Spot the Differential

‘Out of position’ Mbeumo and lively Lucas two FPL differentials for Gameweek 2

Gameweek 2 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 Brentford and Tottenham Hotspur 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.

Friday’s press conferences have derailed us somewhat – we’d originally written up entries for Leon Bailey (£6.5m) and Kevin De Bruyne (£12.0m) for this feature but doubts about their starts have led to us removing both of their names below.

BRYAN MBEUMO

Brentford impress as Arsenal devoid of ideas without attacking stars 2
  • FPL ownership: 1.3%
  • Price: £5.5m
  • GW2-6 fixtures: cry | avl | BHA | wol | LIV

Bryan Mbeumo (£5.5m) was one of the standout performers in Gameweek 1, displaying all of his qualities against Arsenal.

The 22-year-old is listed as a midfielder in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), but featured as an ‘out-of-position’ forward alongside Ivan Toney (£6.5m) in Thomas Frank’s 3-5-2 formation. 

The three at the back system was introduced towards the end of last season, as a result of an injury crisis. It provided Brentford with a solid foundation, and further up the pitch, allowed Mbeumo to move inside from his usual wing role in a 4-3-3.

Interestingly, the set-up continued against Arsenal, with the Frenchman registering two goal attempts and carrying most of the Bees’ attacking threat on the night. His first attempt hit the woodwork, before he had another chance in the first half but dragged his shot wide. It’s also worth noting that he tested Bernd Leno (£5.0m) on 66 minutes, though his left-footed strike was comfortably saved and then later flagged offside.

Operating on the shoulder of the last Gunners’ defender, Mbeumo was the most advanced of all Brentford players. He registered nine penalty box touches, a tally not beaten by any other player on show and seven more than Toney, who would often drop deep and look to play-in his team-mate via flick-ons and through balls. 

Next up for Brentford is a trip to a Crystal Palace side who are still finding their feet under new boss Patrick Vieira, before they take on Aston Villa prior to the international break. 

Those fixtures suggest that Mbeumo could be the pick of the budget midfielders in the coming matches, and an exciting differential for FPL managers.

LUCAS MOURA

  • FPL ownership: 1.3%
  • Price: £6.5m
  • GW2-6 fixtures: wol | WAT | cry | CHE | ars

The Nuno Espirito Santo era at Tottenham Hotspur got off to a perfect start last weekend, as he led his side to a 1-0 win over Premier League champions Manchester City.

On the day, it was Son Heung-min (£10.0m) who stepped up in the absence of Harry Kane (£12.4m) to score the winning goal, but if your budget won’t stretch to the South Korean international, FPL bosses could do a lot worse than look at Lucas Moura (£6.5m).

The Brazilian was excellent in Gameweek 1, with his link-up play and dribbling ability particularly standing out. During the match, he produced three goal attempts, two shots in the box and three key passes, while his five touches in the penalty box was the most of any Spurs player. Not only did he contribute in the final-third, he also impressed defensively, as he won five aerial duels and made 10 recoveries.

Key to his appeal is this week’s match-up against Bruno Lage’s Wolverhampton Wanderers. Though he will be up against a lively home crowd at Molineux, Wolves are still adapting to a new system, which in the second half at Leicester City saw them press higher up the pitch and shift their defensive line up. It generally worked, but it’s a new approach for defenders like Conor Coady (£4.5m) and Romain Saïss (£5.0m), which if they aren’t switched on, could leave space in behind. If that happens, Spurs’ counter-attacking trio will surely take advantage.

The challenge now is for Moura to maintain his place in the starting XI. Consistency will be key, but if he can do that he could be a useful differential in the coming weeks.

630 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Ibralicious
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Evening all! Which 3 would you start from these for the FPL draft game?

    A) Tsimikas (BUR-H)
    B) Rudiger (ARS-A)
    C) Creswell (LEI-H)
    D) Dunk (WAT-H)
    E) Tierney (CHE-H)

    Cheers and good luck!

