Spot the Differential

Willian a differential FPL route into an explosive Chelsea attack

On the face of it, last weekend seemed to return to type as the top three Fantasy Premier League points’ scorers had an average ownership of more than 15%. But they all happened to be defenders priced at £6.0m or less – or in John Lundstram’s (£4.8m) case, a midfielder that just happens to be listed as a defender.

In this climate of unexpected backline mega-hauls, the differentials also matched these tallies with double-digit points of their own from Lys Mousset (£4.9m) to Leandro Trossard (£5.8m).

This column’s picks also chipped in with attacking Fantasy returns for Christian Pulisic (£7.3m) and Sebastian Haller (£7.3m).

It’s time to look again at some other players that may be flying under the radar. Here are three differentials to have a think over for Gameweek 12:

Dele Alli

  • Ownership: 0.8%
  • Price: £8.4M
  • GW12 fixture: Sheffield United (h)

It’s strange to think that a midfielder that has scored in excess of 40 Premier League goals over the past four seasons has an ownership of less than 1%.

In fact, it wasn’t that long ago that Dele Alli was a mainstay for FPL managers. However, form and fitness issues over the past 12 months have reduced his output and ultimately resulted in him losing his place in the England team.

Having said that, Alli has seemingly turned a corner with three full Premier League starts in a row that saw him score two goals for good measure.

Of course, it may seem a bit steep to purchase a player with his price tag after only recently returning to the first-team set-up.

But it can’t be discounted that, over the past four Gameweeks, only Pulisic and Ayoze Perez (£6.1m) have scored more goals than him among midfielders priced at £8.5m or less.

Alli’s two goals have come from three shots on target. While this highlights accuracy, the lacks of shots over 300 minutes is a minor concern.

Up next for Tottenham are Sheffield United. The newly-promoted team have proven their defensive credentials of late but they’ve conceded during their last two travels to the capital and Spurs’ attack will definitely challenge them.

Willian

  • Ownership: 2.7%
  • Price: £7.1M
  • GW12 fixture: Crystal Palace (h)

Tammy Abraham (£7.9m) and Mason Mount (£6.9m) are currently among the most-owned players in Fantasy Premier League, while Pulisic has also demonstrated his worth of late.

But there’s a player from Chelsea’s old guard that is definitely worth considering if you’re looking for someone different.

Willian has started every Premier League game since Gameweek 5 and has also quietly racked up four attacking returns during his last five league outings.

Over the last six league games, he is ranked fourth for passes received in the final third (128) and sixth for touches in the final third (195) among midfielders priced at £7.5m or less.

Despite playing in an attack-minded team, the biggest concern with Willian is that Mount could offer more in terms of price per million with his marginally cheaper price.

Willian also takes set-pieces which adds to his appeal and he has averaged over ten attacking returns during the past four seasons, which shows his capabilities and importance to the team.

Chelsea this weekend face Crystal Palace, who have only kept one clean sheet in their past seven Premier League games. This should bode well for Willian and his teammates as Chelsea have scored 25 goals in 11 Premier League games this season.

Harvey Barnes

  • Ownership: 1.0%
  • Price: £5.9m
  • GW12 fixture: Arsenal (h)

Leicester seem almost unbeatable of late under Brendan Rodgers.

For now, they reside at the top echelons of the Premier League table, as they were during their unexpected title-winning season.

If they are to challenge the status quo again, then it will be players like Harvey Barnes who could make the difference in terms of durability across the season.

His FPL ownership is a fraction of Jamie Vardy’s (£9.4m) and yet Barnes has also chipped in by registering 23 points in his last three games. That’s no mean feat for a player priced at less than £6m, especially one that has proven to play across multiple midfield positions.

In his last six games, Barnes has had more touches in the final third than the likes of Son Heung-min (£9.6m) and Andriy Yarmolenko (£6.0m).

Barnes has also exceeded his attacking returns from last season in half the minutes played.

It’s clear that he’s getting better and could be a genuine fourth or fifth midfield option for those FPL managers that can’t afford the likes of James Maddison (£7.4m) or Youri Tielemans (£6.6m).

