After losing their season opener at Chelsea on Monday, West Ham United will be hoping to benefit from an appealing run of opponents.
According to the new Fixture Difficulty Ranking (FDR) system introduced to Fantasy Premier League this season, Slaven Bilic’s side register a score of two or less in eight of the next 10 rounds of matches.
The Hammers host AFC Bournemouth, Watford, Middlesbrough, Sunderland and Stoke City, and also travel to West Bromwich Albion, Crystal Palace and Everton.
Only a trip to Manchester City and visit from Southampton are listed as less favourable by the FDR over that period.
Having lost club-record signing Andre Ayew (£7.5m) to a thigh injury for the foreseeable future, Bilic looks set to recall Dimitri Payet (£9.5m) to his starting XI this weekend.
Late back to pre-season training due to his exertions for France in UEFA Euro 2016, the playmaker was handed a brief appearance off the bench at Stamford Bridge.
In his debut campaign at the club, Payet helped transform the Hammers’ fortunes after arriving from Marseille.
The Frenchman produced 5.7 FPL points per match in 2015/16, an average only bettered by Riyad Mahrez for midfielders.
Despite missing eight matches through injury, Payet was ranked second for chances created last term, providing a scoring opportunity every 23.3 minutes.
With Payet afforded a cameo role and new winger Sofiane Feghouli (£5.5m) sidelined through injury, the supply line to target man Andy Carroll (£6.5m) was limited against Antonio Conte’s side.
The Hammers were joint-bottom for attempted crosses (seven) in Gameweek 1 and completed just one, a far cry from 2015/16, where they registered the highest cross completion (26.6%) rate of any team.
That threat from the flanks allowed Carroll to score five of his nine goals via headers last term. It also meant Cheikhou Kouyate (£5.5m) and Michail Antonio (£7m) were ranked in the top three midfielders for headed attempts on goal.
Having conceded 51 times in 2015/16, FPL managers should be wary when considering the West Ham backline.
Bilic may revise his decision to employ Antonio as a right-back. The former Nottingham Forest winger was replaced by Sam Byram (£4.5m) before the hour at Stamford Bridge after a difficult time against Eden Hazard.
James Collins (£4.5m) scored the visitors’ consolation and offers a cheap route into the Hammers’ rearguard, providing he fends off competition from Angelo Ogbonna (£5m).
Those keen to invest should also be aware that the schedule turns against Bilic’s side from Gameweek 12.
A four-match run against Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool from that point gives owners a chance to prepare exit plans well in advance.
Remember to update your Fantasy Premier League team ahead of the Gameweek 2 deadline at 7pm BST Friday 19 August.