| Rank | Player | Res | Cls | Exa | Slm | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 - |  | 2 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 16.0 |
2 - |  | 2 | 7.5 | 3 | 2 | 14.5 |
3 - |  | 2 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 13.0 |
4 - |  | 2 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 12.0 |
4 - |  | 2 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 12.0 |
My pick of Erling Haaland as my captain paid off last week as he scored twice and he has to be the best choice for this week again. Elsewhere Bukayo Saka, William Saliba, Luke Shaw, Kaoru Mitoma and Ollie Watkins returned points for me, but some of the close calls I made didn’t pay off. My big miss was playing Jordan Pickford over Bernd Leno while leaving Pervis Estupinan and Bryan Mbeumo out too didn’t help.
There are no games for Luton and Burnley this week as the construction work at Kenilworth Road isn’t complete which could leave a few managers with headaches. As I said above I’ll probably go with Haaland as my captain with Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz and James Maddison possible options too. There are a few bargains to be had too with Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Axel Disasi, Bobby De Courdova-Reid and Mathias Pereira all looking like they’re priced quite well at the moment.
Friday August 18
Nottingham Forest v Sheffield United
7.45pm BST, City Ground, Nottingham
Forest played fairly well in their 2-1 defeat away to Arsenal last week and that should give them plenty of encouragement for the rest of the season. They took 30 of their 38 points at home last season and they have a very good run of home games to start their season. They may have a good run of home games, but four of their first six games are away to teams from the big six.
Morgan Gibbs-White is best of the Forest players for fantasy managers with Brennan Johnson, Taiwo Awoniyi and Anthony Elanga worth a shout too.
United lost 1-0 at home to Palace last week and they were probably lucky not to lose by more. Like any promoted team they will find their away games tough and this game will be no different. After losing at home last week United could do with getting something from this game, but they will have to improve on that performance if they’re going to do it.
I’m still not sure there are any United players to recommend to fantasy managers.
I think Forest will get their home fixtures off to a good start by taking the three points in this game.
Prediction: 2-0
Saturday August 19
Fulham V Brentford
3pm BST, Craven Cottage, London
Fulham won 1-0 away to Everton last week despite giving their hosts an awful lot of good scoring chances. Their home form was a little disappointing for a team that finished in the top half of the table last season. They play Arsenal and City in their next two games so they could do with getting something from this game.
If he’s going to play like he did last week Bernd Leno is a very good option for fantasy managers while Andreas Pereira and Bobby De Cordova-Reid are not the worst options either.
Brentford drew 2-2 at home to Spurs last week as they showed they still have a considerable threat without Ivan Toney. They only won five away games last season, but only Everton and Newcastle drew more games on their travels. They don’t play any of the big six in their next six games which could help them to a very good start to the season.
Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa are the Brentford players who can make a difference for fantasy managers.
I think this will be a very close game and I wouldn’t be surprised to see it end in a draw.
Prediction: 2-2
Liverpool v Bournemouth
3pm BST, Anfield, Liverpool
Liverpool drew 1-1 away to Chelsea last week after leading and they will look forward to what should be an easier game for them. They only lost one home game last season and only the top two scored more goals on their own ground. They missed out on a top four finish last season and they need to strengthen their squad very soon or they could go the same way this season.
Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz could be the Liverpool players to have for fantasy managers, but if this game goes the way it went last season any Liverpool player could do very well.
Bournemouth came from behind to draw 1-1 at home to West Ham last week, but they won’t be looking forward to a trip to a ground where they lost 9-0 last season. Only Forest conceded more goals on their travels last season and this is probably the worst possible away fixture for them to start with. They parted ways with Gary O’Neil despite his fantastic effort to keep them up last season and it remains to be seen if that was a good move for them.
I suggested Dominic Solanke might do well for fantasy managers last week and he obliged, but I’m not sure any of their players will shine in this game.
I can’t see anything other than a Liverpool victory in this game, but not by the same margin as last season.
Prediction: 3-1
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Brighton And Hove Albion
3pm BST, Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton
Wolves were very unlucky to lose 1-0 away to United last week, but at least they got an apology after VAR wrongfully didn’t give them a penalty. They won almost half of their home games last season and they didn’t concede too many goals at home either which isn’t bad for a team that flirted with relegation for a long time. They were the lowest scorers last season though and judging on their finishing against United that doesn’t appear to have changed.
Despite their good performance away to United I’m still not sure which Wolves players will impress for fantasy managers.
Brighton won 4-1 at home to Luton last week to leave themselves in second place and they look like they might just continue on where they left off last season. Only three other teams took more points away from home last season and no other team scored more goals on the road. Only three other teams scored more goals than them last season and if their first game is anything to go by that record looks like it will continue this season.
Kaoru Mitoma, Solly March and Pervis Estupinan are the Brighton players most likely to perform for fantasy managers, but there are so many other good options in their team too.
