Selection

Differential midfielders to help with forward planning

Cheaper midfielders are the focus of our Spot the Differential article ahead of Gameweek 28.

There is a selection of players in this position offering potential for the next few matches, all priced well under £7.0m.

Read on and discover which options owned by less than 5% can help propel you up the rankings…

Isaac Hayden

Price: £4.4m

Ownership: 1.7%

A new candidate for the fifth midfielder spot has arisen in recent weeks as Newcastle’s Isaac Hayden (£4.4m) continues a decent run of form.

The 23-year-old has benefited from recent time out of the side for Jonjo Shelvey (£5.3m) and Ki Sung-yeung (£4.7m) to start the last nine Gameweeks in a row.

It is in the last five that Hayden has found form, recording three assists and a goal in that time.

That has come from seven chances created in the last four Gameweeks, combined with six efforts on goal.

No midfielder priced at £4.5m or under can do better in that selected time-frame.

The fixtures still look good for Newcastle over the coming weeks with Burnley (home), West Ham (away) and Everton (home) their next three opponents.

Crucially, the Magpies have a fixture in Blank Gameweek 31, against Bournemouth (away), and might have one in Gameweek 33 against Crystal Palace (home), which could make Hayden an important player to own long-term too.

Pascal Groß

Price: £6.7m

Ownership: 1.7%

With Blank Gameweek 27 out of the way, Brighton options come back into consideration ahead of a trip to Leicester City on Tuesday night.

Despite playing in just three matches across the last four Gameweeks, Pascal Groß (£6.7m) is joint-top for key passes played in that time.

He has supplemented that with eight efforts on goal and could inspire Brighton to a decent showing at the King Power Stadium.

Leicester are without a clean sheet at home since Gameweek 14 and the effect of going into this match without a manager is hard to quantify.

This could be a serious opportunity for Brighton to secure their first away win since Gameweek 14.

James Maddison

Price: £6.6m

Ownership: 4.4%

Despite Puel’s departure from Leicester City, there is still plenty of promise surrounding central midfielder James Maddison (£6.6m).

This is not the first time we’ve tipped the former Norwich City man as a differential option of late as the Foxes fixtures continue to appeal.

A home game against Brighton this week is another one of those favourable fixtures, and it comes after a strong statistical performance from Maddison last time out.

That means in the last four Gameweeks, no player has created more chances than him, while only two Fantasy assets in the whole division have shot more often.

With reports of Brendan Rodgers coming to the King Power Stadium, we could still see Leicester able to capitalise on their appealing schedule, and Maddison could be a big part of that.

With reports of Brendan Rodgers coming to the King Power Stadium, we could still see Leicester able to capitalise on their appealing schedule, and Maddison could be a big part of that.

1,878 Comments Post a Comment
  1. FDMS All Starz
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Which games will be called off for gw33?

    1. danishdynamite
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      You expecting snow ?

  2. Tshelby
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Best striker under 7.1?

    1. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Jimenez

    2. Bronski
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Jimmy at mo?

    3. Zladan
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Jimmy.

      Arnie after this week.

  3. Oooo Matron
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Simple one, Rashford to Aguero for a - 4?

    1. Bronski
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Yes

    2. MPC
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Yes

    3. Zladan
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Yes

  4. Tim Canterbury
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Does a chip wipe out FT’s carried

    1. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      yep

    2. MTPockets
        5 years, 1 month ago

        WC/FH do

      • Amey
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        FH & WC

    3. Holteenderinthesky
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      With Jesus being ruled out are we confident Aguero starts ? Or is it likely Sterling plays as a forward? Captain Salah or Aguero?

      1. Dreaming of glory
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        When was he ruled out? Pondering laca to kun amd this might swing it.

        Not gone mad just think auba and laca trade starting spots from the wknd

        1. Holteenderinthesky
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Pep said earlier Jesus and Stones are definitely ruled out.

      2. PompeyUpNorth!
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Salah safer gametime bet imo

      3. DF
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        I'm expecting Aguero to start but recognise that sterling in a false 9 is a danger.
        I'm captaining Aguero as a result and accept that I have nothing to complain about if he doesn't play.

        1. Holteenderinthesky
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          My exact problem. Had it on Aguero all along untill he played 120mins. Peps known to try and manage Agueros game time. Sterling is more likely to recover from 120 mins than Aguero in my opinion. But it's Pep, he could play anyone.

      4. jtreble
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        You really need both Aguero and Sterling. One on their own is too risky IMHO.

