The cinch Premiership is back after the international break and that period will have given Fantasy managers plenty of time to think about their selections for Gameweek 5.
Here’s a look at this weekend’s fixtures.
St. Johnstone v Rangers
Max Kucheriavyi’s late double against Dundee last time could be the boost that Saints and Steven MacLean need to get their season going. The Ukrainian midfielder’s contribution (27.8 points) saw him shoot into second place in St. Johnstone’s points winners, only behind goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov (34 points).
Michael Beale will be looking to get back to winning ways and he’ll be hoping to have defender Borna Barisic (64 points) available after the Croatian missed the derby defeat to Celtic.
Managers looking to Rangers’ forward line will be keeping an eye on Danilo – who has earned 30.5 points from his 184 minutes of top flight action to date. He sits just behind Sam Lammers 33.2 points from 246 minutes and ahead of Cyriel Dessers, 21.9 points from 278 minutes to date.
Celtic v Dundee
The cinch Premiership league leaders host Dundee at Celtic Park as they seek to maintain their fine domestic form.
Brendan Rodgers has the game’s three highest scoring players at his disposal in Matt O’Riley (86.1 points), derby hero Kyogo Furuhashi (81.5 points) and Joe Hart (71 points).
Liel Abada and Daizen Maeda sit alongside Furuhashi as Fantasy’s highest-scoring forward players and either could be a good pick for your captain’s pick.
Luke McCowan’s contribution in midfield was a big boost to managers in GW3 but Welsh defender Owen Beck or forward Amadou Bakayoko should also be on your radar. If you have an eye on your super sub pick then Lyall Cameron could be a contender for that place.
Heart of Midlothian v Aberdeen
These two sides contested a battle for third place last season but both have found goals hard to come by in their early cinch Premiership fixtures, registering just two and three respectively.
That could all change this Saturday as the home side, under the guidance of Head Coach Steven Naismith, seek to move up the table after back-to-back defeats.
Goalkeeper Zander Clark has collected a fine 56 points but in attack, captain Lawrence Shankland (23 points) will be looking to find the net against his old side and overtake Yutaro Oda (23.5 points) as the team’s leading forward.
Aberdeen head to the capital still seeking their first league win of the season and they may need a big performance from goalkeeper Kelle Roos, who is the team’s top scorer with 25 points so far.
Bojan Miovski has two goals in four league matches but Fantasy bosses will be looking for Duk and Leighton Clarkson to rediscover the form, which made them must-have players towards the end of last term.
Kilmarnock v Hibernian
New Hibernian manager Nick Montgomery takes his team to Ayrshire to face a Kilmarnock side, whose strong start to the season has hit a few bumps in recent matchweeks.
Could Killie captain Kyle Vassell make his first Premiership start of the season? Injuries have limited his contribution to date with Marley Watkins (16.9) points playing as the team’s leading forward so far. Deadline Day signing Andrew Dallas has been added to the game and you can pick him up for £7.5m.
Adam Le Fondre and Christian Doidge made huge contributions after coming off the bench to score a goal each at Pittodrie last time out. Managers who invested in the experienced strikers have been well rewarded with Le Fondre earning 32.9 points from 153 minutes of action and he sits tops of the Premiership scoring chart alongside Kyogo.
Doidge has contributed two goals and two assists in his 271 minutes on the field and as he returns to Rugby Park, where he spent last season on loan, could he have a big part to play in this encounter?
Motherwell v St. Mirren
Stuart Kettlewell and Stephen Robinson are thriving with their respective clubs as Robinson returns to the place, where he made his name in the Scottish game.
The Steelmen sit level on points at the top of the Premiership with only goal difference putting them behind Celtic after four matches. Motherwell have three of the top six scoring defenders in the game with Dan Casey (58 points), Stephen O’Donnell (53 points) and Bevis Mugabi (46 points).
Teenager Brodie Spencer has collected 37 points in just 180 minutes since joining on loan from Huddersfield and he’s certainly a player to consider for your team.
While St. Mirren are yet to keep a clean sheet in the league, the Buddies have three defenders in the top 20 with Marcus Fraser, Scott Tanser and cinch Premiership Player of the Month, Ryan Strain all performing well.
Alex Greive remains an excellent Super Sub contender while Alex Gogic’s 40 points in midfield are worthy of note.
Ross County v Livingston
Ross Laidlaw was the Star Man in the SPFL Team of the Week last time out as his penalty save helped the Staggies claim three points at Rugby Park.
The shot stopper is the fourth highest scoring player in cinch Premiership Fantasy Football, having made more saves (22) than any goalkeeper in the division.
Clean sheets for County have helped James Brown claim 42 points but Ryan Leak is a player flying under the radar with 30.7 points from 120 fewer minutes.
Defence is also where the value can currently be found in Livingston’s squad with Luiyi De Lucas emerging as their standout performer so far. The centre back bagged himself a goal against St. Mirren to move to 36 points for the campaign.
Bruce Anderson scored a brace when Livi triumphed in Dingwall in January and the Lions will be looking to their number nine for more inspiration in the final third.
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