Spot The Differential – Gameweek 17

We struck gold with two of our differential picks last weekend, with Swansea City’s Wilfried Bony and Tottenham Hotspur’s Son Heung-min maintaining our recent hot streak.

For this midweek round of fixtures, we’re turning to a trio of budget and mid-priced midfielders to help propel those risk-taking Fantasy managers up the rankings.

Michail Antonio

After being used as a central striker in West Ham United’s 1-0 win over Chelsea, Michail Antonio has caught our eye ahead of tomorrow night’s home clash with Arsenal.

Priced at 7.4 in Fantasy Premier League, the Hammers midfielder is sat in just 0.2% of squads and could thrive against an Arsenal defence that has struggled on their travels.

Arsene Wenger’s men have managed just two clean sheets in their eight away matches, conceding 13 goals.

West Ham, meanwhile, come into the Gunners encounter full of confidence following that morale-boosting win over the champions.

They were able to cause Chelsea a few problems on the counter-attack and should be able to do the same tomorrow night.

Although Antonio has only produced one goal and an assist, he is the Hammers’ chief goal threat, leading the way for both shots (20) and efforts on target (10).

Fixtures against Stoke City, Newcastle United and Bournemouth over the next four Gameweeks look favourable, and with a Double Gameweek 22 on the horizon, Antonio has the potential to be an effective short-term differential.

Dusan Tadic

Thriving in the No 10 role behind lone striker Charlie Austin, we fancy Southampton midfielder Dusan Tadic to maintain his strong home form when Leicester City arrive tomorrow night.

The Serbian has registered a goal, two assists and five bonus points in his last two outings at St Mary’s and also got on the scoresheet in the corresponding fixture last season in a 3-0 home win.

Given that he’s only made three appearances over the last four Gameweeks, Tadic’s numbers really catch the eye.

He has created four big chances, with no other Saints player managing more than one, has also produced four penalty-area shots and is top for touches in the box, with 18.

Leicester’s away struggles also play a significant part in our thinking.

They have only managed one clean sheet on their travels and are ranked third for the most shots on target conceded in away matches (43).

Tadic is now available for just 6.3 in FPL and also has a favourable home fixture against Huddersfield Town in Gameweek 19.

The Saints playmaker has always posted strong underlying statistics and the return of Austin to the starting XI is now seeing them translated into attacking points.

With an ownership of just 1.9%, the midfielder can be a real difference maker in these strong home match-ups.

Johann Berg Gudmundsson

At the cheaper end of the scale is Burnley’s Johann Berg Gudmundsson.

The Iceland international has quietly been enjoying a productive campaign, registering five assists over the last nine Gameweeks.

The absence of the injured Robbie Brady further boosts Gudmundsson’s appeal.

He is now on set-piece duties for the Clarets and took all three of their corners in last weekend’s 1-0 win over Watford. He is also a threat from direct free-kicks.

His underlying statistics have been strong all season.

Gudmundsson is second to Brady for chances created among Burnley players with nine and only costs a mere 5.0 in FPL.

Tonight’s home meeting with Stoke City is very encouraging.

Only West Ham (21) have conceded more goals on the road than the Potters (20), while Mark Hughes’ men are top for the most big chances conceded, with 26.

They travel to Turf Moor on the back of a confidence-sapping 5-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, while the Clarets have won three of their last four at home.

Priced kindly, and owned by only 0.3% of FPL managers, Gudmundsson can provide a nice solution for Fantasy managers in need of a budget midfield option.