    4. Amey
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Guy's do you think Sterling will start tomorrow ??

      1. La Roja
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        No imo

        1. Amey
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Cheers mate

      2. Eleven Hag
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Even if he comes on for d last 10 mins he does often get a goal against tired defenses

        1. Amey
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Son to Sterling (-4) ??

          1. Eleven Hag
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Go hazard - didn't watch myself but heard that he was very good vs city

          2. Warby84
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            I’m with you

      3. Holteenderinthesky
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        I still think one of Sterling or Aguero gets benched. Can actually see it being Aguero with Sterling upfront. I reckon he can handle two games better than aguero.

        1. Amey
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Confusing tbh

          1. Holteenderinthesky
            • 5 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Really wouldn't be surprised if Aguero is still rested and Pep plays a "False 9". Whether that is sterling is another debate

      4. Dreaming of glory
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        I think not, dont need him with mahrez and sane in the wings. Kun is yhe likely starter now for me

        1. Amey
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Yeah
          Will hold probably.

          1. Warby84
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Go for it!!

    5. Leviosalah
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      A) Auba to Kun, considering auba’s difficult fixtures against spurs & man utd
      B) Save FT
      (I have 8/15 players playing gw31)

      1. OptimusBlack
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Why wouldn't get Vardy or Higuain as they play GW 31

        1. sminkypinky
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          31 is weeks away 😉
          I’m very tempted by Kun in for a hit. Almost guaranteed a start this week.

      2. Dreaming of glory
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Save ft this week and then prob vardy or gonzalo

    6. jgjokaj
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Help !!!!
      or am I
      G2G
      fabi (speroni)
      Pereira TAA Doherty (Bednarek WAN)
      pogba son salah Richarlison (motinho)
      Jimenez Auba (rashford)

      really need some help this whole season has been crap !!
      Need a man city player. Any advice will be appreciated !!

      1. amplifiedAnt
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Similar team to myself. There's not too much wrong with it at present. Could look to shift Rashford but depends whether you want him long-term.

        I'm tending towards either holding the FT or Rashford > King, doing a bit of enforced prep for GW30 - 33.

    7. amplifiedAnt
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Very much in need of input! Any help greatly appreciated.

      Fabianski (Button)
      Robertson, TAA, Doherty, Pereira
      Salah, Son, Pogba, Richarlison
      Aubameyang, Jimenez
      (Rashford*, AWB* Puncheon)

      1FT, 1.8m ITB.

      A. Rashford > King/Rondon/Barnes (wanted King from GW30 anyway)
      B. Button > Boruc
      C. Puncheon > Hayden
      D. Save

    8. Gentle_Turks
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Good luck this week all.
      G2G? Would you change bench order? Thanks.

      Guaita
      Robertson, Doherty, Pereira
      Salah(c), Pog, Son, Richarlison
      Rashford, Aguero, Jimenez
      (Digne, Lascelles, Anderson)

    9. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Not convinced by Almiron enough yet after one full game to be bringing him in, so it would be:

      F.Anderson + Rashford --> Fraser Aguero (-4)

      or take a big risk going w/o Aguero or any city another week, and save FT.

      --

      Is anyone going w/o any City assets (particularly Aguero)? Can you help out? (c) on Auba either way 🙂

      1. sminkypinky
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Currently have none and it’s killed my OR last few weeks.

      2. Pieterke30
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        The problem with City is we dont know who will start

      3. Zladan
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Surely keep Anderson for the blank?

    10. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Kante or Hayden?

      1. Eleven Hag
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Neither

      2. CarrollsPonytail
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Hayden. Good value 5th mid.

      3. DF
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Got Hayden but a bit worried he'll disappear if Shelvey comes back.
        McNeil?

    11. Hakuna Juan Mata
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Neves or Moutinho?

      1. Eleven Hag
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Mou

    12. sminkypinky
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Play Auba or get Kun (c) for a hit? Leaning towards latter.

    13. GianniBanani
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Which one?

      A Rashford > Kun
      B Firmino > Kun

      Third is Jimenez

      1. Holteenderinthesky
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Depends on your blank strategy. I'd be keeping Firmino if you need him for the blanks.

    14. d00fus
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Anyone got any thoughts on this chip strategy which I haven't seen talked about much (via @FPL_Hana):

      FH31
      BB32
      WC33
      TC35

      WC in 33 is counterintuitive, but adding in the 2 FTs until 35 to switch for DGW players seems like you should be able to get 7 DGW players in 35 plus good single fixture teams. Was thinking about this as I have 12 probable DGW32 players in my squad as it stands (although Laporte, AWB and Rash issues aren't helping that).

      1. SADIO SANÉ
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        I'm probably doing it, Liverpool & Bournemouth have nice 33/35 fixtures - possible that a couple of teams also play in 33 with a double in 35 - not a bad idea imo

        1. d00fus
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Yeah just seems a bit of a waste to FH in 32 probably just to get a bunch of the players I already have!

