Selection

Spot the Differential – Gameweek 1

It’s now time to check in on our three differential choices as we edge closer to this evening’s 6.45pm Gameweek 1 deadline.

The pre-season form of a Chelsea striker has caught our eye ahead of a juicy home match-up, while we’re also backing an Arsenal budget midfielder and one of Man City’s brand new full-backs to profit from favourable fixtures.

Michy Batshuayi

With club-record signing Alvaro Morata still building up his match fitness, we’re taking a chance on Chelsea forward Michy Batshuayi as our headline selection.

The Belgian has been one of the Blues’ standout performers during pre-season, registering five goals and three assists.

That came on the back of a strong finish to last season, when he notched four times in the final three matches.

Although he only played 239 minutes of Premier League football last term, Batshuayi impressively averaged a shot every 14.1 minutes – better than any Fantasy Premier League (FPL) forward who made at least five appearances.

He also boasted a goal conversion rate of 29.4%, which put him third among FPL forwards.

The reigning champions begin their season with a plum home fixture against Burnley.

The Clarets claimed just one away victory last term and ranked second for the most shots conceded inside the box in away matches with 213.

Chelsea, meanwhile, scored more goal at home (55) than any other side.

Setting us back just 8.5 in FPL, Batshuayi looks ideal for those managers willing to take a punt on their frontmen.

The former Marseille man is only sitting in 1.8% of FPL squads, and while investment represents a slight risk given the presence of Morata, his pre-season displays suggest he may be worth the outlay as a short-term option.

Alex Iwobi

With Alexis Sanchez out of Arsenal’s home encounter against Leicester City, it could be Alex Iwobi who is the main beneficiary.

The Nigerian has enjoyed a strong pre-season, starting three of the last four matches, and has piqued our interest given his budget price tag of just 5.5 in FPL.

Iwobi had plenty of bright moments for the Gunners last season, ending the campaign with three goals and five assists from just 18 starts.

His underlying statistics were also pretty strong.

The midfielder averaged a shot every 37.5 minutes, while he produced a key pass every 56.2 minutes.

With Mesut Ozil expected to be fit to start tonight following an ankle problem, Iwobi looks set to battle it out with Danny Welbeck for a starting spot.

But with Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger suggesting he’ll generally favour those players who’ve featured most prominently during pre-season, we believe he’ll get the nod.

Iwobi is currently found in just 3% of FPL squads.

He could represent a superb differential, then, with the Gunners’ forward line boosted by the arrival of former Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette over the summer.

Tonight’s match-up also looks very promising.

No team managed fewer clean sheets than the Foxes (two) in away matches last term, while Craig Shakespeare’s side suffered worrying defeats to Burton Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers during pre-season.

The value offered by Iwobi may be hard to ignore, then, with the midfielder representing the ideal Gameweek 1 punt.

Danilo

Replacing West Brom’s Matt Phillips in a last-minute article alteration, Man City’s summer signing from Real Madrid seems in line to start tomorrow’s clash with Brighton.

Pep Guardiola’s recent switch to a wing-back formation looks promising, with Danilo and Kyle Walker expected to offer the width for an evening trip to the Amex.

Up against the Seagulls’ ageing right-back Bruno, Danilo’s athleticism and tendency to forage forward should pose Chris Hughton’s side plenty of problems.

Priced at 5.5 to Walker’s 6.5, the Brazilian resides in just 4% of squads to the latter’s 21%. With Guardiola unlikely to rush Benjamin Mendy into action, Danilo may well offer us a short-term option until the international break, at least.

He’s been quick to make an impression, too, rated man of the match in the club’s final summer friendly and providing an assist in the 3-0 win over West Ham.

That indicates he has the form to profit in a City side that was ranked first for both goals and big chances away from home in 2016/17.

2,236 Comments Post a Comment
  1. CelticBhoy1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Best 4.5 defenders? Currently got Mee need one more

    1. Limbo
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      Considered long. If Mee (or other Burnley Defender) gets injured it's likely he'll get picked. May even play this weekend. Bit like choosing Foster/Myhill.

      1. Limbo
        • 13 Years
        6 years, 10 months ago

        +4.0m defender saving you .5m

  2. Harper (No more Penandes)
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Is Jamandabadji nailed?

    1. Better Call Paul
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      Jumanji?

      1. Harper (No more Penandes)
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 10 months ago

        No Jamandabadji, I was wondering if anyone knew if he was 100% nailed

    2. Limbo
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      Not since they signed davros kick-a-ballock

      1. Harper (No more Penandes)
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 10 months ago

        Damn shame, he was on left sided throw ins too

  3. Grand Maester Juan
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Quick guys !!

    Start Moreno or Abraham ?

