Spot the Differential
28 April 2018 2204 comments
James H James H
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With only three Gameweeks to go, opportunities to catch mini-league rivals or achieve any pre-season targets are fast running out.

With that in mind, we’ve picked three differentials who have the potential to make an impact for the final push.

A rested Manchester City star, Chelsea’s in-form front-man and a Liverpool player who could benefit from rotation all earn our seal of approval ahead of today’s deadline.

Leroy Sane

After being rested for last weekend’s 5-0 win over Swansea City, we’re expecting Leroy Sane to return to the Manchester City starting line-up for their trip to West Ham United on Sunday.

The German international had been one of City’s form players prior to Gameweek 35, producing two goals and two assists from his previous six league appearances.

Over the last four matches, only David Silva (11) has created more chances than Sane among City players, while the wide man also registered nine shots over that period.

Interestingly, his last four goals have all come on the road, offering encouragement ahead of the London Stadium clash.

The Hammers have conceded 17 goals in their last seven matches, while only Stoke City (73) have allowed more shots over the last four outings than West Ham’s 63.

Following their attacking returns last time out, it is Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling who are leading City targets this week.

They are the second and third most transferred-in players, gaining over 200,000 new owners between them.

By contrast, Sane has only been snapped up by 13,000 FPL managers, while his ownership sits at just 11.8%.

Now priced at 8.6 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), the winger might be worth taking a chance on if you believe he has had his rest and is the attacker most likely to play all four remaining matches.

With such a kind run-in (whu HUD/BHA sot), that potential pitch-time could make all the difference.

Olivier Giroud

With three goals in his last three matches in all competitions, and having seemingly established himself as Antonio Conte’s first-choice striker, Olivier Giroud can be a relevant Fantasy asset once again.

Found in only 1.8% of FPL squads, the cultured Chelsea target man looks an ideal option as a differential in a front three.

Since making his Blues debut in Gameweek 26, the Frenchman has produced more shots (23) and penalty area attempts (21) than any other team-mate, despite making just three starts.

His average of a shot every 26.1 minutes is superior to Alvaro Morata (35.3), Eden Hazard and Willian, who have both managed an attempt every 50 minutes.

After netting the opener in the 2-0 FA Cup semi-final victory over Southampton, Giroud should enter this evening’s encounter at Swansea City full of confidence.

His prospects should also be boosted by the fact the Swans have injury concerns over both Federico Fernandez and Kyle Bartley.

In addition, Carlos Carvalhal’s side have conceded nine goals over the last four matches, with no other team allowing more during that spell.

Giroud’s performances have played an important part in Chelsea recording three successive wins and, with confidence levels rising, the 8.2-rated forward should be on our radars once again.

Conte’s men crucially play twice in Double Gameweek 37 (LIV/HUD), and having proved he can make an impact as a substitute, even if he doesn’t start one of those fixtures, Giroud may be worth the gamble.

Danny Ings

A plum home fixture against Stoke City, and the fact Jurgen Klopp is likely to protect Sadio Mane ahead of Liverpool’s UEFA Champions League semi-final, make Danny Ings an intriguing differential option.

Mane picked up a minor problem against Roma on Tuesday night and missed training on Thursday.

So after leading the line against West Bromwich Albion last weekend, and getting on the scoresheet, Ings may again start as the central striker, with Roberto Firmino possibly set to move to the left of the front three.

And if the Reds have the luxury of making early substitutions, it is perhaps Salah and Firmino who are most likely to be withdrawn, giving Ings the opportunity to play the full 90 minutes.

He produced three shots and received two big chances at The Hawthorns – more than any other player involved.

This afternoon’s match-up with the lowly Potters could hardly be more inviting.

They have conceded more goals (65) and given up more big chances (85) than any other side.

Paul Lambert’s men also need to win at Anfield in order to keep their fading survival hopes alive, which could make for an open encounter.

Available for just 5.4  and owned by only 0.2% of managers in FPL, Ings represents the ultimate differential for Gameweek 36.

Liverpool enter today’s match having scored 16 goals in their last four home matches in all competitions, and look primed to heap further misery on Stoke.

As a one-week punt, Ings should be a tempting option for managers needing to pull a Fantasy rabbit out of the hat.

  1. BigAsGiroud_
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Guys,
    A) Mahrez to Sterling
    B) Aua to Jesus
    C) Mahrez and Christensen to Sterling and Kompany (-4)
    D) Auba and Christensen to Jesus and Otamendi (-4)

    1. Sailboats
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      B

      1. DrNinjamonkey
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        B for sure

    2. Tom Heat-is-on
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      auba and christensen to jesus and kompany?

    3. Stats Don\'t Lie
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      C

    4. Voodoo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      B then A

    5. jdogg
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      B.x

  2. DrNinjamonkey
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Pulling my hair out... HELP!

    40 points behind in ML. TC next week. This is my WC team.

