Spot the Differential

Odegaard’s creativity can help provide FPL value in BGW29 and beyond

Blank Gameweek 29 is almost upon us which gives us an opportunity to have a look at some more differential options.

This time, we’ve selected low-owned picks at Arsenal, Fulham and Brighton and Hove Albion, who we think have the potential to make an impact.

As always, to qualify, the player must have an ownership of 5% or less at the time of writing.

Martin Ødegaard

Can Martin Ødegaard live up to his potential and become a top FPL asset?
  • FPL ownership: 2.1%
  • Price: £6.0m
  • GW29-33 fixtures: whu | LIV | shu | FUL | EVE

Martin Ødegaard (£6.0m) has made a real impact at Arsenal since joining from Real Madrid on loan in January.

The Norwegian international has now started seven of the Gunners’ last nine matches in all competitions, predominantly as a number 10, and has repaid his manager’s faith with important goals against Olympiacos and Tottenham Hotspur.

His displays have seen him become the focal point of the side, which is reflected in his numbers.

Since making his first league start last month, Ødegaard ranks first amongst team-mates for successful passes in the final-third and joint-top for chances created, while his total of four shots over the last two matches highlights his increasing goal threat. His ability to make himself free on the edge of the box is a really nice part of his game, and having taken a few corners too, there is lots to like.

Sunday’s 2-1 victory over Spurs in the north London derby leaves Mikel Arteta’s side 10 points adrift of the top four. However, a win against West Ham United this weekend would allow them to close the gap, and they have momentum. In fact, since Boxing Day, they sit fourth in the Premier League form table, having collected 27 points from their last 14 matches.

In a relatively short space of time, Ødegaard has become an integral part of this Arsenal side, and could be a useful budget differential for the run-in.

Tosin Adarabioyo

  • FPL ownership: 0.9%
  • Price: £4.5m
  • GW29-33 fixtures: LEE | avl | WOL | ars | –

Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo (£4.5m) has been a crucial part of Fulham’s defensive improvement this season.

Before his arrival in October, the Cottagers had shipped 11 goals in their opening four matches of the campaign. However, they have gradually improved since, and have now conceded just five in their last eight outings. 

During that time, the 23-year-olds partnership with Dane Joachim Andersen (£4.5m) has helped Scott Parker’s side register five clean sheets, and with Alphonse Areola (£4.6m) excelling in goal, bringing in a Fulham defender this week could be a shrewd move.

Their opponents in Gameweek 29, Leeds United, have failed to score in four of their last five matches, while Adarabioyo’s threat from set-pieces could be another route to points, too. The centre-back has produced 15 headed attempts from set-plays this term, a team-leading total, which is particularly relevant given that defending dead-ball situations has been an achilles heel throughout Marcelo Bielsa’s time at Elland Road. 

It’s another huge game for Fulham, who currently sit in the relegation zone but can move up to 17th with a win. Beyond that, there are winnable matches against Aston Villa, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Burnley, Southampton and Newcastle United before the end of the season, so there is potential to hold their assets long-term.

Adarabioyo has established himself as a key player for Fulham this season, and with an FPL ownership of just 0.9%, could be a useful differential.

Danny Welbeck

Welbeck ready to profit from Brighton's appealing run of fixtures
  • FPL ownership: 0.4%
  • Price: £5.5m
  • GW29-33 fixtures: NEW | mun | EVE | che | shu

Following the inclusion of Joël Veltman (£4.4m) in last week’s column, this time it’s the turn of team-mate Danny Welbeck (£5.5m).

After several substitute appearances, the 30-year-old returned to Brighton and Hove Albion’s starting XI last weekend and was central to their win, providing the assist for Leandro Trossard’s (£5.8m) second-half strike.

The former Manchester United and Arsenal forward has now been directly involved in five goals this term, despite being limited to just 15 appearances and eight starts. That suggests he can make a notable impact when on the pitch, and with Newcastle United up next, he could be worth a look.

The Magpies have been poor on the road this season, and have won just three of their 14 Premier League away games. During that time, only Leeds United have a worse expected goals conceded (xGC) total, while they also rank in the bottom three for attempts in the box and shots on target conceded.

While Brighton have often flattered to deceive under Graham Potter, the return of Adam Lallana (£6.2m) can help them kick on. Against Southampton, he was pulling the strings in a slightly deeper role, and if he can stay fit for the remainder of the season, then Albion’s survival chances will receive a massive boost.

Welbeck has a big role to play too, and could be a nice under the radar option in Blank Gameweek 29.

942 Comments Post a Comment
  1. FISSH
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 10 days ago

    If you could have any midfielder for this weird GW... who would you choose?
    I need to sell Sterling before I get even more depressed.

    Midfield is currently

    Auba, Smith-Rowe, Fernandes, Gundo, Sterling

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 10 days ago

      Trossard or Bale

    2. Phlajo
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 10 days ago

      Raphinha or Trossard..

