Spot the Differential

Martial could make mockery of £7.5m price tag this year

Wish the summer and your weekend afternoons goodbye, as it’s that time of the year again… Fantasy Premier League is back.

As we hurtle towards the Gameweek 1 deadline, Fantasy Football Scout has all the information, advice and tips you need to help you with your team.

Our best XI for the opening weekend comes out later on Friday but for now, we have something for you mavericks out there.

If you want something slightly different to the crowd, here are three players with low ownership that may be worth considering for Gameweek 1…

Anthony Martial

Martial could do well for Manchester United this year if he gets a run in the team

Price: £7.5m

Ownership: 5.0%

GW1 Opponent: Chelsea (H)

There is no denying that Manchester United did not finished the 2018/19 season on a high. As soon as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was offered the manager’s role on a permanent basis things began to take a turn for the worse as the Red Devils agonisingly missed out on a coveted Champions League spot. 

If there’s one person who could help turn things around with a run in the side, it is Anthony Martial

He averaged an attacking return every 115 minutes in the Premier League last season.

Despite being listed as a midfielder he often plays in advanced positions, such as a centre forward on three occasions during pre-season.

His record of scoring 34 goal in 113 Premier League games is very reasonable, especially when considering his FPL price tag (£7.5m) and position. 

Historically, a combination of injuries, rotation and being subbed off often limited his game time. 

With that said, he is one of United’s most experienced attacking players and, fitness permitting, he should start matches regularly and will be relied upon to perform at his best on a consistent basis. 

Manchester United will be up against a transitional Chelsea team on the opening weekend. 

Interestingly, the last time Martial featured against them he scored a brace in a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge. Meanwhile, Chelsea’s defence has not looked too solid in pre-season and they have just lost David Luiz (£6.0m) to Arsenal.

After last season’s woes, Manchester United will want to get off to a good start and players like Martial will need to make more of a difference with improved motivation.

Kyle Walker-Peters

Kyle Walker-Peters (left) in action for Spurs this summer

Price: £5.0m

Ownership: 3.03%

GW1 Opponent: Aston Villa (H)

Kyle Walker-Peters was far from being one of Tottenham’s firstchoice full-backs last season, but a unique opportunity has presented itself to the youngster.

The departure of Kieran Trippier to La Liga and the injuries to Serge Aurier and Juan Foyth have unexpectedly brought him to the fore. 

Walker-Peters has only featured in nine Premier League games during his entire career and yet averages an assist for every 112 minutes played. 

Moreover, last season, 32% of his touches were in the final third of the pitch. 

Of course, three of Walkers-Peters’ assists came from one game, but it provides an evident glimpse of attacking capabilities.

In fact, you won’t get many other starting £5.0m defenders from last season’s top four, espcially not at wing-back.

The transfer window has now closed and Tottenham’s did not sign any new right-sided defenders. 

Walker-Peters may not be a hugely long-term option and may need transferring/wildcarding out when Foyth or Aurier comes back but we don’t know exactly when that will be yet. 

Tottenham kick start their campaign against newly promoted Aston Villa in Gameweek 1, a favourable fixture.

Walker-Peters has a chance to establish himself in the team and with a few good performances he may prolong his presence as a regular starter.

Ashley Barnes

Burnley’s strike force could enjoy their Gameweek 1 opener against Southampton

Price: £6.5m

Ownership: 0.9%

GW1 Opponent: Southampton

Ashley Barnes was a great differential last season, registering 12 goals and 3 assists. 

This attacking output alone was responsible for 33% of Burnley’s goals, which shows you how important he is to the team. 

There are many other strikers currently priced at £6.5m with similar contributions, such as Josh King, but Barnes has an extra edge. 

For every season that he has played in the Premier League he seems to be progressively scoring more goals:

14/15 Premier League season 5 goals in 35 games
16/17 Premier League season 6 goals in 28 games
17/18 Premier League season 9 goals in 36 games
18/19 Premier League season 12 goals in 37 games

The former Austria Under-20 international’s performance trajectory clearly shows that he is getting better at the top-flight level.

