FPL fixture runs: Five teams for your transfer radar
With the first five gameweeks behind us heading into the international break, we look beyond the immediate fixture ticker and identify runs that could shape your transfers in the coming weeks.
Now or never for Fulham assets?
Fixture tickerGW6-GW10
FULOn paper, Fulham's immediate run is about as good as it gets.
The unicorn sequence of facing all three promoted sides in consecutive gameweeks gives their assets a clear window of opportunity before the fixtures become more challenging.
Alvaro Arbeloa's side have several potentially relevant attacking options, making this a run worth considering for managers looking to make a proactive move in attack.
Following some defensive question marks early-season, Arbeloa seemingly shut up shop earn tight draws against Liverpool and Manchester United - but could we see a return to a more attacking approach given the fixture swing after the international break?
Standout picks include budget forward Gonzalo Garcia and talismanic midfielder Josh King, while Antonee Robinson is the pick of the bunch in defence.
Garcia has yet to really get going in front of goal, but the Spaniard did have three shots in the box against Manchester United in Gameweek 5, while King is taking up very advanced positions and may have the highest ceiling of any Fulham pick over the next three.
Forward£6.0mGonzalo
Midfielder£5.5mKing
Head to headGameweek 1-5- 5
- Appearances
- 5
- 1
- Goals
- 2
- 2.34
- Expected goals
- 1.54
- 0
- Assists
- 0
- 0.57
- Expected assists
- 0.46
- 0
- DefCon points
- 0
- 4
- Big chances
- 2
- 1
- Big chances created
- 1
Newcastle's favourable run continues
Fixture tickerGW6-GW10
NEWNewcastle's run is less spectacular than Fulham's, but it's worth taking a closer look at for those who already own Magpies assets - or those considering them.
Harvey Barnes is in a rich vein of attacking form and is seemingly much more secure for minutes under new manager Matthias Jaissle than Eddie Howe, while Yoane Wissa remains key for the Magpies despite his penalty miss.
All five fixtures should present opportunities for Newcastle's attacking assets, while there are a couple of excellent home clean sheet shouts in the mix too.
Their defensive shakiness is worth noting however, with only Crystal Palace racking up more expected goals conceded (xGC) so far.
Lewis Hall is perhaps the best shout at the back, with several routes to points including set-pieces and defensive contribution points making him far less reliant on clean sheets than the likes of Malick Thiaw and Sven Botman.
Spurs assets worth considering from next week?
Fixture tickerGW7-GW11NEWSpurs are a less appealing proposition given the start their assets have made, although they finally got off the mark with a couple of goals against Aston Villa.
While their defensive data so far is mid-table, with so many new signings a bedding in period is to be expected.
Roberto De Zerbi’s side have two clean sheets in their last three Premier Leagues, which has FPL managers strongly considering defensive contributions magnet Jan Paul van Hecke as well as Antonin Kinsky in goal.
Andy Robertson is also an outside shout after picking up an assist in Gameweek 5 - the Scotsman has a share of set-pieces but faces a rotation threat from Destiny Udogie.
Omar Marmoush is the pick of the attacking bunch, although the Egyptian is yet to register an attacking return for his new club.
Chelsea in Gameweek 8 prevents this from being an immaculate run, but the Blues have looked weak in defence and the fixtures around that clash are strong enough to justify interest.
SpursDefender£4.9mVan Hecke
Player profileGameweek 1-5- Appearances
- 5
- Clean sheets
- 2
- xCS
- 1.45
- DefCon points
- 2
- Goals
- 1
- xG
- 0.70
- Assists
- 0
- xA
- 0.43
- FPL points
- 24
- Big chances
- 3
- Big chances created
- 1
- Key passes
- 5
Bournemouth bankers from Gameweek 9?
Fixture tickerGW9-GW13
BOUFixture tickerGW14-GW16BOUBournemouth's fixtures from Gameweek 9 onwards are consistently good, with Leeds at home followed by Ipswich to start the run.
This stretch of eight games also sees the Cherries play both of Hull and Coventry at home, and we can expect to see the likes of Marcus Tavernier surge in ownership as we move closer to this run.
Alex Scott and Evanilson are also of interest, but the standout pick may well be in defence - Antonio Silva has the most defensive contribution points among all players so far, level with Nottingham Forest’s Murillo.
Leeds the long-term rotation option?
Fixture tickerGW12-GW16
LEEFixture tickerGW17-GW19LEELeeds' strong fixtures are far more distant on the horizon, and their appeal is less about one huge uninterrupted run than the possibility of finding useful spots within a rotation strategy.
Coventry and Ipswich at home sit either side of a trip to Manchester City in Gameweek 13, while Liverpool away in Gameweek 15 is followed by three more strong fixtures.
Realistically as long as you have cover for Gameweeks 13 and 15, Leeds assets look extremely appealing for this run, while the reasonable price tags on talisman striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin and defensive contributions monster Tarik Muharemovic make them feasible rotation options.
Spurs, Aston Villa and Liverpool are among the sides with strong home fixtures in those slots, so there is certainly food for thought here in terms of future planning for those considering a move for the likes of Muharemovic.
LeedsDefender£5.0mMuharemović
Player profileGameweek 1-5- Appearances
- 5
- Clean sheets
- 2
- xCS
- 1.46
- DefCon points
- 6
- Goals
- 0
- xG
- 0.49
- Assists
- 1
- xA
- 0.05
- FPL points
- 27
- Big chances
- 0
- Big chances created
- 1
- Key passes
- 1