Spot the Differential

Higuain a differential FPL forward for Gameweek 30 and the blanks ahead

This weekly series puts the spotlight on three players who all have an ownership of 5% or under in Fantasy Premier League.

As we enter the business end of the season, a considered differential pick could provide a welcome boost for those Fantasy managers chasing a mini-league deficit or striving to improve their overall rank.

All three of our selections have home fixtures this weekend, with two of them also having matches in Blank Gameweeks 31 and 33.

Gonzalo Higuain (£9.6m)

FPL ownership: 4.3%

Chelsea’s Argentinean striker is still in differential territory despite the Blues enjoying fixtures in Blank Gameweeks 31 and 33 and, potentially but far from confirmed, a possible Double Gameweek 32.

Higuain looks a particularly enticing premium forward option for those without one or more of their chips and looking for a way to navigate through the choppy waters of the blanks and doubles ahead.

Even for FPL bosses with a full complement of chips, Higuain is an appealing candidate for their front-lines.

Higuain has scored three goals in his last four league matches and has recorded more shots in that quartet of games than any other FPL forward when they are filtered by the same criteria.

No player in his position recorded more attempts on goal or shots in the box in Gameweek 29, either.

The former Juventus forward, along with Eden Hazard (£10.8m), was rested on Thursday night as Chelsea saw off Dynamo Kyiv in the UEFA Europa League.

This weekend’s opponents, Wolves, haven’t kept a clean sheet away from home since Gameweek 8.

Michy Batshuayi (£6.5m)

FPL ownership: 1.6%

Not really an option for those Fantasy managers building a team for Blank Gameweek 31 given that Palace are in FA Cup action that weekend, Batshuayi is nevertheless a noteworthy differential for FPL bosses who are adopting a different approach – such as using the Free Hit chip in Gameweek 31.

Batshuayi enjoys home fixtures against Brighton & Hove Albion and Huddersfield Town either side of that blank, while the Eagles could very well enjoy a Double Gameweek 32 depending on what happens in their FA Cup quarter-final tie against Watford.

The downside to any Palace assets, whatever the chip strategy, is that they could very well blank in Gameweek 33, too. That, unfortunately, is something we won’t know until a week on Saturday.

In isolation and as a short-term punt, Batshuayi is an intriguing option.

Batshuayi’s minutes-per-chance average is the same as Sergio Aguero‘s (£11.8m) over the last six Gameweeks.

The on-loan Chelsea forward has three attacking returns in his five appearances for Palace (two of which were as a substitute), including a goal in the 3-1 win over Burnley last weekend.

The Eagles have also scored more goals over the last eight Gameweeks than all Premier League teams bar Manchester City, while Roy Hodgson’s side haven’t failed to find the net in any of their league fixtures this calendar year.

Brighton, Palace’s opponents on Saturday, have conceded two or more goals in each of their last five away league matches.

Ben Chilwell (£5.0m)

FPL ownership: 2.5%

Our championing of Leicester’s full-backs over the past few weeks has sounded like a broken record, particularly when it flies in the face of the Foxes’ defensive form: it is now nine Gameweeks since City registered a clean sheet in the Premier League.

Nevertheless, Brendan Rodgers’ side sit top of our Season Ticker for defence from Gameweeks 30-34 as they enjoy five fixtures against sides in the bottom half of the table.

The Foxes also have unaffected matches in Blank Gameweeks 31 and 33.

Despite their lack of shut-outs, Leicester are comfortably in the top half of the table for fewest goal attempts, shots in the box and big chances conceded over the last six Gameweeks – despite facing Liverpool, Spurs, Manchester United and free-scoring Crystal Palace in that time.

While those stats are to be taken with a pinch of salt due to the management change, only Manchester City allowed fewer goal attempts than Leicester in Rodgers’ first Gameweek in charge.

Much uncertainty surrounds which formation Rodgers will adopt going forward, but the hope from a Chilwell owner’s perspective is that the ex-Celtic boss continues with the wing-back system he used at Vicarage Road.

