Spot the Differential

Pépé’s positioning could finally unlock Fantasy potential

In a season characterised by highly-owned premium assets disappointing their owners, differentials continue to grow in importance.

In fact, Sadio Mané (£11.7m) was the only player priced over £9.5m to feature among the top 50 points-scorers in Gameweek 8.

This just goes to show that there is still plenty of success available to those prepared to move away from the tried and test options.

Even the popular choices can have off days and you can’t always over-rely on them, especially if they all choose to blank at once. 

So with an international break’s worth of time behind us, it’s time to reset and re-appreciate some differential options for Gameweek 9…

Nicolas Pépé

Nicolas Pépé has been receiving the ball in dangerous positions at Arsenal

Price: £9.3m

Ownership: 3.5%

GW9 Opponent: Sheffield United (away)

It’s probably a hard-sell to champion a player that is priced over £9.0m and has only two attacking returns since Gameweek 4 but I feel that more is still to come from Nicolas Pépé (£9.3m). 

After all, he registered 22 goals and 11 assists in Ligue 1 last season. 

While it is unlikely he will replicate those numbers in his debut Premier League campaign, Pépé has the quality to excel in this attacking Arsenal team so long as he can continue to adapt to life in English football.

So far this season, he has received more passes in the final third (97) than both Mason Mount (81) and James Maddison (79). With a bit of refinement that presence in the most important part of the pitch could be converted into goals or assists.

From a Fantasy perspective, the main concern about Unai Emery’s Arsenal is the inevitable rotation and minute-management caused by the club’s Europa League commitments.

Pépé may have started every league game for Arsenal since Gameweek 3, however, he hasn’t played a full match since Gameweek 6. To complicate matters, Alexandre Lacazette is nearing a return to full fitness which could also have an impact on his minutes in the long term. 

With that said, an opportunity presents itself for him to put in a match-winning performance in Gameweek 9 when the Europa League has had a break and Lacazette might not be risked from the start.

Arsenal have only lost once to Sheffield United in a league match since 1973 while the Blades have only kept one clean sheet at home this season.

Given Arsenal’s attacking play, it could prove difficult for Chris Wilder’s men to keep them out on Monday night.

Wesley Moraes

Wesley is starting to settle into Premier League life very nicely

Price: £6.1m

Ownership: 2.8%

GW9 Opponent: Brighton (home)

Any striker that has scored three goals in as many games can be considered is worth considering for any FPL manager.

After only registering one goal in his first five games, Wesley (£6.1m) is coming to the fore as he continues to settle into life at Aston Villa.

The former Club Brugge forward’s five attacking returns mean he has been involved in almost 40% of his team’s Premier League goals in 2019/20.

Without any other strikers to rival him in the team, it’s relatively safe to say that Wesley free from the risk of rotation. 

With the likes of Jack Grealish, John McGinn and Anwar El Ghazi providing ample support you would expect him to be a threat to opposition teams. 

Up next for Aston Villa will be Brighton who have improved defensively having kept two clean sheets since Gameweek 6. 

However, the Seagulls have at times shown defensive frailty away from home as seen with the Etihad and Stamford Bridge this season, which bodes well for Wesley.

Neal Maupay

Maupay is becoming the established number one centre-forward at Brighton

Price: £6.0m

Ownership: 0.6%

GW9 Opponent: Aston Villa (A)

If it wasn’t enough to have one differential striker from a mid-table team to ponder over, here’s another one featuring in the same match. 

Neal Maupay (£6.0m) started his Premier League debut campaign with a bang after he came off the bench and scored a goal in Gameweek 1. 

Ever since then his minutes on the pitch have become more regular and he’s gradually becoming one of Brighton’s more reliable attacking assets under Graham Potter. 

It’s probably unfair to over analyse his stats from one isolated match, however in Gameweek 8 (among all strikers), he had the most number of touches in the opposition half (44) and the joint-second number of touches in the final third (30). 

All of this hard work proved fruitful as he scored a goal against Tottenham in a resounding win at the Amex.

However, despite his pedigree of scoring over twenty goals in the Championship last season, he has yet to even score back-to-back goals in the Premier League. 

The lack of consistency at present puts a small question mark over him but it certainly doesn’t make him prone to being dropped. 

To put it simply, I can’t see Glenn Murray challenging him any time soon for his berth up top. 

Looking ahead to this weekend, Aston Villa have conceded six goals in their last two games and if there was a moment for Maupay to start the wheels of his future bandwagon this could be it. 

