As all fantasy premier league managers will know game week 22 has Chelsea and Southampton  playing twice while  GW23 has Arsenal and West Ham playing twice.  Lets take a look at each team, their fixtures and their viable fantasy premier league players and assess how we should be playing things.  I will also change my January wildcard team but not in this post

Chelsea

• Fixtures  2 games in GW22

This is a pretty good set of fixtures that’s for sure and with Southampton at home in GW22 they look the strong favourites for a captain option in GW22

• Viable players

Firstly lets remember that in between these fixtures Chelsea have 2 league cup semifinals  against Swansea on the 9th and 23rd of January.  Benitez has openly talked of rotation.  The QPR result may have been a shock to him but he is nothing if not stubborn and I cant see him abandoning the policy due to 1 game.  I also believe that the League Cup semis will be very important to Benitez as an interim manager and that they will be treated as important as the fantasy premier league games.

The viable players are in my mind

1.  Anyone in defence although Luiz is my favourite, Azpilicueta fits my budget.
2. Mata – featuring strongly in the shooting stats in the last 6 despite difficult fixtures and has crept in to the overall stats.  Miles ahead of Hazard at the moment.  The question is will he play both games?  He’ll definitely play in the semi on the 9th  and at Stoke in my mind.  With Arsenal on the 20th and the 2nd semi on the 23rd the Southampton home game has QPR rotation written all over it.  Mata is a viable long term player in your team with the fixtures and his form and the obvious captain option but its a big rotation risk
3. Demba – 4-2-3-1 only allows 1 striker and I just cant see Ba playing both games.  He’s twice the striker Torres is on current form but again I can see Torres playing Saints at home but not Stoke away.  Ba has the advantage of not being able to play in the Europa league but thats not until mid Feb.  Ba will be rotated which makes him a risky choice in the short term
4. Turnbull – Cech isn’t expected back until 20/1.  If you are using your wildcard after GW22 or have an elite keeper such as Sczesny or even Cech himself  then Turnbull during GW22 is a cheap way of getting decent points

In summary Mata and a defender (and maybe Turnbull depending on your circumstances) work long and short term for me, It’s just the captain risk.  RVP is home to Liverpool which takes out Suarez and RVP as obvious alternatives   City are away to Arsenal further assisting the position though meaning there’s no obvious alternative apart from Bale at QPR and even that’s risky with QPR showing occasional defensive resolve.

Southampton

• fixtures  – 2 games in GW22

These aren’t great and you would only want cheap rotating players here in my mind

• viable players

The good news is that Southampton don’t have the players to rotate so that should be fairly safe.  As far as defenders are concerned I can easily see that they will only get 2 points in 2 games and the following fixtures aren’t easy.  Both Clyne and Fonte have injury doubts so I see little point including anyone else.

Puncheon is the viable midfield option and easily the best cheap midfielder holding his own in the overall shooting stats but out of the last 6.

Lambert is an interesting one.  The Villa defence gives some hope and he is one way of getting some funds to purchase midfielders but I personally wouldn’t have him as I don’t see him as anything other than a very short term option.  I would only use him if you’re thinking of using the wildcard after GW22.

In summary then I would have Puncheon in your team as your cheap midfielder and Lambert only if using your wildcard after GW22

Arsenal

• fixtures – 2 games in GW23

A great set of fixtures in the short and long term so definitely worth investing in

• Viable players

Defence is definitely viable with Gibbs offering an attacking option otherwise Szczesny as GK with Turnbull as a short term reserve or someone like Bunn

Walcott in my view is the only other viable option with Giroud lacking  starts .  Playing as a striker and featuring strongly in the shooting stats he also a strong captain option. Arsenals replay with Swansea is the only thing that hints at possible rotation but I still see him playing both games.

in Summary you should  have Gibbs or Szczesny in your team and you should definitely have Walcott in my view

West Ham

• fixtures 2 games in GW23

Not bad fixtures at all although after that its Stoke A and ManU H

• viable players

West Ham are a team due to the ability to get clean sheets despite stats is one that you should have some defensive coverage in my view.  O’Brien with McCartney injured for 8-10 weeks is my player of choice its just the risk that he doesn’t recover for GW23 which is why I might take the game time risk of Demel.  If you’re rolling in cash Collins or Reid are good options with attacking potential but personally I think they’re over priced.

In midfield Nolan is the obvious option.  His shooting stats have just fallen off the  last 6 mainly due to difficult fixtures but he holds his position of 3rd overall.  I personally have faith in him.  The only other option is Noble although you are relying solely on penalties and set pieces. I have Taylor as a cheap option although the arrival of Cole has spooked me on this and I no longer think he’s viable.

Summary – either Demel or O’Brien although both have risk and Nolan if you are willing to have faith in his stats

Final word

I hope that gives you some ideas for your players for GW22 and the 2 games in GW23.  I would be using your Wildcard now before the 2 double gameweeks.  You should have Chelsea players for the longterm anyway so  using it after GW22 would essentially of little benefit unless you want some Sainst players and Turnbull in then out.  I’ll be showing you my fantasy premier league January wildcard changes tomorrow.  Good luck!