My choice of Dominic Solanke as my captain last week paid off, but I had hoped for more from a player with two home games against teams in the relegation zone. Besides him my team was only helped by points from Cole Palmer, Pedro Porro and Pervis Estupinan, but I managed to climb a little in the overall rankings at least.
With only four games this week it’s an ideal time to use my free hit chip and I will definitely be availing of it. The best captaincy options are Son Heung-Min and Ollie Watkins and the chances are I’ll opt for Son. I will probably have three players each from Spurs and Villa added to a sprinkling from Luton, Brentford, West Ham and Fulham.
Saturday March 16
Burnley v Brentford
3pm GMT, Turf Moor, Burnley
Burnley led 2-0 away to West Ham last week, but they had to settle for a 2-2 draw which kept them off the foot of the table on goal difference. They have only taken two points from their last six home games and they conceded 14 goals in those games with only Sheffield United scoring less and conceding more goals on their own ground. They have only taken three points from their last 10 games and they conceded 26 goals in those games with only Sheffield United scoring less and conceding more goals.
Even with only eight teams playing this week it’s still difficult to see any Burnley players to recommend to fantasy managers.
Brentford lost 2-1 away to Arsenal last week and they’re now only five points above the bottom three. They have lost eight of their last nine away games and they conceded 19 goals in those games, buy three of their next four games on the road are against teams below them in the table. They have only won two of their last 14 games with only the bottom four conceding more goals.
Yoane Wissa is the in form Brentford player for fantasy managers with Ivan Toney worth considering too.
I think Brentford will get a badly needed win in this game to give them some breathing space at the wrong end of the table.
Prediction: 1-2
Luton Town v Nottingham Forest
3pm GMT, Kenilworth Road, Luton
Luton drew 1-1 away to Palace and lost 4-3 away to Bournemouth last week which meant they stayed in the bottom three. They have lost their last three home games and they conceded eight goals in those games with only three other teams conceding more goals on their own patch. They have only taken two points from their last seven games and they conceded 21 goals in those games with only the two teams below them conceding more goals and Chelsea are the only team in the bottom half of the table to have scored more goals.
Alfie Doughty and Carlton Morris are still the Luton players most likely to return points for fantasy managers.
Forest lost 1-0 away to Brighton last week and they are only three points ahead of Luton going into this game. They have only taken one point from their last four away games and they conceded nine goals in those games with only three other teams conceding more goals on their travels. They have only taken four points from their last eight games and they conceded 15 goals in those games.
Forest players aren’t exactly setting the world alight for fantasy managers at the moment, but Anthony Elanga, Morgan Gibbs-White and Taiwo Awoniyi could all possibly do so.
This is a huge game for both teams with the loser ending the day in the relegation zone and I have a feeling the points might be shared.
Prediction: 2-2
Fulham v Tottenham Hotspur
5.30pm GMT, Craven Cottage, London
Fulham lost 2-1 away to Wolves last week, but they’re very close to securing their Premier League status for another season with 10 games left to play. They have taken 10 points from their last five home games and they scored nine goals in those games with only the top three conceding less goals on their own ground. They have taken 11 points from their last seven games, but they could struggle to get anything from this game.
Rodrigo Muniz is the Fulham player doing the business for fantasy managers at the moment.
Spurs won 4-0 away to Villa last week to move within two points of them with a game in hand in the race for fourth place. They have only lost one of their last six away games and they scored 15 goals in those games with only Arsenal scoring more goals on the road. They have taken 26 points from their last 10 games and they scored 30 goals in those games with only the top three scoring more goals.
Son Heung-Min, James Maddison, Pedro Porro and Dejan Kulusevski are all very good options for fantasy managers this week.
I think Spurs will build on their win last week and move temporarily into fourth place by taking the three points in this game.
Prediction: 1-2
Sunday March 17
West Ham United v Aston Villa
2pm GMT, London Stadium, London
West Ham came back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at home to Burnley last week and they’re still in a strong enough position to qualify for European football for next season. They have taken four points from their last two home games and they scored six goals in those games, but no other team in the top half of the table has conceded more goals on their own patch. They have taken seven points from their last three games after failing to win the previous six and they scored nine goals in those three games.
Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus are the West Ham players most likely to return points for fantasy managers at the moment.
Villa lost 4-0 at home to Spurs last week and they will have dropped out of the top four before this game if Spurs win away to Fulham. They have won their last three away games and they scored 10 goals in those games, but they have two very tough away games after this one. They lost their last game after winning four of the previous five and they scored 15 goals in those games with only the top three scoring more goals.
As long as he’s fit to play Ollie Watkins is the Villa player to have for fantasy managers with Leon Bailey and Douglas Luiz good options too.
This isn’t an easy game to call and I wouldn’t be surprised to see it end all square.
Prediction: 2-2
That’s it for this week.
See you next week.
Your blog has become a reliable compass, guiding me through the vast sea of information.
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