He is at the peak of his powers and there isn’t anything stopping him, even if they’ve signed Jay Rodriguez as an additional forward to add to the mix. 

Sure, Barnes won’t end the season with 20+ goals, but would it be hard to reject him for your third budget striker spot when he could exceed last season’s points tally? 

Burnley start the season with Southampton at Turf Moor. Barnes has scored two league goals in his last two starts against the Saints and he should be more than capable of causing havoc to their backline once again.

MORE TEAM-BY-TEAM ANALYSIS CONTENT

Arsenal | Aston Villa (manager) | Aston Villa (defence) | Aston Villa (attack) | Bournemouth | Brighton | Burnley | Chelsea | Crystal Palace | Everton | Leicester | Liverpool | Man City | Man United | Newcastle | Norwich (manager) | Norwich (defence) | Norwich (attack) | Sheffield United (manager) | Sheffield United (defence) | Sheffield United (attack) | Southampton | Spurs | Watford | West Ham | Wolves

3,661 Comments Post a Comment
  1. mackan
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    taa and vvd
    robbo and vvd
    taa and robbo

    What are u guys going for and why?

    1. FPLGeezer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      The second pairing for the nailedness

    2. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A

      1. Royal5
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        -For most points

    3. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      TAA for potential and VVd for ultimate nailedness. A bit of both worlds

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

      save .5 and invest it elsewhere. 7.0 and 6.5

    5. DantheManinaPan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      TAA + Robbo for me.

      More attacking returns

    6. CtodaG
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      robbo and vvd

      Reckon they will get basically every minute. Expecting Gomez to get some minutes on left-back every now and then.

    7. BobbyDoesNotLook
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      TAA + VVD.

      - TAA -> the amount of assists from play and set pieces is going to be huge
      - VVD -> 0,5 cheaper and gut feeling says that header goals and assists from TAA's set pieces will increase compared to last year

  2. Agger
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    1 hour left for my deadline as I'm heading out to work. Shhheeeet

  3. Delph & Safety
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Montoya or Dunk?

    1. Ando
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Montoya

  4. CtodaG
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Last polish. Torn between:

    A) Laporte-Sterling-Jiminez
    B) Zinchenko-KDB-Kane

    Any thoughts?

    1. Gazza2000
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      a

    2. GUSFRING
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I've gone for B

  5. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Barnes bandwagon

  6. Agger
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    George Baldock is a 4.5 nailed wing-back for Sheffield United with 0.2% ownership? Hmm

    1. goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Stopped reading at George.

      1. Agger
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Hahah!

    2. Leeds2116
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Good shout

    3. DantheManinaPan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Really not as effective as Stevens though statistically. O'Connell likely to get more attacking returns at 4.5 if last year is anything to go by

      1. Agger
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Thanks, I'll flip a coin on both!

    4. mysteryDave
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Not nailed

  7. Disco Stu
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Still trying to decide on second striker spot for just GW1.

    A. DCL (That Palace defense sure looks enticing and still have 1.0 ITB that I can upgrade him to Kean when he takes over)

    B. Jota

    C. Deeney

    D. Che Adams

  8. GUSFRING
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Final draft - what do you think?

    Pope (Heaton)
    Zinchenko - Digne - Robertson - (Ake) - (Kelly)
    Salah - Dendoncker - McGinn - De Bruyne - B. Silva
    Kane - Wislon - (Greenwood)

  9. Leeds2116
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    KBD or B Silva?

    1. Agger
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Bernardo just to be different, plus the extra 1.5

    2. GUSFRING
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Both?

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

    Hi chaps.
    First answer I go with
    A) Alison, Holebas
    B) Ryan, TAA?

    1. GinjaWhinja
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B

  11. mysteryDave
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    What are the best 5.5m defender options?
    I see lots of people going Zinchenko and some going Gomez/Stones for a cheap route into a top 2 defence, others going Coleman (even van Aanholt) Who do you have at 5.5m in defence and why?

