Spot the Differential

Rested Silva could be excellent City differential in FPL Gameweek 36+

Michail Antonio’s (£7.0m) 26 points in Gameweek 35+ may be one of the best Fantasy Premier League differential hauls ever.

We first alerted readers of this column to his ‘out of position’ potential back in February, when he was owned by just 0.7% of FPL managers, and again last week.

If you missed Saturday’s haul, it isn’t too late to invest either – he’s still owned by just 3.0% of squads, with a schedule that suggests further attacking returns may be on the way.

However, it wasn’t just Antonio who delivered in Gameweek 35+.

Recent column favourites Gabriel Jesus (£9.8m), Oliver McBurnie (£5.5m) and Ismaïla Sarr (£6.0m) all registered attacking returns at the weekend, confirming there is still time to find some effective differentials for the run-in.

This time, we focus on three low-owned picks who we like the look of for Gameweek 36+ and beyond, all of whom have an ownership of 5% or less.

Jay Rodriguez

  • FPL ownership: 0.6%
  • Price: £5.7m
  • GW36+ – 38+ fixtures: WOL | nor | BHA

Jay Rodriguez (£5.7m) now has nine goal contributions in 14 starts in 2020.

The Burnley-born forward has deputised brilliantly for the injured Ashley Barnes (£6.1m), and is a major reason why the Clarets sit an impressive 19 points above the relegation zone and just nine off of fourth place.

One of Rodriguez’s best attributes is his clever movement and ability to drop off the front, but whilst his average position tends to be a bit deeper than that of his strike partner, his goal threat since the restart can’t be matched at Turf Moor.

Amongst teammates, Rodriguez leads the way for shots and shots in the box, and although he isn’t a huge creator, his two assists this year, against Tottenham Hotspur and Sheffield United, have helped earn valuable points.

During the 30-year-old’s run of starts, Burnley have only lost once, to Manchester City, winning six and drawing five.

In fact, they’ve lost just one of their last 13 Premier League games and are now unbeaten in five. Only Manchester United (11) are on a longer current unbeaten run.

With games against Norwich City and Brighton and Hove Albion, who rank 18th and 19th respectively for expected goals conceded since the restart, to see out the season, Rodriguez has an opportunity to finish strongly and stake a claim for a regular starting spot ahead of the next campaign.

David Silva

De Bruyne and Foden unlucky as Silva and Sterling score big for Man City
  • FPL ownership: 4.8%
  • Price: £7.3m
  • GW36+ – 38+ fixtures: BOU | wat | NOR

David Silva (£7.3m) will depart Manchester at the end of the season as a club and Premier League legend.

Despite this, the 34-year-old shows no sign of slowing down, having produced a midfield masterclass in Manchester City’s recent 5-0 home win over Newcastle United, where he registered his biggest points haul (17) of the season so far.

Since the restart, and bearing in mind he’s been limited to just four starts, Silva has had more opposition half touches than any other teammate. He also sits top for successful passes in the final third, and second for chances created and big chances created behind you know who.

Minutes is always a concern for City’s outfield players, but having logged less than half an hour off the bench in his last outing at Brighton, the Spanish playmaker’s chances of a start against Bournemouth on Wednesday night look good.

He also looks certain to make the starting XI in Gameweek 38+, in what will be his final match at the Etihad Stadium.

A key figure in City’s recent success, and arguably their greatest player of all time, Silva is one of the most creative, technically gifted midfielders the Premier League has ever seen, and could be a potent differential for those looking to make a late surge up the rankings.

James Ward-Prowse

  • FPL ownership: 1.6%
  • Price: £5.7m
  • GW36+ – 38+ fixtures: BHA | bou | SHU

Saints’ new skipper, James Ward-Prowse (£5.7m), has been one of the heroes of their season so far.

The 25-year-old has started every league game this term, highlighting his importance to the side, and scored his fifth goal of the season against Watford in Gameweek 32+, beating Ben Foster (£4.9m) with one of his trademark free-kicks that curled into the top corner.