    3. Boz
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 10 days ago

      Raphinha

  2. timPgoodwin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 10 days ago

    Odegaard... Talk to me

    1. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 10 days ago

      not for me

    2. BERGKOP
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 10 days ago

      Nope

    3. aapoman
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 10 days ago

      A good pick imo

    4. Boz
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 10 days ago

      Decent player but wouldn’t pick him for fpl

    5. Better off with a pin and a…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 10 days ago

      There's no evidence he's a better option than Auba so unless you think Auba doesn't start or want a double-up then he's a big risk. Having said that, I'm quite tempted!

    6. vincentwsho
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 10 days ago

      I'm on him on FH... as a 1 week punt, I think he will start and Auba may be benched. Even if both start, he could still do better than Auba this week

  3. Pariße
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 10 days ago

    Why has UEFA not yet realized that the absence of fan sounds in their competitions makes their games barely watchable, and it's making them lose prestige for something that should not be too difficult to arrange?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 10 days ago

      What do you mean? Spurs and Chelsea games I watched this week had crowd noise added? Might be dependent on broadcasters rather than UEFA...?

      1. Miguel Sanchez
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 10 days ago

        You're talking about the UCL draw aren't you?

    2. aapoman
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 10 days ago

      Depends on the broadcast imo. At least from where I watch games I can choose to watch with our without crowd noices.

    3. Maddamotha
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 10 days ago

      You actually like that fake fan sound? That ish is horrible. I always pick the channel without that fake sound

  4. Boz
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 10 days ago

    Cresswell or Tierney for the rest of the season?

    1. House Frey Wedding Planner
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 10 days ago

      Cress

    2. BERGKOP
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 10 days ago

      Cresswell

    3. kennethrhcp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 10 days ago

      cresswell

    4. Boz
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 10 days ago

      Cheers all

  5. House Frey Wedding Planner
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 10 days ago

    Start 2 from my FH team:

    A - Lingard
    B- Antonio
    C - Auba
    D - Odegaard
    E - Reguillon

    Cheers!

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 10 days ago

      AB

    2. DBW - Slug's Mortgage …
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 10 days ago

      Lol why have Auba at 11m and not even play him even on free hit.

      You've got it all wrong. If I had free hit I'd load up on Brighton defenders and pick Kane/Bale/Auba/Laca and all the other big hitters.

      1. DBW - Slug's Mortgage …
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 10 days ago

        Raphinia too

      2. House Frey Wedding Planner
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 10 days ago

        I'm already decided on 3 x Brighton defenders, Kane, Bale, Cress etc.

        This is the last 2 spots up for grabs.

        And money won't be an issue for anyone on this week's FH so everyone playing this gw is up for grabs

      3. HangTime
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 10 days ago

        Auba pricetag is irrelevant on FH this week because staying within budget is easy given the fact most of the expensive players aren't playing. I think kane and Auba are the only two costing double figures.

        Its why I have Cresswell on the bench, he's my most expensive defender but I want dunk/veltman/dallas ahead of him due to fixtures.

  6. timPgoodwin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 10 days ago

    Is son deffo out?

    1. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 10 days ago

      no idea

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 10 days ago

      Not defo and we won't get any further info today. Don't buy, don't sell, don't captain.

      1. kennethrhcp
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 10 days ago

        ^this

        if on FH have a good 1st sub

      2. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 10 days ago

        Might get him on fh

  7. SomeoneKnows
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 10 days ago

    Grealish owners, are you keeping or selling?

    1. Boz
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 10 days ago

      If you still have it got to keep

  8. Fit_to_drop
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 10 days ago

    Is Stuijk back in the picture at Leeds?

    1. kennethrhcp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 10 days ago

      played last week & had a CS. surely plays

      1. Fit_to_drop
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 10 days ago

        I think so too. Any time he has played at least he gets involved in the game and looks decent

    2. ZakyJ
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 10 days ago

      he never left it

  9. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 10 days ago

    draw is on now

  10. kennethrhcp
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 10 days ago

    10 bgw players (inc Son)

    A: no hit go with 10 (keep DCL for possible DGW)
    B: DCL to Bamford - 4 (is he fit?)
    C: DCL to Antonio -4

  11. DBW - Slug's Mortgage …
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 10 days ago

    About to do Gungogan > Raphinia

    No reason why not yeah

    1. kennethrhcp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 10 days ago

      will you want gundo back? losing much £££?

      1. DBW - Slug's Mortgage …
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 10 days ago

        Don't think so, have KDB and not losing much moola

        1. Sterling Archer
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 10 days ago

          yeh im going gundo to lingard, also have Rahinha and KDB.

          city rotating more than ever, they have another blank in 33,

          also i need to play my bench boost at some point and having 3 city could make my BB pretty rubbish if 2 are rested!

  12. Qaiss
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 10 days ago

    Man City - Dortmund oof

  13. Gazza2000
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 10 days ago

    Lookman anyone?

    1. kennethrhcp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 10 days ago

      over who?