Chilwell, owned by 700,000 fewer FPL managers than Ricardo Pereira (£5.4m), ranked fifth among defenders for touches in the final third last weekend.

The Leicester left-back is joint-second among defenders for that statistic over the course of the season and fifth for chances created.

Fulham, Leicester’s opponents this weekend, have the second-worst record among Premier League sides for chances conceded from their right flank in 2018/19, meanwhile.

664 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Fpl Richie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 12 days ago

    If building for 31, is it worth getting Brooks/Fraser now and playing over Jimenez? Or just play Jim this week and get next week as part of 3-4 moves.

    Will use my ft on a goalie sadly (see above somewhere).

    1. Fpl Richie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 12 days ago

      Well, now I mean see previous page. Doing Button to Boruc, Fabs or Heaton.

  2. Egbunike
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 12 days ago

    Would you start
    A) Barnes (liv)
    B) Doherty (che)
    ?

    1. goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 12 days ago

      Doherty. More likely to get a CS than Barnes is to get a goal, imo.

      1. AuFeld
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 12 days ago

        Barnes has a higher floor and on PK's. Could be an issue for WOL defenders if CHE score two or more goals. Doherty was also subbed in last match.

  3. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 12 days ago

    Surprised Boruc didn't rise this week.
    Am I missing anything?

    1. Viper
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 12 days ago

      He's a Bournemouth player that gets scores based on their defensive capabilities

  4. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 12 days ago

    For 30, 31, 33: currently got Salah and TAA

    A) VVD
    B) Mane
    C) Robo

    Worried about Mane hauling and his explosiveness, ML Rival has Mane, Robo and Alison 🙁

    1. Stoic
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 12 days ago

      Id go VVD

    2. Shineonme
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 12 days ago

      B first if not then A

  5. Stoic
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 12 days ago

    Who to Captain ?

    A) Salah
    B) Mane
    C) Aguero
    D) Vardy
    E ) Higuain
    F) Robbo ?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 12 days ago

      c

    2. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 12 days ago

      C A B E D F

    3. ZeBestee
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 12 days ago

      C

  6. sillyhilly69
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 12 days ago

    Son & Barnes > Brooks & Vardy.

    Thoughts for a -4?

    Feels a bit silly, however I fancy Vardy getting a haul this week.

    1. sillyhilly69
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 12 days ago

      Thanks for all the help -_-

    2. Yoshimiwinz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 12 days ago

      Go for Vardy now, let Son play against Southampton then transfer for the blank GW

  7. mlm
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 12 days ago

    Ederson (Boruc)
    Robertson VVD Pereira (Diop Bennett)
    Salah(c) Sterling Pogba Fraser Brooks
    Higuain Vardy (Jimenez)

    0FT, 0.2ITM

    GTG?

  8. J to the T
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 12 days ago

    Has kolasanic lost his place to
    monreal?

    1. Stoic
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 12 days ago

      Monreal played quite well against Spurs. He is first choice imo

      1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 12 days ago

        Also played in europa league yesterday and scored a goal. In his own goal.

    2. Shineonme
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 12 days ago

      Kola will start against Man utd

  9. goriuanx
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 12 days ago

    BREAKING: @premierleague confirm they are investigating alleged breaches of financial fair play regulations by @ManCity.

    City are being investegated by UEFA, FIFA, FA and PL. My verdict would be to relegate them to the Vanaroma league and have Sheikh Mansour doing community service in Aldershot.

    1. ZeBestee
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 12 days ago

      Relagated? The world doesn't work that way.

      1. goriuanx
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 12 days ago

        My world does.

    2. Fpl Richie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 12 days ago

      My verdict would be for Bernado Silva, Aguero and a few of their close chums to be distributed amongst the rest of the league NFL draft style.

      1. goriuanx
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 12 days ago

        I second that actually.

        Good thinking.

    3. Yoshimiwinz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 12 days ago

      It's no secret City have been playing with a map of loopholes, I bet they get a joke punishment.

