The Scout helps managers in Fantasy Premier League to plan ahead for Gameweek 5 and beyond. Remember, you can now save up to FIVE free transfers.
Manchester City
Back-to-back hat-tricks and 17-point hauls against Ipswich Town and West Ham United have established Erling Haaland (£15.2m) as a must-have for millions of managers in Fantasy.
Man City’s Norwegian can be found in over 66 per cent of squads, almost 25 per cent more than any other player in the game.
While Haaland’s potential for huge hauls will make him a very popular armband pick at home to Brentford in Gameweek 4, his subsequent run of opponents may have many of his backers seeking a short-term captaincy alternative.
The champions entertain Arsenal in Gameweek 5 and follow that up with a trip to Newcastle United before their schedule turns more favourably in Gameweek 7.
Although Haaland owners will be happy to hold, loading up on his team-mates seems somewhat unnecessary at present.
In the premium defenders bracket, Josko Gvardiol’s (£6.0m) hefty 29 per cent ownership could look for alternatives such as Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.0m) at this point.
The short-term schedule also limits the immediate appeal of Rico Lewis (£4.7m), who has started each of the opening three Gameweeks.
Similarly, investment in midfield big-hitters Kevin De Bruyne (£9.5m) and Phil Foden (£9.4m) seems best left until after their meeting with Newcastle, when Man City then embark on a very kind run of opponents.
According to the Fixture Difficulty Ratings (FDR), each of their five matches from Gameweek 7 onwards score a mere two.
Arsenal and Brentford
Managers should also be pinpointing Arsenal and Brentford stars from Gameweek 6.
Both clubs have brutal schedules in the next two Gameweeks - each visiting Tottenham Hotspur and Man City - that is likely to limit their potential for both attacking and defensive returns.
Beyond that, however, a triple-up on Mikel Arteta’s key players could be a productive strategy - they have back-to-back home encounters with promoted pair Leicester City and Southampton, followed by a visit to AFC Bournemouth.
Bukayo Saka (£10.1m) and Kai Havertz (£8.1m) are the standout picks in attack, while goalkeeper David Raya (£5.5m) offers a cheaper alternative to centre-back Gabriel (£6.0m) in defence.
Brentford, meanwhile, can offer excellent value in Fantasy for many matches to come. According to the FDR, five of their eight matches from Gameweek 6 onwards score only two.
Brentford's schedule from Gameweek 6
| GW | Opp. | FDR |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | West Ham (H) | 2 |
| 7 | Wolves (H) | 2 |
| 8 | Man Utd (A) | 3 |
| 9 | Ipswich (H) | 2 |
| 10 | Fulham (A) | 3 |
| 11 | Bournemouth (H) | 2 |
| 12 | Everton (A) | 3 |
| 13 | Leicester (H) | 2 |
*1 = easiest possible fixture, 5 = hardest possible fixture
Midfielder Bryan Mbeumo (£7.1m) and forward Yoane Wissa (£6.1m) are the in-form picks. Both have already been involved in three goals apiece and have only blanked once - at Liverpool.
Goalkeeper Mark Flekken (£4.5m) should provide plenty of save points at least, with Nathan Collins (£4.5m) an alternative in defence - the centre-back already has two assists to his name and, just like Arsenal’s Gabriel, is a huge threat at set-pieces.