    1. Jenas
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      ABC

    2. House Frey Wedding Planner
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      ACD

    3. Smudger’s Dirty Dozen
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      ABD

    4. Duderino
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      A,C,D

  2. Jenas
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Hi,
    Any news on Gundo?

    1. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Fit

    2. Fpl Richie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Pep said he's fit and better still KDB may not be around too

  3. Stupendous
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Chilwell still dropping. Lovely!

    Keep selling people!

    I'd love to save money on him shortly!

    1. R.C
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Alonso will start GW2

      1. Zimo
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Even better

        1. Zimo
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 7 months ago

          Could be 5.7 soon

          1. Stupendous
            • 11 Years
            2 years, 7 months ago

            Exactly

    2. Nanoelektronicar
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Nooooice

    3. Nate(U)dog(ie)
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      This and Sancho dropping could be very helpful

  4. TochanMama
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    To keep or not to keep Tierney?
    Very useful asset post gw3 so definitely want him then, but worth on the bench for 2 gameweeks?


    Playing a 3-4-3 0ITB
    Sanchez
    Ayling Shaw Coufal (Tierney & Manquillo)
    Son Bruno Salah Rapinha (Bissouma)
    Ings Antonio Toney

    Other options are Ritchie or Regulion for Tierney.
    Ritchie more attacking vs Regulion better fixtures.

    Super confused.

    Any thoughts?

    1. Boxwoods
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      You picked him knowing about the next two fix, and you have players who can play in his stead those matches. Seems like a waste of transfer to ship him IMO.

    2. Jenas
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Keep if you're convinced he'll do well post GW3

    3. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      What did you get him for in the first place?

    4. House Frey Wedding Planner
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Ride it out and bench Tierney til gw4

      No point doing hokey cokey

      1. TochanMama
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        You think he'll have a price drop till gw4?
        7% ownership at the moment

    5. bench boost for every gamew…
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Think i would just leave it like it is. If anythung maybe coufal out?

    6. Eddie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      I'm likely to be bringing Tierney in a bit, especially of Arsenal show any defensive form. Your team is fine, just save the transfer.

  5. Botman and Robben
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Salah rising tonight then may drop before GW4...

    1. Old and Slow
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Have we heard anything definitive on the required quarantining after the IB?

  6. Weeb Kakashi
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Pick one to get for Bertrand

    A Coufal
    B Reguilon
    C Ayling

    1. Smudger’s Dirty Dozen
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      B

    2. Jenas
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      B if you must

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

      Depends on whether they need to start this week, but B is narrowly the one I'd lean towards.

      1. Weeb Kakashi
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Yes needs to start this week.

  7. Smudger’s Dirty Dozen
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    This week, play
    A Tsimikas
    Or
    B Toney

    TAA, Shaw and Digne current back 3 of a 343.

    1. Boxwoods
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Both. Bench Digne.

    2. House Frey Wedding Planner
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      A

  8. james 101
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Salah has a massive leaf in the cap poll.

    I’m surprised Bruno isn’t closer

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Fpl influencers tricking everyone

        1. james 101
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 7 months ago

          Who are you on?

          1. @persecuted_by_mods
              2 years, 7 months ago

              Salah for now, might change last minute it's a coin toss

        2. james 101
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 7 months ago

          Leaf? Lead!

          1. The Wanton Trader
            • 6 Years
            2 years, 7 months ago

            You should’ve said, Salad has a massive leaf… 😉

            1. james 101
              • 12 Years
              2 years, 7 months ago

              Not sure I want to talk about the size of his leaf mate…

            2. Rupert The Horse
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              2 years, 7 months ago

              Sun the captain bowl

              1. Rupert The Horse
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 11 Years
                2 years, 7 months ago

                In.
                Doh

      • motit
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        FPL Draft Mode -
        Pick one:
        1. A.Armstrong
        2. Toney
        3. Iheanacho

        THANKS

        1. @persecuted_by_mods
            2 years, 7 months ago

            1 or 2

            1. james 101
              • 12 Years
              2 years, 7 months ago

              Just one

          • Camzy
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            2 years, 7 months ago

            Toney

          • Eddie
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            2 years, 7 months ago

            Toney

        2. FF Dirtbag
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 7 months ago

          After reading the article it's now made me ponder a decision for fpl DRAFT:
          A or B?
          A) Moura
          B) dele?