      2. Zladan
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Hard to get 15 players you want by free transfers for DGW32.

        1. d00fus
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          In what way?

      3. CRO KLOPP
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        We don't know fixtures for 32 yet

        1. d00fus
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Yeah granted but we have a pretty good idea I would've thought?

          1. CRO KLOPP
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            No, I don't,but GL,nice to see different strategie

    15. Gearoid
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      1. Save FT, play Rashford with FAnderson first on bench
      2. Rashford to Vardy or other 9.4 or lower FWD

      Lloris (Steele)
      Bednarek Lindelof Doherty Lascelles (Balbuena)
      Salah(c) Son Pogba(vc) (Camarasa FAnderson)
      Aguero Jiminez Rashford

      Many thanks

    16. The Red Devil
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Rashford & Son
      to
      Aguero & Hayden? (2 FT)
      gives me
      Aguero, Auba, Salah & Hazard at the weekend
      Considering Jesus is out

    17. monzae
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Who to start?

      A: Digne
      B: Bennett

    18. PompeyUpNorth!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Start:

      A Hayden

      B Felipe? Thanks!

      1. Eleven Hag
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        B

      2. MPC
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        B

        1. PompeyUpNorth!
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Interesting as I was on A, so cheers for replying..

          1. jtreble
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Surprised at these replies. A for me.

      3. the dom 1
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        A with Felipe coming off the bench is what im doing!

    19. WVA
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Has to be Aguero over Salah for captain now that Jesus is confirmed out!?

      1. MPC
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        I think so

      2. Pieterke30
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Jesus has been confirmed out?

        1. how now brown cow
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Yes

          1. Pieterke30
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Thx mate

      3. Holteenderinthesky
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Not worried about sterling playing upfront instead?

        1. WVA
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          When has this ever happened?

          1. Holteenderinthesky
            • 5 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Alot more than you think. Definitely happened Vs Chelsea a few months back. And he has regularly gone upfront late on in the game after aguero has come off.

      4. Zladan
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Agreed

    20. MPC
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Sorry - RP

      Pick one to start?

      Anderson (mci)
      Bednarek (FUL)
      McNeil (new)
      Schar (BUR)

      Thanks.

    21. camarozz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Man I'm gone to the dogs lately.

      Have Boruc who I thought was playing Fulham coz in my head Boruc plays for Southampton not Bournemouth.

      So I transfer out Ederson for Fabs and planned to play Boruc v Fulham.

      While in fact he's playing Arsenal and Fabs has city.

      Thats ruined my day.

      1. amplifiedAnt
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        You'll survive for one week, and Boruc has nice fixtures coming up. Fabianski is normally handy for some save points.

      2. Eleven Hag
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        U thought saints have a better chance of CS vs fulham than city do vs westham?

      3. The Ejiptian King
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        That's a rough one.

    22. Holteenderinthesky
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      WB>Robertson
      Or
      Rashford>Vardy

      1. whosBenj
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        I'm tempted to do both. I don't think Rashford will be in the squad, but Ole said there's a chance he plays, so maybe Robertson in.

        1. Holteenderinthesky
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Can't afford the double Swap. Have Allison as my GK and H.Barnes in midfield. So it's a double up either way. Can definitely see Watford scoring though which leads me more towards Vardy.

    23. Winners900
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Can anyone help me? Have had a lot to do lately so dont have had the time to do a lot research unfortunately.
      Appreciate som advice

      The best transfer?

      A) Fraser- > Mane
      B) Rashford -> Aguero

      I can do that with 4.2 iTb for free. Got AWB and Success who are dead on the bench. And Westwood who rarely gets decent points.

      Thoughts on best transfer? Cheers

      1. sminkypinky
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        I would go B. More explosive.

    24. Stimps
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Start 2

      A) Barnes (New away)
      B) Kola (Bou home)
      C) Pereira (Brighton home)

    25. melvinmbabazi
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Thoughts this week? 1FT 2.3 ITB

      Patricio
      Robertson I Digne I Doherty I Pereira
      Salah(C) | Pogba | Son I
      *Rashford I Jiminez I Barnes

      Bench: Button I Felipe I Hojberg I *Laporte
      Cheers

      (4)

    26. Captain_Shirokov
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Schindler to Schar a solid FT move?

      1. Merseyman
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Yep

    27. emorybortz
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Rashford > Vardy and Son > Mané for free?

      Only have 3 players for GW31 right now, so that would give me 2 more at least.

    28. Fred the Red
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Keeping an eye out for GW 31, and given that I already have Aguero,

      is Rashford to Rondon a decent transfer?

      or, is Rashford to King a better option?

      1. WVA
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Rondon