His ability from dead-ball situations is key to his FPL appeal.

Since the restart, he’s taken 26 of Southampton’s 27 corners, whilst no player has scored more than his five direct free-kick goals since the start of the 2017-18 season.

He may also be on penalties too, despite missing from the spot in last week’s 1-1 draw at Goodison Park.

In his six appearances since Gameweek 30+, Ward-Prowse ranks first amongst teammates for opposition half touches, successful passes in the opponents’ half and crosses.

He’s created nine chances and has now registered 14 shots. That’s just one behind Danny Ings (£7.5m), whilst they’re tied on big chances, with three apiece.

Ward-Prowse is one of Southampton’s most important players, and now settled in a central role where he can dictate play and have a bigger influence on games, could be an effective mid-price differential for the run-in.


FPL LESSONS LEARNED FROM GAMEWEEK 35+

973 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Ginkapo FPL
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Where is David Silva going?

    1. Invincibles
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Mallorca

    2. TheDragon
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      To the top of the FPL point scorers this week

    3. Invincibles
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Or Beckhams team

    4. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Glued to the bench

    5. No Professionals
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      he's not going to Mallorca he's going to Qatar. Some how that's a bigger draw than his home town club (can't see why).

      1. Ginkapo FPL
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Can you really not see why?

        1. No Professionals
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          of course i can...

      2. Invincibles
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Modern football 🙂

    6. Bartowski
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Qatar

  2. Freund88
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    FH Team

    Ederson

    Azpi Doherty Ben Davies

    Salah Willian Martial Fernandes Antonio

    Jesus Giroud

    First sub: Greenwood

    Would like TAA but can't afford him and Salah, and Salah stats looks so good.

    1. Abraham & Cheese
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Too many Chelsea players for my liking, even as a die hard chelsea fan. But I hope you're right and the blues win 6-0. But why no Pulisic?!
      Salah is amazing, but is his motivation to score and win as high as it was a few weeks ago? If you're not sure, downgrading Mo would allow you to make upgrades to the other areas of your team.

  3. JBG
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    A) Lascelles + Nketiah to Azpi/Alonso + Ings

    Or

    B) Vardy + Lascelles to same

    With A I have to bench Mahrez. Both are -4 btw.

  4. Captain_Shirokov
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Captain choice:

    1) Sterling
    2) KdB
    3) Pulisic
    4) Bruno

    Thoughts?

    1. JT11fc
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      1 or 3 for me

  5. JT11fc
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Worth the hits?
    Mahrez Vardy DCL - Pulisic Ings Jesus -8

    1. TheDragon
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Can you do just a -4 without the Vardy -> Ings part?

      1. JT11fc
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Thanks, cant get Jesus without losing Vardy

        1. TheDragon
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Mahrez & DCL -> Pulisic & Jesus -4 to me looks great and much better then the extra transfer for -8

          1. JT11fc
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Cant quite afford it sadly

            1. TheDragon
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Mahrez & DCL -> a combination you can afford of Pulisic, Willian, DSilva, Foden, Jesus, Giroud then maybe?

              1. JT11fc
                • 5 Years
                3 years, 8 months ago

                Hmm thanks, food for thought

    2. DandyDon
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      not sure if you need vardy to jesus. Think Leicester will win. Rest sounds good

      1. JT11fc
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Thanks, your probably right

  6. JELLYFISH
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Mane > Martial
    Rashford > Jesus

    2FTs

    yes/no?

    1. TheDragon
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Ooofff

      Not for me

    2. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Selling Rashford when they're about to play the 2nd worst defense in the league since restart is really not a good idea. Especially for Jesus who isn't nailed on to start.

      1. JELLYFISH
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        thanks guys....daft moves then 🙂

      2. Arfaish
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        With Aguero out isn't Jesus nailed?

        1. Abraham & Cheese
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Nope, Pep has been playing Foden too.

    3. james_
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Mane to Martial is a good decision but I wouldn’t go from Rashford to Jesus personally

  7. BENOIT
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    I have 1 FT.... how many of the below moves would you do??

