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Out: Fantasy-relevant players who have been confirmed out for the week, either through injury or suspension
Doubt: Players facing the dreaded fitness test, rotation concerns and those who are out of form/favor
In: The likeliest replacements for the Outs & Doubts or those returning from injury
Win: Fantasy player to watch / my hunch pick of the week
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Out: Santi Cazorla, Francis Coquelin, Tomas Rosicky, Danny Welbeck, Jack Wilshere
Doubt: Alex Sanchez
In: Oxlade-Chamberlian
Wins: Theo Walcott
Wenger likes to stick with his sides and this match could be a real banana skin game he will likely do so again. Ozil, and Giroud have had big games recently so I will go with Theo being due.
Wins: Aaron Ramsey/Mesut Ozil
If you have either on discount in Fantrax keep them for this one. Ozil was quiet against Liverpool but is creator in chief in this Gunners system. Rambo alway owes Stoke one and is racking up consistent points.
Note: Wenger has also spoken of taking a gamble with Alex Sanchez this weekend. I'm sure he learnt his lesson from the last time he gambled with the players fitness. For that reason I suspect Wenger isn't thinking to fitness, rather, does he play his star player in a super tough game from the start or from the bench.
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Out: Jordan Amavi, Alan Hutton, Carols Sanchez, Adama Traore
Doubt: Gabby Agbonlahor, Jack Grealish, Brad Guzan
In: Mark Bunn
Win: Jordan Ayew
Ayew has been putting in very good performances in recent games. He seems the most likely Villa player to produce once more.
Win: Aly Cissokho
He seems 1st choice once more and is just 1446 in Fantrax and scored 14 points in the home win against Palace. He will be marking Mahrez though this time around.
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Out: Tommy Elphick, Max Gradel, Tyrone Mings, Callum Wilson
Doubt: Joshua King, Matt Ritchie
In: Juan Iturbe, Benik Afobe
Win: Benik Afobe
Afobe showed nerves on his debut missing some great chances. The result is he is yours for 1m in Fantrax (too expensive in FPL for me). Norwich are defensively terrible away from home and will be sure to offer Afobe more chances. He is a great alternative pick this week. I think he scores and I am very tempted.
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Chelsea
Out: Radamel Falcao, Eden Hazard, Loic Remy
Doubt: Nemanja Matic
In: Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Bertrand Traore
Win: Willian
Chelsea are playing better football now with the ball but still look very unsure in defence. Willian has been the only consistent player for them this season.
Win: Diego Costa
Costa is a player you love to hate and that isn't just in real life. From a fantasy view he is just as capable as anyone to troll us. Wound up beyond control once more midweek saw him fail in two of my sides. It would be like him to bounce back against Everton as he is as hot and cold as his moods.
Win: Oscar
Has pens, back in the starting 11 and seems a safe pick to play 90 mins. Good price in Fantrax.
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Out: Yannick Bolasie, Dwight Gayle
Doubt: N/A
In: Connor Wickham
Win: Yohan Cabaye
You know how these things go. Due to a drop in fantasy returns (injury related I feel) a number of players will look to drop him in the away game to Man City. Of course when you do, the man comes back to performing again. City without Kompany seem challenged to keep 2 clean sheets in a row. Perhaps a penalty?
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Everton
Out: Tyias Browning, Seamus Coleman, Luke Garbutt, James Mccarthy
Doubt: Tom Cleverley, Steven Naismith
In: Phil Jagielka
Win: Romelu Lukaku
The big man has stopped scoring with fixtures get tougher. But he has a point to prove and Chelsea's defence now look one in transition to me. They continue to concede goals often more than one at home.
Note: With the cup semi within eye site we may see a change or two in the starting 11. Obvious choice Baines is a risk in that department.
