Fixture Difficult Tracker: The Playoffs

It’s that time of year again! A long, long 35 weeks has passed and it’s time to prepare for those highly anticipated/dreaded playoffs.

In this article, we look at which teams have favourable fixtures to target in the last three weeks as well as highlighting some low ownership players to target (even some trades if you haven’t got a trade deadline in place!)…

Here are the remaining fixtures of the 2021/22 season…

Teams to target

Everton

For the first time this season, Everton players have everything you need to navigate through the last three weeks of the season:

Fixtures: Two double gameweeks ✅

Something to play for: Obviously ✅

Form: Kind of…

The Toffees have fixtures against teams who are either doomed to relegation themselves or are “on the beach” going into the final three games but couldn’t be further from sun, sea and sand themselves in the Premier League’s bottom three.

In terms of players to target, looking at Richarlison and Anthony Gordon will be the best and, therefore, most expensive options. Therefore, Dominic Calvert Lewin may be your best bet in a trade as someone who is below par but should still play a decent part in proceedings.

Abdoulaye Doucoure is probably the pick of the midfielders but Alex Iwobi is also worth a look with his new regular starting berth in the side and may be more widely available than his midfield counterpart.

I wouldn’t be too fussed about chasing defenders as although the fixtures look good they are still suspect at the back (though Jordan Pickford could be considered as your rest of season goalkeeper at this point. Although Yerry Mina will score the most ghost points out of the Everton defenders, you need players who are likely to start every fixtures and I think the tall Colombian’s dodgy hamstrings will see Frank Lampard rotate that centre back spot. Full backs Seamus Coleman and Vitalii Mykolenko are the most reliable options.

Aston Villa

While Everton have everything to play for, Aston Villa are slowly edging towards the end of a very topsy turvy season. Safe from relegation but out of the hunt for Europe, Steven Gerrard is likely to use the last five matches to experiment for next season where they will look to challenge for the latter.

The likes of Philippe Coutinho, Ollie Watkins, Lucas Digne and probably even Danny Ings are out of reach, especially ahead of an amazing double gameweek in GW37 (Crystal Palace and Burnley, both at home).

Jacob Ramsey and John McGinn are more gettable and definitely worth a go while Tyrone Mings is the centre back you need with Ezri Konsa and Calum Chambers seemingly set to rotate on the other side.

If you’re looking for a speculative add then Fantrax darling Emi Buendia could be worth a punt. With little to play for, I’d be surprised if Gerrard doesn’t rotate and we don’t see the tricky Argentine playmaker, especially with Coutinho out of form.

Leicester City

Another team with lots of fixtures but little to play for in the league. The only problem with them is the sheer amount of rotation. Of everyone in the squad, I’d only expect to see James Maddison, Youri Tielemans, Wesley Fofana and Kasper Schmeichel start all of the remaining fixtures for The Foxes.

Jamie Vardy is fit again and a trade target in many leagues (may even be on waiver wire in smaller leagues) while it’s anyone’s guess between Ademola Lookman and Harvey Barnes. I can also see Marc Albrighton getting some minutes with him seeing a start and a substitute appearance likely to be his contribution in the doubles.

Defensively, I wouldn’t be desperately chasing them but if you can get anyone who starts the double against Everton and Norwich you’ll be on to a winner. Fofana probably will, Jonny Evans might, the full backs…good luck!

Burnley

One of the leagues form teams…Burnley are the latest team to be on the verge of completing a great escape in England’s top division.

The turnaround has been nothing short of remarkable. In contrast to a few months back, most of their assets are probably owned in most leagues but in case they aren’t, Nathan Collins, Josh Brownhill and full backs Charlie Taylor and Connor Roberts are the pick of the bunch.

Dwight McNeil looks close to his top form again and James Tarkowski (own goals aside) is still a fantasy stud. You may even be able to target Wout Weghorst again who continues to blow hot and cold in his first season in England.