          1. TochanMama
            • 11 Years
            2 years, 7 months ago

            Easy A

        3. Karan14
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 7 months ago

          Choose one to start from each of these:

          A) Dunk (WAT)
          B) Cresswell (LEI)

          1) Benrahma (LEI)
          2) Sarr (bha)

          1. Dannyb
            • 6 Years
            2 years, 7 months ago

            A2

          2. motit
            • 6 Years
            2 years, 7 months ago

            A-1

          3. FF Dirtbag
            • 12 Years
            2 years, 7 months ago

            A 1

          4. @persecuted_by_mods
              2 years, 7 months ago

              B2

            • DANCING_ROSE
              • 2 Years
              2 years, 7 months ago

              B1

            • Jenas
              • 5 Years
              2 years, 7 months ago

              Can you start 1 & 2 and bench A & B?

          5. Oles Brummser
            • 3 Years
            2 years, 7 months ago

            Was set on Buendia for the first 3 GWs, but now very tempted on "wasting" a (free) transfer for Grealish. Originally planning for potential upgrade from Greenwood to Mahrez GW2.

            Any thoughts much appreciated

            1. JohnnyRev7
              • 13 Years
              2 years, 7 months ago

              Stick with Buendia for at least GW2. That's why you picked him. Have a rethink when GW2 is over. If he doesn't deliver then sell for whoever the inform mids are.

              I'm in exactly the same situation as you - and my post above is the thoughts in my head - but I'm gonna stick and then reassess.

            2. FPL Brains
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 12 Years
              2 years, 7 months ago

              Hold, last season I shipped out Son and Kane after a poor GW1, the rest is history.

            3. Oles Brummser
              • 3 Years
              2 years, 7 months ago

              Thx guys

          6. Thanos
            • 2 Years
            2 years, 7 months ago

            Coufal to Stones?

            Yay or nay?

            1. Rupert The Horse
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              2 years, 7 months ago

              Neigh.

              1. Thanos
                • 2 Years
                2 years, 7 months ago

                Thanks

              2. Sad Pablo Arsecobar
                • 7 Years
                2 years, 7 months ago

                Very good

                1. Rupert The Horse
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 11 Years
                  2 years, 7 months ago

                  🙂

          7. Sgt Frank Drebin
            • 7 Years
            2 years, 7 months ago

            My FPL guide for you for GW2.
            1. Log into the FPL.
            2. Don't overthink things.
            2. Set captaincy on Salah.
            3. If you don't have Salah, set your captaincy on Bruno.
            4. If you don't have Bruno either, then delete your team.
            5. Log out.
            6. Enjoy the Friday evening.

            You're welcome.

            1. Rafa_is_a_geordie.
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 5 Years
              2 years, 7 months ago

              I wish there was a like button for comments 🙂 Consider this a like!

              1. Sad Pablo Arsecobar
                • 7 Years
                2 years, 7 months ago

                There is a like button. See that little triangle to your left?.. you are welcome.

                1. Rupert The Horse
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 11 Years
                  2 years, 7 months ago

                  3 years… 😆

          8. Dannyb
            • 6 Years
            2 years, 7 months ago

            Gtg?
            Sanchez
            Shaw Tsimikas Trent
            Salah Greenwood Bruno(C) Barnes
            Antonio Ings Toney
            (Steele Ayling White Gilmour

            1. Baps hunter
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 6 Years
              2 years, 7 months ago

              Wrong C choice, but yes.

              1. james 101
                • 12 Years
                2 years, 7 months ago

                On Salah?

              2. Dannyb
                • 6 Years
                2 years, 7 months ago

                Don't like early kick offs, imagine Salah blanking and then having to wait until Bruno inevitable haul.

                1. Sad Pablo Arsecobar
                  • 7 Years
                  2 years, 7 months ago

                  Imagine Salah Hat trick and having to wait for Bruno to match it...

