Simple fact: a good differential pick is the difference between winning a crucial Fantrax matchup 99% of the time. It’s all very well (and also, essential) having a core of top players. However, that low ownership gem that no one thought of can, more often than not, be the difference between a narrow loss and a convincing win which leaves your rivals in awe of your football knowledge.
Each week on Fantasy Football 92, we pick a full eleven consisting of low ownership players which you can help yourselves to in your league in order to (hopefully) grab yourself the win. All of our differentials are 60% owned or lower.
Here are your picks for Gameweek 8…
Lukasz Fabianski | Goalkeeper | West Ham | 30% Owned
There’s a change between the sticks for the first time in three weeks as Lukasz Fabianski comes in! West Ham have looked solid at the back in recent weeks despite a gruelling schedule and I expect them to get back on the clean sheet train this weekend against Fulham.
Vladimir Coufal | Defender | West Ham | 42% Owned
We’re going with double West Ham here! The five at the back should look more like a three at the back against Fulham this weekend with Vladimir Coufal flying forward at will from right wing back. Coufal already has two assists in his four games for the Hammers and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him add to them this weekend.
Dan Burn | Defender | Brighton | 17% Owned
It’s always a good streaming policy to play tall defenders against Burnley so why not go out and get the tallest of them all?! The gigantic Dan Burn should play once again this Friday against a goal shy Burnley who will, for once, give away a height advantage to the Brighton defender. Burn should line up on the left side of a back three or even at left back and I fancy him to score very well wherever he plays on Friday.
Patrick Van Aanholt | Crystal Palace | 50% Owned
An old FPL favourite in Patrick Van Aanholt is finally returning from injury and I fancy him to do well against Leeds United this weekend. The flying left back was denied two potential assists against Wolves last week, firstly by the linesman’s flag and secondly from a VAR decision. PVA’s attacking intent and dominance of left footed set pieces make him a good pick in any form of the game!
Cengiz Under | Midfielder | Leicester City | 36% Owned
We tipped Cengiz Under for a start and an attacking return last week and we were 50% correct as the Turk grabbed another assist but from the bench! Following another assist in the Europa League on Thursday, Brendan Rodgers is surely running out of excuses not to use Under from the start and I’d be amazed if he isn’t in from the get-go against Wolves.
Pablo Hernandez | Midfielder | Leeds United | 34% Owned
Pablo Hernandez was the first Leeds United player to go off most draft boards this summer but an early injury as well as the emergence of Patrick Bamford and Jack Harrison has seen him become a forgotten man in fantasy terms. Hernandez is back in the fold again now and a lot of good stuff Leeds do will come through him, especially with the absence of Kalvin Phillips in midfield. The Spaniard didn’t score well against Leicester in his latest start but did come millimetres away from curling in a fantastic effort from the edge of the box in the second half.
Pascal Gross | Midfielder | Brighton | 24% Owned
Here’s our punt of the week! We mentioned Pascal Gross in our Waiver Wire article and he gets a start in the Differential XI too thanks to a decent display in a surprise start against Tottenham. The Brighton attack looked much more fluid with Gross at the centre of it and he helped himself to a trademark assist for the equaliser. If he keeps his place against Burnley he is a must start and if he can find anywhere near the form of 2/3 years ago he is a season keeper!
Sander Berge | Midfielder | Sheffield United | 16% Owned
Another of our waiver wire picks but less fashionable than Gross, Sander Berge is your typical MID4/5 who won’t be fixture dependant going forward. Berge’s surging runs into the box as well as his set pieces (including penalties) should see him become a decent plug and play option for the rest of this season. Dependable.
Sebastian Haller | Forward | West Ham | 47% Owned
David Moyes has confirmed that Michail Antonio is out once again, meaning that Sebastian Haller should spearhead the West Ham attack once more. The big French unit didn’t do much against Liverpool but will be confident of carrying his goalscoring form from the domestic cups into this weekend’s game against Fulham.
Michy Batshuayi | FOrward | Crystal Palace | 37% Owned
The man who always seems to be out on loan, Michy Batshuayi, is finding his feet once more for Crystal Palace. The Belgian scored well against Fulham two weeks ago and was very unfortunate not to find himself on the scoresheet against Wolves last week. Crystal Palace’s run of upcoming fixtures looks very favourable (Leeds, Burnley, Newcastle, West Brom) so it’d be a solid move to get him in now ahead of that run!
Shane Long | Forward | SOuthampton | 6% Owned
It remains to be seen who will replace the injured Danny Ings at the head of the Saints attack for the next few weeks but the experienced Shane Long should be the favourite. The Irishman isn’t as clinical as Ings (who is?) but is well wort a punt this weekend as a third striker against Newcastle as Southampton are scoring at will at the moment, finding the net nine times in the last three games.
Fantasy Football 92 