Spot the Differential

Exciting Saint-Maximin can star in Newcastle’s last two fixtures of 2020/21

With the season so close to an end, Fantasy Premier League differentials have never been more important.

This time, we’ve selected low-owned picks at Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and Leeds United who we think have the potential to make an impact.

As always, to qualify, the player must have an ownership of 5% or less at the time of writing.

Allan Saint-Maximin

  • FPL ownership: 3.3%
  • Price: £5.2m
  • GW37-38 fixtures: SHU | ful

Allan Saint-Maximin (£5.2m) has been one of Newcastle United’s best players since joining the club from French outfit Nice back in 2019.

And despite enduring a stop-start campaign, mainly due to injuries, his return to fitness in the second half of the season has seen Steve Bruce’s side comfortably avoid relegation from the Premier League.

The 24-year-old, who is fast becoming his side’s talisman, was instrumental in a run of eight points from four games in April which saved the Magpies’ season. He was the match winner against Burnley, coming off the bench to score and provide an assist, and was pivotal against both West Ham United and Liverpool, too.

That upturn in form has coincided with Bruce’s decision to switch to a 3-5-2 / 5-3-2 shape in Gameweek 30. Since then, Newcastle have played some of their best football of the season, with three wins and two draws in their last seven matches, despite a testing schedule which has included games against title winners Manchester City, Leicester City and Liverpool. In fact, during that period, no team has scored more than the Magpies. Granted, it’s a small sample size to draw conclusions from, but it is encouraging ahead of back-to-back matches against relegated Sheffield United and Fulham.

In the new system, the Frenchman has been deployed as a second-striker, and has thrived in a more central role. Interestingly, he even referred to himself ‘playing as a no.10’ in a recent interview.

Saint-Maximin has always had the ability but has often frustrated due to his erratic decision-making. However, his end product is improving, and he could be a useful budget differential for the remainder of the season, especially when you consider his last two matches are against two obliging defences.

Dele Alli

  • FPL ownership: 0.6%
  • Price: £7.4m
  • GW37-38 fixtures: AVL | lei

Despite being frozen out under José Mourinho earlier this season, Dele Alli (£7.1m) has come back into favour in recent weeks under interim head coach Ryan Mason.

The 25-year-old played a key role in Son Heung-min’s (£9.7m) goal in Gameweek 35, and was unlucky not to score against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday, as he struck the post in the second-half.

Despite blanking, it was his best performance of the season so far, as he ended the match with four goal attempts, one big chance and six penalty box touches. His coach later hailed his display as an “excellent no. 10 performance”, and now, after three consecutive league starts, has the potential to finish the season strongly.

Interestingly, since Alli’s return to the starting XI in Gameweek 34, he has actually outperformed Son for shots, efforts in the box and expected goals (xG).

It’s also worth noting that Tottenham Hotspur had 24 shots against Wolves, 13 of which were on target. Both of those totals exceed any amount they had in a single Premier League match under Mourinho, which highlights the potential of their new, more attacking, setup.

Spurs are now into the top six, with their win last weekend ensuring their hopes of qualifying for the Europa League is in their own hands, with Aston Villa at home and Leicester at the King Power Stadium their remaining games. Encouragingly for Spurs’ attacking assets, Villa conceded a whopping 23 shots in their recent trip to Crystal Palace in Gameweek 36, and will again be without the services of Matt Cash (£5.0m) in defence.

Alli is enjoying a decent run of form under Mason, and for those in search of a real midfield differential, could be worth a look.

Rodrigo

  • FPL ownership: 2.2%
  • Price: £5.7m
  • GW37-38 fixtures: sou | WBA

After a frustrating season with injuries and suffering from coronavirus, Rodrigo (£5.2m) has impressed in his last two matches, and surely done enough to earn Fantasy interest for a Gameweek 37 trip to Southampton.

The Spanish striker can operate as a centre forward or attacking midfielder, but replaced Patrick Bamford (£6.5m) in the number nine role at Burnley, and took his chance with a quickfire double. He could have had more too, as he ended the game with three goal attempts, two big chances and six penalty box touches, despite being afforded just 32 minutes off the bench.

His last two matches have proven he does not need to even feature in the starting line-up to perform well. During that period he has appeared as a second-half substitute on both occasions but still produced three goals and a total of five bonus points.

The 30-year-old arrived from Valencia last summer with a big reputation having played in the Champions League, but has only managed 12 starts in the Premier League this season. 

However, when on the pitch, his numbers are encouraging. 

Among all forwards per 90 minutes with substantial game-time to their name, he ranks fifth for goal attempts and top for chances created, highlighting his all-round ability.

Following Saturday’s win at Burnley, Leeds United have a four-point cushion over 11th-placed Aston Villa, which means they are closing in on a top-half finish.