984 Comments Post a Comment
  1. gooner_112233445566
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    this week only who scores most points

    aguero
    kane
    auba
    vardy

    1. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Vardy

    2. WVA
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Aguero

    3. BigBillyBass
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Kun

    4. drughi
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      kane
      vardy
      aguero
      auba

    5. mrmrscott
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Aguero

  2. 007 [RoboKlopp]
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Anyone fancy Jimenez?

    1. aapoman
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Tempted to get him in for Pukki

      1. james 101
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Casual attitude towards relationships...

    2. BigBillyBass
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      He's quite an attractive guy so yes

    3. WVA
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      He's not bad looking i guess

  3. jdogg
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    On wc

    A gazzaniga vvd mane
    B allison lowton salah

    Cheers.x

  4. TheDragon
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Play one

    A) Cantwell
    B) Tomori

    1. Relaxing
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      A

      1. Relaxing
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        And I am playing Tomori

    2. MöhÂ
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      A

    3. mrmrscott
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      A

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

    Choose one!

    A - Wilson / De Bryne / TAA
    B - Aguero / Mahrez / Chambers

    1. Relaxing
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      A is much safer

    2. gooner_112233445566
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      a

    3. eamonhegg
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      On a WC so happy to change? Looks better?

      Currently below: (A)
      Pope / Mcgovern
      Pereira / Creswell / Lundstram / Rico / Chambers
      Mane / Mahrez / Maddison / Mount / Saka
      Aguero / Auba / Tammy

      Updated (B)
      Pope / Mcgovern
      Pereira / Creswell / Lundstram / Rico / TAA
      Mane / KDB / Maddison / Mount / Saka
      Wilson / Auba / Tammy

    4. adams_6
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Can't see Chambers getting in the side when Belerin is back properly, which he almost is.

  6. Eleven Hag
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Which player from your team that you never saw them play (or noticed)?

    Pieters for me, who I brought in based on some recommendations here 🙂

    1. aapoman
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      guilbert

      1. Eleven Hag
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        I dont even know how he looks

    2. Hybrid.power
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I actually don't watch a lot of football so a good few players in my team, for example, Mount, Abraham, McGinn, Rico, Heaton, Pope

    3. EMERGING STAR
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Pieters and Rico

    4. BigBillyBass
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Lundstram

  7. aapoman
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Pukki to Jimenez for free?

    1. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      yeah

  8. Miguel Sanchez
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    "Kevin is back" Pep

    1. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      feck it

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

        Sellers got shafted

        1. Eleven Hag
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          I sold him thinking even if he is back this week, he will be injured again like last season...so lets see and hope 🙂

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Also confirms no issue with Aguero after car collision

    3. BigBillyBass
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Palace very tough fixtures for City

    4. Hect.OR 98th
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      excellent. I'll wait to get him back in though. Shipped him for Mahrez for a gamble (had 2FTs) that backfired. Suspect he'll play part of this week's game against a decent defence. Will be straight back in if he gets through that unscathed.

      1. BigBillyBass
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Doing the same

  9. ChinaCraig6
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    2 Questions

    1. Mings (Home Brighton)
    or
    2. Lundstram (At Arsenal)

    Keep Mahrez & D.Silva this week or change 1 for KDB?

  10. gooner_112233445566
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    pick 2 for next 3 games ONLY (got taa and kdb already)

    a) salah
    b) aguero
    c) sterling

    currently on b & c as think city games too appealing

  11. dunas_dog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Now that Farke confirmed Cantwell fit who to play between

    A Rico
    B Cantwell

    1. JariL
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      A for me.

  12. BlueEddy
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Salah and Mahrez to Mane and KDB for a hit?

    1. JariL
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I think Salah will start but due to Mahrez --> KDB that might still be worth it

      1. BlueEddy
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        I have the funds to do Mahrez to KdB...so maybe just do that...and watch Mahrez score a hatty while KdB goes off injured again after 59 mins and a yellow card!!

  13. SHOWSTOPPERRR
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Guys news on kdb cantwell

    1. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Cantwell available

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

        Thanks..saw kdb news..

        1. dunas_dog
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Just seen that too - good stuff

    2. JariL
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Both fit

  14. Cruz88
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    So looks like things are looking up for Norwich in terms of all the recent injuries, maybe worth hanging on to Pukki for this week after all?

    1. JariL
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I think Bournemouth's way of of playing suits Norwich's counter attacks and Pukki's runs behind the line well.

  15. JariL
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Which transfer do you prefer? Both for free:

    A) VVD, Cantwell --> Rico, Maddison (switch to 3-5-2)

    B) VVD, Greenwood --> Kelly, Jimenez (switch to 3-4-3)

  16. Pedersen
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Salah a doubt. Salah -> Mane for a hit before rise/fall ?