      1. Gazza2000
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 10 days ago

        On a FH, it's him or Trossard I guess

    2. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 10 days ago

      Im still mulling over that one. Very very tempted to sell Son for him with 2nd FT

      1. Gazza2000
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 10 days ago

        Think he can do some damage against that Leeds defense

  14. dark91
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 10 days ago

    Man City vs BVB
    Gonna be a good game

    1. _Ninja_
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 10 days ago

      Bayern v PSG

      1. dark91
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 10 days ago

        Wow

  15. Karan14
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 10 days ago

    Am I making a mistake by not sell any of my midfielders this week?

    Salah Bruno Son Gundo Raph

    Not convinced by any of the mids this week for long term.

    More tempted to get KDB or Jota or a Chelsea mid in the coming weeks.

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 10 days ago

      Salah first to go imo. Yuo can bring in Jota later

    2. fpork
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 10 days ago

      I will probably double up on Jota and Salah, fixtures just too good to go without Salah.

  16. dark91
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 10 days ago

    Chelsea get Porto
    Congratulations 😀

    1. DBW - Slug's Mortgage …
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 10 days ago

      Still too shite to win it though.

      1. dark91
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 10 days ago

        They face the winner from
        Real Madrid vs Liverpool though which is great for them.
        The final is a different story

  17. Qaiss
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 10 days ago

    Man City - Dortmund
    Porto - Chelsea
    Bayern - PSG
    Real Madrid - Liverpool

    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 10 days ago

      some really good and interesting games there

  18. Silecro
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 10 days ago

    Chelsea easy semis

    1. Silecro
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 10 days ago

      ..playing vs winner of Liverpool vs RMA
      Chelsea easy final then

  19. Kodap
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 10 days ago

    Thoughts on these moves for this week? Looking to WC soon.

    Gundo > Trossard
    Dias > Dunk
    Salah > Odegaard/Auba

    Would be for a -4 as I have 2FT.

  20. Wolfman180
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 10 days ago

    Thoughts on this

    Thinking of taking a -4 to do Cancelo + Bruno to Dallas + Aub.
    Given that Son will almost certainly miss out for GW29 is a -8 worth it for say a Lingard?

  21. Bobby_Baggio
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 10 days ago

    Morning wise ones. This enough or shall I dip into -8 territory?

    Martinez
    Coufal - Alioski - Dunk
    Lingard - Raphinha
    Bam - Kane - Antonio

    (Gundo - Stones - Diaz - Salah - Bruno)

    1. Gazza2000
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 10 days ago

      Good enough imo

  22. dbeck
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 10 days ago

    Mee to who?

    Cant be leeds (have triple) other def is Dunk, no playing GK

    1. dbeck
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 10 days ago

      also i'll need to play in 30, Regi or Cress perhaps?

      1. ZakyJ
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 10 days ago

        Cresswell, and keep for season

  23. Shark Team
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 10 days ago

    Chelsea/Liverpool open road for the final. Can see 3 English teams on semis

  24. Athletico Underachieving
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 10 days ago

    Play Grealish on FH as a gamble, or swap for Trossard? Dean Smith as clear as mud as per usual

    1. dbeck
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 10 days ago

      on a FH you can have a bench, go with Jack, he either starts or doesnt imo

    2. popey
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 10 days ago

      my gut is he starts - FH worth a gamble as should have cash for a good bench

  25. Qaiss
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 10 days ago

    Man City play Leeds in between Dortmund games. Pffff

    1. DBW - Slug's Mortgage …
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 10 days ago

      City will win that easily. Bet you couldn't even name the Dortmund coach...

      1. Qaiss
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 10 days ago

        It doesn’t matter, just that fixture for FPL is the stand out and it’ll be so tricky to choose a captain.

  26. Pedaso Pirates
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 10 days ago

    Planning to Wildcard GW30. Is there a better time later in the season? Or is this the moment...? My team is pretty template

    1. ZakyJ
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 10 days ago

      most people are doing it GW31 i think

  27. Reeker
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 10 days ago

    Martinez
    Dallas - AWB** - Dias**
    Lingard - Raphinha - Son* - Salah**
    DCL** - Bamford - Kane
    (Areola) (Rudiger**, Gundogan**, Cancelo**)

    No WC - 2 FT

    Thinking Son + Cancelo to Auba + Dunk/Veltman

    Dunk better player. Veltman may allow better structure in future

  28. Weasel Boy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 10 days ago

    1.Sell
    A) Son
    B) Salah

    2. For
    A) Auba
    B) Lingard

    Thanks

    1. drughi
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 10 days ago

      BB

    2. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 10 days ago

      1B > 2B

  29. Saka Rice
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 10 days ago

    Who are people captaining? I'm thinking Bale over Kane because he played less minutes last night

    1. ZakyJ
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 10 days ago

      Raphinha

    2. Silecro
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 10 days ago

      Dallas

    3. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 10 days ago

      Raphinha or Auba

  30. ZakyJ
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 10 days ago

    my 3-3-3 team:

    Martinez Areola
    Konsa Dier? Struijk Cancelo Dias
    Raph Auba Son? Bruno Gundo
    Kane Watkins Antonio

    0 FT 1.1ITB

    With Dier and Son not playing its probably2-2-3

    Take a hit for Cancelo > Cresswell. (can do Auba > KDB next week)

    Any other hits? Dier to Dallas?