    A) DCL -----> Jesus or Giroud
    B) Mane ---> Dilva/Foden
    C) Lascelles ----> Alonso

    Only 1 mice would mean starting both Vardy & Greenwood who dont convince me.

    1. DandyDon
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A

  8. Letsgo!
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Anybody captaining dsilva?

    1. DannyDrinkVodka
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Thought about it but went with Sterling...........

      1. Letsgo!
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Omg same.. but u worry about sterling nt starting?

        1. DannyDrinkVodka
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          I think Sterling starts.........

    2. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      3/1 anytime scorer who is far from guaranteed to start. Not for me in a month of Sundays.

    3. Boberella
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      o/

  9. only2
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Will we get the chelsea lineup before the deadline? mahrez to puli now or wait as close to deadline as possible?

    1. Letsgo!
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Jus do mahrez to puli.

    2. No Professionals
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      pulisic will play so no point waiting. only worth waiting if you're looking at the strikers.

  10. Shankly611
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    My FH mid is

    Bruno Sterling DSilva Foden Willian

    would you drop anyone for Antonio?

    1. Letsgo!
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Nah, vs watford i dont think u need antonio

  11. Roy Rovers
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    1FT but happy to take a hit......how would you get a couple of City players into this lot?
    Pope
    TAA Digne Doherty
    Martial Salah KDB Bruno Willian
    Vardy Greenwood

    Krul Lascelles Nketiah Johnson.

    1. Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Vardy to Jesus

      1. Roy Rovers
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Cheers....am tempted with Salah > Sterling as well!!

        1. Abraham & Cheese
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          I prefer this actually.

  12. BNMC
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Rashford to
    Jesus and captain him
    or Ings and captain Sterling?

  13. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Best bench fodder attacker on FH, not Greenwood?

    1. Invincibles
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Gayle

    2. DandyDon
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I had 7 mil left on my FH draft, thats with Rashford on my bench!

      1. RAFA THE GAFFA
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Considering Sterling and Salah

  14. Invincibles
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    On FH and chasing
    A) kdB or Dilva?
    B) Antonio or Foden
    C) Jesus or Giroud

    1. DannyDrinkVodka
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Jesus, Dilva and Foden are the 3 best City FH assets

    2. Shankly611
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I'm also free hitting and have Silva, Foden and Giroud. Sterling is my third City asset.

  15. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    KDB ➡️Sterling -8?

    Think he will haul..

    1. The Man Pastore
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      no way

    2. Catastrophe
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      No chance for -8

    3. Letsgo!
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Do it

    4. Invincibles
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      No, likely benched. Chasing golden boot though, so..

    5. The Red Devil
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Sterling should outscore kdb, but by 8 points is a bit tough to recover

    6. Pinturicchio10
        3 years, 8 months ago

        *-4
        No

      • No Professionals
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        not for -8 unless you are moving out 2 other duds for potential big scorers.

    7. wanaj84
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      diff captain salah...ok or not?
      have willian, kdb, ings, martial, bruno, vardy

      OR 37k
      help meeee

      1. TheDragon
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Depends if you want to take a chance or be defensive

      2. D.Glynn
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        I'm doing it.

    8. Catastrophe
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      0.1 ITB, anything worth a hit chaps?

      Ederson
      TAA, Digne, Tarkowski
      KDB, Salah, Fernandes, Martial, Sterling (c)
      Ings, Greenwood

      (McCarthy, Egan, Lascelles*, Nketiah*)

      Cheers

      1. james_
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        I’d personally prefer Pope or Henderson to Ederson, but i wouldn’t take a hit for it

    9. OptimusBlack
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      if u have Mee & Martin..
      It's better to sell one of them this Gw to active BB for GW 38 ?

    10. Nando7
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Sterling and giroud or Willian and Jesus

      currently have foden and mahrez...

