Spot the Differential – Gameweek 31

We’re just a few hours away from a 15-match Gameweek which could, potentially, play a major part in how many a mini-league shapes up for the run-in. As always, we call upon a trio of overlooked options for your consideration, with a Spanish schemer and two mid-price frontmen looking to belatedly fire their way into World Cup contention.

David Silva

The City playmaker turned on the style in last week’s win at Hull to bring himself onto Fantasy radars ahead of this week’s double. Silva’s KC goal and assist, supplemented by the maximum bonus points in the 2-0 win, served up a 14-point return in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) – his highest haul of the season.

Subject to a major bandwagon this week, the Spaniard has delivered 5.8 points per game to date – an average bettered only by Eden Hazard, Yaya Toure and Aaron Ramsey, with 6.3 ppg apiece, amongst midfielders. Despite his undoubted talents, Silva can be a frustrating player to own for Fantasy managers – already this season, stints on the sidelines with hamstring, calf and thigh problems have limited his game time, and with Toure offering an injury-free route into Manuel Pellegrini’s midfield, it’s understandable that the vast majority have steered clear.

For those eyeing up his acquisition, it’s worth noting that Silva has now started each of the last seven for City – his longest run of consecutive starts perhaps bodes well for the run-in. With Sergio Aguero still sidelined, Pellegrini will be looking for Silva to add that vital spark from midfield as his side chases down Chelsea at the summit.

Available for 9.4 in FPL, 8.4 in the Sky Sports game and 5.5 in the Sun Dream Team, Silva’s pair of fixtures against Fulham and United hands him the first of three doubles in the final eight Gameweeks and suggests that now could well be the time to roll the dice on the former Valencia man.

Andy Carroll

Six goals and four assists in his final 13 games for West Ham in 2012/13 suggested the big Geordie was one to watch this time around. Carroll’s campaign has only just got off the ground, however, after a heel injury put paid to the first few months of the season – as Sam Allardyce’s side battle to stay clear of relegation concerns, Carroll’s return to full fitness arrives at the perfect time for the Hammers, as well as Fantasy managers looking for a gamble.

Three assists in four brief appearances from Gameweek 21-24 hinted at a return to his form of last term before a swing of the arm saw Swansea’s Chico Flores hit the deck and earn Carroll a three-match ban. Introduced off the bench against Everton upon his return, he failed to make an impact but, back in the starting line-up for last week’s trip to Stoke, needed less than five minutes to find the net.

Carroll now has back-to-back home fixtures to help the Hammers steer clear of the drop zone. United arrive without suspended skipper Nemanja Vidic, and with doubts remaining over Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans, David Moyes’ side can expect an aerial bombardment, with Kevin Nolan buzzing around the box and feeding off knock downs from his sidekick. With Hull also paying visit in midweek, a fit-again Carroll (7.1 in FPL, 8.1 in the Sky Sports game and 3.0 in the Sun Dream Team) will be determined to make up for lost time and perhaps stake a late claim for inclusion on this summer’s plane to Brazil.

Nikica Jelavic

A winter move to the KC Stadium has made the Croatian a genuine Fantasy contender once again. After racking up the goals in his first few months at Everton, Jelavic struggled to make the same impact last season, and with new boss Roberto Martinez turning to on-loan Romelu Lukaku for this year’s campaign, a transfer to Hull looks to have worked out for both parties concerned.

Handed regular starts alongside fellow new boy Shane Long, Jelavic has netted three times in the last five Gameweeks and, as our members can attest to, he’s been more than a little unlucky not to score more, with the Tigers teeing him up time after time in the opposition box.

Priced at just 6.7 in FPL, 8.0 in the Sky Sports game and 3.0 in the Sun Dream Team, Jelavic welcomes injury-hit West Brom to the KC later today before making his way to Upton Park in midweek. With a double Gameweek 37 to follow, in addition to games against Stoke, Swansea and Fulham, he has the schedule to thrive over the run-in.