Fantasy Premier League Week 4 Tips

After a sketchy first two weeks of scoring, things kind of got back to normal during Gameweek 3, as the likes of Mohamed Salah and Sergio Agüero had double digit points. However, there was still plenty of value to go around as players like Tammy Abraham and Nathan Redmond also had double digits. So what does this mean and where do we go from here?

The reality is every single week is different and that's what makes fantasy soccer great and frustrating simultaneously. However, you still have to make adjustments or pick your team based on matchups and how well you think certain players will perform. That said, let's take a look toward Gameweek 4 and figure out what the smart plays are.

Forwards

The first two guys in this section may be tough to fit in your lineups without a Free Hit or Wildcard chip, but they are in terrific spots this week as well as in the games ahead. First up is Tottenham striker Harry Kane (£11.1). Yes, we gave him a spot last week as well, but he has a great matchup this week. People may look at Arsenal and automatically think it's a tough game, but not Kane. The Englishman has scored nine times in his last nine matches against the Gunners and will be looking to make it a solid 10-for-10 on Sunday.

Next up is Manchester City man, Sergio Agüero (£12.0), who seems to be in mid-season form after three games. The Argentinian has four goals already and draws a terrific matchup against Brighton at home this week. Agüero has scored against the Seagulls three times in their last four Premier League matchups, one of which he didn't even play in, so all signs are pointing up for him yet again this week.

Now we move to the value of the week, and we'll start at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea are in a kind of re-booting period on the offensive side after losing Eden Hazard to Real Madrid and Gonzalo Higuain going back to Juventus. Those two moves definitely hurt, and it left them looking for someone to step up and become the lead man. Olivier Giroud is certainly a viable option still, but the man who could save them is Tammy Abraham (£7.1). The 21 year old scored two goals at Norwich City last week and will surely get the first crack against Sheffield United this week and in more games moving forward. And with a 7.1 cap, he won't be too difficult to fit into your lineup.

Abraham certainly has good value at his current price, but we may have someone even better. This pick might only last one week because of the matchups going forward, but for his value and potential of being in the starting lineup, Andre Gray (£5.9) of Watford could end up being a great addition to your lineup. Gray will be stepping in for Troy Deeney, who unfortunately got hurt last week and will miss 'several weeks' due to knee surgery. Watford take on the Magpies of Newcastle this week in what should be a very offensive-minded game.

Honorable Mention: Jamie Vardy (£8.9), Teemu Pukki (£7.0), Ashley Barnes (£6.6)

Midfielders

We promise this is a different article, but like we did with Harry Kane, we're coming right back with Raheem Sterling (£12.2). Sterling, along with the rest of Man City, has been pretty matchup proof, and it's shown early on in the season. The right winger already has five goals through the first three games and has a total of 34 fantasy points. That's wild.

We don't have to look too far to get our next midfielder, as it happens to be Sterling's teammate, Kevin De Bruyne (£9.7). De Bruyne is the best midfielder in the Premier League and arguably the entire world when he's healthy. His ability to see the pitch and mentally make passes before he even gets the ball is crazy, and it's the main reason why he made this week's list. As much talent as Man City has, the offense flows through De Bruyne and he's made that clear so far this season. The Belgian already has four assists and with the schedule that Man City has over the next month or so, his production level should stay the same or get even better. So if you can add him to your lineup, do it.

When it comes to fitting players like Sterling or De Bruyne into your lineup, you have to have cheaper players somewhere else. So that's what we look for now, and we find ourselves a Norwich City man, midfielder Todd Cantwell (£4.7). The Canaries were a club that many people thought would struggle off the bat but they've held their own so far. Sure, they only have three out of a possible nine points, but they've played rather well. Teemu Pukki appears to be unfazed by Premier League defenses, while Cantwell has shown that he can control the middle of the pitch. Through their first three games, Cantwell has tallied 19 fantasy points and three assists. It may not be Sterling's 34, but for someone who cost nearly 1/3 the price to start the season, he's definitely worth a roster spot.

Another cheap option at the midfield position is Watford youngster Ismaïla Sarr (£6.5). Sarr was Watford's record signing from Stade Rennais F.C. this summer and he finally made his club debut Tuesday in the Carabao Cup. The 21-year old scored his first goal for club in the 37th minute and really showed that he belonged on the pitch. There will surely be some trying times ahead as he adapts to the Premier League, but with the injury to Troy Deeney, he and teammate Andre Gray should get most of the opportunities up front.

Honorable Mention: Pépé (£9.4), Christian Pulisic (£7.5), James Maddison (£7.0), Daniel James (£6.0)

Defenders

The defender position has probably been the toughest to predict or pick so far this season for numerous reasons. When it comes to defenders, it's important to have players that either cross the ball a ton, have a good chance at a clean sheet, or both. So far though, most of the big names and big teams haven't gotten any clean sheets, which results in an extra one point. To back that, only three of the Big 6 clubs have clean sheets, meaning most of the high-priced defenders throughout the league aren't worth their price so far. Of course, it's only Gameweek 4, but it's important to keep your options open.

One player to think about this week is Patrick van Aanholt (£5.5) of Crystal Palace. Now you might say something along the lines of "of course you pick the player with the highest points through three weeks," which is fair, but we took him anyway. It's not just because of that though, as van Aanholt has had to take on an even bigger role with former teammate Aaron Wan-Bissaka moving on to Man United. The left back has gotten three 90 minute bonuses already and has also shown some good signs on the offensive side of things, as he has a goal to his name.

Another player to think about adding to your team this week is more of a long-term addition rather than just a short-term one. Emerson (£5.5), like the rest of Chelsea, has gotten off to a slow start so far this season. The club only has four out of a possible nine points and that includes a beatdown they received from Man United in Gameweek 1. However, there are greener pastures ahead as they have favorable matchups in eight of their next nine games. Emerson will surely be penciled in as the starter for the foreseeable future, so buying him now could pay off in the long run.

Honorable Mention: Aymeric Laporte (£6.5), Kyle Walker (£6.0), Yerry Mina (£5.6), Bjorn Engels (£4.5), Chris Mepham (£4.5)

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Thomas Buckley is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, he also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username YoungBuck_21. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.