      1. Arfaish
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Willian and Jesus for security of starts

    11. Ci Siamo
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I can still have triple United attack if I get Dilva over Sterling this week, what do you reckon?

      a) Go Dilva then

      b) Sterling and double United attack is better

      1. JonSnow
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        If sterling starts he has huge upside, but dilva more assured of a start. B edges it for me

    12. Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      2FT 2.5itb

      Ederson
      TAA Aurier Doh
      Mahrez KDB Bruno Puli Willian
      Jimenez Rash
      (Martin, Gwood, Kiko, Lascelles)

      A) Ederson, Jimenez, To Henderson, Jesus
      B) Mahrez, Jimenez to Dilva, Ings
      C) Aurier to Alonso
      D) ?

      1. Catastrophe
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Maybe B or just Jimenez -> Ings?

      2. TheDragon
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Mahrez -> DSilva & Aurier -> Alonso (if he starts)

    13. Pickle juice
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      who are the most essential 5 midfielders on FH this week ?

      1. El-Kloppico
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Pulisic - Sterling - Dilva - Salah - Martial

      2. JonSnow
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Pulisic/Willian, Dilva, Foden, Martial, sterling if he starts

        1. Forgetmeknot
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          This is mine except I think I will be Bruno over Sterling

          1. JonSnow
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Fernandes was worst on the pitch for me last night, he got the assist but his passing was very very poor and looked tired. We have chelsea on Monday in the cup too and don't have the luxury of a great squad like City do to rotate. I think 3x city 3x chelsea is the way to go on FH. But to each their own

            1. Forgetmeknot
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Yeh fair comment (although think worst on the pitch Last night has to go to AWB). A combination of ownership and underlying quality still wins over game time worries and poor last game but like you say each to own, would be boring if we all had the same team!

      3. Abraham & Cheese
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Pulisic/Willian, Martial/Fernandes, Sterling/Foden, Son/Ali, Antonio

    14. JonSnow
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Feel bad asking but was there any updates on Aurier?
      Had planned on BB but soyunco out as well as garcia and Aurier potentially out/rested im not sure

      1. Arfaish
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Still unknown, Mou has said its up to him

      2. Abraham & Cheese
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        I sold just to be sure. Family > Football. And even if he plays his mind won't be on the game after his brother got murdered. RIP.

    15. Arfaish
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Not sure what to do with two FT's?

      A) Mane, DCL > Pulisic, Jesus
      B) Mane, Jimi > Pulisic, Jesus
      C) Doherty, Foden > Basham, Pulisic
      D) Other?

      DDG, (3.9m)
      TAA, Aurier, Doherty, (Holgate, Lascelles)
      Mane, KDB, Foden, Bruno (£4.2m)
      DCL, Rashford, Jimi

      1. Catastrophe
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        A or B I think. Probably A, Everton look pretty awful.

    16. Ibracadebruyne
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Play Egan or Fernàndez?

      1. Arfaish
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        100% Egan

      2. Catastrophe
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Egan!

      3. THE LUCKY ONE
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Egan! Definitely Egan.

    17. El-Kloppico
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      What do I do with this bunch?
      1FT, 0.8 ITB and want to bring in Pulisic and Jesus..
      But who should I drop?

      Salah - KdB - Martial - Bruno - Saka
      Jimmy - Vardy - Greenwood

    18. Oggle22
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      G2G and save FT for possible BB next week?
      Henderson
      TAA Saiss Aurier
      Salah KDB Martial Bruno Pulisic
      Vardy Greenwood

      Martin Egan Lundstarm Connolly

      Cheers

    19. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Foden getting transfers out (2nd most transferred out City player) with two red arrows on FPLstats, am I missing something?!

      1. TheDragon
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        He didn’t get any points last 2 weeks and everyone else did

    20. Letsgo!
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      For minus 8, dcl to ings or jesus?

      Alr have ster and dsilva. Actually will jesus start ?

    21. Freund88
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Order in terms of score this week:

      Giroud
      Jesus
      Ings

      That is my order