The Premier League season is now underway, and as is the FPL campaign running alongside. As you begin building your first teams, there will, of course, be a lot of different factors to consider – from fixtures to pre-season form, to the chances of even starting. However, one key, almost underlying, factor is player ownership. Most regular hitters in FPL will be owned by a lot of players, and remember, Fantasy Football is all about doing better than your opponents. That would be very difficult to do if you carry a lot of the same players to each other. That’s where the differentials come in. These differentials are the uncommon players which tend to go under the radar, but can still have the potential to score tidy points. It’s a good idea to have a couple of these differentials as they can really give a strong edge over your opponents, and a return from them can really help you with the advantage. Here is a list of FPL Fantasy PL 2021/22 Differentials that can bolster your squads ahead of gameweek 1.
FPL Fantasy 2021/22 Gameweek 1 Differentials
1. Sadio Mane vs Norwich (Midfielder) – 12 million
As expected, the Liverpool hype for this fixture narrows down to the likes of Salah and Trent, however, Mane is still a promising pick. Sure, he wasn’t the Sadio Mane last season, but it is difficult to write off someone of his explosive caliber. Obviously, 12 million is asking for a lot when you could just pick up Salah instead.
Nevertheless, there is always the option of picking the other wing. Judging by the stats, Mane ended last season with a pretty respectable run, collecting 3 goals and 2 assists in the closing 5 games. During the pre-season friendlies with Liverpool, the Senegalese winger also netted 2 and assisted another 1 in 4 games. All this adds up to Mane starting off the FPL season with a 45% chance of scoring, the 5th highest of all players. It’s difficult to take the risk of Mane over Salah, but if you’re feeling dangerous, this could be the big move of the week – especially with the opponents being newly promoted Norwich.
2. Nicolas Pepe vs Brentford (Midfielder) – 7.5 million
Arsenal has had a very underwhelming pre-season, drawing just 1 and losing 3 of 4 games. However, Nicolas Pepe was one of those names that were difficult to fault in most of those matches. Despite getting just 1 assist, he looked very sharp on the ball and dangerous too. Pepe ended last season with a very impressive 5 goals in 4 games for Arsenal. Without a doubt, Pepe will definitely be a one-to-watch for the upcoming season.
Arsenal play Brentford in the opening game, a team that despite being newly promoted, appears to be a very tough competitor. The fact that Arsenal faces both Chelsea and Man City back-to-back after is an obstacle, although the fixtures after that seem to ease up quite nicely.
3. Saïd Benrahma vs Newcastle (Midfielder) – 6 million
There aren’t many potential budget midfielders that are reliable too for this season, which is what makes Benrahma special. He has played a very advanced role for West Ham in the pre-season fixtures, scoring 2 in the 4 games. On top of that, he’s completed a full 90 in 2 of those games, 45 in one and 77 in the other, which hints at how he is a part of the West Ham plans and looks set to start for them too. With Newcastle as the opposition is, a team that historically has had its issues defensively. According to Drafthound, Newcastle has a 25% chance of a clean sheet – speaks for itself really.
4. Ryan Bertrand vs Wolves (Defender) – 5 million
Leicester’s new signings are expected to fill in for currently out of action, James Justin, and fortunately, Bertrand arrives with PL experience already. We know what kind of a player he is, and with the fixture looking good for Leicester, Bertrand could turn out to be a profitable pick despite the 2% ownership.
Despite not yet opening his account for Leicester, Bertrand has shown promise through his average of 2.33 crosses per game. In addition, Leicester has a 45% chance of a clean sheet against Wolves too. The Foxes have a lot of issues with injuries within their defense, so predicting their backline isn’t all that difficult and Bertrand will surely be one of the primary names on the team sheet.
5. Leon Bailey vs Watford (Midfielder) – 6.5 million
Aston Villa has had a rollercoaster of a transfer window, signing stars and selling stars too. One of the new recruits for the side is Leon Bailey, a player that was heavily sought after a few seasons ago, however as the interest died down, Villa swooped in. It is not certain whether or not this signing is as good as it is on paper, since Bailey has not yet been seen playing a match in a Villa shirt.
Nevertheless, his record with Bayer Leverkusen is strong evidence, with 15 goals and 10 assists to Bailey’s name. He is expected to feature in the opener and could pay dividends too.The opposition is newly promoted Watford, a team that has been in the PL just recently, although Villa are still favorites for this one.
So what are you waiting for? Setup your squads and join our very own FPL 2021/22 Fantasy League through this invitation code ehvefg or join from this link and win exciting cash rewards for absolutely free!
Did you find our analysis on FPL Fantasy 2021/22 Gameweek 1 Differentials useful? Are you considering anyone from here? Drop your comments in the comment section below!
For more Mobile Gaming news and updates, join our WhatsApp group, Telegram Group, or Discord server. Also, follow us on Google News, Instagram, and Twitter for quick updates.