Leicester currently boast the third-best home record in the Premier League and on Saturday face an Arsenal team that have only won one away league match this season and are struggling to keep clean sheets.

Lessons learned from Gameweek 11

691 Comments Post a Comment
  1. NielsvanDelft
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Who to play? It's easy as ABC right??

    A: Robbo
    B: Willems
    C: Tomori
    D: Lundy
    E: Soy Sauce

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

      It’s never easy to bench Lund

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

        Yeah, would like to believe Chelsea will keep a clean sheet with Kanté back, so Tomori is getting the advantage.

    2. antis0cial
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      ABD

    3. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      ACD

  2. MagicMessi
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Captain????
    Henderson
    Lowton Dunk Rico// Guilbert
    Sterling KDB Martial Adamatraore.
    Kun. Vardy Abraham
    ###mount kelly

    Thanks

    1. Breaking FPL
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Martial might be fun as a differential captain?

      Otherwise Vardy/Abraham. I currently have it on Vardy atm as an Arsenal fan, I very much expect him to score!

    2. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Abraham or Tony

  3. Malkmus
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    GTG? 1FT, 1.2 ITB

    Pope (Button)
    Robbo - Chilwell - Tomori - Lundy
    KDB - Sterling - Mane - Tielemans
    Vardy (c) - Tammy

    Subs - Rico, Dendonk, Wickham

    Ta!

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Good

      1. Malkmus
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Thanks !

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

    Aguero+dilva to jiminez +kdb/son for -4
    Or
    Dilva to maddison/tielemans for free?
    Thanks in advance!!!!!

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Dilva to a Leicester mid

  5. Maddamotha
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    What would you do here fellas? 1FT 0.7 ITB

    Pope
    TAA, Tomori, Lund, Rico
    Salah, Sterling, KDB, Mount
    Vardy, Abraham

    Button, Dendoncker, Soy, Greenwood

    A) Sterling/Salah > Son/Martial (upgrade Dendo next week)
    B) Mount > Maddison (if Mount is ruled out)
    C) Save
    D) Smth else

    1. antis0cial
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      C

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

    Hows this wildcard team looking? £0 itb

    Gazz/McGovern
    Trent/Chilwell/Lundy/Rico/Janmat
    Mane/KDB/Son/Grealish/Hayden
    Vardy/Tammy/Jimmy

    1. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Nice. Maybe downgrade Chill to Soy and update Grill or not if you want to be little different.

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

      Would prefer a Leicester mid to Grealish, but good otherwise.

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

        Thanks both.

        Tielmans & Soy for Grealish & Chilwell something I've considered - but Grealish was really in form prior to slight injury & could be a good differential as rest of team is fairly template.

  7. Sungshine
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    For this week only should I get Pulisic or Maddison? Have both Tammy and Vardy already if that helps. Thanks!

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Pulisic if just for this week.

  8. Whats the Mata?
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Hold CHO if Mount is fit? Or sell for a hit?

    1. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Hold, too much unsecurity this gw

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

    Go on, Lampard... Give us the Mason news

  10. I Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Where has this Maguire flag come from? Haven't seen anything from Ole on him.

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

      He had a knock during the game last night but still played the second half. Think Ole said he might be ok

  11. Ze_Austin
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Ederson ruled out

    1. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Mo brace incoming

  12. EmreCan Hustle
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Firmino and McGinn over Maddison and Jimenez.

    Is that a bad idea?
    Have Vardy and Salah.

    Thanks.

    1. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      It is not bad idea but I think Madds and Jimmy will outscore them by lot.

      1. EmreCan Hustle
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Ouch. Cheers.

        1. Pipermaru
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          And I think Firmino and McGinn will outscore Maddison and Jimenez.

    2. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Certainly outside the box, I wouldn't, but I'm very dull.

      1. EmreCan Hustle
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        So am I. McGinn is pretty dull 😛

  13. Sickboy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Salah & Mane double up incoming!

    1. Rhys85
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Something I'm considering after the IB too.

      1. Sickboy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        May as well go now with Ederson out.

  14. Tshelby
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Non Vardy owners who will be your captain? I'm think Tammy or Mane ( cause Ederson is out )

    1. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Tammy. If I had Jimmy would consider him. Also now with Ederson out maybe Pool attack

  15. itsmeguneet
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Any chances i could save FT this week?

