Form over Fixtures? Fixtures over Form?

It’s a question that has plagued every fantasy manager since the dawn of time, myself included. Pick the player in form or the player who’s going up against a weaker side. Sometimes it’s easy. Do I play Kane against an already relegated Hull? Of course! But there are moments in every fantasy manager’s season where he has to look at both the player and the fixture and make an informed decision. Kane against Chelsea or Vardy against Brighton. Now that’s a tricky one!

But fear not my friends. As always, I am here to try and help. Today I offer a look into the good, the bad and the downright ugly of the forthcoming fixture list.

The Strong

Southampton

Of all 20 Premier League sides, Southampton certainly have the easiest start to the season. Their first 5 fixtures see them host Swansea, West Ham and Watford, and travel to Huddersfield and Crystal Palace. With no disrespect to any of those teams, it couldn’t be much easier. And with a new manager in town, they’ll be looking to make a quick start to the new campaign.

West Bromwich Albion

West Brom come a close second when studying the fixture list. With Bournemouth and Stoke at home and Brighton, Burnley and West Ham on their travels, Tony Pulis and his men will be pretty pleased with their starting prospects. Who knows, maybe they’ll hit 40 points sooner than we think…

Huddersfield

Okay, so it’s Huddersfield. But if you’re looking to bring in the likes of Kachunga or Wells (someone might!?), then you’ll be pleased to see their fixture list. With Newcastle, Southampton and Leicester at home and Crystal Palace and West Ham away, they’re looking good to pick up some points early on.

The Weak

Everton

Things were looking good for Everton. They’d managed to hold on to star front-man Romelu Lukaku (for the time being), signed a quality young goalkeeper in Jordan Pickford, and captured the highly-rated Davy Klaassen from Ajax. But then… we saw those fixtures. It couldn’t be more challenging for the Toffees. Following a home fixture with Stoke, they then face Man City, Chelsea, Tottenham and Man Utd, three of which are away from home. It’ll be a brave man who puts his faith in Everton players from the outset.

Burnley

Those looking to bring in the likes of Heaton and Keane may want to think again. Burnley finished the season in a shocking run of form, with only two wins in their last 15 games. And if the early season fixtures are anything to go by, it’s not going to get any easier for The Clarets. Two home games against West Brom and Crystal Palace may give fans some hope, but these are interspersed with away fixtures to Chelsea, Tottenham and Liverpool. Burnley’s away form last season was pretty atrocious, so buyers beware, it could be a tough start to the 2017-18 campaign for Sean Dyche’s side.

Leicester City

Leicester City, the dream makers. But last season quickly became a bit of a nightmare. Craig Shakespeare managed to steady the ship in the second half of the season, but it still remains to be seen whether they can return to the upper echelons of The Premier League. And these fixtures won’t help. Home and away fixtures to new boys Brighton and Huddersfield may give some fantasy managers hope. But fixtures against Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United look for grim reading. Vardy and Co will have to start quickly if they hope to get back to the glory days of 2015-16.

So there we are my friends. Some will read this article with keen interest, allowing it to sway their thoughts away from the likes of Lukaku, Heaton and Mahrez onto Gabbiadini, Rondon and…Hogg?? Maybe not. I, for one, have been burnt too many times. Benching some of my best players, only to see them shine against the bigger teams. For me, a good player is a good player. They will always strive to perform at their best and, in some cases, even raise their game against the top sides. It’s those days when Sanchez blanks against Brighton but Benteke scores 3 against Chelsea that will frustrate you the most. But try to laugh it off, to move on, to see the bigger picture. For it is those days that make draft fantasy football the frustratingly fabulous game that it is. Enjoy.