It’s that stage of the season when most FPL teams look almost identical. That makes now the perfect time to target a differential who can break the template and give your team an edge.
There are plenty of exciting options this week, especially in midfield, so here are three of our favourite differential picks for Gameweek 13.
Elliot Anderson – Nottingham Forest
MID – £5.3m – 3.1% owned
Next 3: BHA (H) – WOL (A) – EVE (A)
Anderson is having another fantastic season for Nottingham Forest. Despite the chaos around the club, the dynamic Geordie has been one of their few consistent performers.
His problem in FPL has always been whether he offers enough attacking output to justify a spot. But with the introduction of DefCon this year, that’s no longer an issue.
Anderson has been incredibly reliable by that metric, hitting the 12+ threshold seven times and recording 10+ in every single Premier League game this season.
He’s also added improved attacking returns, with a couple of assists and even a penalty against Leeds in GW11. If he keeps spot-kick duties, he could quickly go from overlooked to essential.
Jeremy Doku – Manchester City
MID – £6.5m – 8.1% owned
Next 3: LEE (H) – FUL (A) – SUN (H)
There aren’t many players in the Premier League more exciting to watch right now than Jeremy Doku. The Belgian winger is enjoying a breakout year at Manchester City and finally appears to have earned Pep Guardiola’s trust.
He’s looked particularly dangerous at home, as shown by his breath-taking man-of-the-match display against Liverpool a few weeks ago.
But it’s not just the eye test that makes Doku stand out — the numbers back him up. He’s been one of the league’s most creative players this season, leading all players in xA per 90 (0.33) and big chances created per 90 (0.77).
Harvey Barnes – Newcastle United
MID – £6.3m – 0.8% owned
Next 3: EVE (A) – TOT (H) – BUR (H)
There comes a point in almost every FPL season when Harvey Barnes enters the conversation — and after his eye-catching brace against Manchester City last weekend, that moment might have arrived again.
Barnes has always been a streaky player, but when you catch him at the right time, he can be pure FPL gold.
He loves to shoot and constantly finds dangerous positions. The issue has never been his output — it’s his minutes. But with his current form, he looks far more likely to keep his place in the Newcastle XI over the coming weeks.
Barnes ranks third among midfielders for xG per 90 this season (0.41), and first over the last two Gameweeks since returning to the Newcastle side.
Read: Fantasy Premier League: The best Gabriel replacements
See also: Moments that made the Premier League: Man United snare Cantona from Leeds
