FST’s Fantasy Football tips for GW4
Before becoming a Sports Journalist for Free Super Tips, Aaron spent three years studying Sports Journalism at the University of Sunderland while taking in the Black Cats' 'glory years' under Martin O'Neill. Now back in Northern Ireland he turns niche stats into predictions for FST, while he's one of the few people on this island who is equally comfortable at Windsor Park and the Aviva.
The international break is looming, but before we get a weekend free from 59th-minute frustrations and cursing ourselves for not having Danny Ings again, there’s another Fantasy Football Gameweek to endure or enjoy.
It’s been a mixed bag through the first three weekends with many FPL staples failing to deliver. Last weekend’s shockers for Man City and Wolves hurt, but we’re picking ourselves back up for Gameweek 4.
Ahead of the latest round of top-flight games, we’re analysing the best options for your team.
Don’t forget that you can get a more in-depth look at each match this weekend in our Premier League predictions.
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Fantasy Football GW4 Fixture List
Saturday, October 3
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace (BT Sport)
Everton vs Brighton (BT Sport)
Leeds vs Man City (Sky Sports)
Newcastle vs Burnley (Sky Sports)
Sunday, October 4
Leicester vs West Ham (BT Sport)
Southampton vs West Brom (BT Sport)
Arsenal vs Sheffield United (Sky Sports)
Wolves vs Fulham (Sky Sports)
Man United vs Tottenham (Sky Sports)
Aston Villa vs Liverpool (Sky Sports)
Fantasy Football Fixtures to Target
Target
Southampton vs West Brom
Wolves vs Fulham
The battle between fixtures and form will rage on in FPL for years to come, but there’s little doubt that targeting the weak sides can bring rewards. That’s why this weekend’s fixture focus has us looking at Wolves and Southampton, who face Fulham and West Brom respectively.
Any good asset for either side is worth considering this weekend. Wolves defenders will be fancied against a low-scoring Cottagers outfit. Meanwhile, there’s value in the Southampton midfield if you can’t get Ings in your team.
Avoid
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
Aston Villa’s recent transfer business looks excellent, as a side who can improve the spine of their team with talent should do well. The signing of Ross Barkley (£5.9million) prickled our fantasy focus, while Emiliano Martinez (£4.6m) is emerging as a goalkeeper to get.
However, we’d stress patience here. With clashes against Liverpool and Leicester to come it might be Gameweek 6 before we act on any Villa transfers.
Best Fantasy Football Team for GW4
Fantasy Football Transfer Tips this Week
Faith in Forwards
After two wild weeks of high-scoring action, it’s clear that defenders aren’t exactly cutting it in FPL. That has us going for a big-money forward line at the expense of the defence.
We’re keeping faith in two strikers we already had, following great displays from Harry Kane (£10.5m) and Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£7.2m). Both scored hat-tricks in other competitions in midweek and they posted a combined 59 points so far. They’ve been carrying Timo Werner (£9.4m) so far, so we’re getting an attacking upgrade.
Completing our all-English front three is Jamie Vardy (£10m). It’s a strikeforce that Gareth Southgate can only dream of, with the Leicester hitman sinking City last weekend. Vardy’s hat-trick last weekend has made him the highest-scoring player in FPL and with West Ham, Aston Villa, Arsenal and Leeds next up he has a favourable run to come.
Goodbye my Son
Heung-min Son (£9m) is a significant doubt for the weekend, which means we’re spending our Fantasy cash elsewhere. While it’s a financial downgrade, we’re going from Son to Phil Foden (£6.6m) as few midfielders have the talent and fixtures that he does.
Man City’s next three are Leeds, Arsenal and West Ham and we expect Foden to excel in those games. Not only that, but the Son to Foden move saves £2.4m to use ahead of Gameweek 5. City’s rotation is a concern but we’ve rounded out our midfield with value options in Leeds’ spot-kick taker Mateusz Klich (£5.6m) and Wolves’ highly-rated attacker Daniel Podence (£5.6m).
With many of the big stars recording patchy form we think you can find some bargains in the middle of the park. When you consider Wolves’ fixture list and Man City’s patchy defending we can see Klich and Podence making a difference for us this weekend.
Who to Captain in GW4
Kevin De Bruyne
While De Bruyne (£11.6m) was quiet in the loss to Leicester, the Belgian is one to watch this weekend. His opening game of the season saw him claim 13 points away to Wolves and this weekend pits him against newly-promoted opposition.
While there’s been an FPL clamour for Leeds so far, it’s worth remembering they shipped four goals to Liverpool and three to Fulham earlier this term. While those high-scoring games don’t suggest De Bruyne will get a clean sheet reward, we expect him to be among the goals for City on Saturday.
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