            2. james 101
              • 12 Years
              2 years, 7 months ago

              Yes

          9. Baps hunter
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            2 years, 7 months ago

            Is WC GW4 (after gw3) too early? Salah and Bruno both had excellent start. Also template fwd:s delivered or looked ok. Everyone has TAA and Shaw and there is no need to sell them either. KdB is injury doubt and Chelsea has quite sour fixtures. Players are still coming back and we don't know if Stones is a good pick for example. In my opinion minor issues (that I have) like Veltman and Barnes and weak bench are not reason big enough to WC, since we don't have enough data yet and fixture swings later are better opportunity. Do you disagree?

            1. Dannyb
              • 6 Years
              2 years, 7 months ago

              I agree, my team looks good for beyond gw4 so I'm saving unless I get some major issues.

            2. james 101
              • 12 Years
              2 years, 7 months ago

              You won’t be alone mate.

              Someone on the official FPL Podcast was wildcarding after her first gameweek. (Though she did score 33…)

              1. FPL Brains
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • Has Moderation Rights
                • 12 Years
                2 years, 7 months ago

                Lol, still can't get over that. Interviewing anyone and everyone now.

                1. james 101
                  • 12 Years
                  2 years, 7 months ago

                  Yes. It was awkward.

            3. james 101
              • 12 Years
              2 years, 7 months ago

              Personally I think I’ll hold a while

            4. Nanoelektronicar
              • 9 Years
              2 years, 7 months ago

              No, I don't. I think you summed it up really nicely. A hit or two between now gw 7 or 8 could sort things out and improve team.

              1. Baps hunter
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 6 Years
                2 years, 7 months ago

                You got upvote and I didn't. Life is sometimes unfair, but perhaps this is the smallest problem I have ever had 😉

            5. Andy_Social
              • 11 Years
              2 years, 7 months ago

              Depends on the state of your squad. It's when the transfer window closes, and you have 2 weeks of international break to catch price changes.

              1. Baps hunter
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 6 Years
                2 years, 7 months ago

                Unless there are significant injuries I am not certain that there are much more transfers made during itb. Two weeks is longer time, so bored people may take some hits, but it doesn't affect the algorithm.

            6. bench boost for every gamew…
              • 7 Years
              2 years, 7 months ago

              Usually something happens in gw2 that were not anticipated, other players emerges, etc. So to answer your question, we will see after monday. And it all depends on your current team, your plans etc. But all this about quarantine, players missing gw4 is something to be wary about i think.

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

            Am I crazy for considering option 1?

            1) Barnes ---> Greenwood

            2) Mane ---> Bruno

            It feels wrong ditching Mane before Burnley and i have 0.5 in the bank, and Bruno is 0.1 more than Mane which means I'd have a redundant 0.4.

            1. Rupert The Horse
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              2 years, 7 months ago

              2

            2. Botman and Robben
              • 7 Years
              2 years, 7 months ago

              Save. Barnes & Mane could be gold this GW.

            3. Q
              • 11 Years
              2 years, 7 months ago

              Greenwood could easily outscore Barnes this week but then Barnes has Norwich after that and could be a bit of a differential

              1. Baps hunter
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 6 Years
                2 years, 7 months ago

                Barnes vs Norwich is so tempting, that I don't want to sell him before that. I really hope that his price won't drop before that.

            4. james 101
              • 12 Years
              2 years, 7 months ago

              I’d rather have Bruno if there’s no hit involved

            5. Camzy
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              2 years, 7 months ago

              I did 1 in FanTeam. So no I don't think you're crazy.

            6. Baps hunter
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 6 Years
              2 years, 7 months ago

              2 Get Bruno. Mane has Che soon.

            7. Joey Jo-Jo Junior Shabadoo
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 3 Years
              2 years, 7 months ago

              2 really should have been done early before the price rise, I would be inclined to leave Mane for this week

          11. Q
            • 11 Years
            2 years, 7 months ago

            Actually think both of these in the article are great shouts. Super tempted by Mbeumo for the next few. I see goals in him and he could easily be the next big bandwagon if he scores this week. Sadly could only drop jota or Barnes to accommodate

            1. Baps hunter
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 6 Years
              2 years, 7 months ago

              Jota is probably droppable before he has Chelsea. How many games is Firmino expected to miss after itb?