    Ederson
    Lowton - Schindler - Vertonghen - (Hunmeier, Mbemba)
    Willian - Lingard - Salah - Sterling - (Carroll)
    Aubameyang - Kane - Jesus

    A) downgrade auba and upgrade William / Carroll to Arnie and someone else?
    B) downgrade someone and upgrade defence??

    Any other suggestions? 0itb.

    1. SB007
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Auba to Perez or Ayew - Need to release to spread.

      1. Voodoo
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        I have.

      2. DrNinjamonkey
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        What would you do with the funds in midfield or defence?

    2. Mr Q
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      It depends on your ml rivals team..

    3. Homer21
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      A

    4. Wakanda
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      A
      I done mine to Son and Giroud

    5. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      downgrade Ederson for Newcastle keeper and get Gundy in for Carol

    6. sweglet
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      downgrade one of the forwards, way too much invested in them and get in a decent mid

    7. QuintonFortune25
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      A and B. I would do Auba to J.Ayew, Willian to Sane or Silva (tho youll have to move Ederson to DDG, Lloris or Fabianski) and what ever cash left upgrade defence and target Smalling and Swansea defence and

  3. SkipperTG
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Is Gross worth shipping on for a -8 this week or next?

    1. SB007
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Next week yes.

    2. ILOVEBAPS
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      If he's starting for you this week and u want rid next week anyway if take the hit.

      1. SkipperTG
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        Thanks both

  4. Stats Don\'t Lie
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Gtg? Having an awful season so gone a bit different:

    Ddg
    Kompany, Davies, Stephens
    Hazard, Alli, Willian, Tadic
    Kane(c), Jesus, Wood

    Fab, kenedy, morgan, fernandez

  5. Evasivo
    • 15 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Still no closer to deciding who bench out of Ayew Lingard Gudm?

    DDG
    Tarkowski Morgan Lowton
    Salah Son Gudmun Sterling Lingard
    Ayew Vardy Kane

    Ryan * Dunk Alonso

    1. Stats Don\'t Lie
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Ayew

    2. SB007
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Ling.

    3. Evasivo
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Boooooo

    4. Evasivo
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      I'd say Linga

  6. Gaffa914
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Who would you transfer out this week if the money didn’t matter?
    A) Willian
    B) Mahrez

    1. Stats Don\'t Lie
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      B

    2. SB007
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      B

    3. Feed tha Sheep
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      A

  7. Voodoo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Think people are scrambling too much for Salah; if he scores a goal, maybe two even, they will bring him off around the 60 mark?

    People are getting rid of good DGW options like Alonso to get Salah in..

    Man City players have two games coming up, surely they are more important?

    1. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Mate i also thought on this same logic but think its flawed that he comes off after 60 mins. With no ox and mane who will replace him?

      1. Wakanda
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        All out def

      2. Voodoo
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        Solanke? They can shift about, they aren’t gonna want to flog him.

        1. Voodoo
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          7 years, 10 months ago

          Not at this stage.

        2. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 10 months ago

          Mate but solanke comes in for firmino I guess

    2. ILOVEBAPS
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Agreed.
      I don't see Pool doing that well v Stk actually.

    3. Twisted Saltergater
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Many have Salah plus 3 x Man City

      1. Voodoo
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        If that’s the case, hats off 🙂

        1. Twisted Saltergater
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 16 Years
          7 years, 10 months ago

          Any of the Man City team could score though

    4. I'm looking for Ray Fi…
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      A double game week for Man City does not guarantee a double game week for Man City players! He could easily field two totally different starting XIs. There’ll be loads of players only in for one game.

  8. hspin
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    First to three, bench one:

    A: Austin (BOU)
    B: Kenedy (WBA)
    C: Gross (bur)

    1. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      C

    2. Stats Don\'t Lie
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      C

    3. jimmy.floyd
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Gross

    4. hspin
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Thamks guys. Gross bench

  9. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    With ox and mane injured will Salah play full 90.Any Liverpool fans here?

    1. Wakanda
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      If you watch last game, they stop attacking after first goal... so playing full 90 mins or not doesn’t matter

      1. william prunier
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        Now I'm back on Kane C!

    2. ILOVEBAPS
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Doubt it. They will shift to more defence

  10. barcaa7
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    please Help!!
    Who to start
    A-Dummett
    B-Smalling(I have DDG)

    1. Stats Don\'t Lie
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      B

    2. jimmy.floyd
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Smalling

    3. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      A

  11. rdamjan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Hmmmm..

