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Week 16 EPL Fantasy Pre-Deadline & Live Chat

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We fantasy managers feel almost as weary as the players hitting yet another game week, but somehow we’ll pull through won’t we?

By Chris Manfredi
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Brighton and Hove Albion v Leicester City - Premier League - AMEX Stadium
Manager Brendan Rodgers seems to be the only person who could possibly stop — or give pause to — the Vardy party.
Photo by Gareth Fuller/PA Images via Getty Images

Many stars have played both Week 14 and Week 15, while some have gotten rest. Those who have not yet hit the bench will be concerns for missing out in Week 16 should their managers choose to freshen up their XIs. The gap between Week 15 and Week 16 may play a part in that decision making process.

Minimal Rest:

Wednesday/Saturday: Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, Manchester United, Tottenham, Watford

Thursday/Sunday: Brighton, Newcastle, Sheffield United

Medium Rest:

Tuesday/Saturday: Bournemouth, Burnley, Crystal Palace, Leicester City, Manchester City

Wednesday/Sunday: Aston Villa, Norwich City, Southampton, Wolves

Thursday/Monday: Arsenal

Plenty of Rest:

Wednesday/Monday: West Ham

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NEXT WEEK

Another factor is that several top teams will have Champions League (Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur) on Tuesday and Wednesday, and others will have Europa League (Arsenal, Manchester United, Wolverhampton) on Thursday, which could also impact Week 16 line-ups.

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SUSPENSIONS

Liverpool keeper Alisson, Aston Villa defender Frederic Guilbert and Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan return after missing Week 15 due to one-game suspensions.

Meanwhile, Crystal Palace defender Mamadou Sakho begins a three-game ban due to a violent straight red card.

Not a suspension per se, but Bournemouth midfielder Harry Wilson is ineligible to face his parent club Liverpool.

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PLAYERS SITTING ON FOUR YELLOW CARDS

Many players currently have four yellow cards on the season, one away from a fifth card which would trigger an automatic one-game ban if it happens in the team’s first 19 games:

Arsenal: defenders Sokratis and Calum Chambers, midfielders Granit Xhaka and Matteo Guendouzi

Brighton: midfielder Dale Stephens

Bournemouth: defender Diego Rico

Burnley: defender James Tarkowski, midfielder Jeff Hendrick

Liverpool: defender Trent Alexander-Arnold

Manchester City: midfielder Raheem Sterling

Manchester United: defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka

Norwich City: defender Max Aarons, midfielder Kenny McLean

Sheffield United: defenders George Baldock and John Lundstram, midfielder John Fleck

Tottenham Hotspur: midfielder Harry Winks

West Ham: defender Ryan Fredericks

Wolves: midfielder Ruben Neves

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NEW MANAGERS

Duncan Ferguson begins his term as Everton’s caretaker manager following the sacking of Marco Silva, but has a difficult task ahead as the Toffees welcome Chelsea, travel to Manchester United, and welcome Arsenal in the next three EPL fixtures, with a League Cup game against Leicester City in there as well.

Hayden Williams had one game as interim manager during the week following the sacking of Quique Sanches Flores. Now Nigel Pearson is set to take over until the end of the season, which of course you can take with a grain of salt given how often the Hornets’ brass likes to make changes.

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INJURIES

Burnley: defender Charlie Taylor (doubtful); defender Phil Bardsley and striker Ashley Barnes (perhaps a game-time decision)

Chelsea: wing attacker Willian and forward Tammy Abraham (perhaps a game-time decision)

Chelsea FC v Aston Villa - Premier League
Tammy Abraham had a huge midweek game following his short injury absence last weekend, but is listed as a slight doubt for the weekend.
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

Crystal Palace: defenders Patrick van Aanholt and Joel Ward (out); defenders Gary Cahill and Scott Danny (doubtful)

Everton: defender Yerry Mina (perhaps a game-time decision)

Leicester City: defender Ben Chilwell (perhaps a game-time decision)

Manchester United: wing attacker Anthony Martial (perhaps a game-time decision); midfielder Paul Pogba (doubtful)

Newcastle: defender DeAndre Yedlin and midfielder Allan Saint-Maximin (perhaps a game-time decision)

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THE SCHEDULE

SATURDAY

  • Everton v. Chelsea (early game)
  • AFC Bournemouth v. Liverpool
  • Tottenham Hotspur v. Burnley
  • Watford FC v. Crystal Palace
  • Manchester City v. Manchester United (late game, the Manchester derby!)

SUNDAY

  • Aston Villa v. Leicester City
  • Newcastle United v. Southampton
  • Norwich City v. Sheffield United
  • Brighton & Hove Albion v. Wolverhampton

MONDAY

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[NOTE: Premier League schedule and injury information came from the official Premier League fantasy website. Suspension-related information came from there as well, from the official Premier League website or from the official FA site.]

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Which games are you watching? What line-up decisions have you biting your nails ahead of Week 16? Please share any late-breaking news as the deadline approaches, then join us for the live action!

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