Fantasy Football Fixtures Gameweek 2
Welcome to GW2 Fixtures. This is our guide to help you navigate the next few weeks with a view to analysing which teams have potentially the best run of games and which teams may have a tough ride ahead of them. Game-week 1 saw a few of the usual suspects such as Ramsey, Rooney and Sturridge all hit the target and we saw a few surprise contenders emerge in the shape of Berahino and Sigurdsson. Sigurdsson was perhaps less of a surprise but with his opening fixture being away at Old Trafford he did break a few fantasy manager’s hearts as many bought him with the schedule ahead in mind but benched him this week. If you had him and played him though, well done! Chelsea opened up with an old fantasy favourite in Cesc Fabregas rewarding his owners with a couple of assists and frustrating those who went for Hazard in equal measure. Diego Costa hit the ground running too. He got a yellow card for his troubles in doing that but he scored on his debut as well. That little combo right there may be one his owners will have to get used to. With game-week 1 offering up mixed returns then we shall take a look at how game-week 2 is shaping up and look ahead to which teams your fantasy focus should be on for the next few weeks.
Before we get to the nuts and bolts of the fixtures this week and beyond it is worth pointing you in the direction of two relevant articles that we have featured already. Both were massive hits both on here and on twitter and go hand in hand in with this one –
Mito21 produced a great article that talked us through the best rotation pairs for the season ahead…
Rotation Analysis Home and Away and Favourable fixtures
Calvin Clyne has provided us with an interactive fixture tracker. Take the time to save your own copy and use it as you wish.
Fixture Tracker – Fantasy Premier League 2014-15
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And so onto the teams and fixture themselves. Let’s begin with a very straightforward fixture tracker…
We have colour coded the fixtures in a simple fashion to allow you to judge your transfer and team selection plans accordingly:
[highlight_green]Green[/highlight_green] – We deem these to be winnable fixtures for the given team and should, in theory at least (!), harvest good fantasy points for you in the opening games. Aim to have a good nucleus of these players in your initial squad.
[highlight_yellow]Yellow[/highlight_yellow] – These are the fixtures that could go either way and do not stand out as being either particularly good or poor. If you have a player from a team in this category then do not be afraid to play them but take a considered view that it may not be an explosive week for them.
[highlight_red]Red[/highlight_red]- These are the teams that we consider to have a difficult fixture and as such may be best avoided from a fantasy perspective. Aim to minimise any players that have a run of reds in the opening games.
With just one week of game’s under our belt we have a small window of information to go on but here are the teams we feel have good fixtures ahead and those that may find it tough…
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FAVOURABLE
Chelsea Leicester (h), Everton (a), Swansea (h), Man City (a), Aston Villa (h), Arsenal (h)
Chelsea got their season off to a flier as we expected they might with a convincing 1-3 win at Burnley on Monday night. Truth is that despite going a goal behind they had this one in the bag by half-time and eased off the pedal considerably with new boy Costa netting and Fabregas chipping in with two assists, one of which being from a corner, the other being an exquisite pass in a packed penalty box to set up Schurrle. It’s another newly promoted side up next as Leicester visit The Bridge. We expect Chelsea will win this one comfortably. They have a couple of potentially tricky away trips to contend with soon going to both Everton and Man City but it’s those next three home games that look so enticing from a fantasy perspective – Leicester, Swansea and Villa. That’s nine points right there. Or should be… To Fab or not to Fab? We probably would.
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Manchester United Sunderland (a), Burnley (a), QPR (h), Leicester (a),West Ham (h), Everton (h)
Hmmm, ok, so things didn’t quite go as planned last weekend for LVG and his new team but we were warned that this happens whenever he takes charge of a new team. His systems tend to take a while for the players to adapt to but when they do eventually then everything seems to turn rosy. We aren’t suggesting that will happen overnight but we are willing to stick with them for now and this is purely down to an attractive run of fixtures allied to them having one or two stars in the likes of Rooney and Mata who on their day should still be capable of beating the likes of Burnley, QPR and Leicester regardless of the rest of the team. Add in the prospect of RVP rejoining the group at some point during this period and we expect they’ll have enough to see them through this run nicely.
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Southampton WBA (h), West Ham (a), Newcastle (h), Swansea (a), QPR (a), Spurs (a)
Given the wholesale changes at Southampton and the fact that they had to go to Anfield on the opening day it’s maybe no surprise that they lost their opener but in truth they played well and ran Liverpool very close to taking a point away with them. Tadic looked classy and he will be one to keep an eye on. James Ward-Prowse was dangerous too and along with Steven Davis both look like they may offer some future value at £5.0m. The next five fixtures all look winnable if they continue to show what they did at Anfield and they will presumably improve and gel more as they all get to know each other better.
