Following a challenging start to the season, Newcastle United is now entering a more favorable stretch of fixtures that could improve their Fantasy Premier League prospects.
After facing tough opponents like Aston Villa, Manchester City, Liverpool and Brighton in their first four matches, Newcastle United is set to begin a more favorable stretch of fixtures in the Fantasy Premier League. Their weekend game against Brighton & Hove Albion marks the end of a challenging sequence, where they’ve already encountered four of last season’s top seven teams within the first four Gameweeks.
However, starting from Gameweek 5, Newcastle’s schedule takes a turn for the better. According to the Fixture Difficulty Ratings (FDR), four out of their next six matches are rated only two on the difficulty scale.
Newcastle’s next six Gameweeks
| GW | Opp | FDR | GW | Opp | FDR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | BRE (H) | 3 | 8 | WHU (A) | 3 |
| 6 | SHU (A) | 2 | 9 | CRY (H) | 2 |
| 7 | BUR (H) | 2 | 10 | WOL (A) | 2 |
Newcastle has yet to record a clean sheet this season, but this run of easier opponents might make Kieran Trippier (£6.5m) a valuable option for Fantasy managers in defense. Trippier was the highest-scoring defender in Fantasy in the 2022/23 season, scoring a total of 198 points through a combination of a goal, nine assists, and 16 clean sheets. Although he has only managed five points in the first four Gameweeks, Trippier has been Newcastle’s top creator, providing nine key passes. This suggests that he could be a worthwhile investment if budget constraints are not an issue in the upcoming fixtures.
Sven Botman (£4.5m) could be an alternative choice if he recovers from an injury that forced him off during the Liverpool game last weekend. The Dutchman has registered three shots in the box, more than any other Newcastle defender this season. While the easier schedule is promising for Newcastle’s attackers, it also clashes with the start of the UEFA Champions League, likely resulting in rotation among their forwards. Alexander Isak (£7.7m) has started all four matches, scoring twice against Aston Villa in Gameweek 1 for a total of 13 points. However, he may share playing time with Callum Wilson (£7.9m) as manager Eddie Howe will look to manage his squad’s depth to cope with the additional fixtures.
Newcastle’s midfielders come at a slightly lower price point than Isak and Wilson, with Anthony Gordon (£5.5m) and Miguel Almiron (£6.4m) seemingly occupying wide roles in a front three. Nevertheless, with summer signing Harvey Barnes (£6.5m) and the versatile Joelinton (£5.9m) also offering options on the flanks, Newcastle’s defense might ultimately be the safest choice for Fantasy managers.
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