Spot the Differential

Appealing fixtures could finally unlock Pépé potential

At this early stage of the season, differential options continue to prove their importance to Fantasy Premier League managers.

10 of the 13 highest scorers in Gameweek 5 had ownership of 10% or less, which shows us that there are some still gems flying under the radar or simply being overlooked.

Son Heung-min (£9.6m) did us proud with a brace against Crystal Palace to become the latest differential to graduate from the 5% or below club.

Here are three more under that ownership threshold worth considering for Gameweek 6.

Nicolas Pépé

Pépé became the first player to dribble past van Dijk this season

Price: £9.4m

Ownership: 3.6%

GW6 Opponent: Aston Villa (home)

Nicolas Pépé (£9.4m) may not have hit the ground running since joining Arsenal as their record signing, but he has certainly shown some potential.

Starting from the bench in the first two games of 2019/20, and facing two of last season’s top four was always going to be a difficult start.

However, we know Pépé is a player who possesses quality and it’s only a matter of time before he delivers a match-winning performance. 

During the last four Gameweeks, for players priced at £9.5m or below, the midfielder is top for final third touches (130) and ranks best for successful take-ons (19) too. 

This indicates that he’s certainly been doing the right things on the pitch and in some ways may have been unlucky not to pick up more attacking Fantasy returns.

I think that could change on Sunday. Of course, Aston Villa kept clean sheets in both their last two matches but these were both at Villa Park.

Meanwhile, Arsenal have won two in a row now, and there was an assist for Pépé on Thursday night, so this could be the perfect opportunity for him to make his mark.

Neal Maupay

Neal Maupay already has two goals Premier League goals to his name ahead of a trip to Newcastle

Price: £6.0m

Ownership: 0.6% 

GW6 Opponent: Newcastle United (away)

Despite only scoring two league goals in their last four games it’s clear that Brighton’s style has taken a more attacking return under Graham Potter. 

Of course, it takes time to transition from one manager to another and it may be why some of Brighton’s results so far have been inconsistent. 

But an early stand out player for them is their newest signing, Neal Maupay (£6.0m).

Starting from the bench he scored a goal on his debut as Brighton overran Watford in Gameweek 1. Since then Maypay has gradually played more minutes, helped by Florin Andone and Jurgen Locadia’s departures, which culminated with him adding another goal to his tally last weekend.

For forwards priced at £6.0m or less, he has registered the most number of goal attempts (10) which is all the more remarkable when considering that he’s only played 273 minutes of football from a maximum of 450. 

It almost feels like he’s a bandwagon waiting to happen. Brighton’s match against Newcastle this weekend could help expose Maupay to the masses.

It would be unfair of us to expect him to score a hat-trick against the Magpies like Pukki, but both players scored over 20 goals in the Championship last season. 

Maupay should get a fourth consecutive start this weekend and if he does he should be more than capable of causing havoc to Newcastle United’s fragile backline.

Emi Buendía 

Buendía has snuck under the Fantasy radar so far this season

Price: £6.0m

Ownership: 1.5% 

GW6 Opponent: Burnley (away)

If you’ve scanned over some of the emerging template teams that have come to fore you would have almost certainly seen Teemu Pukki and Todd Cantwell in most of them. 

But there’s another Norwich City player that needs to be recognised from a Fantasy football perspective and that’s midfielder Emi Buendía (£6.0m).

It’s surprising to think that his percentage ownership has yet to hit double digits. After all, he has quietly amassed four assists in his first five games. 

Also of note, it’s very rare for another Argentinian to score more FPL points than Sergio Aguero in the same match and that’s exactly what he did in Gameweek 5. This is no mean feat. 

Buendia’s attacking involvement has been far from understated in Norwich’s opening matches. 

For midfielders priced at £6.0m or less, he is ranked third for final third touches and first for overall touches in the opponent’s half. 

His lack of goals may be a slight cause for concern, especially compared to Cantwell. But does that even matter if he can be a regular provider of goals for his colleagues? 

The Canaries next game is against Burnley who have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last four matches.

960 Comments Post a Comment
  1. HD7
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Any chance Greenwood starts as ST on Sunday?

    1. Zladan
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      No. Tony likely back.

      1. Eleven Hag
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        where did u get this...

        1. Zladan
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          I’m fact no, just read MEN and he is out...

    2. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      A pretty small one I'd say. 1 pointer much more likely.

