Our Gameweek 28 Spot the Differential column puts the spotlight on three players who all have an ownership of 5% or less in Fantasy Premier League (FPL).
This time, we’ve selected low-owned picks at Brentford, Bournemouth and Manchester United, who we think have the potential to make an impact.
- READ MORE: Lateriser: Who I think the best sub-£7.0m FPL midfielders are
- READ MORE: Buy O’Reilly? Sell Pedro? Best budget midfielders? FPL Q&A
KEVIN SCHADE
- FPL ownership: 1.3%
- Price: £6.9m
- GW28-32 fixtures: bur | bou | WOL | lee | EVE
While he has only managed two assists in seven appearances since the turn of the year, Kevin Schade (£6.9m) could be a fine differential option given Brentford’s favourable upcoming schedule.
Keith Andrews’ men travel to Turf Moor on Saturday to take on Burnley, a side that has conceded more goals than any other team except Tottenham Hotspur in Gameweeks 19-27.
Plenty of left-sided attackers, like Crysencio Summerville (£5.7m) and Chemsdine Talbi (£4.9m), have exposed the Burnley defence in that period, and we reckon that Schade should be capable of enjoying similar success.
Above: Burnley’s goals conceded map in Gameweeks 19-27
While Schade has largely underwhelmed in 2026, partly due to his three-match suspension for his red card at Villa Park, he has racked up six goals and four assists this season.
He also ranks favourably (just!) when compared to Dango Ouattara (£5.9m).
| Player | Price | Mins per shot | Mins per shot in box | Mins per pen box touch | Mins per chance created | Mins per cross |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schade | £6.9m | 46.3 | 47.5 | 18.1 | 83.0 | 126.5 |
| Ouattara | £5.9m | 46.5 | 53.1 | 19.1 | 106.0 | 24.0 |
In truth, facing off against Burnley, both Schade and Ouattara look like very decent options, while the longer-term fixture outlook also looks pretty favourable for Brentford.
Back after suspension in Gameweeks 25-26 (he featured for the second-half against Brighton and Hove Albion last time out, but we think he could return to the starting XI on Saturday), Schade has the type of upside that looks ideal for those managers looking to make up lost ground in mini-leagues.
ALEX SCOTT
- FPL ownership: 1.2%
- Price: £5.0m
- GW28-32 fixtures: SUN | BRE | bur | MUN | ars
For those Fantasy managers who really want to roll the dice, Alex Scott (£5.0m) could be a player to back this week.
The budget midfielder certainly carries some potential, given the raft of injuries suffered by Sunderland recently.
Notably, Scott has produced seven shots and three chances created over his last four matches, as well as racking up 55 defensive contributions (DefCon), the most of any Bournemouth player in any position.
Discussing his recent form, he said:
“I think all season I have been at a decent level. I started pretty strong, I think there were a few games where my levels dropped, but I’m back to my best. I’m definitely in the form of my life.
“I feel really good and I can probably play 90 minutes most weeks now. Defensively, I have definitely improved and I’m trying to make the box to score goals and create chances a lot more.
“It’s a tough role to do, any of those three positions in midfield. It’s very demanding physically in games, the way we press and jump the opposition. It’s good to have fresh legs on the bench. For me personally, it’s good to have such competition because it helps me stay on my A game.” – Alex Scott
With his DefCon potential, plus the fact that he’s completed 90 minutes in seven consecutive league games, Scott could potentially outscore fellow Bournemouth midfielders Rayan (£5.6m), Amine Adli (£5.4m) and Marcus Tavernier (£5.3m) over the next two Gameweeks, particularly given the tight Saturday-Tuesday turnaround.
Gameweek 28 opponents Sunderland have conceded nine goals in their last three away matches, so Bournemouth have to be fancied to find the back of the net.
In addition, Andoni Iraola’s troops also face Brentford and Burnley soon, so Scott, who is owned by only 1.2% of Fantasy squads, could certainly offer a bit of value at just £5.0m.
DIOGO DALOT
- FPL ownership: 4.8%
- Price: £4.5m
- GW28-32 fixtures: CRY | new | AVL | bou | LEE
Manchester United have had one of the Premier League’s best defences since the appointment of Michael Carrick.
Over the last six Gameweeks, no side has kept more clean sheets than their three, while their 5.81 expected goals conceded (xGC) tally is only bettered by Arsenal.
Diogo Dalot (£4.5m) is consequently worth a look for those Fantasy managers in the market for a new defender.
Across the last six matches, the Portuguese full-back has combined six shots with five chances created.
He’s often in the mix for bonus, too, having picked up extra points in two of United’s three clean sheets under Carrick.
The Red Devils face Crystal Palace at Old Trafford in Gameweek 28. Oliver Glasner’s side have struggled in attack this season, having found the net only 12 times in 14 league matches since the start of December.
Quite a few goals have been created from their left in that period, too, which could be good news for Dalot down the right flank on Sunday.
Above: Crystal Palace’s chances created conceded map (assists in green) in Gameweeks 14-27.
Importantly, Dalot has started every match under Carrick so far, and with his various routes to points, could be a nice differential pick-up with an ownership of just 4.8%.
