Gameweek 17 presents big challenges to fantasy managers holding Chelsea players and to a lesser extent the few managers who have Southampton players. The teams will not be playing since Chelsea is at the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan. No make-up date has been announced; but it will not be in Segment 1.

Please see my Dec. 10 post for suggestions on player replacements in the week.

Saturday, December 15

Newcastle-Manchester City: The Magpies (4-5-6 14th) hope their home form will be better than the road kill (0-4-4) they have become. Hatem Ben Arfa’s return was greatly needed for Alan Pardew but fantasy managers can be rightly concerned as Ben Arfa may not play Saturday. Demba Ba has ten goals while Papiss Cisse still looks out of sync.
Manchester City (9-6-1, 2nd) have only given up 14 goals. Roberto Mancini’s forward thinking remains a mystery. Who will start between Sergio Aguero, Carlos Tevez, Edin Dzeko and Mario Balotelli? Based on the emotional loss to United and The Scarf’s disdain for Balotelli, two of the first three are likely. Injury doubts include Vincent Kompany, Aleksandar Kolarov and James Milner. Gareth Barry is suspended for misconduct.

Liverpool-Aston Villa: Luis Suarez has scored 10 of the 22 goals for the Reds (5-7-4 10th) and returns from suspension. Aston Villa (3-6-7 17th) uncharacteristically scored four goals against Norwich City Tuesday. Andreas Wiemann had a brace. Darren Bent started and then pulled a hammie.

Manchester United-Sunderland: Wayne Rooney was sick midweek, but should be back to join SAF’s potent offensive team (13-0-3 1st). MU has rifled in 40 goals for the season. Rooney’s brace against Manchester City brought him to six and Robin van Persie has 11. Shinji Kagawa and Nemanja Vidic might return. A fantasy-adding machine may be needed against Sunderland (3-7-6 15th) who emerged from the drop zone on Tuesday. Steven Fletcher, James McClean and Stephane Sessegnon scored. Terrific Danny Rose may be out with an injury.

Norwich City-Wigan: The Canaries (5-7-4 12th) were bounced from the Capital One Cup and now can concentrate on PL business. Wigan (4-3-9 18th) that has returned to familiar relegation territory. Shaun Maloney and Ryo Miyaichi would be great helps if they return.

QPR-Fulham: Bottom of the barrel QPR (0-7-9 20th) is still without a win. Based on 29 goals conceded, a home result is not likely against Fulham (5-5-6 13th). Dimitar Berbatov has gone an astounding five games without a goal. That will end on Saturday.

Stoke City-Everton: The Potters (5-8-3 9th) are the best defensive team in the league (only 12 goals conceded) but their offense is offensive (only 14 scored). Chris Adam returns from suspension, Ryan Shotton is suspended one game. Everton (6-8-2 4th) and Stoke have 16 draws combined so another seems a reasonable prediction. The Blues, though, have scored 27 goals with Marouane Fellaini and Nikica Jelavic getting 14 between them.

Sunday, December 16

Tottenham-Swansea: AVB’s resurgent Spurs (8-2-6, 5th) blew a late lead against Everton. A major boost against Swansea (6-5-5, 8th) will be the return of Gareth Bale. Jermain Defoe was shut out against Everton but Clint Dempsey looks to be finding his form and scored a goal. Benoit Assou-Ekotto could return. Swansea's Michu is fantasy money in the bank. After his brace against Norwich City, the Spaniard is tops in the PL with 12 goals. Swansea advanced in the Capital One Cup against Middlesbrough.

WBA-West Ham: The semi-anonymous Baggies (8-2-6 6th) have had a few hiccups of late and will be without key defender Liam Ridgewell. Romelu Lukaku is a potent fantasy sub; however, how long can he be kept out of the first XI? WBA hope for success at home against Big Sam’s Hammers (6-4-6 11th). West Ham's Kevin Nolan has not scored a goal or an assist in five matches.

Monday, December 17

Reading-Arsenal: Fresh from crashing out of the Capital One Cup against League 2 Bradford City, Arsenal (6-6-4 7th) plays awful Reading (1-6-9 19th). Arsene Wenger watched his frontline players tank on Tuesday, so what will happen against Championship-bound Dreading? Even with Olivier Giroud an injury doubt and Wenger’s job security quivering on a foundation of Silly Putty, you would expect big fantasy numbers for Arsenal since the Royals have had 30 goals flushed down their defensive drain.

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