| Rank | Player | Res | Cls | Exa | Slm | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 - |  | 5 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 26.0 |
2 - |  | 4 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 25.0 |
3 1 |  | 4 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 21.0 |
4 7 |  | 4 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 21.0 |
5 4 | | 8 | 4.5 | 6 | 2 | 20.5 |
I didn’t do too badly with my fantasy team last week, but I could have done so much better if I had taken more of my own advice. Erling Haaland didn’t do anything as my captain, but the chances are he will get the armband again because of his potential to blow teams away coupled with playing against a newly promoted team. There are plenty of other options too with Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, James Maddison, Nicolas Jackson or any of the Brighton players all worth considering along with Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford.
The players who did well for me last week were William Saliba, Phil Foden, Ollie Watkins and Kaoru Mitoma. I have two free transfers to use this week and I will be bringing in Pervis Estupinan and Bryan Mbeumo in as I should have had them both in from week one. I’ve been reluctant to bring any Chelsea players in so far, but they have the possibility of doing very well over a great run of games starting this week.
Friday August 25
Chelsea v Luton Town
8pm BST, Stamford Bridge, London
Chelsea lost 3-1 away to West Ham last week as things look to have continued on for them where they left off last season. They only won six home games last season, but they have back to back home games against teams that they just have to beat. With three very good games in a row Chelsea need to put their poor start behind them and they should have 10 points after their first five games.
Despite their defeat against West Ham last week Nicholas Jackson and Ben Chilwell could be good players for fantasy managers with such a good run of games coming up.
Luton didn’t play last week so they’re still looking for their first point of the season and it won’t be easy for them to find it in this game. They have already lost away to Brighton and they could have a very tough time in this game. Their fixtures get a lot better after this one, but the chances are they will head into those games without any points.
Carlton Morris and Issa Kabore could be the bargain basement Lutron players who will make a difference for fantasy managers.
I think Chelsea will get their much needed first win of the season in this game with a few goals to spare.
Prediction: 3-1
Saturday August 26
Bournemouth v Tottenham Hotspur
12.30pm BST, Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth
Bournemouth lost 3-1 away to Liverpool last week after taking an early lead and they’re still waiting for their first win of the season. Only three other teams conceded more goals last season and this is the first of a run of three very hard home games. They have four of the big six plus Brighton in their first seven games and it’s more than likely going to leave them fighting at the wrong end of the table.
Dominic Solanke is the Bournemouth player most likely to perform for fantasy managers while Antoine Semenyo could be considered as a cheap bench option.
Spurs won 2-0 at home to United last week in a game that was a real test for their new manager and style of play. Only four other teams conceded more goals on the road last season, but this is the first of two very winnable away games in a row. They have a great chance of winning their next three games which could leave them in a very strong position.
If he’s fit to play James Maddison is the Spurs player to have for fantasy managers with Cristian Romero, Destiny Udogie and Pape Matar Sarr all doing well at a good price too.
I think Spurs will make it back to back wins in this game, but they won’t have it all their own way.
Prediction: 1-2
Arsenal v Fulham
3pm BST, Emirates Stadium, London
Arsenal scraped out a 1-0 win away to Palace last week after having a player sent off to maintain their 100% start to the season. Only City scored more home goals last season, but they conceded more goals on their own patch than title contenders should. Their home games get a lot more serious after this one with three of the other big six teams coming to visit in a row.
Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli and William Saliba are all looking very good for fantasy managers at the moment.
Fulham lost 3-0 at home to Brentford last week which very quickly put their win away to Everton the previous week out of mind. Only five other teams won more away games than Fulham last season, but they play last season’s top two in their next two away games starting with this one. They managed to finish in the top half of the table last season, but their performance against Brentford last week suggests they will struggle to do so again this season.
Andreas Pereira and Bobby De Cordova-Reid are the Fulham players who might possibly be of interest to fantasy managers.
I think Arsenal will continue their good start to the season by taking the three points in this game with a couple of goals to spare.
Prediction: 3-1
Brentford v Crystal Palace
3pm BST, Gtech Community Stadium, London
Brentford won 3-0 away to Fulham last week to make it four points and five goals from their first two games. They only lost two home games last season and their next five home games are all against teams who will be favourites to finish in the bottom half of the table. They don’t seem to have missed Ivan Toney so far, but that could change over the next four months of his suspension.
Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa are the Brentford players to have for fantasy managers with Rico Henry and Ethan Pinnock worth considering too.
Palace lost 1-0 at home to Arsenal last week, but they managed to win their opening game away to Sheffield United. They only won four away games last season and they have a tough run of games on the road coming up. They struggled to score goals last season while only Newcastle and Brentford drew more games.
Eberechi Eze is the Palace player who can do well for fantasy managers with Michael Olise one to watch when he’s back from injury.
I think Brentford will continue their good start to the season with a narrow victory in this game.
Prediction: 2-1
Everton v Wolverhampton Wanderers
3pm BST, Goodison Park, Liverpool
Everton lost 4-0 away to Villa last week to leave themselves at the foot of the table without a goal or a point so far. Only Southampton lost more home games last season and no other team scored less on their own ground. They only survived relegation by two points last season and by the look of things so far things could be just as bad this season.
