Spot The Differential – DJ Campbell & Luke Varney

With such a proliferation of midfield talent, a strong five across the middle will leave many Fantasy Managers with one striker benched for the majority of the season. It makes perfect sense to explore a budget option for this third striker then, but at the same time, this option needs to be one that can at least contribute points when called upon.

The Blackpool pairing of DJ Campbell and Luke Varney are that rare commodity – bargain basement strikers that appear to offer regular starts and the promise of Fantasy returns that more than justify the outlay. Currently priced at just 4.5 and 4.6 in the Fantasy Premier League game, they offer the perfect solution for those Fantasy Managers looking to balance the books to help crowbar Cesc Fabregas back into their lineups.

Varney certainly has the statistical edge on his team mate. The former Charlton striker has returned 2 goals and 4 assists so far this term and his Opta stats appear to show greater potential in both areas. Despite those numbers, Campbell seems to offer the greater security when it comes to a starting role and pitch time. The diminutive striker has started every game since his arrival from Leicester and has completed the 90 minutes in each of them. Varney, in contrast, was on the bench against Blackburn and was subbed against both Newcastle, Chelsea and again this weekend at Birmingham.

You get the feeling that Ian Holloway is a massive fan of Campbell and has faith in him to produce. In my view, barring injury, Campbell will play regardless of form, while Varney has competition for his starting role from Marlon Harewood and Brett Ormerod. There’s no doubting that Campbell’s form is a concern, no goal in his last five starts, has kept him under the radar, but the striker is performing well enough and Holloway is keeping the faith. Only today, reports include quotes from the player himself bemoaning his lack of goals but promising an improvement…

“I feel there is a good run coming on and a few goals on the way, so I just have to keep getting in the right places and fingers crossed it will happen.”

Regardless of your weapon of choice, this is a good time to consider the Blackpool pair. The return of Fabregas as an option in midfield will have bloated the midfield budget and while cheap defensive options are always available, the shift to 3-5-2 as the preferred FPL formation, surely creates a need for a budget option up front. This is compounded by the fact that both Varney and Campbell actually offer potential as Fantasy starters over the mid-term.

Ian Holloway’s side have a very decent run of opponents to come (WBA EVE avl whm WOL bol ) all of which appear to offer the potential of attacking returns. If you can’t find a place for Charlie Adam in your lineup, then one of Campbell or Varney offer the opportunity to capture those returns.

They are also major differentials of course – neither top 2% ownership right now, with Campbell registering a paltry 0.3%. That appears to make them good options to help with the “route to recruit” for Cesc Fabregas, with the promise of some cheeky cheap returns to come over the next month.