Three Differentials To Help You Climb the Rankings

Want to claw your way back to the summit of your Fantasy Football mini-league?

With just 16 Gameweeks left, now is the time to gain back some points against your friends. Here, I  will be arguing the cases of three cheap differential options to recruit over the forthcoming weeks in an attempt to get you back on track.

Each player in this article has a Fantasy Premier League ownership of under 5%. I’ve also listed one option for each outfield position.

Defender – Patrick van Aanholt

Price: 5.0

Ownership 4.1%

Team: Crystal Palace

Next five fixtures: bou, SUN, stop, MID, wba

Wing backs are always good players to have, especially when they bomb forward and create as many chances as van Aanholt has this season. The Dutch international has already netted three times and claimed an assist this term and could be in with a shout of surpassing last season’s tally of six goals and four assists.

After switching from Sunderland to Crystal Palace this week, van Aanholt arguably has a better chance of keeping clean sheets during the rest of the season. Although Palace’s system hasn’t quite worked yet under Sam Allardyce, history suggests that shut outs are bound to come given that he has been such a defensively-minded manager over the years.

With the next five Palace fixtures looking relatively easy  van Aanholt looks a likely source for points at both ends of the pitch.

Given that he likes to get far up the pitch, he should provide crosses for Christian Benteke, who has a clinical heading ability, therefore making his chances of assists more prosperous.

Midfielder – Marko Arnoutovic

Price: 7.1

Ownership 0.8%

Team: Stoke 

Next Five Fixtures: EVE, wha, CPL, tot, MID

An excellent 2015/16 campaign has so far not been replicated this time out.

But with 11 goal and six assists last season he clearly has strong potential.

In Gameweek 21, away to Sunderland, we were handed a timely reminder of his potential, when he brought in a 15 point FPL haul on the back of a brace and maximum bonus returns.

The Potters’ next five fixtures are mixed in terms of difficulty, however Stoke do have three home encounters in their next five. Although their next match, against an Everton defence with a tight back-line, looks daunting, Arnautovic did produce a double figure haul against them last season.

Stoke have been on good form recently, racking up eight goals in their last four games, including two against a Chelsea back-line that had only conceded twice in the fourteen games prior to that encounter.

If the goals keep flooding in then the Austrian looks a good bet to be involved in them. In addition, with Saido Berahino joining the Stoke frontline Arnautovic’s assist potential also increases.

Forward  – Andy Carroll

Price: 6.3

Ownership 4%

Team: West Ham 

Next Five Fixtures: MCI, sot, WBA, wat, CHE

Despite a slight injury concern earlier this week the big Geordie looks to be the fittest he’s been in years. If he can stay off the treatment table he represents a strong long term differential option.

Fixtures are on his side, with five of the Hammers next eight games looking easy, including a trip to Watford and hosting West Brom.  Gameweek 28’s trip to Bournemouth is also in his favour, as the London side are one of only a handful of teams currently guaranteed a match then due to FA Cup commitments.

He also has strong form, with three goals in two games, including an impressive bicycle kick. It is also worth noting that with Robert Snodgrass joining Slaven Bilic’s troops Carroll has an exemplary crosser to help him add to the five he’s scored this season.

Despite 2015/16 being hampered by injury he still managed to score nine goals during that campaign. Dimitri Payet helped with his attacking potential last season but on recent evidence West Ham won’t miss him. Since the Frenchman went on strike, ahead of his departure this week to Marseilles,  the London side have tucked away six goals.

Given this perfect storm of form, fixtures and a guaranteed GWK 28 game it is surprising to see him in so few teams.