It’s been an excellent season back in the Premier League for Marcelo Bielsa’s side, who have now suffered just one defeat in their last nine games. They have the potential to finish strongly, too, with matches against Southampton and relegated West Bromwich Albion up next.

Rodrigo has been superb of late, and could be a smart differential for those on the lookout for a budget forward.

Pro Pundits 21

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1,935 Comments Post a Comment
  1. iL PiStOlErO
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Used ft GTG or sell someone for -4?

    Mendy
    Robbo Shaw Coufal
    Bruno(C) Salah Maddison Lingard Zaha
    Bamford Watkins

    3.8 Lacca Mitchell Castagne

  2. smix
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Best differential captain choice ? Chasing a 60 point lead. Mahrez, Torres, ASM? Anyone else ?

    1. SIDHU_MOOSE_WALA
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Thinking about lacazette.. like Mahrez as well

    2. FPLord
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      mahrez out of those

    3. Pep's Money Laundry
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      If the leader doesn't have own one of Bruno, Greenwood, Kane, Son or Salah then captain one of them

    4. Aubamewho
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Mahrez

  3. Cilly Bonnolly
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Am I mental to be considering Willock in for Jota instead of Bale/Son/Rashford...all of whom I can afford? Got 10.9 to spend but he’s got Sheffield United and Fulham and he’s scored against West Ham, Liverpool, Leicester and City in the last four games he’s played.

    1. HashAttack
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Welcome to the asylum! ... Spent the money saved on getting Firmino, just need to find 0.3m (see below)

    2. ViperStripes
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Mental

  4. HashAttack
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    I need to find 0.3m - where do I find the money, GK, DEF or FWD?

    a) Schmeichel to 5.1m - e.g. Dubravka
    b) Reguilon to 5.3 - e.g. Alioski
    c) Nacho to 5.7m - e.g. Rodrigo

    b) and c) will be benched this week, so ideally someone with a home match next week

    1. ViperStripes
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Why do you need 0.3m

      1. HashAttack
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        To upgrade Watkins to Firmino

    2. ILOVEBAPS
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      C

    3. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      B

      1. HashAttack
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Leaning that way, Nacho can play gw38 - would mean double Leeds defence for WBA, Dallas and Alioski (with TAA)

  5. Traction Engine Foot
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Good to go here? Would you start iheanacho over anyone?

    Henderson
    Dallas TAA Digne
    Salah Greenwood Lingard Pereira Raphinha
    Kane DCL

    Sanchez Iheanacho Castagne Targett

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

    Did the Palace press conference say anything about Van Arnolt coming back?

    1. ViperStripes
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Or about Guaita playing?

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

    A) Jota to Raphinha, Watkins 1st sub
    B) Watkins to Antonio, Rudiger 1st sub and hold Jota

    1. Traction Engine Foot
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      A

  8. Nespinha
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Pick one please:

    A) Iheanacho --- Bamford (play holding)

    B) Jota --- Greenwood/Bale/Alli (play iheanacho)

    C) Coady --- Reguilon/Shaw (play iheanacho)

    1. Ode
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      B

    2. Traction Engine Foot
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      B

  9. snouty375
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Ft Jota to

    A Greenwood

    B Raphina

    C Foden

    D ASM

    E keep and play ward prowse

    1. valurth
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Raphina

    2. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      B

  10. The Handsome Hunk
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Around 4.5k OR

    What you would go for?
    a) Watkins/Iheanacho to. Rodrigo
    (bench Jota for final home game)

    b) Jota to Raphina
    Thanks!!

    1. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Ha! Same issue as me (though rank waaaay better)
      For me I don’t think I want to play either striker in either of their games
      Jota v Palace could be great, and if not, sell next week?

  11. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Who to sell..
    A. Jota (but could play CPL at weekend) and bring in
    1. Raphinha
    2. Greenwood (no Utd attack)
    3. ASM

    B. Iheanacho che TOT and bring in
    1. Bamford
    2. Rodrigo
    3. Antonio
    4. Ings

    C. Watkins avl CHE
    Options as above

    1. The Handsome Hunk
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Jota to Greenwood and then reverse if Jota available last GW ?

  12. Pukkipartyy
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    So Jota has maybe chance to play gw38?

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Tiny chance, apparently.

    2. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Tiny chance, so likely to be a sub appearance even if he is available

    3. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Let him go, too risky.

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

    wish I still have my BB chip intact.
    Have Coufal-JWP and Rudiger on bench.

  14. Slitherene
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    1 FT, 0.1 ITB | FH next week

    Areola | Sanchez
    TAA Digne Shaw
    Salah Son Mahrez Lingard Saka
    Kane DC-L
    ¦ Iheanacho Vestergaard Phillips

    Where to use the FT??

  15. dezacooper
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Lingard for which mid?

