Segment 2 begins Saturday. Fantasy managers must keep an eye on transfers while re-selecting their 15-player teams before the week locks. There will be ten games over two days with one chance to check announced lineups, Sunderland-Liverpool.
Saturday, January 10
Sunderland (3-11-6) vs. Liverpool (8-5-7)
The draw specialist Black Cats have no player with more than four goals.
Steven Gerrard's (7.2) farewell tour begins at the Stadium of Light. He scored two penalty goals against Burnley and had an FA Cup brace. Adam Lallana (7.0) is out injured and Daniel Sturridge (8.8) is two weeks away from playing.
Burnley (3-8-9) vs. QPR (5-4-11)
The Clarets come off two straight gritty draws against upper table teams and could leapfrog out of the drop zone over the Hoops. Danny Ings (5.9) is a goal threat.
Charlie Austin (7.4) is the Rangers' main man with 12 goals. QPR have coughed up 35 goals, the most in the league and are road-kill, having lost all nine away games, scoring just four goals, three by Austin. Mauro Zarate (5.8) joins the team on loan from West Ham.
Chelsea (14-4-2) vs. Newcastle (7-6-7)
Chelsea look to re-assert themselves after being blown out by Spurs. Eden Hazard (10.0) is the top fantasy point-producer and gets five-star service from Cesc Fabregas (9.6), who has 14 assists. Add Diego Costa (9.9) to the mix and considering the Magpies are a team walking wounded, you have the makings of a cricket score for the Blues.
Newcastle beginning life sans Alan Pardew have 12 players out with injuries including Daryl Janmaat (6.2) and Moussa Sissoko (5.8). They also are without Papiss Cisse (5.5) and Cheick Tiote (4.9) who are away on African Nations' Cup duty. Tim Krul (6.0) could return.
Everton (5-6-9) vs. Manchester City (14-4-2)
The Toffees are on the skids with four straight league losses and bleeding goals. Romelu Lukaku (7.2) scored a dramatic equalizing goal against West Ham in the FA Cup.
City face life without Yaya Toure (9.4) who is on ANC duty, while Sergio Aguero (10.0) is doubtful. Stevan Jovetic (6.2) scored on his return and David Silva (7.6) is in fine fantasy form. Joe Hart (7.0) should be back in goal. Edin Dzeko (7.5) is a doubt.
Leicester (3-5-12) vs. Aston Villa (5-7-8)
The Foxes will miss Jefferey Schlupp (5.4) and Riyad Mahrez (5.5), the latter at the ANC. Leonardo Ulloa (6.0) scored the only goal against Newcastle in FA Cup third round play.
Villa in 20 games have only scored 11 goals, yet amazingly are in 12th place on the strength of giving up just 22 scores. Fabian Delph (5.5) is suspended.
Swansea (8-5-7) vs. West Ham (9-5-6)
Leading scorer Wilfried Bony (7.5) is at the ANC, so Bafetimbi Gomis (5.5), who had a brace in FA Cup play, will get a chance to shine alongside fantasy favorite Gylfi Sigurdsson (7.6). Jonjo Shelvey (5.6) is suspended.
West Ham are minus Diafra Sakho (6.1), who is sidelined with a back injury.
WBA (4-6-10) vs. Hull (4-7-9)
The Baggies hope new manager Tony Pulis will resuscitate a team only one point clear of the drop zone. In FA Cup play, Saido Berahino (6.3) had four goals against Conference minnow Gateshead.
Mystery Hull have just four league wins. Manager Steve Bruce never knows who will show up. The lads had an impressive win over Everton, and then in FA Cup play they lost to Arsenal.
Crystal Palace (3-8-9) vs. Tottenham (10-4-6)
New manager Alan Pardew inherits an Eagles team minus captain Mile Jedinak (6.0) who is on Asian Cup duty and top talent Yannick Bolasie (5.7) who is at the ANC.
Harry Kane (6.5) is making believers of everyone with his goal scoring. A brace last time out featured sublime strikes.
Sunday, January 11
Arsenal (9-6-5) vs. Stoke (7-5-8)
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger may call Ghostbusters after saying his team was haunted by mistakes in recent outings. Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny (6.7) will be benched in favor of David Ospina (5.0). Alexis Sanchez (9.8) has been reclassified a fantasy midfielder and scored a goal in FA Cup play. To be determined is where returning players Mesut Ozil (7.5), Theo Walcott (7.8), and Danny Welbeck (6.6) will fit and how that impacts Santi Cazorla (7.3).
Stoke's lethal striker, Mame Biram Diouf (5.7) will be greatly missed while on ANC duty.
Manchester United (10-7-3) vs. Southampton (11-3-6)
United looked limp in a 1-1 match at Stoke. Radamel Falcao (6.6) got the goal, but Robin van Persie (9.5) and Wayne Rooney (9.5) offered little. Angel di Maria (9.0) returns having scored an FA Cup goal.
Sadio Mane (6.0) is out long term with a calf injury. Defence is Southampton's strength with only 15 goals conceded.
Recommended captains: Charlie Austin, Eden Hazard, Cesc Fabregas, Diego Costa, David Silva, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Harry Kane, and Alexis Sanchez.