    1. Better Call Paul
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      Start Moreno out of them options - if he doesn't play Abraham will come off your bench

  4. @Team Shark FC
    • 13 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Anyone going with Mkhi?

    1. Third Eye Vision
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      6.9% of 3.7 million players.

    2. Tactical Nuke
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      Just debating him or Pogba. Last minute jitters.

    3. datamunkey
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      Over Pogba? Yes but would do neither and watch

    4. Sᴄʜᴜ̈RRʟᴇ ⓝ
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      Me

  5. Trigg ⭐️
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    LAST CALL

    Hi FFSers.

    Due to popular demand, I'm running my cash league again this year. It was very popular last year, with 50 or so entrants and the top 5 got paid. We are almost at 50 again, would be nice to hit that number!

    If anyone is interested, entry fee is just £10 and being a member on here for a long time and running this cash league for 3 years, I can assure you I'm trustworthy.

    If you're interested, email me at johntrigg83@gmail.com

    1. Sylas
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      Email sent.

  6. Nando7
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    A or B please suggest or add other suggestions below RMT !

    A) Mhki Mane Alli

    Lukaku Jesus Firminho

    Carroll and chalobah on bench

    B) Mhki Mane Alli

    Lukaku Jesus Gabiadinni

    Carroll Ritchie on bench

  7. Jönny
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Worst time to ask, but having a last minute wobble

    Iwobi Daniels Bertrand
    Or
    Atsu Kolasinac (?!) Stephens?

    1. Klopptomist Scott Jelly
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      Stick with whatever you had before. You've had plenty of time to think about it, don't let fear rule your heart! 😉

  8. The Yorkshire Pirlo
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Need some serious help pls, A or B?

    A) 433

    Forster
    TAA, Danilo, Ake, Bertrand
    Zaha, KDB, Salah
    Jesus, Kane, Firmino

    B) 532

    Forster
    TAA, Danilo, Kola, Alonso, Bertrand
    Zaha, KDB, Salah
    Aguero, Lukaku

    1. Flintstone
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      A from them but not double pool. TAA and Danilo 2ft soon!

  9. Flintstone
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Is Firmino just going to create space for Pool mids?

    1. Harper (No more Penandes)
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      He will create space in the back of the net

    2. Limbo
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      Hope so. Salah is in.

  10. Slurpy
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    A) Azpi
    B) Walker
    C) Valencia

    1. VFORVANDETA
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      BC

  11. FPL Maldini
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Daniels or Ake??

    1. conew
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      I takę Daniels but IT was flip a coin

      1. Limbo
        • 13 Years
        6 years, 10 months ago

        Daniels. More assist potential.

  12. conew
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    A. Firminio and Willian
    B. Salah and Austin or munie

  13. Weeb Kakashi
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Fabianski
    Stephens Bailly Daniels Bertrand
    Mane Salah Mkhi Zaha
    Kane Jesus (C)

    Elliot....... Carrol Mee Quaner

    G2G??

    All the best to all on here!!
    Have a great weekend!

  14. Proietti
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Anything missing?

    Foster

    Bertrand / Dawson / Daniels

    KDB / Willian / Zaha / Ritchie

    Kane / Lukaku / Firmino

    (Elliott / Mee / Dunk / Carroll)

  15. januzki
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Ok, nearly there.

    A) Fabregas
    B) Willian

    Which one & why? Flip a coin?

    1. conew
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      B. Because he has bigger celing

      1. januzki
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 10 months ago

        Cheers! Willian it is.

  16. TONEY HONEY
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    THOSE WHO HAVE KOLASINAC

    if you also have a 4.5 defender, swap it with a Newcastle defender.

    In GW 3 when Arsenal play Liverpool (away), Newcastle plays West Ham (Home)

    In GW 5 when Arsenal play Chelsea (away), Newcastle plays Stoke (Home)

    I preferred Dummett

    cheers!

    1. Third Eye Vision
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      I don't think many are in the habit of benching their 6.0 defenders. Especially not for players of the calibre of Dummett.

  17. Silva’s Left Nut
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Alright let's cut the s***. I know this question has been asked a million and one times, but which 5.0 Saints defenders (Cedric, Yoshi, Stephens) will likely start? Can a saints fan, or somebody who knows their stuff, answer this? Because all I've seen so far is useless speculation.

    1. Silva’s Left Nut
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      Thanks!

    2. Lanley Staurel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      Stephens and Yoshi yes.
      Cedric or Pied 50/50.

