likely to take points from. With five such fixtures over the next month or so, the Republic of Ireland international should add to his goal and four assists registered so far this season, then. Redmond has blanked in his last three outings, but his pace and trickery should continue to cause opposition defenders problems. With Lewis Grabban (4.5) now back in the squad, and Dieumerci Mbokani (5.9) also competing for the lone striker role with Cameron Jerome (4.9), none of the Norwich forwards look worth considering for the time being.
