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In this article, I will run you through five differentials, each with less than 10% ownership, to help you gain an advantage over your mini-league rivals.
Differentials
Riyad Mahrez (Owned by 2.4%, Manchester City vs Burnley)
Riyad Mahrez, despite being a popular asset in pre-season failed to live up to the expectations of many fantasy managers as he fell prey to Pep Guardiola’s rotation roulette. Gabriel Jesus’ impressive performances on the right wing have seen the Brazilian make that position his own.
However, Jesus is away on international duty with Brazil and is only supposed to return one day before City play against Burnley. This might be the perfect time for Mahrez to cement his place back in the side and make the position his own. The Algerian managed to bag three goals on international duty for Algeria, and is coming into this fixture in a rich vein of form.
The Citizens now face a Burnley side who they have scored past 30 times in their last eight meetings. What further bodes well for Mahrez is that he is likely to be on penalties and will be playing on the right flank, an area where Burnley have a big weakness that can be exploited.
Burnley have conceded the second most number of chances down their left flank this season. This has been a long ongoing problem for Burnley, who were top among all teams in the league for most chances conceded down their left flank last season as well. This further emphasizes how good of a differential Mahrez can be this week.
Neal Maupay (Owned by 3.8%, Norwich City vs Brighton and Hove Albion)
Brighton face a Norwich side who have conceded the most number of goals this season so naturally are an obvious fixture for fantasy managers to target. Maupay has been involved in 44% of Brighton’s big chances this season and will fancy his chances against a side who have conceded the highest number of big chances so far.
He’s also on penalties and has a very healthy goal involvement rate of 50% for Brighton this season, indicating there’s a very high chance of him being involved whenever the Seagulls are to score.
Ben Chilwell (Owned by 3.8%, Brentford vs Chelsea)
The Chelsea left-back has regained fitness and form of late. He scored his first league goal of the season in the Blues previous fixture against Southampton and added to his tally by scoring another goal for England in the World Cup qualifiers.
Even though he gave away a penalty against Southampton, most of the Chelsea fans and journalists believe that he has done well enough in his recent performances to have won back the shirt from Marcos Alonso. Alonso was below par against City before being taken off at half time after another poor performance against Juventus so might have lost his manager’s trust.
I’d be willing to take the chance on Chilwell given the attacking threat he has up his sleeve. Chilwell was also on corner duty against Southampton which suggests that he could do well for bonus accumulation too should he keep on creating chances through set pieces. With a very low ownership, Chilwell might be the perfect differential for now and a good long-term investment as well.
Kelechi Iheanacho (Owned by 2.4%, Leicester City vs Manchester United)
Leicester were lacking attacking impetus going forward in recent times so there were growing voices among the Leicester fans who wanted Iheanacho to be reinstated back into the Leicester lineup. The Nigerian rewarded Rodgers’ decision by scoring against Palace straightaway, and now faces a Manchester United side that are missing both of their starting center-backs.
Raphaël Varane picked up a groin injury while on international duty and Harry Maguire came off the field against Aston Villa with a calf problem, which further leads to defensive problems for the Red Devils.
We have seen earlier in the calendar year as to how much of a streaky player Iheanacho can be once in form and those who punt on him will be hoping he comes good again.
Andros Townsend (Owned by 7.0%, Everton vs West Ham United)
Andros Townsend has surprised many by scoring thrice and bagging two assists to his credit this season. He is on the majority of Everton’s set pieces and if Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin continue to miss out with injuries, Townsend will remain on penalty duties as well.
West Ham have only managed to keep one clean sheet this season and concede most of their chances zonally down their left flank as well, where Townsend will be operating. This is a good game for him to continue his form.
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