    1. Harrison
    2. Willock

    24pts off top 10k

    1. ILOVEBAPS
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      2

  16. Qaiss
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Will any player have over 100 EO this week?

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Salah should have around 120
      Kane probably 105, Bruno around 80-90

      1. Qaiss
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Bruno below 100 would be surprising

        1. Holmes
          • 10 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          His ownership was 56% last week (could be due to FH). Not many are bringing him, so around 90% feels about right to me.

    2. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Both Salah and Bruno

    3. Ch0udini
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      I guess Bruno

  17. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    So are Sheffield United compact again or will Newcastle break them down?

    1. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Everton 0-1
      Who knows

  18. PatrickDawson1976
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Which midfielder to leave out from:

    [A] KDB
    [B] JWP
    [C] Rashford
    [D] Alli
    [E] Harrison
    **********************

    Or which FWD do I sacrifice from [and play ALL 5 midfielders above]:

    [1] Watkins
    [2] Lacazette
    [3] Benteke

    1. timmmuh
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Between JWP and Watkins for me ... maybe lean Watkins over JWP.

      1. PatrickDawson1976
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Thanx

  19. Ch0udini
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Bottomed

    Who to start?
    A) Fofana (che)
    B) Holding (cry)
    C) Coady (eve)
    D) get any defender for (-4)

    Have DCL and Zaha playing, so Holding/Coady CS unwelcome.

    1. timmmuh
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Holding

  20. Silecro
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Good to go? Spent a ft on Jota > Harrison

    Meslier
    Trent, Digne, Dallas
    Salah, Greenwood(c), Son, Lingard, Harrison
    DCL, Watkins

    Patricio, Nacho, Castagne, Konsa
    3.3 itb, 0ft

    Greenwood is c due to trailing 40pts so i need some differential...

    1. Stupendous
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Kane is gonna destroy you I think sorry

      1. Silecro
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        my rival also doesnt have him so its okay, i fear more of not going for Torres/Mahrez will destroy me

    2. King Sheep
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Bold, I like it.

  21. Stupendous
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    All set here?

    Meslier
    Dallas Rudiger Taa
    Pereira Son Salah(v) Harrison
    Firmino Kane(c) DCL

    Forster Lingard Holding Targett

    1. King Sheep
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      GTG

      1. Stupendous
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Cheers

  22. klopp2567
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Replace Jota with willock or torres?

    1. Stormbringer22
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Willock

      1. King Sheep
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Willock

    2. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Willock is allergic to Baps

  23. itsmeguneet
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Good afternoon mates, thoughts on this team?

    Martinez
    TAA- Dallas- Shaw
    Bruno- Lingard- Zaha- Willock
    DCL- Kane- Antonio

    Subs: Guaita, Saka, Reguilon, Burn

    GTG??

    1. King Sheep
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      GTG

  24. King Sheep
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Play

    A) Reece James

    B) Soucek

    1. Stormbringer22
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      A

  25. Lord Flashheart
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    A jota to st maximin
    B jota to raphina
    C watkins to antonio
    D antonio and a mid for -4

    1. Stormbringer22
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      B

    2. King Sheep
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      A

    3. ILOVEBAPS
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      C

    4. BigAsGiroud_
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Just did B

  26. Khalico
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Kane, Salah or Bruno for captain?

    1. Stormbringer22
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Salah, Kane, Bruno in that order I think

      1. Qaiss
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Feel like that order has a lot to do with kick off times.

        If Bruno was playing in the last game, the majority of the poll would be in his favour.

  27. BigAsGiroud_
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Start two:
    A. Zaha
    B. Watkins
    C.ESR
    D. Holding

    1. Ch0udini
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Zaha, ESR

    2. timmmuh
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Zaha
      ESR

      1. timmmuh
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Watkins close to ESR though ... that one is a toss up

  28. PukkiBlinder
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Bench order?
    A- Coady (eve)
    B- Fofana (che)
    C- Vydra (LIV)

    Sorry for dullard question but it looks like I’m going to need 1 or 2 of them!

    1. timmmuh
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Maybe switch b/c, a is the #1

    2. KLOPPS AND ROBBERS... the s…
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      A, C, B

  29. timmmuh
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Who to play here, need 3 of the 6?
    A) Digne (WOL)
    B) Pereira (WHU)
    C) Dallas (sou)
    D) Raphina (sou)
    E) Wakins (tot)
    D) Phillips (bur)

    Cheers!

  30. JD @JDCochran2
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Top 5 on the Captaincy Sheet with 2 GWs to go!!!!
    Who will claim the $100 Prize?
    Who will be your captain in GW 36?
    Ziad Hosny 692
    The Realist AK 692
    Mohamad Abdallah 684
    David Breeze 678
    Ajit Dhillon 666

    https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16EmCT_TXszZhL8F7XEDoz6oYT-h5NuFb-92-Letw5qI/edit?usp=sharing

    1. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      I reckon mines about 300 😆