While the debate over the best football league in the world rages on, there is no denying that the English Premier League remains among the most unpredictable there is.

And that doesn't bode well for millions of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers, who are forced to formulate new strategies as teams buck the trend.

This week has special significance with the season’s first 'double gameweek' on the cards and The Statesman has you covered with a comprehensive article on which players will give you bang for your buck.

The indicators are:

Teams in BOLD are top 4 contenders.

Prices marked with a (+) indicate an increase in Base Price.
Prices marked with a (-) indicate a decrease in Base Price.

Goalkeepers

David de Gea
Team: Manchester United
Fixtures:  Bournemouth (H), Middlesborough (A), West Brom (H) and Everton (H)
Price: 5.4 (-)
Score: 94
Ownership: 33.5%

Why yes: Arguably the safest choice from a top-six club for this Gameweek, de Gea should keep a fourth consecutive clean sheet against Bournemouth at home.

Why no: United are among the many clubs who do not play in Gameweek 28 and the fact that the Spaniard has effectively zero differential prospects will put off most FPL managers.

Defenders

John Stones
Team: Manchester City
Fixtures: Sunderland (A)-Stoke (H), Liverpool (H) and Arsenal (A) 
Price: 4.7 (-)
Score: 46
Ownership: 15.2%

Why yes: City have a double fixture this Gameweek and both their opponents aren't in great form. After being rested for the midweek win over Huddersfield Town in the FA Cup, Stones should start both games and there is a strong chance of one clean sheet at least. Among the cheapest starters in the City backline.

Why no: City have kept just three clean sheets with Stones in the line up and do not play in Gameweek 28. The central defender hasn't had much luck on the offensive front like full backs Pablo Zabaleta and Aleksandar Kolarov and isn't a great differential either.

Chris Brunt
Team: West Bromwich Albion
Fixtures: Crystal Palace (H), Everton (A), Arsenal (H), Man Utd (A) and Watford (A)
Price: 5.1 (+)
Score : 75
Ownership: 4.4%

Why yes: Up against an inconsistent Crystal Palace in Gameweek 28, Brunt may just get a clean sheet.
West Brom are among the few sides that play in Gameweek 28 and another factor in Brunt’s favour is that he is always a goal threat since plays as a winger for the Baggies but is classified as defender in FPL.

Why no: Brunt’s defensive colleague Gareth McCauley has been prolific in goal in recent weeks and is marginally more expensive. Palace may be inconsistent but they are a dangerous unit offensively so a clean sheet is not guaranteed. Games after Gameweek 27 get progressively tougher.

Midfielders
Philippe Coutinho
Team: Liverpool
Fixtures: Spurs (H), Burnley (H), Man City (A), Everton (H) and Bournemouth (H)
Price: 8.2 (-)
Score: 95
Ownership: 17.4%

Why yes: The Reds' sole bright spot in the disappointing loss at Leicester City, was Philippe Coutinho. If he is back in form Arsenal could just be ripped apart. Liverpool have been decent against the ‘big’ teams this season and alongside Everton, are the only top-four contending sides that play in Gameweek 28 as well.

Why no: There is a big if surrounding his form, as question marks remain whether the Brazilian can keep scoring on a regular basis. Liverpool on a whole, have been poor since the turn of the year and so has Coutinho. His teammate Sadio Mane may be more expensive, but is much more lethal in front of goal. 

Leroy Sane
Team: Manchester City
Fixtures: Sunderland (A)-Stoke (H), Liverpool (H) and Arsenal (A)
Price: 7.5
Score: 44
Ownership: 1.2%

Why yes: Sane has had a great 2017 and will only get better as he gets accustomed to his teammates at Manchester City. With City playing two sides that leak goals in Gamweeek 27, the young German is an excellent short-term option who won’t break the bank. Can be a massive differential, which is surprising considering he is among the cheapest City midfielders around.

Why no: He did start in the midweek win over Huddersfield Town and manager Pep Guardiola may chose to rest him in at least one of the two games. Teammate Raheem Sterling may be pricier, but arguably is in finer form. 

Forwards

Manolo Gabbiadini
Team: Southampton
Fixtures: Watford (A), Spurs (A), Bournemouth (H) and Crystal Palace (H)
Price: 6.6 (+)
Score: 20
Ownership: 5.7%

Why yes: Forget Aguero, Costa or Kane, Southamtpon’s striker is in unbelievable form at the moment. Expect his price to shoot up if he keeps scoring in the next few games. The 25-year-old striker has arguably the biggest differential from the entire FPL roster.  The next couple of fixtures (barring the Spurs one) are quite inviting too.

Why no: Southampton don’t play in Gameweek 28 and it remains to be seen if Gabbiadini can sustain his form for an extended period.

Fernando Llorente
Team: Swansea City
Fixtures: Burnley (H), Hull (A), Bournemouth (A), Middlesborough (H) and Spurs (H)
Price: 6.3 (-)
Score: 91
Ownership: 5.6%

Why yes: In decent form, the gangly Spaniard has an inviting couple of fixtures ahead. And as a bonus, Swansea are among the few sides that play in Gameweek 28.

Why no: He remains notoriously inconsistent and scores mostly in patches. Gylfi Sigurdsson pulls the strings from midfield for Swansea and if you have the Icelandic midfielder already, Llorente can be skipped.

PS: The Gameweek deadline is 11.30 am GMT/4 pm IST.