    4. Shineonme
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 12 days ago

      Haha that's the only way Liverpool have of winning the league next year

  10. UnitednationsXI
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 12 days ago

    My transfer decision gw is purely around whether I want doherty for dgw32 FH team.

    taking him out makes sense if i dont want him in FH32 as i will get him back by WC34, will have to pay 0.4m more to get him in by then by think it's worth it as i won't need him till then. SO

    1) Would you have doherty as one of your defenders if FH32?
    2) Which defenders would you be targeting for dgw32? i think shaw, luiz, ederon covers the 3 teams with the best dgw fixtures. its just the final defender slot i am unsure of..could double up on chelsea defence but thats too expensive...cant think of too many options apart from doherty as the 3rd def. jonny a viable alternative?

    1. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 12 days ago

      How has Doherty done in the last ten or so?

      Seems to me that there are a number of options around 4,5 who could replace him. I’d cash in and move on myself.

    2. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 12 days ago

      Cheap options
      Schlupp DGW probable
      Duffy DGW probable
      Shaw DGW but cards
      Rice
      Lejeune

      Pricier
      Luiz DGW
      Azpilicueta DGW
      Otamendi DGW
      Kola

  11. FDMS All Starz
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 12 days ago

    Which is better?

    A) Bednarek —> A.Smith (start Jota)

    B) Jota —> Brooks (start Doherty)

    1. Yoshimiwinz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 12 days ago

      A. Always play the attacker

    2. Shineonme
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 12 days ago

      A

  12. slove
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 12 days ago

    What are the best BGW players to get in?

    Currently only have : Salah, TAA, Robertson, Hazard, Maddison

    How many players should we look to realistically have playing that week?

    1. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 12 days ago

      8 could do it seeing you have 4 key ones anyway.

      I’d get Fab for Huddersfield home and either Vardy or Higuain and then another mid that will play both so the minus 4 works out even.

      1. slove
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 12 days ago

        I actually have Fabianski already - I somehow completely forgot about him!

        I have 2FT at the minute and the following players, any advice?:

        AWB
        Doherty
        Bednarek
        Son
        Camarasa
        Jimenez
        Aguero
        Rashford

        1. Gatsby
          • 13 Years
          5 years, 12 days ago

          Prob do Son -> Hazard

          Maybe Rash - > Arnie/Rondon to free cash?

    2. Shineonme
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 12 days ago

      8 at minimum I'd say. Any more with no hits is a bonus.

  13. YoungPretender
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 12 days ago

    Shaw, Pogba & Jiminez > TAA, Hazard & King/Arnie -4?

    If so, King or Arnie?

    1. panda07
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 12 days ago

      Yes with King. Arnie is too risky to bring in

    2. Yoshimiwinz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 12 days ago

      Why do people still think Arnie is an option? The guy will have you wretchedly wretching on all fours.

    3. Gatsby
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 12 days ago

      I still have Arnie, think he will get gametime now
      Chicharito has been decent, but Arnie is gonna haul soon

      (im a west ham fan, take no notice if u want!)

  14. panda07
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 12 days ago

    Which would you prefer?

    A) Emerson & Vardy
    B) Chilwell & Higuain.

    1. ZeBestee
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 12 days ago

      B

    2. The Head-Ake
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 12 days ago

      B

  15. DaveVak
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 12 days ago

    1. Rashford + Son > Vardy + Fraser?
    2. Captain Vardy if so, or keep on Sterling?

    1. ZeBestee
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 12 days ago

      Sterling

  16. ZeBestee
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 12 days ago

    Start 1

    1) Arnie
    2) Jimi

    1. AuFeld
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 12 days ago

      Jim. Arnie hasn't played over 60 mins since GW24.

    2. panda07
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 12 days ago

      Probably 2 as Arnie is likely to be on the bench

    3. ZeBestee
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 12 days ago

      Cheers all.

  17. KingOllie
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 12 days ago

    Think im gonna go Vardy(C) ahead of Salah and Sterling.