    1. JariL
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I think he's fine and starts. International break "injury".

      1. Pedersen
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        He did lump off, so he did have injury

  17. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Pep: “Kevin is back”

    Alright then. KDB in for Sterling on WC. Auba Maddison punt over Sterling Jimenez for now... ?

    1. Ask Yourself
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Definitely

  18. Ask Yourself
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Oh boy what a dream can transfer KDB back and captain whilst all you losers are captaining pooey players

    1. mixology
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Not sure I’ll captain him as he may only see 65-75 minutes while returning from injury

      1. Ask Yourself
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        He was never injured he wouldn’t have recovered fully from a groin injury that quickly he’s been in full training since Monday. Was just an extended IB rest

  19. trinzoo
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Yarmolenko > KDB for a hit?

  20. mad_beer ✅
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Salah to KDB for free? I have Mane and Sterling.

    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Hmmm - probably not this week.

    2. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      and wats ur full team like

  21. eamonhegg
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    KDB Back??? A or B?

    Currently below: (A)
    Pope / Mcgovern
    Pereira / Creswell / Lundstram / Rico / Chambers
    Mane / Mahrez / Maddison / Mount / Saka
    Aguero / Auba / Tammy

    Updated (B)
    Pope / Mcgovern
    Pereira / Creswell / Lundstram / Rico / TAA
    Mane / KDB / Maddison / Mount / Saka
    Wilson / Auba / Tammy

  22. Strchld
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Tomori or Boly?

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

      Boly

      1. Strchld
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        May I ask why

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

          BPS magnet, I trust the Wolves defence more, picked up a few goals last year. If Tomori is your third Chelsea player (after Abraham and Mount) it makes getting Hudson Odoi tricky who i think will be the next bandwagon.

          1. Eleven Hag
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            I think half of his ownership is from your recommendation hehe

          2. Strchld
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Thanks. Yes he would be third.

  23. Perthite
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Bench & order ok?
    (Could play all 5 defenders)

    Heaton (Pope)
    VVD Robertson Otamendi Lundstram
    Salah Sterling KDB Mount
    Pukki Abraham
    (Greenwood Traore Rico)
    0.1m 1FT

  24. SHOWSTOPPERRR
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    So auba and mcgin to kdb and king -4? Have sterling and salah

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

      Keep Auba. He loves goals

  25. BigBillyBass
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    This whole article dedicated to Pepe. I wouldn't touch him with a barge pole

  26. Willllsonnn!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    1. Maddison + Jimi
    2. Traore + Vardy

    1. stu92
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      1

  27. stu92
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Ryan
    Robertson - VVD - Ota - Lundstram - Digne
    Salah - KDB - McGinn - Cantwell - Ceballos
    Pukki - Abraham - Haller

    2.2ITB, 2FT

    A) Digne, Ceballos & Haller -> Tomori, Maddison & Vardy (-4)
    B) Same as A but wait until next week for Vardy to avoid the hit
    C) Same as A but wait until next week for Maddison to avoid the hit

    Thoughts on the above? Leaning towards B as not sure Vardy will make up the extra points needed against Burnley, and Haller could easily return against a suspect Everton.

  28. AJ24
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Heaton,
    Digne, TAA, Soyuncu, Pieters
    Salah, Sterling, Mahrez, Mount
    Tammy, Pukki

    Pope, Lundstram, Greenwood, Haydon - 1.6m ITB 1FT

    A) Mahrez back to KDB (as I had previously planned)
    or
    B) Mahrez & Greenwood to Maddison & Jimenez = -4 hit

    ?

  29. Eze Really?
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Pope/Gazza
    Soy TAA Ota Lund Rose
    Mount Sterling KDB McGinn Cantwell
    Auba Jimi Abraham

    I am fairly settled with this lot with most in form, bench cover and good fixtures.
    I don't want Rose and Ota but there is no rush to move them. There is a spare 2 mil if I downgrade.
    I want Mane, Wilson, Cho and possibly Perreira in coming weeks but I cannot have them all.
    Doing a spreadsheet over 6 weeks with planned changes has helped me realise weak areas.

    Anyone want to comment.

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

      Liverpool attack? Madness without one

    2. stu92
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      To what level of detail is your spreadsheet?

  30. The Mighty Whites
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    A - What's the craic with Chambers? Is he going to be a regular starter? Got 4.4 for a defender, currently on Lascelles (got Rico)

    B - Pope or Ryan?

    1. Boris Bodega
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      A - he's up against a fit again Bellerin, but Chambers has been playing well. No idea if he starts or not.
      B - Short term Ryan, set and forget Pope - your choice.