| Position | Player Name | PTS | TW | BB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 1 (1) | Michael Sheehy | 1075 | -20 | 0 | |
| 2 (2) | goonerdhanesh | 1045 | +50 | 0 |  |
 3 (4) | sodobo | 950 | +110 | 0 | |
 4 (3) | Wayne Hubbard | 875 | -15 | 0 | |
| 5 (5) | Rutland Gooner | 810 | +45 | 0 | |
Saturday January 17
Aston Villa v Liverpool
3pm GMT, Villa Park, Birmingham
Villa were beaten by fellow strugglers Leicester last week to move even closer to the bottom three. They have only conceded four goals in their last six games, but they have only scored one and haven't scored any in their last four. They have only won two of their 10 home games and are the lowest scorers at home although they do have the best defensive record at home in the bottom half of the table.
I can't see any Villa players to make a difference for fantasy managers right now.
Liverpool have taken 10 points in their last four games to move within five points of the top four. They have lost five of their 10 away games, but they have won the other five which means only City have won more away games than them. Liverpool were a goal machine last season, but they have struggled to score this season and will find it hard to finish in the top four if they can't find a solution to that problem.
If Raheem Sterling is back in the Liverpool team he's the most likely player to perform for fantasy managers.
I think this will be a very close game and Liverpool might just sneak a win.
Prediction: 0-1
Burnley v Crystal Palace
3pm GMT, Turf Moor, Burnley
Burnley beat QPR last week to move one point and one place clear of the relegation zone. They have taken 13 points at home so far and only two other teams in the bottom half of the table can better that haul. They face another home game against a team down there in the relegation fight with them and another win would be a huge result for them.
Danny Ings, George Boyd and possibly Tom Heaton all look like pretty good fantasy purchases at the moment.
Palace did what so many other clubs do when they get a new manager by winning last week and it was their first win in nine league games. They have only won once in their 11 away games, but they did manage to draw six of those games. Everton are the only team in the bottom half of the table to have scored more away goals than Palace.
I'm not so sure which Palace players might impress for fantasy managers under Alan Pardew, but I have a feeling Jason Puncheon might not do too badly.
This is a real relegation six pointer and could go either way, but I think a draw is quite probable.
Prediction: 1-1
Leicester City v Stoke City
3pm GMT, King Power Stadium, Leicester
Leicester have taken seven points from their last three games, but they're still three points from safety. They have only won two of their 10 home games, but they have looked like they have the ability to stay up in those last three games. They also look to be investing in the squad in the transfer window and that might just give them the edge they need.
Despite their recent improvement it's still not easy to see any Leicester players making an impression for fantasy managers.
Stoke were well beaten at Arsenal last week and it was their worst defeat of the season. They have only won three of their 11 away games, but they're sitting safely in mid table. They will feel they have every chance of winning this game and moving closer to the top half of the table.
None of the Stoke players have been excelling for fantasy managers so far and I can't see that changing too soon.
This game could go either way and the chances are it will end in a low scoring draw.
Prediction: 1-1
Queens Park Rangers v Manchester United
3pm GMT, Loftus Road, London
QPR have lost all 10 of their away games so far and the defeat to Burnley last week put them back into the relegation zone. They have the best home record in the bottom half of the table and only the top six have scored more goals at home than them. If QPR are going to stay up they will have to do it at home, but they have some very tough home games to come starting with this one.
Charlie Austin is still the best fantasy bet in the QPR team with Leroy Fer worth considering too in home games in particular.
United were beaten for the first time in 11 games last week and dropped to fourth in the table as a result. They have only won two of their 10 away games, but they have only lost two of them as well. No other team has drawn more away games than United and they need to turn a few of those draws into wins to secure a top four finish.
With Robin van Persie possibly injured Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata and Angel di Maria could be the United players to interest fantasy managers.
I think this could be a very close game and QPR might just manage to get a point out of it.
Prediction: 2-2
Tottenham Hotspur v Sunderland
3pm GMT, White Hart Lane, London
Spurs were beaten away to Palace last week to bring them crashing back to Earth after they had beaten Chelsea the previous week. They have lost four of their 11 home games and only three other teams have lost more goals at home. They have a lot of games coming up in the next few weeks and could find their resources stretched.
Harry Kane, Nacer Chadli and Christian Eriksen are all in very good form at the moment and well worth considering for fantasy managers.
Sunderland have only taken one point in their last four games and are only one point above the relegation zone as a result. They have only lost three of their 10 away games though and only three other teams have lost less away games. They have drawn more than half of their league games and will continue to struggle if they can't turn some of their draws into wins.