      1. Silva’s Left Nut
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 10 months ago

        Because I heard Yoshi was possibly hurt. Do you know anything about that?

        1. Lanley Staurel
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          6 years, 10 months ago

          He will play, im pretty sure.

          1. Silva’s Left Nut
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 10 months ago

            Thank you

    3. Point-one short
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      Wish I had the info you want.

    4. Limbo
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      Scoutcast said Stephens. Yoshi close behind.

      1. lankdog
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 10 months ago

        All the talk around this seems pretty ill-informed. I'd actually say the likelihood of Pied starting over Cedric is probably similar to the likelihood of VVD starting over Stephens or Yoshida. And if anything, Yoshida was probably the more consistent performer last season and least likely to be dropped (although Saints desire to get youth products in team could see Stephens rise above him in the CB pecking order soon). Cedric is the better pick going forward, so I'm going with him. I highly doubt the back line will be anything other then Cedric, Yoshi, Stephens and Bertrand.

  18. TONEY HONEY
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Atsu or Puncheon please heeeeelp

    1. conew
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      Atsu

  19. fplmaster
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Please rate my team,

    DDG - Elliot
    Keane - David Luiz - Daniels - Danilo - Rangel
    Sane - Zaha - Willian - Carrol - RLC
    Lukaku - Kane - Firmink

    Thank you

    1. Point-one short
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      Don't like firmink, never heard of him

      1. fplmaster
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 10 months ago

        Sorry man. Firmino. What do you think?

        1. Point-one short
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 10 months ago

          Sorry, was being a nob.

          Sane's a bit of a rotation risk, but may pay off. Looks quite well balanced, though I'd prefer to have a heavy hitter midfielder in case one of them hits form in order to have the funds to transfer in in 1 transfer.

  20. JustPark
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Lejuene or Dummett?

  21. SuperMario
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Last call.

    A. Forester & Dawson
    B. Foster & Danilo

    1. SuperMario
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      THANKs all

      1. Better Call Paul
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 10 months ago

        B

    2. Footballfriend
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      B, like the Danilo punt

  22. Point-one short
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Is Cedric and Bertrand a bad idea?

    1. Sᴄʜᴜ̈RRʟᴇ ⓝ
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      Since deleted and replaced with this...
      https://twitter.com/realbobmortimer/status/896057395897540609

  23. DR0GBA
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Where to make £1m in this team to bring in Salah for Pogba?

    Begovic (Elliot)
    Kolasinac - Kompany - Stephens - Bertrand (Rosenior)
    Zaha - KDB - Pogba - Fabregas (Carroll)
    Lukaku - Kane (McBurnie)

    1. Footballfriend
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      Fab or Zaha to Ritchie or Komp and Bertie to Danilo and Cedric

  24. Daghe Munegu
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Am i go to go ?

    Ddg Eliott
    Cedric Davies Kompany
    Willian Fraser Salah JWP
    Lukaku Kane Jesus

  25. lankdog
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Last choice

    A - Danilo
    B - Monreal

    Team is

    Foster | Fabianski
    ***** Cedric Mee | Tomkins Hunemeier
    KDB Alli Willian Boufal | Carroll
    Kane Jesus Gabbiadini

    1. Better Call Paul
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      A

      1. lankdog
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 10 months ago

        cheers

  26. hazzlehoff
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Can i lock this in guys?

    foster - (elliot)
    kompany - cedric - alonso - (Lowe) - (Hunemeier)
    KDB - Fabregas - Phillips - Ritchie - (carrol)
    Jesus - Kane (C) - Firmino

  27. fplmaster
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Please rate my team,

    DDG - Elliot
    Keane - David Luiz - Daniels - Danilo - Rangel
    Sane - Zaha - Willian - Carrol - RLC
    Lukaku - Kane - Firmino

    Thank you

    1. Footballfriend
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      I'm an Everton fan and I wouldn't touch us for the start of the season defensively with the fixtures besides Stoke

  28. Proietti
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Please rate:

    Foster

    Bertrand / Dawson / Daniels

    KDB / Willian / Zaha / Ritchie

    Kane / Lukaku / Firmino

    (Elliott / Mee / Dunk / Carroll)

    1. VFORVANDETA
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      Did you copy my team?Look very nice.

    2. Point-one short
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      Looks good, like it, similar to mine (but you have firmino and willian and I have salah and gabbi, which gives you the extra 0.5 to have a playing 5th defender)

  29. CelticBhoy1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Best expensive defender?