Come hither, come hither – our Fantasy Football Tips Gameweek 28 goalkeepers and defenders round-up has arrived!
We can’t be certain of what will happen in this weekend’s Premier League fixtures, so there is a chance – just a smidgen of one – that our Fantasy Football tips might not work out for you.
Rest assured, though, that our educated guesses are at least as educated as they are guessed.
We ought to clarify that our Fantasy Football tips are based on the Fantasy Premier League version of the game, although the principles should apply more or less across the board.
IMPROVE THE REST OF YOUR SIDE: Try our Fantasy Football Tips Gameweek 28 midfielders round-up – and our strikers round-up
Okay, let’s be having this…
Fantasy Football Tips Gameweek 28: Goalkeepers and Defenders
As well as being ‘in buoyant mood’ following a 4-0 win at Cardiff City, Hull City have looked solid at home all season.
This weekend they welcome Newcastle United, who may have beaten Aston Villa 1-0 but have looked in poor form of late.
We’re backing Hull to keep a clean sheet in this one, in which case you might want to avail of £3.9m full-back Liam Rosenior, who managed an assist and three bonus points in the Cardiff win.
£3.9m Alex Bruce looks likely to recover from a knock, and if he doesn’t then £3.8m James Chester’s return from injury looks timely.
You can also get Curtis Davies, Maynor Figueroa and goalkeeper Allan McGregor for £4.6m, £4.4m and £4.5m respectively if you’d prefer one of the Tigers’ more established-seeming first team players.
Tottenham Hotspur have to be a good bet to keep a clean sheet at home to Cardiff, so you might want to consider Michael Dawson at just £5.2m or even £4.1m Kyle Naughton, who’s deputised in the last two games following injuries to others.
Jan Vertonghen could turn out to be worth a punt at £6.9m if he gets the odd goal he’s capable of and helps Spurs to a few shut-outs along the way.
Chelsea defenders are becoming downright essential – they’re keeping clean sheets left, right and centre, while John Terry (£6.6m), Branislav Ivanovic (£6.5m) and Gary Cahill (£6m) all have a knack for goals and even the odd assist.
Ivanovic has been in fine form of late on that front, Terry got the late winner against Everton in Gameweek 27 – could it be Cahill’s turn for a starring role in the west London derby at struggling Fulham this weekend?
César Azpilicueta may not be as much of an attacking threat as his more celebrated teammates but he looks to have firmly displaced Ashley Cole as Jose Mourinho’s first-choice left-back.
What’s more, he can be had for just £5.5m – that’s a bargain price for a regular member of the league’s tightest defence.
Arsenal also boast a great defensive record but blew a clean sheet in Gameweek 27 by conceding a consolation goal to Sunderland after having to reshuffle following the withdrawal of goal-scorer Laurent Koscielny.
If he recovers in time to travel to Stoke City this weekend then another miserly performance from the Gunners’ back line could be on the cards – if he fails to make it then it could get tricky at a notoriously awkard place to go to.
Stoke seem to score more goals nowadays, so approach this fixture with caution.
Oh, and get anyone from Southampton, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United out of there – the former two play each other in what we expect to be an absolute goal-fest (you might disagree), while neither Manchester club plays a Premier League game this weekend because of the Carling Cup final.
Our 0-0 tip for the week has to be Aston Villa v Norwich City, so you might want to browse the various bargains on offer between them.
Swansea City v Crystal Palace could well end up goalless too, in case you’re feeling lucky.
NOW: Try our Fantasy Football Tips Gameweek 28 midfielders round-up – and our strikers round-up