    Pope
    VVD- Soy- Lund- Dunk
    Salah- Traore- Sterling- Mount
    Vardy- Tammy

    Button, Greenwood, Zinch, Dilva

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

      Your bench is wafer thin - if Mount is out then you definitely can’t save

    2. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      If Mount out you got nothing... Cross your fingers.

    3. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Traore and that bench, wowsers

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

      Get rid of Zinch and/or Dilva

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

    Any thoughts please :

    1 FT 0 ITB
    Ryan
    TAA, Lundstram, Rico
    Salah, Sterling, KDB, Mount, CHO
    Abraham, Pukki
    Button l Mendy, Soyuncu, Greenwood

    A) Save FT
    B) KDB & Pukki -> Tielmans & Vardy (-4) - if I don’t do it this week I’ll do it for free next week.

    Bonus question. If I go for A, then out of 10 how crazy a decision is captaining Pukki?

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      B
      Pretty crazy

    2. ElliotJHP
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      A

      7, why not though

    3. Rhys85
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      I'd be tempted by the hit, but having 2FT over the IB is always a good thing too. Not sure I'd captain Pukki though.

  17. Milk, 1 Šuker
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Ederson out - confirmed by Pep

  18. FOO FIGHTER
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    No Ederson.

    Salah CAPTAIN!!!

    1. Noé Pamarot
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Actually tempted...

  19. Salah’s Sonnet
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Does anyone have Dayvy FPL’s team link?
    Can’t find it anywhere.
    Appreciate any links 🙂

  20. Rhys85
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    So the FPL Experts Panel squad has the exact same defence as my team:

    Gazzaniga / Henderson
    TAA / Mendy / Lundy / Soy / Rico

    They're playing Gazza, TAA and Lundy this week of course, but also Mendy and Soy with Rico on the bench. I'm the other way around, so should I be playing Mendy and/or Soy over Rico as well?

    Cheers

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      I'd play Rico, but if you are palying him over Mendy, you don't need Mendy.

      1. Rhys85
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        That's true, he was a mistake I intend to remedy after the IB. I thought I was being clever bringing him in.

  21. Poseidon.
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Pep said Ederson wouldn’t be able to play tomorrow. He didn’t say anything about Sunday

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      More mind games?

  22. merin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Mount -> Pulisic or roll the transfer?

    Pope McGovern
    TAA Tomori Soyuncu Lundstram Rico
    Mané KDB Mount Perez Guendouzi
    Auba Vardy Abraham

    1 FT, 1.3 ITB

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      I was going to say only if you have little value in Mount, but you got a few quid in the bank so why not.

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

        I got Mount for 6m a while back...

        1. King Kun Ta
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          Then keep

  23. Don Kloppeone
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Mané captain looking tasty with Ederson out!

    Vardy, Jimi and Tammy owner so is this crazy thinking?

    500k OR fwiw so looking to climb!

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Same conundrum here, think i may just go with the man in form vardy still though

  24. Big Ping
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Assuming Mount plays.

    TAA, Robbo, Chilwell (Lund, Rico)

    Do we agree on this order? Somethings telling me big Jeff's gonna make me pay for nothing him!

    1. Big Ping
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Benching*

  25. MagicMessi
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Aguero Captain?! Bad idea ?

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Well worst fixture of the season so id say so

  26. Fudgy
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Lampard is about to mention Mount

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      What did he say? 😉

  27. royaljoe
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Wildcarding deciding on midfield...

    Which 2?

    A) Martial
    B) Pulisic
    C) Maddison

    1. FISSH
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      The 2 teams scoring goals and playing well

  28. FISSH
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Abraham or vardy captain?

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Vardy

    2. Gandalf
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Bookies have Abraham as more likely to score, but Vardy for me. Has track record of scoring against arsenal also

  29. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Any midfielder any price for this week

    Who?

  30. Oh Mane Mane
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Apologies if asked before...

    Start:

    A - Rico
    B - Lundstram

    1. Gandalf
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      I'm going with Rico