    A. Son + Otamendi
    B. Sane + Davies

    1. SB007
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      A

    2. Pique Blinder
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      I would lean for A, only because there may be questions marks over Davies minutes.

    3. Bissisine
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      A mos def.
      Sonaldo will do good

  12. sweglet
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Lossl

    ward TAA Schindler

    Milli Salah Sterling Sane

    Perez Auba Jesus

    Bench: arnie monreal dunk

    Would you pick any of the bench to start over the current XI?

  13. jezstatham
    • 16 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Dont know whether to tc salah today and bb next week or to tc sterling next week and bb this week!

    1. Valar(Keith)
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Surely bb in a dgw

    2. jezstatham
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Thats how im leaning

    3. jezstatham
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Sterling could get 50+ points from those 2 fixtures nextweek though

  14. Jebiga
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    so mahrez and alli could be good differentias instead of salah !? agree or not ?

    1. Homer21
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      I've gone for Alli......here's hoping, will be coming out from behind the couch circa 2:30!!

  15. Sandy Ravage
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Final pieces of the DGW 37 BB puzzle, are any of these worth hits?

    A - VVD (che) to Monreal (BUR, lei) or Cresswell (lei, MUN) -4
    B - Mili (stk) to Kenedy (wat, tot) -4
    C - Both for -8 to give 11 DGW 37 players for BB

    Thanks!

    1. Twisted Saltergater
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Tricky as both have decent GW 38 fixtures.

      1. Sandy Ravage
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        I was planning to bring at least either Mili and a Liverpool defender back for GW 38. I might just hold on to Mili in that case

  16. Twisted Saltergater
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Eurgh benching Barnes. This isn't going to end well.

    1. Sandy Ravage
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Barnes only guarantees yellow cards

  17. Optic1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Playing Smalling. Keeper choice?

    A) DDG
    B) Ryan

    1. Danstoke82
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      A

    2. Twisted Saltergater
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Ryan, I think

    3. jdogg
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      A.x

  18. Pique Blinder
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Christensen, Walcott, Aubameyang -> Kane, Gudmundsson, Cedric for -12...

    Crazy or not? Looking play bench boost this week so will probs go Christ -> Cedric anyway.
    No Kane gives me the fear.

  19. JB_FC
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Which do you prefer for the DGW?

    A) Mustafi, Son and T Carrol
    B) Vertonghen, Willian, Kennedy

    1. jdogg
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      B.x

  20. jdogg
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Wc team

    Ddg mcarthey
    Smalling davies vanderhoorn dummett masuaku
    Salah sterling sane arnie kenedy
    Ayew jesus kane

    Look ok? Or prefer silva and vert to sane and davies?

    0.0 itb

    1. Kanga roo
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      silva may not play this week or dgw. I'm backing leroy

  21. Danstoke82
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Please help, who to captain?

    A) Kane
    B) Salah

    Am chasing in my ML

    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      A

  22. LIARS POKER
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    DDG or Ryan? Keep changing between them

    1. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Has to be Ddg. Y doubting Ddg??

    2. william prunier
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Not sure if serious

    3. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      DDG

    4. barcaa7
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      DDG

  23. SpaceCadet
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Bench one

    A. Barnes
    B. Mili
    C. Gudmundsson

    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      A

  24. N00B
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Good to go?

    DDG
    Vertonghen - TAA - Lowton
    Sterling - Son - Willian - Arnie
    Kane(C) - Lukaku - Barnes

    Bench: Ryan, Gross, Morgan, Schelotto

  25. Patch
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    2 hours until I see if Mark rolls a FT

    1. william prunier
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Be will

      1. Patch
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        I am randomly using him as my decision making tool this GW

  26. Steve The Shrewdie
    • 15 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    What about my wild card 36 and 37 bench boost team?

    Any views? Any Changes? 0.00 ITB

    Ederson (Fabianski)
    Klaven Smalling Bavies Stephens (Van Der Horne)
    Salah Sterling Son (Lingard King)
    Jesus Kane (C) Giroud

    4-3-3 or should I play Lingard instead of Stephens?

    1. Roy Rovers
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Yes

  27. Jebiga
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    mahrez and otamendi to salah and dumett/masuaku for -4 !? yes or no !?

  28. Elvy
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Non Salah and Kane owners who are you captaining? Think I'll go Sterling despite rotation risk - everything is a risk at this point.

  29. R Whites
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Bench boost this week and Triple C next week or vice versa?

    I don't have much coverage with teams on dgw at the moment.

  30. kinghenry14
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    1FT 0.4 ITB
    ddg ryan
    alonso mustafi christensen lowton morgan
    salah mahrez willian groß cook
    kane kaku murray

    mahrez kaku to eriksen jesus worth a hit?

    cheers