              1. Q
                • 11 Years
                2 years, 7 months ago

                Yeah he's that player (like the entire city squad) you are always waiting on the teamsheets but can haul on his day. Plan was jota to raf but could be mbeuno/greenwood etc in that price bracket.

                I sadly think firmino start tomorrow

                1. Baps hunter
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 6 Years
                  2 years, 7 months ago

                  Yes, so do I. Having Jota over Tsimikas didn't go as well as I expected and Firmino looked far too sharp. I decided to make a bit risky "casual' move and did Jota to Pogba to catch first price rise. Casuals will look at the points when they decide who to get. Even though I know what kind of player Pog is, he will continue to pass the ball to Bruno. Bruno has been clinical outside of the box, but he is even more deadly inside the box. So underlying stats basically lie imo.

                  1. Sad Pablo Arsecobar
                    • 7 Years
                    2 years, 7 months ago

                    Both Bruno and Pogba heavily overperformed in gw1 and will not sustain that rate

          12. Bielsa's Bucket
            • 12 Years
            2 years, 7 months ago

            Hopefully, but need to see Mbeumo play OOP for a second time at least

          13. germanyozil10
            • 6 Years
            2 years, 7 months ago

            Maupay vs Toney
            Maupay 3 home game in next 4
            Toney 3 away game in next 4

            Good to bet Maupay in this week?

          14. CoracAld2831
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 3 Years
            2 years, 7 months ago

            Current team:

            Sanchez
            TAA-Dunk-Digne-Tsimikas
            Fernandes(v)-Salah(c)-Raphinha-Saka
            Ings-Antonio

            Foster-Iheanacho-White-Gilmour

            GTG?

            Planning to save transfer for GW3.

          15. Tabasco
            • 13 Years
            2 years, 7 months ago

            Who to bench from this lot?

            Tsimikas
            Digne
            Raphinha
            Barnes
            Toney

            I was leaning towards Digne but Leeds let in 5 goals last week!

            1. BrockLanders
              • 9 Years
              2 years, 7 months ago

              Definitely Digne

            2. Il Capitano
              • 3 Years
              2 years, 7 months ago

              Digne

          16. Walter White (WW)
            • 2 Years
            2 years, 7 months ago

            Nice article. I’m already in the Mbeumo train, hopefully a hat trick this weekend

          17. Q
            • 11 Years
            2 years, 7 months ago

            Against a strong united squad on the first game of the season. Digne for me

            1. Q
              • 11 Years
              2 years, 7 months ago

              #Tabasco

          18. Thanos
            • 2 Years
            2 years, 7 months ago

            Best bet for next 3-4 games?

            1. Walker
            2. Stones

            1. Botman and Robben
              • 7 Years
              2 years, 7 months ago

              2

              1. Thanos
                • 2 Years
                2 years, 7 months ago

                Thanks Laca

          19. Dynamic Duos
            • 10 Years
            2 years, 7 months ago

            KDB not playing tomorrow?

            1. Thanos
              • 2 Years
              2 years, 7 months ago

              Wasn't supposed to be playing last week either but did.

              Can you really trust the Pep roulette?

            2. potatoace
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 12 Years
              2 years, 7 months ago

              I recon he will

            3. Joey Jo-Jo Junior Shabadoo
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 3 Years
              2 years, 7 months ago

              Won't start and will only get minutes if they aren't winning after 60 which is highly unlikely

          20. Maeki2
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 3 Years
            2 years, 7 months ago

            Chelsea has a covid case could backfire upcoming weeks. Pulisic has covid

          21. Dynamic Duos
            • 10 Years
            2 years, 7 months ago

            Son has never scored v Wolves?

            1. potatoace
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 12 Years
              2 years, 7 months ago

              Neither has mine.

          22. NotNowKato
            • 11 Years
            2 years, 7 months ago

            Biggest differential this week is Lukaku.

            Captains armband on.

            Holding tight

          23. potatoace
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            2 years, 7 months ago

            How on earth is Lukaku 13% ownership already. Gulp.

            1. Maeki2
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 3 Years
              2 years, 7 months ago

              Its like bringing in werner