Spot the Differential – Gameweek 26

For our selections this week, we’ve turned to three players who all face favourable home fixtures in Gameweek 26, in the hope of receiving some instant rewards.

Two of our differentials are also treated to a guaranteed fixture in Gameweek 28, heightening their appeal as mid-term investments.

Lazar Markovic

Following an impressive individual display in Hull City’s 2-0 defeat to Arsenal in Gameweek 25, we’ve opted to include Lazar Markovic among our trio of differentials.

Joining the Tigers on loan from Liverpool until the end of the season to help fill the void left by Robert Snodgrass, Markovic’s pace on the counter attack has been a key feature of Hull’s performances of late.

The additions of Markovic and Kamil Grosicki has seen the Tigers direct the majority of their attacks from wide areas, with 75% of their chances arriving from the flanks – only Southampton have been more reliant on their wide men.

While both Markovic and Grosicki have managed four successful crosses apiece in their respective two appearances, the former has the edge in goal attempts by three to zero.

Priced at 5.4 in FPL, Markovic looks well placed to translate those solid numbers into Fantasy points at home to Burnley this afternoon, given that the Clarets have conceded 24 goals in 11 road trips, earning a single clean sheet away from Turf Moor.

Encouragingly, the Tigers have won all four home matches across all competitions since Marco Silva’s arrival at the KCOM Stadium, including recent victories against Manchester United and Liverpool.

And with home fixtures to follow against Swansea City, West Ham United and Middlesbrough in the next six, now could be the time to invest in Hull’s assets.

They’re particularly appealing considering that they face the Swans in Gameweek 28, when only eight sides are guaranteed to be in action.

Sitting in 0.2% of FPL squads, a roll of the dice on Markovic will not only provide an extra player for Gameweek 28, but also a budget midfielder who looks to have the fixtures over the next six Gameweeks to produce those all-important attacking returns.

Salomon Rondon

With West Brom hosting a Bournemouth side that have conceded more goals (12) than any other team over the last four Gameweeks, we’ve turned our attentions to the Baggies’ Venezuelan striker Salomon Rondon.

Eddie Howe’s side have also allowed the most “big chances” over the same period (12) so the prospects of West Brom picking up a fourth successive home win appear strong.

Without a goal in his last five matches, though, Rondon’s FPL ownership has fallen to just 7%.

But the Baggies target man has still registered a reasonable seven goals and three assists this season, and looks well placed to thrive not only this weekend, but also at home to struggling Crystal Palace in Gameweek 27.

Tony Pulis’ side also play in Gameweek 28, when they travel to Goodison Park, so while current form would not automatically bring Rondon onto our radars, the upcoming fixtures certainly do.

His underlying statistics have also been reasonable of late, with Rondon ranked fourth among forwards for penalty box touches over the last four Gameweeks with 29, while he’s totalled nine goal attempts over the same spell.

Available at 6.7, he perhaps shouldn’t be ignored as a short-term option to help navigate the blanks.

M’Baye Niang

Having already got off the mark in the Premier League, Watford forward M’Baye Niang looks an intriguing option for the maverick Fantasy manager.

Niang, who joined the Hornets on loan from AC Milan last month, produced a goal an assist in the 2-1 victory over Burnley in Gameweek 24 and has started all three matches since making the move to Vicarage Road.

This evening’s home fixture against West Ham United is the first of five strong fixtures (SOT, cpl, SUN, WBA) for Walter Mazzarri’s men over the next six Gameweeks, although they do, of course, blank in Gameweek 28.

Niang, who sets us back just 6.0, certainly appears to have the fixtures to impress over the coming weeks, with the West Ham match-up appearing particularly inviting, given that they’ve failed to keep a clean sheet over their last four matches.

It’s the forward’s underlying statistics that really catch the eye, having bettered Hornets’ skipper Troy Deeney for both shots on goal (six to five) and chances created (three to two) since making his debut.

Niang’s desire to take on opponents has also added an extra dimension to his side’s play – a total of 20 dribbles is more than any other Watford player over the same period.

Currently owned by just 0.8% of FPL bosses, Niang has the type of upside that looks ideal for those managers looking to make up lost ground in mini-leagues.