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Out: Jeffrey Schlupp
Doubt: Jamie Vardy
In: Shinji Okazaki
Win: Riyad Mahrez
Meanwhile Mahrez has found it much more difficult since the fixture got tougher. His number of efforts on goals and chances created are down by a sizable amount during a tough run. Maybe he is finally going back to his level. Having said that I'm calling Mahrez scores in this one. He is better in away games, punishes weak sides and Villa cannot score back to back clean sheets. Has he lost pen duties though?
Note: The manager has stated it is difficult to say whether Vardy is 100% after his minor groin injury. Could mean that his fitness is a concern or it could mean that the manager is doubting the sharpness of the player.
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Liverpool
Out: Philippe Coutinho, John Flanagan, Joe Gomez, Danny Ings, Dejan Lovren, Divock Origi, Martin Skrtel
Doubt: Jordon Ibe, Mamadou Sakho, Daniel Sturridge, Kolo Toure
In: Steven Caulker (maybe)
Win: Roberto Firmino
In a match between two of the weaker Liverpool/Man Utd sides in recent history it is the home side who have been playing the better football. Firmino has shown himself best against the big sides
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Out: Vincent Kompany, Samir Nasri
Doubt: Wilfried Bony, Eliaquim Mangala
In: Martin Demichelis
Win: Kun Aguero
Easy pick in a game not as easy as it once was.
Win: David Silva
I fancy City to return to goal scoring ways and whilst Kun is the obvious fav goal scorer we need someone to assist him. Raheem Sterling has seen himself benched too often for my liking. KDB loves home games. Yaya Toure just about fancies playing football at the moment. David Silva has been the quiet player since returning from injury and is the normal supply line to Kuns goals. He played just 17 mins against Everton so seems sure to start this one.
Note: A handful of you took advantage of the managers love of rotation fullbacks. Now he has all 4 fit and plenty of games ahead we should see the return of this idea. Gael Clichy 1,687m and Bacary Sagna 13,178M played against Everton. So Aleksandar Kolarov 15,669M and more so Pablo Zabaleta 1m should be in your thoughts for Fantrax and more so in Togga.
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Out: Marcos Rojo, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Luke Shaw, Antonio Valencia
Doubt: Phil Jones
In: N/A
Win: All 11 players I hope
After they played bold attacking football at Newcastle we saw just why LVG had been setting them up so rigid. Chris Smalling has improved but still has a way to go. Other than him the individual defending hasn't been good at all despite results. Defending in numbers and keeping possession had worked.
The match at Newcastle should have given then the warning and I do expect a more LVG defensive shape in this one. The pool pressing game will likely add to that.
Hopefully Fellaini is dropped, Herrera plays slightly deeper and Juan Mata gets the role behind Rooney. If I was sure Mata would start he would be in my side.
Utd have just 10 away wins in 32 games suggesting we should stay away from their attack. However Rooney has a habit of scoring in 4 games in a row. I think we all hope he does again in a surprise away win.
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Newcastle
Out: Papiss Cisse, Tim Krul, Massadio Haidara, Gabriel Obertan, Steven Taylor
Doubt: Rolando Aarons, Vernon Anita, Kevin Mbabu, Florian Thauvin
In: Jonjo Shelvey
Win: Aleksandar Mitrovic
My Arsenal mate says Newcastle were one of the most impressive sides to play at their place this season. Kept a good shape, pressed well and caused problems with the ball. The result against Manchester United suggests more progress. Coming from 2 goals down and then again with a late goal to tie it at 3-3 shows spirit and fire in in the belly for a battle.
There must be some value in here somewhere for the bold fantasy player and I will say Aleksandar Mitrovic. The young man was one of the hot youngsters in European football 18 months or so ago. Many thoughts were that he could find himself with a move to a big European club. He is inconsistent and he does have a temper but he is a talent and strike me as a player better when there is something needing fighting for. He has been racking up the shots on goal and I currently hold him in my BD team.