    1. GREEN IS GOOD
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      KWP 5m

  12. Bene_the_horse
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    What’s the code ffs members league?

    1. Don Kloppeone
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      https://members.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/

      Scroll down - towards bottom right

  13. Ando
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Would appreciate some help on this.

    a) Montoya & Targett

    b) Holebas & 4.0

    1. Kimmich
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A

      1. Ando
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Cheers. That's what I'm leaning towards.

  14. Ruinenlust
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Robertson or VVD???

    1. Sponge-worthy
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Robertson, but both.

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

      Robbo

    3. GUSFRING
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Robbo

    4. mysteryDave
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      TAA

      1. GUSFRING
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        ^ this guy doesn't know what he is talking about

  15. Sponge-worthy
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Money aside, Walker or Zinchenko as only City defender?

    1. GinjaWhinja
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      If you can afford Walker, you should be able to afford Laporte.
      If you can't, go Zinchenko or save the cash for elsewhere.

    2. mad_beer ✅
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Right now, Walker. Both aren't very inspiring imo.

    3. CtodaG
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Since they signed Cancelo, I would say Zinchenko

  16. Tmel
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Is Perez nailed with Praet coming in?

    1. Harper (No more Penandes)
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Probably plays left wing, Perez plays right

  17. albie.s
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    A: Jota + 1m itb
    B: Jiménez

    1. GREEN IS GOOD
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A for me. Jota in great form.

      1. albie.s
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Thanks. I’ve gone with Jota and used 0.5m to upgrade Button to Heaton so I can rotate with Pope

  18. Tabbara
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Thoughts on
    Pope (Button)
    TAA Robertson Zinchenko Coleman (Lundstram)
    Sterling Salah Perez Fraser (Dedoncker)
    Wilson Jota (Greenwood)
    0.5 ITB

    Thx

  19. Jonesfromthere
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Hey guys, has Trossard featured a lot in preseason?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      yes - yes he has

  20. 007 [RoboKlopp]
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    A. Pope, Zinchenko
    B. Ederson, Dunk/other 4.5m def

    A or B?
    Ta

    1. Graceless Goof
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A for risk, B for safety of starts

  21. Igz08
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Start two:

    A) Zinchenko

    B) Haller

    C) Barkley

    1. 007 [RoboKlopp]
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A, B

    2. Igz08
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Currently Haller on the bench, but don't fancy having 7.5 mil sitting there. Thinking of subbing Barkley, maybe even downgrading him and upgrading VVD to Robertson (have TAA)

  22. Kodap
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Anyone playing 4-3-3 this year?

    1. LOL LINGARD SCORED
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      o/

  23. Graceless Goof
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    VVD + Dendoncker (falls to the bench for Montoya)
    or
    Zinchenko + Robinson.

    Am I correct in leaning towards the first one for a 4-4-2?

  24. And nothing else Mata'…
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Hey, help 🙂

    A) Vardy + De Bruyne
    B) Wood + Sterling

    Thank you

    1. Graceless Goof
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A if you plan on never captaining Sterling.

      1. And nothing else Mata'…
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Planning to captain Salah or Auba/Kane usually. Salah Sterling and Auba might give me captain headache

    2. G Banger
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Any team without Sterling is a bum clencher!

      1. And nothing else Mata'…
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Yeah that worries me

  25. Ricardo355
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Hey guys,
    Can anyone confirm if anything is happening with these head to head leagues? I registered , but all the names are just in a classic league.. Are we supposed to do anything else or wait for the seeding?

  26. Areid13
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Think I’ve done it... what do you all think?

    Pope
    Robbo KWP Zinchenko Rico
    Salah(c) Sterling Perez
    Auba King Jota

    Heaton McGinn Dendoncker Diop

    1. FPLtfs
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      "done it".. Super template. Fair enough 🙂

  27. adstomko
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Barkley or Adams?

  28. G Banger
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Quick one:

    Montoya best 4.5 DEF?

    1. Ando
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I believe so

  29. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Sig or Rich? Why?

    1. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Digne is enough for now

  30. Leeds2116
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    BARKLEY NAILED??

    1. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      no