  2. Treadstone
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Lunds

    1. Treadstone
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Forget that 4g probs.

  3. SirT83
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Didn't get any response on this. I'm in need of feedback, take a second and help me out.

    Salah has some less good fixtures the next 3, then tough ones for the next 4 after that.
    Thinking of getting Son, Auba and Mcginn/Ceballos in for Salah, Haller and Mount. - 4 points.
    Crazy?

    1. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      just keep Salah, you will miss his hauls if you chop and change. Don’t overthink it

      1. SirT83
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Thanks. I'll try and lay off. Still have 2 FT's at the moment. Don't want to burn any of them. If I'm keeping Salah I don't know what to do with them. Ill post something else about that. I rarely have a problem making my own decisions, this week is a headache though..

  4. jimbo90
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Need to use a FT this week. I have 0.7 ITB and considering VVD to either Robertson or TAA. Is TAA really worth the extra 0.2m?

    1. SirT83
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Not sure for a sideways switch. But if I could choose a Pool defender it would be TAA.

  5. rodragon
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Tielemans+jota to buendia+pukki for -4? Else any other replacement for tielemans under 6? Tyy

    1. Karhumies
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Iwobi, Ceballos, Cleverley? In that order.

  6. ryacoo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Is it too risky to go without Salah/Mane for the next few GWs? Will own Son, KDB, Sterling and Auba instead

    1. SirT83
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I'm thinking about going without Liverpool offensive myself. Their fixtures are not great. I'd have the exact same players in mind.

  7. SirT83
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Pope
    TAA Zinch Montoya
    Salah Sterling Cant KDB
    Haller Abraham Pukki

    Button Mount Lundst Rico

    0.2itb, 2FTs

    Ideas?

    1. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      not much to do really, Burnley defender would strengthen your squad

      1. SirT83
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        I know. However burning FT's is something I don't want to do.

        1. Hotdogs for Tea
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          did you bring in a Burnley defender ?

          1. SirT83
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            Should have listened to you. But didn't. Thanks for tip though.

  8. tbhogal
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Haller owners switching to Tammy this week, or holding ?

    1. stu92
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Considering bringing in Tammy in addition to Haller!

  9. stu92
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    A) Ederson, Cantwell & Abraham (-4)
    B) Ryan, Maddison & Abraham (-8)
    C) Ryan & Son (-4)
    D) Ryan & Maddison (-4) with the intention of bringing Abraham in after Liverpool game

  10. swarley
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Who should I play: Lundstram, Rico or Mings?

    1. Clarity
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Rico.

      1. swarley
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Thanks

  11. Clarity
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Pope
    Digne, VVD, Dunk
    Mcginn, Mane, KDB, Sterling, Cantwell
    Pukki, Abraham
    1FT 4.0ITB

    A) Mcginn > Pepe
    B) Mcginn > Son
    C) Greenwood > Barnes + 0.9m change for Mcginn > Mount next week

    Thanks 🙂

  12. HD7
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    1 FT; 0.0 ITB

    A) Save
    B) VVD to Ota and hope Greenwood plays at least 20 mins (its not like Mount was expected to have a big haul this GW)

    Pope
    Digne VVD Rico TAA
    Salah Sterling Mount KDB
    Abraham Haller

    Subs: Button, Greenwood, Dendonker, Guilbert

    1. Clarity
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      A

  13. Too Many Hits
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    New plan
    IN
    Lowton Son and Cantwell
    OUT
    Robertson Lanzini Mount

    Leaves money in the bank for Barnes to Abraham next week.

    GTG?

  14. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Is getting Buendia instead of Cantwell too cute?

  15. Quality St
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Who is nailed in Spurs def?

    1. Too Many Hits
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Toby and Vertonghen

  16. Al-Chemy
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Hi guys, would appreciate some help with the below choice, on a WC:

    A) TAA, Aurier, Sterling, Greenwood (bench)
    B) Robertson, Hanley (Bench), KDB, Wilson

    Thanks!

  17. Tomerick
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Any suggestions for transfers this week?

    Heaton
    TAA/VVD/Digne
    Salah/KDB/Maddison/James
    Vardy/Haller/Pukki

    Button/Montoya/O’Connell/Dendoncker

  18. Marco Ni Motet
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Lanzini out for?