Nine Differentials to consider for your wildcard.

Last updated on April 12th, 2019

So the time has arrived. Double Gameweek 35 is nearly here. To be properly prepared this is the week many of us will be playing our wildcards ready to activate our bench boost the following week. So with that in mind, I want to offer another batch of differentials for your consideration. Hopefully, we’ll have more Patrick van Aanholt’s and less Gonzalo Higuain’s.

Defenders

Lewis Dunk (BRI) – Price, 4.4M, Ownership 3.4% – Fixtures (BOU, CAR, wol, tot)

Almost all of us will have Shane Duffy but his central defensive colleague could turn out to be a great choice alongside him. His stats aren’t as good with just two shots in the last four but with four games in the next two weeks, including two favourable looking home fixtures this week, Dunk could be a nice cheap filler for your bench boost and allow you to get those expensive big hitters.

Jonny (WOL) – Price, 4.3m, Ownership, 2.9% – Fixtures (sot, BRI, ARS)

Another outside the box option if you are looking to fill your Wolves quota the marauding wingback doesn’t have the same reputation as Doherty but that doesn’t mean the attacking threat isn’t there. Having just a goal and an assist to his name doesn’t tell the whole story. The Spaniard regularly gets forward as often as his Irish mate but so far hasn’t had the returns to show for it. In the last four Jonny has matched Doherty with two shots in the box and five crosses compared to two. Wolves defence hasn’t been great in recent games but Brighton and Arsenal are notoriously poor away from home and Wolves have an excellent record against the top six. Jonny could be the differential to fill out your backline with.

Maya Yoshida (SOT) – Price, 4.1m, Ownership, 0.6% – Fixtures (WOL, new, wat)

If you want a second Southampton defender (assuming you have Valery of course) the Japan international could be a better option than his Polish partner for the same price. Yoshida has started every game he’s been available for under Hassenhuttl and their record with him in the team is much better, especially against sides outside the top six. He is better than Bednarek for BPS score, touches in the box (four to one), shots in the box (two to one) and they are level for chances created. Yoshida could be another option to fill out those benches.

Midfielders

Kevin de Bruyne(MCI) – Price, 9.7m, Ownership, 3.9% – Fixtures (cpl, TOT, mnu)

A season beset by injury but the Belgian looks to be returning to fitness at just the right time for both City and FPL managers. His assist potential doesn’t need documenting, it’s well known and if he’s back to full fitness and starting regularly again he could be a crucial, low owned asset heading into this DGW. The fixtures aren’t the best but City are generally fixture proof and KDB has a good record in the big games. In this case, I’ll swerve a look at the stats because his minutes have fluctuated so much that it’s hard to gain an accurate picture.

Abdoulaye Doucoure (WAT)  – Price, 5.9m, Ownership, 2% – Fixtures (ARS, hud, SOT)

Two goals on his last two games have brought the Watford man into focus. More assured of minutes than the more popular Gerard Deulofeu, Doucoure could prove to be the Watford midfielder to have. A quick comparison of the pair over the last four shows the Spaniard way out in front for touches in the box (21 to 12) but Doucoure has eight goal attempts to seven with six shots in the box to four. The two men sit equal for chances created. So, if it’s more surety you are after, Doucoure could be the man for you

Pierre—Emile Hojbjerg(SOT) – Price, 4.4m, Ownership, 2.7% – Fixtures (WOL, new, wat)

Redmond plays up front, Ward-Prowse has set pieces, so why have I opted for Hojbjerg? Well, firstly there’s his favourable price. At 4.4m he is ideal fodder for those bench boosts and can also be kept beyond the DGW as your fifth attacker, which makes him ideal for affording those big hitters and for any Salah/mane related transfer plans. But it’s more than just his price. His stats over the last four compare favourably with his pricier team-mates. Hojbjerg has 10 penalty area touches compared to 15 for Redmond and four for JWP. For attempts on goal, both Hojbjerg and Redmond have eight with JWP again on four, whilst in the box, both Redmond and Hojbjerg sit on four, whilst JWP has zero. Hojbjerg is also just behind JWP for chances created (six to five for JWP and three for Redmond). So PEH has the stats to rival his colleagues and is priced much more favourably.

Forwards

Romelu Lukaku(MNU) Price, 10.8m, Ownership, 4.4% – Fixtures (WHM, eve, MCI)

Ok the fixtures in the DGW look tough but bear with me here. Lukaku plays his favourite opponent and his former club in the next two followed by perhaps his toughest remaining game, but it is a Derby so who knows what might happen and the fixtures after City look good. Lukaku also boats impressive stats. In the last four, only Kane (who is now off the radar), Salah and Sterling have fired in more shots than Lukaku, whilst inside the box, no one has more. Lukaku has also registered three chances created in that time So Lukaku could be the man to fire your FPL teams and Man Utd up the table. He also looks an enticing captaincy option for the final two weeks.

Troy Deeney(WAT) – Price, 5.9m, Ownership, 5.8% – Fixtures (ARS, hud, SOT)

He was a differential in the last DGW and he delivered he’s still a differential now. Nailed on, penalties, talisman, Deeney has it all. Watford are riding the crest of a wave after reaching the FA Cup final whilst Arsenal are notoriously poor away whilst the fixtures in the DGW look favourable too. In his last four Deeney has registered 17 Penalty Area Touches, six shots (five in the box) and six chances created (two big chances). Those last four have included visits to both United and City so things could well be about to improve for Deeney.

Fernando Llorente(TOT) – Price, 5.1m, Ownership, 0.8% – Fixtures (HUD, mci, BRI)

This one is majorly out-there but with Kane out could it be the big Spaniard’s time to shine? Spurs do have options but with four games in 10 days, there will be rotation and chances for everyone. Again stats seem irrelevant here because there’s just not enough minutes, but if you need a third Spurs player and/or a cheap striker Llorente could be the man

Mark De Carvalho
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