I can’t see any Everton players to recommend to fantasy managers at the moment.
Wolves lost 4-1 at home to Brighton last week and they are only one place above Everton going into this game. They only won two away goals last season with only Forest scoring less goals on their travels. They looked very good in their opening game when they lost away to United, but they seem incapable of scoring the many chances they are making at the moment.
I can’t see Wolves players to recommend to fantasy managers at the moment either.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see these two teams finish all square with both of them getting their first point of the season.
Prediction: 1-1
Manchester United v Nottingham Forest
3pm BST, Old Trafford, Manchester
United lost 2-0 away to Spurs last week and they have only taken one point and scored one goal in their first two games. Only City took more points at home last season and no other team conceded less goals on their own patch. They have a good run of games to start their season with the exception of their next two games after this one.
Marcus Rashford, Bruno Fernandes and Luke Shaw must all come good for fantasy managers at some stage.
Forest won 2-1 at home to Sheffield United last week to get three very important points in the middle of a very tough run of games. No other team took less points, scored less or conceded more goals on the road last season and they need to improve that away record this season. They have already played Arsenal and three of their next four games are against other top six teams which makes for a very challenging start to the season for them.
Despite not getting many points for fantasy managers so far Morgan Gibbs-White is the best of the Forest players with Taiwo Ayoniyi looking very good at the moment too.
I think United will have enough to get their first win of the season, but it will be far from easy for them.
Prediction: 3-1
Brighton And Hove Albion v West Ham United
5.30pm BST, AMEX Stadium, Brighton
Brighton won 4-1 away to Wolves last week to leave themselves on top of the table with two wins and eight goals from their first two games. They scored four goals in their first home game and they only play one of the big six in their next eight games on their own ground. They’re the highest scorers in the first two games and only three other teams scored more goals last season.
Kaoru Mitoma, Pervis Estupinan and Solly March are the best of the Brighton players for fantasy managers, but so many of their players have so much to offer.
West Ham won 3-1 at home to Chelsea last week to make it four points from their first two games, but they will have a difficult task getting anything from this game. Only Leeds lost more away games last season with only Forest and Wolves scoring less goals on the road. Despite getting nothing from their first two games they have a very good chance of taking points in three of their next four games.
Jarrod Bowen is still the West Ham player most likely to interest fantasy managers while Alphonse Areola could be the cheap bench warming keeper everybody wants.
I think Brighton will continue their winning ways, but this game will be closer than their other two.
Prediction: 3-2
Sunday August 27
Burnley v Aston Villa
2pm BST, Tuff Moor, Burnley
Burnley didn’t play last week which leaves them in the bottom three after they lost their first game 3-0. They have already played City at home and their next four games on their own patch are very hard games too. They have a very tough opening run of games, but once they settle in they look the most likely of the promoted teams to stay up.
I’m not sure there are any Burnley players I can recommend to fantasy managers at the moment, but that might change over the next few weeks.
Villa won 4-0 at home to Everton last week to put their opening day thrashing by Newcastle behind them. They only won six away games last season and they averaged less than a goal a game in those games. They only play two of the big six in their next 10 games which could see them in a very strong position if their European games don’t distract them too much.
Ollie Watkins is probably the Villa player to have for fantasy managers with Moussa Diaby, Leon Bailey and maybe even Lucas Digne worth considering too.
I think this will be a very close game with Villa probably winning narrowly.
Prediction: 1-2
Sheffield United v Manchester City
2pm BST, Bramall Lane, Sheffield
United lost 2-1 away to Forest last week and they’re one of five teams without a point to their name. They lost their first home game against City and three of their next four home games are against teams who finished in the top four last season. Their aim this season has to be to avoid relegation, but the early signs are they will struggle to do just that.
I can’t see any United players who can make a difference for fantasy managers at the moment.
City won 1-0 at home to Newcastle last week to make it two wins out of two and they haven’t conceded a goal yet. Only Arsenal took more points on their travels last season and no other team conceded less goals away from home. They were the top scorers with the best defence last season and they have started this season looking likely to make it four titles in a row.
Earling Haaland is the must have City player for fantasy managers with Phil Foden as well as all of their defenders and keeper doing well too.
I can’t see anything other than a comfortable City victory in this game.
Prediction: 0-3
Newcastle United v Liverpool
4.30pm BST, St. James’ Park, Newcastle
Newcastle lost 1-0 away to City last week and they face another very tough task in this game. They only lost two home games last season with only United conceding less goals on their own ground. They have had a difficult start to the season fixtures wise and they have one more very tough game after this before their schedule improves.
Alexander Isak is the Newcastle player who can do well for fantasy managers and so can Harvey Barnes once he gets enough game time.
Liverpool won 3-1 at home to Bournemouth last week to make it four points from their first two games. They lost eight away games last season and they conceded more goals than they scored on the road. Their games get a lot better for them after this one and anything they get from this game would be a real boost going into those games.
Mohamed Salah is the obvious choice in the Liverpool team for fantasy managers while Luis Diaz has started the season strongly too.
It’s not easy to know which way this game will go, but I think home advantage might just be enough to see Newcastle through.
Prediction: 2-1
That’s it for this week.
See you next week.
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