    Pros-

    On penalties
    His goal involvement with leiceter is always high
    Fulham (doubt they will park the bus = space)
    Rodgers first game where hes had the team together for a week - should see a reaction

    Cons-

    Leicester can be flakey

    1. AuFeld
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 12 days ago

      * LEI is flakey.

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 12 days ago

      Low ceiling with Vardy though

      1. Jimmy Boy
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 12 days ago

        This

    3. sillyhilly69
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 12 days ago

      I'm thinking he'll do well this week.

      I'm struggling to click the button myself though!

      Although wouldn't (c) unless you're chasing!

  18. Jimmy Boy
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 12 days ago

    Anyone considering Mane for captain? He's in great form at Anfield

    1. Eytexi
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 12 days ago

      Yep, got the armband on him.

    2. Gatsby
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 12 days ago

      Twisting between him and Aguero

  19. Viper
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 12 days ago

    With Chelsea's transfer ban, can they still sign Higuain on a permanent deal when his loan expires?

    1. goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 12 days ago

      You've answered your own question 🙂

    2. Jafoole_88
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 12 days ago

      Would they want to??

      Signing Higuian permanently, is like taking a sh!t knowing in advance there's no toilet paper.

  20. Saka Punch
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 12 days ago

    Which would you prefer?

    A) Robbo, Brooks, King
    B) TAA, Brooks , Vardy (-4)

    1. ZeBestee
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 12 days ago

      B

    2. Shineonme
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 12 days ago

      B

  21. Gharvey
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 12 days ago

    Who plays - Schar, Kolasinac or Doherty

    1. ZeBestee
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 12 days ago

      Schar

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 12 days ago

      Schar

    3. panda07
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 12 days ago

      Schar

    4. Shineonme
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 12 days ago

      I sold Doc last week thank God. I also have kola and schar and playing scar with Kola first on the bench.

  22. Eytexi
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 12 days ago

    Seanfromenderby hasnt leaked an eleven in a while; lost his powers with the manager/links gone?

  23. grooveymatt65
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 12 days ago

    Fabianski Boruc

    Robertson Bednarek Digne Bennett Wan Bissaka

    Salah Son Anderson Pogba Hojberg

    Higuain Jiminez Vardy

    Got 1.9 itb and 1ft and options are:

    1. Son to Hazard and Jiminez to King for -4
    2. Son to Mane for free
    3. Son to Mane and Jiminez to King for -4
    4. Son to Mane and Jiminez to Barnes for -4
    5. Jiminez to King and Benett to Diop for -4 (and play Diop and Boruc)
    6. Save

    What do you think? Thanks!!!!! 🙂 🙂

  24. OldBenKenobi
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 12 days ago

    Should be safe to make my transfer now......right?

    1. ZeBestee
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 12 days ago

      Anytime is safe, now because you can make informed decisions.

  25. Blue Gaffer
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 12 days ago

    Jimenez to King yes or no?

    1. OldBenKenobi
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 12 days ago

      Yes

    2. Shineonme
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 12 days ago

      I'm buying king next week

  26. Nightf0x
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 12 days ago

    A) luiz boruc
    B) clyne kepa

    1. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 12 days ago

      A.

    2. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 12 days ago

      A

  27. tisza
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 12 days ago

    anyone idea on Bournemouth defence going forward?
    Likely stick with 3 at the back or revert to back 4?
    Daniels return last week just a one-off?

    1. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 12 days ago

      I think they'll go back to 4, assume that was a one-off for city.

    2. *sigh*
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 12 days ago

      Dunno but Cook has been ruled out for another 4 to 6 weeks if that helps?

    3. ZeBestee
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 12 days ago

      I think Cook being out makes it easier for Daniels to get more games.

    4. tisza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 12 days ago

      ok thanks

  28. The Ejiptian King
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 12 days ago

    I'm kinda sad to see Kamara leave my team, what a rollercoaster of a signing he was.

  29. Gharvey
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 12 days ago

    Who plays? Moutinho, bednarek or Kolasinac?

  30. Nightf0x
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 12 days ago

    wil chelsea have dgw in gw32?