I can't see any Sunderland players who might make a real difference for fantasy managers at the moment.
I think Spurs will have enough at home to win this game even with their Capital One Cup semi final on their minds.
Prediction: 2-1
Swansea City v Chelsea
3pm GMT, Liberty Stadium, Swansea
Swansea have won six of their 11 home games and only the top four have won more games at home. They have a good defensive record at home too with only Chelsea and Southampton conceding less goals on their own ground. They have only managed one goal in each of their last seven games and will find goals even harder to come by now that Wilfried Bony has been sold to City.
With Bony gone the onus is back on Gylfi Sigurdsson to score some points for fantasy managers.
Chelsea won at home to Newcastle last week to go two points clear at the top of the table. They have only lost two of their 11 away games, but only six other teams have conceded more goals away from home. With City having a tough game at home to Arsenal on Sunday Chelsea have to see this game as a chance to increase their lead at the top of the table.
Eden Hazard, Cesc Fabregas, Diego Costa and John Terry are the best of the Chelsea players for fantasy managers along with all of their defenders.
I think this could be another very close affair, but Chelsea might just edge it.
Prediction: 1-2
Newcastle United v Southampton
5.30pm GMT, St. Jame's Park, Newcastle
Newcastle are still looking for a new manager and they have only won once in their last six games. They have won five of their 10 home games and are just about holding on to a place in the top half of the table. They are having problems in defence with only Everton and QPR conceding more goals than them up to now.
It's not easy to see any Newcastle players who might perform well for fantasy managers at the moment.
Southampton got a very good win away to United last week to move above them into third place. They have won half of their 10 away games and have the best defensive record away from home too. They haven't scored too many goals away from home though and their injury problems are mounting at the moment.
All of Southampton's defenders have been very good fantasy purchases this season with Graziano Pelle doing quite well too.
I think this game could go either way and a draw is probably the most likely outcome.
Prediction: 1-1
Sunday January 18
West Ham United v Hull City
1.30pm GMT, Upton Park, London
West Ham drew away to Swansea last week and they haven't won in their last four league games. They had to come through extra time to beat Everton in the FA Cup on Wednesday night and they could be tired after their exertions. They have won six of their 11 home games and only the top four have won more games at home.
Stewart Downing has been the outstanding fantasy performer for West Ham so far this season while Andy Carroll looks like he could do well too.
Hull have won two of their last four games, but they're still in the relegation zone. They have only won two of their 11 games away from home and only three teams have scored less goals than Hull so far. They need to get something from this game, but it won't be easy against a team who have been very good this season.
I can't see any Hull players to recommend to fantasy managers at the moment.
I think West Ham should be good enough at home to take all three points despite their midweek exertions.
Prediction: 2-0
Manchester City v Arsenal
4pm GMT, Etihad Stadium, Manchester
City were pegged back away to Everton last week and have dropped back to two points behind Chelsea as a result. They are unbeaten in their last 12 league games, but they have taken more points away from home than at home and have scored more goals on the road too. They will miss Yaya Toure while he is at the ACN, but they might have Vincent Kompany back to strengthen their defence.
David Silva looks like the best fantasy bet in the City team right now while Sergio Aguero has to be considered too now that he's back from injury.
Arsenal won well at home to Stoke last week and they're only a point behind fourth placed United. They have only won four of their 11 away games, but only the top two have scored more goals away from home. They need to get something from this game to keep pace with the teams above them and show they can compete away to the better teams in the league.
Alexis Sanchez is the must have Arsenal player for fantasy managers.
I think this game could go either way and my loyalties are pointing me in Arsenal's direction.
Prediction: 1-2
Monday January 19
Everton v West Bromwich Albion
8pm GMT, Goodison Park, Everton
Everton did well to come from behind and a get a draw at home to City last week, but they went out of the FA Cup in midweek. That point against City was their first point in five games and they're only three points above the relegation zone. They have only won three of their 10 home games and no other team has conceded more goals at home.
Everton players haven't done the business for fantasy managers in recent weeks, but if they turn it around Leighton Baines, Romelu Lukaku and maybe Kevin Mirallas are all worth having.
West Brom got off to a good start under Tony Pulis last week by beating Hull and moving three points clear of the bottom three. They have only won two of their 10 away games with only Villa and QPR scoring less goals on the road. Pulis could be the man to keep them up and anything they get from this game would be a real bonus.
With Tony Pulis in charge Saido Berahino might just get the chance he needs to make an impression for fantasy managers.
I think Everton have to turn things around at some stage and this could be the game they do it in.
Prediction: 2-1
That's it for this week.
See you next week.
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