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Out: Gary O'Neil (suspended)
Doubt: Matt Jarvis
In: Andre Wisdom
Win: Robbie Brady
I don't like anything about Norwich in this one. As I have to give you a win I will pick the only consistent player they have in Brady.
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Out: Florin Gardos, Jay Rodriguez, Victor Wanyama (suspended)
Doubt: Graziano Pelle (playing time)
In:
Win: Fraser Forster
A home game against WBA could offer a good clean sheet chance. Forster was a mighty impressive figure before his injury. As an England fan i am not convinced of Joe Hart in goal I hope to see Forster look the monster once more. PI picked him up on the BD and may run with him in Fantrax and Togga this week.
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Out: N/A
Doubt: Phil Bardsley, Geoff Cameron, Stephen Ireland, Xherdan Shaqiri
In: Joselu
Win: Marko Anarutovic
Stoke City on their own ground, in a 4pm kickoff under the lights, in a coooolllllddddd January fixture is tough. There is something about them even under Mark Hughes that scares the opponents. They have already beaten both Manchester clubs and Chelsea here this season.
Shaqiri is a miss and they have that cup semi on their minds. However they do love a big team at home and Arsenal are next.
Arnie is bang in form and holds pen duties. He makes fantastic bending runs in between the full-back and centre back. With the likley CB on that side being BFG the chances increase. Mertesacker is a good defender but turns like the Titantic once did. With the temperaturs in England near Zero Marko is Sundays Iceburg ahead.
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Sunderland
Out: N/A
In: Jan Kirchhoff
Win: Jermain Defoe
Big win for the Black Cats midweek but they face much stronger opponents in this one. Defoe is the pick on form.
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Out: N/A
Doubt: N/A
In: N/A
Win: Andre Ayew
I think the defeat by Sunderland will have left lasting damage on this Swansea side. They played well against Sunderland but the horrific referee/linesman performances must make it feel like fate is against them right now. Watford are just the opponents you don't want to face in such circumstances. Ayew got back in the goals and remains a great out of position option.
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Out: Clinton N'Jie
Doubt: Moussa Dembele, Ryan Mason
In: N/A
Win: Harry Kane
Do not get fooled by Sunderland's big win midweek. They were being outplayed and thanks to some awful, shocking official decisions and a the luck of a deflection they walked out winners. The still gave up two goals and plenty of chances. They will concede here, probably a few if Spurs get the bit between their teeth.
Win: Deli Alli
So few of us are giving Alli a shot in our Fantrax sides. True he is now expensive but here is why: His last seven scores are 13, 11, 15, 25, 7, 19 and 12. Those numbers must be respected and taken advantage of. If you don't want Kane then here is your Spurs coverage.
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Out: Joel Ekstrand, Tommy Hoban
Doubt: N/A
In: Nathan Ake
Win: Odion Ighalo
There was always going to be a moment where things caught up with the Watford side and it was midweek at the Saints. Now watch them respond. They will score in this one and Ighalo is the obvious tip.
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Out: Ben Foster, James Morrison
Doubt: Victor Anichebe, Jonas Olsson
In: N/A
Win: Craig Dawson
WBA are an interesting side. A club that has made an almighty mess of appointing a manager who can turn them into a solid mid table side. Finally when they get the right man in Tony Pulis the fans themselves are unhappy. Continual phone in shows have their fans wanting a change in management thank to the unattractive style of their side. We all want attractive football but you have to build a squad and the first step is to become the solid league side first. Dawson is always a goal threat and WBA seem most likely to score from set plays in this one.
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Out: Manuel Lanzini, Victor Moses, Diafra Sakho, Andy Carroll
Doubt: Cheikhou Kouyate
In:
Win: Dimitri Payet
Payet was straight back to his fantasy best midweek. The heart of much of the Hammers attacking play the frenchman faces a Newcastle side that are playing pretty well. They will be sure to try and get aggressive with Payet. I'm sure West Ham score at least once and you have to assume Payet either scores or creates in this one.