I think Wolves will make a game of it, but the chances are Brighton will take the three points.
Prediction: 1-2
Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United
5.30pm BST, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
Spurs drew 2-2 away to Brentford last week and things won’t get any easier for them in this game as they try to cope without Harry Kane. No other team in the top half of the table lost more home games last season and that’s a statistic that have to put right if they’re going to improve on their low position. Their next three games after this one are all games they will feel they should win.
James Maddison showed against Brentford why he’s the Spurs player fantasy players should be interested in.
United were more than a little fortunate to win 1-0 at home to Wolves last week and they will have to improve if they’re going to get something from this game. Despite losing eight away games last season only four other teams took more points on their travels, but they conceded far too many goals on the road for their own good. They were the lowest scorers in the top six last season and they could do with getting their new striker into the team.
Luke Shaw, Andre Onana, Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes all look like good choices for fantasy managers this season.
I can’t see there being too much between these two teams and the chances are the spoils will be shared.
Prediction: 1-1
Manchester City v Newcastle United
8pm BST, Etihad Stadium, Manchester
City cruised to a 3-0 win away to Burnley last week to get their title defence off to a great start. No other team took more points or scored more goals at home last season, but Newcastle will give them a test in this game. They were the top scorers last season with no other team conceding less goals and they have a very good run of games after this one.
Erling Haaland showed why he’s a must have for fantasy managers last week, but it’s never easy to know which other City players will avoid Pep Guardiola’s rotation.
Newcastle won 5-1 at home to Villa last week to put themselves on top of the table after the first round of games. No other team lost less away games last season and only the top two took more points on their travels, but this will be a real test for them. Their first four games are all against teams who finished in the top seven last season, but they started that run off very well last week.
Alexander Isak showed why he’s the best of the Newcastle players for fantasy managers last week with Harvey Barnes looking pretty good too despite starting on the bench.
I think City should be good enough at home to take all the points in this game.
Prediction: 3-1
Sunday August 20
Aston Villa v Everton
2pm BST, Villa Park, Birmingham
Villa lost 5-1 away to Newcastle last week to leave themselves propping up the rest of the table at this early stage. Only four other teams won more home games last season and this is a great opportunity to get over their disappointment of last week. Their next two games are away from home which could be a little worrying for them after their defeat at Newcastle last week.
Ollie Watkins is probably the Villa player to have for fantasy managers with Moussa Diaby worth watching too.
Everton lost 1-0 at home to Fulham last week, but they made more than enough chances to take all three points. No other team drew more games on the road last season and they only have three away games in their first eight games. Their next two games after this one are against teams who will be expected to struggle with them and they really need to get something from those two games if they don’t get anything from this game.
I can’t see any Everton players to recommend to fantasy managers at the moment.
I think Villa will put the disappointment of last week behind them and take the three points in this game.
Prediction: 2-1
West Ham United v Chelsea
4.30pm BST, London Stadium, London
West Ham drew 1-1 away to Bournemouth last week after leading and they will have their work cut out to get anything from this game. It was West Ham’s home form which kept them up last season, but three of their first four home games are very tough starting with this one. Only four other teams lost more games last season with three of those getting relegated and they have a difficult run of games to start this season.
Jarrod Bowen showed why he’s the West Ham player of choice for fantasy managers last week.
Chelsea came from behind to draw 1-1 at home to Liverpool last week and they will hope to build on that result in this game. Chelsea lost more than half of their away games last season with only five other teams scoring less goals on their travels which is quite incredible for a team who spent so much money. This is the first of a run of seven favourable fixtures and we might have an idea of how well their latest investments will do after those games.
Ben Chilwell, Reece James and Nicolas Jackson are all players who could possibly do well for fantasy managers.
I think West Ham will give Chelsea a close run and will probably get a point off them.
Prediction: 1-1
Monday August 21
Crystal Palace v Arsenal
8pm BST, Selhurst Park, London
Palace won 1-0 away to Sheffield United last week, but they will have to up their game against last season’s runners up. No other team drew more games on their own patch last season and only five other teams scored less goals. They will be looking to build on their strong finish to last season and they have a good run of games after this one.
Eberechi Eze, Sam Johnstone and Odsonne Edouard are all possibilities in the Palace team for fantasy managers to consider.
Arsenal won 2-1 at home to Forest last week, but they were pushed hard towards the end of the game. No other team took more points or scored more goals away from home last season with only City conceding less. They have a good run of games to start the season and they will hope to have plenty of points on the board before things get a lot tougher in week eight.
Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Odegaard and William Saliba are the Arsenal players who can do very well for fantasy managers.
I think this will be a very close game with Arsenal more than likely winning by one goal.
Prediction: 1-2
That’s it for this week.
See you next week.
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