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UNFAVOURABLE
Aston Villa Newcastle (h), Hull (h), Liverpool (a), Arsenal (h), Chelsea (a), Man City (a)
Going to Stoke and coming away with a 0-1 victory is highly commendable and suggests that Lambert and Keane are heading in the right direction with their young team. Despite them being in this section the next two fixtures actually look fairly promising , hosting Newcastle and Hull. If you fancied a quick two week dip on a Villa player then now is the time to do it but come GW4 we would suggest getting rid as that run looks nightmarish – Liverpool (a), Arsenal (h), Chelsea (a), Man City (a). You wouldn’t wish that on your dearest rivals to be fair but that’s what they have and so just be aware that any Villa player in your squad will need to ride the bench or be replaced come GW4 we feel.
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Leicester Chelsea (a), Arsenal (h), Stoke (a), Man Utd (h), Crystal Palace (a), Hull (a)
New boys Leicester acquitted themselves well on their return to the top flight with a hard earned point against Everton at home. Whatever they learned from that game will have to be put into practice quite sharply over the next few weeks if they are going to add to that point as their run of fixtures isn’t great to say the least. Three of the next four are against Chelsea, Arsenal and Man Utd and whilst the other three look a tad easier being Stoke, Palace and Hull they are all away from home.
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Everton Arsenal (h), Chelsea (h), WBA (a), Crystal Palace (h),Liverpool (a), Man Utd (a)
The loss of Ross Barkley on the eve of the campaign was a bitter blow to The Toffes but despair not, it meant the emergence of the ‘Ginger Messi’ playing in the hole and Naismith duly delivered with a finish that the man himself would have been proud of. Well sort of. That point at Leicester will have been a huge disappointment to Roberto Martinez as they seemed to be set to hold on for all three and it’s fair to say they needed it as there’s no guarantees where the next one is coming from. Certainly the next two look tough against Arsenal and Chelsea. It eases slightly with a trip to WBA and a home game with Palace but then two local ‘derbies’ follow that against big guns Liverpool and Man Utd and both are away from home to boot.
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Fixture Fun
Just be aware that Arsenal play in a Champions League qualifier at Besiktas on Tuesday evening so check out any injury updates from that ahead of making any transfers this week.
My 2nd Gallant but my little girl is 8 so myself and wifey learning it all over again. Decided to hold off on my moves and see how things pan out this weekend. Thanks to all for the steer away from my hits (blame lack of sleep impulsiveness )…
niall,
Eight year old? Perfect little helper age – “get this”, “do that”, “bring me this” . . . . . .
I was coming home tonight to bring in Fabregas for -4 but now I might leave it. Trying to be less impulsive this season and I do have Eriksen against QPR this coming weekend. Maybe jumping ship isn’t the right thing to do just now.
This was my team for GW 1, thinking about doing Coloccini out for Chester for GW2. Worth the transfer or use it elsewhere?
I like the look of your team. The only reason I see to change is if you’re trying to get the value up. I don’t see a long term gain in getting Chester, Hull will suffer with European schedule and they’re not that tight at the back anyway. Keep the transfer
So I think it’s a given that a. Lot of people think thst Mata –> Fab is a silly idea.. Fair enough. I kind of agree, kind of don’t.
My question is this.. Is Silva —> Fab a good idea ?
Team pic below… Also need to deal with Chambers at some point too bit I’m thinking he’ll start at wend.. Is Chester a good shout ? Or Europe and Hull not a great thing to get into. Don’t generally mind a hit but not if I cab help it… Is Fab a must have ( as much as you can have a must have at this stage, of course)
Had a decent weekish.. Got myself 62 points and just had a mortgage agreed to but my first house !
Any feedback welcome… I could quite easily leave my team as it is and be happy… Just got that feeling about fab.. cha know
Nice one on the house Demsie. Sorting those things out drains the will to live!
I wouldn’t bother getting Fab in after one game. You’ve obviously put your money in the forwards and I’d stick with that tactic for now. If you want to egg Fab I think you’d have to sacrifice one of the frontline
Ummm. Let’s see. Aaah, I see you went with Sturridge, so only 2 premium mids, ok. Silva to Fabregas, you can do that. Unsure why you bought SIlva in the first place if you do though. 😉
Fixture wise Chelsea always had the best cards. On that note, Silva is one of my fav players but he really didn’t deliver last year (when I kept him in my team) what he could have and maybe should have.
