Gamewek 9 – Best FPL Differentials

For the purposes of these recommendations, we will be referring to differentials as players with less than 10% ownership. Meaning they are found in under 1/10th of all FPL teams. With a familiar template emerging more and more clearly, the need for quality differentials has never been higher. FPL Marcello mentioned the viewing of differentials and templates as shields and swords. Which is a perfectly apt description given the utility of either.

Your shields are your template players. The ones who everyone owns because they score so many points, and these are essential to making sure you do not fall behind the pack. Essentially, even though they are so highly owned, they are essential because of how high scoring they are. Haaland, Semenyo and Gabriel are great examples of these. Your differentials are your swords, as these will be the ones you use to attack a higher rank, and gain where others are less likely to. Good recent examples of this could be a Mukiele or a Thiago.

You would never go into battle with just a sword or just a shield. So it is vital that you strike the right balance between attacking and defending your overall rank. So without further ado, we present to you our best differentials for Gameweek 9!

Gameweek 9 Best Differentials:

Reece James – £5.4m

There is not a single team in the league with better upcoming fixtures than Chelsea. Although most eyes will be on the headline players such as Enzo, Joao Pedro, Caicedo, Cucurella etc. Reece James provides a fantastic opportunity for points.

With a strong attacking pedigree, an xgI per 90 of 0.22 and fantastic fixtures for clean sheets, the stage is set for the Chelsea star to potentially bag big. With Sunderland, Wolves, Burnley and Leeds as 4 of their next 6.

Joe Rodon – £4.1m

Now this one is important. Mukiele and Alderete are also solid options here but we would personally give Rodon the nod over those 2. The reason for this comes down to 2 factors. Yes Mukiele and Alderete are much stronger DefCon candidates, but the fixture difference is massive.

Leeds play 3 of the bottom 6 for xG over their next 4, which for a defender means some potential clean sheets. What’s even more significant is that Leeds also have one of the sneaky best defences in the league, despite how many goals they’ve conceded. They sit 4^th for lowest xGA and have found themselves on the receiving end of some more fortuitous goals.

Rodon has also got solid DefCon potential, averaging 8.4 DCs for the year. A great differential option for those needing a cheap defender.

Anthony Gordon – £7.5m

The fact this man is only 3% owned, makes this a particularly sharp differential sword. Newcastle’s attack has been purring of late, and Gordon has been at the heart of a lot of it.

He looked electric in the champions league and has demonstrated a solid connection with new signing Woltemade, which has allowed him to return to his more threatening position on the left wing.

With Fulham, West Ham, Brentford and Everton as 4 of their next 5, any attacker would be excellent to own, not least one with the most shots in the league pre-suspension.

Ismaila Sarr – £6.5m

To say Palace have a fantastic attack would be an understatement. Despite loss of a talisman like Eze, their attack is arguably one of the best in Europe at the moment. They have accrued a whopping 19.10 xG from just 8 games, a full 2.6xG higher than 2^nd place Man United, and at the heart of it is Ismaila Sarr.

Averaging an xGI of 0.6 per 90, playing for the league’s best attack and costing only £6.5m, how Sarr is only at 8.4% is crazy. Particularly with fantastic fixtures approaching. It is possible to wait until after the Arsenal fixture to bring him in however, so do not rush.

Jan Paul Van Hecke – £4.4m

Speaking of good fixtures, and at a mere 1% ownership. The final player here is Brighton’s Jan Paul Van Hecke at only £4.4m. Van Hecke has become a fantastic DefCon candidate averaging 11.4 DCs in his last 5 matches. Which provides a fantastic floor for the Brighton man.

Brighton’s next 12 fixtures are fantastic for defenders, containing Leeds, Brentford, Forest, Villa, West Ham twice, Sunderland and Burnley. So he is also a fantastic long term set and forget inclusion.

Even though Brighton are yet to keep a clean sheet so far this season, they have played City, Bournemouth, Spurs, Chelsea and Newcastle in their last 6. Their clean sheet luck will be about to change, I have a feeling

 

Make sure you stay up to date with our Gameweek Tips for more Gameweek 9 advice.

Make sure to also check out our Premier League predicted lineups every Gameweek so you can nail your FPL lineups ahead of the deadline!