Everything look good for ya. I would keep an eye on Ward Prowse next couple of games. Chambers can be swapped later. I see no real urgency in fixing ya team. I have Jovetic, whom will only be good for 1 more game I think. If I’m lucky, sighs.
Any suggestions welcome!
Kinda in the same situation as me init with Chambers and Young. I remember spotting that Soton + QPR rotation was pretty good (they rotate home and away only for some GWs, but usually one of them have an easy fixture), so Davis or JWP has crossed my mind as potential replacements for Young. Would give 0.5 to fund Sturridge -> Aguero when the time comes too.
Not a bad team Init, only problems ya defense.
Sighs, had a great defense with great fixtures last weekend and really it didn’t work out lol.
Init
Cant see much to say there (in a good way). Saving your free transfer?
I’m sitting on my hands on the Cesc transfer in. Hope i don’t live to regret it and I know I might.
I would say you are in the lucky position of the best option being to carry over your FT to next week to see what a double free trade could achieve. Pipe and slippers required here as no work to be done.
People with Mata, Young etc…
You guys thought about that RvP could be back soon? Might see the fantasy productivity of these player increase, no?
Shrugs, people dropping Mata now are just crazy. They deserve the pain they will get from releasing him. Bwahahahahar.
Sighs, I wish these bitches would stop touching Clyne. Can’t bring him in if this shite keeps going on.
That’s my dilema as well. I want to bring Fabregas in but will have to sell Mata or Ramsey.
Maybe so but you know what Fabs versus Leicester = potential points bonanza that I want a piece of. I know this is against the grain on this site and against my initial view…. but I am taking a 4 point for Mata to Fabs tonight. Prediction : another anonymous no show for Mata, maybe United sneak a 1-1 if they’re lucky meanwhile Chelsea go properly on the rampage. I just keep thinking about Fabs on corners and his ability to deliver great balls into one of the most imposing aerial threats the Premier league has seen + open play assist potential in a top drawer attack + his own goal potential…. Decision made. Fabs IN
Owwwww lol. For a hit… HAHA. Sorry, good luck to you. I think both could do well. 😉
Yeah … I’m weak when it comes to hits. I think it’s fear factor of missing out on a perceived big points haul. It can be more damaging to miss out on loading up on a key fixture than the odd 4 point hit here and there that doesn’t work out. That’s what I’m telling myself anyway !!
Hmmm. Everybody seems to be writing off United after 1 game, a game in which they were bad but also a game they did dominate. Sunderland don’t have the best backline, as we’ve seen versus WBA of all teams. Teams like Southampton and Swansea could be good this year. On that note, Arsenal sort of sucked their first game, Liverpool were dominated in the second half by Southampton. In the end people just remember the loss (UNited) but they weren’t much worse than the 2 other teams. Only team that showed glances of superiority is indeed Chelsea. But once the match was played 3-1 they automatically locked the game, no more points, which sucked.
Again, sorry, bad Enlish. They didn’t dominate the game. United that is, but they should’ve won. Next game Blackett will be replaced, RvP will be back. Let’s just say I’m happy with my United coverage, keep the faith… I want them points.
Totally agree with you raz.
Easy for you to say Raz you got both Mata and Fabs 😉 I can only work one in and this coming week it is surely Chelsea and Fabs over Mata….? You want a sportsman’s bet over which player gets more points ?
Titliest-
So you have neither Mata or Fabs?
If so Fabs over Mata all day!
I want to bring Fabregas in tonight since his price is going to rise. Would you lot recommend selling Ramsey or Mata?
Look at my post above… Wrote it before I saw yours… 😛
haha yeah but then should i sell Ramsey for Fabregas or forget Fab completely?
Have you got Rooney? If so sell Mata imo
Yes I have Rooney
It’s a coin toss. Mata can be great next game, people writing United off after 1 game are just silly. Same goes for Fabregas and Ramsey I would never bet against. My luck I have all 3. 😛
I usually look at fixtures and Chelsea/United have the best. Now United sucked their first game everybody thinks they are done with, van Gaal usually needs 3 months to set things on track. I think they will be just fine, just need a few more signings. I wouldn’t bet against Mata, RvP and Rooney, they can destroy. 😛
I’m not a big fan of using FT’s unless needed. On that note, like the guy above said, Fabregas does have good fixtures.
Anyway, aren’t there other areas in your team that need fixing?
Nah all other areas are ok at the moment or can wait another week. Leaning towards selling Ramsey for now. :-/
In the end it’s your decision. 😉