FPL returns in GW17 after a 6 week break for the World Cup.
After a long time away from FPL many great assets who would make great picks for GW17 are going under the radar.
Here is a selection of the best differentials for the boxing day fixtures.
For the best team in its entirety, check out our best FPL GW17 Wildcard squad.
Bruno Fernandes
- Price: £9.8m
- Picked by: 3%
- Fixtures: Nottingham Forest (H), Wolves (a), Bournemouth (H)
Fernandes has two goals and two assists so far, but he could be primed to get a lot more soon.
His xA of 3.6 is the 7th highest in the league, having the third most shot-creating actions (58).
Also, he has supplied 33 key passes (fourth most) and 26 passes into the box (6th most).
Man United have good fixtures coming up, starting with Forest at home, then Wolves and Bournemouth.
Forest and Bournemouth have conceded the most goals in the league (30 and 32 respectively), whilst Wolves sit bottom of the table.
The Portuguese midfielder is one of the best differentials out there right now.
Many FPL managers will be looking at Marcus Rashford (and Anthony Martial) so if Fernandes does out-perform them, he will get a great way to climb the rankings.
Andrew Robertson
- Price: £6.8m
- Picked by: 5%
- Fixtures: Aston Villa (a), Leicester (H), Brentford (a)
Andrew Robertson is a man in form.
He has the joint most assists for a defender in the league (four), three of which came in the last four gameweeks.
Additionally, he has an xA of 2.3, which is the fourth-highest out of defenders in FPL.
The Scotsman takes corners for Liverpool too and is always one of the highest-scoring defenders at the end of the season.
Anthony Martial
- Price: £6.7m
- Picked by: 5%
- Fixtures: Nottingham Forest (H), Wolves (a), Bournemouth (H)
Martial has two goals and two assists in just 201 minutes this term, averaging 1.8 attacking returns per 90.
To add to that his xGI per 90 is 1.6 as well.
He has taken penalties when he’s played, scoring once from the spot.
United’s aforementioned fixtures are another good reason to include the Frenchman in your team, with him being the main striker now that Ronaldo has been released.
Eddie Nketiah
- Price: £6.5m
- Picked by: 2%
- Fixtures: West Ham (H), Brighton (a), Newcastle (H)
With Gabriel Jesus injured, the responsibility falls to Eddie Nketiah to lead the line at Arsenal.
We know he’s capable of replacing him, scoring 5 goals last season, and averaging 0.5 per 90.
Per 90, he’s been taking 3.6 shots and having 6.6 touches in the opposition box too.
He will get a long run in the team as long as they don’t dip into the transfer market for a new striker.
There are currently lots of good forward options in FPL, but this is a differential worth considering.
Marc Cucurella
- Price: £5.1m
- Picked by: 7%
- Fixtures: Bournemouth (H), Nottingham Forest (a), Man City (H) + Fulham (a)
Chelsea’s next few games are very tempting, and a defender of theirs would be a very clever choice.
They face Bournemouth and Forest, and then have a double gameweek in GW19.
Bournemouth have the lowest xG in the league (11.6) whilst Forest have scored the second-fewest (11).
Cucurella seems a good choice as Reece James may not be fit to start in GW17, plus he’s a favourite of Graham Potter.
We will let you know how likely it is James (and everyone else) will start on our Premier League predicted starting lineups page.
The Spaniard has started 6 of Potter’s 8 Premier League games in charge of the club.
Manuel Akanji
- Price: £5.0m
- Picked by: 2%
- Fixtures: Leeds (a), Everton (H), Chelsea (a)
A City defender is always needed in FPL.
They consistently have one of, if not the best defence in the league, boasting the lowest xGA this campaign (11.2).
Akanji is a cheap way into the defence at £5.0m, starting 8 times this season so another City defender is wise in case he misses a game.
Their next two fixtures in particular are great, facing Leeds and Everton, the latter of which have scored the second-fewest goals (11).
| Name | Team | Position | Price | Pick % | GW16 Points | Overall Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bruno Fernandes | Man United | Midfielder | £9.8m | 3% | 6 | 48 |
| Andrew Robertson | Liverpool | Defender | £6.8m | 5% | 9 | 43 |
| Anthony Martial | Man United | Forward | £6.7m | 5% | 2 | 21 |
| Eddie Nketiah | Arsenal | Forward | £6.5m | 2% | 0 | 12 |
| Marc Cucurella | Chelsea | Defender | £5.1m | 7% | 1 | 31 |
| Manuel Akanji | Man City | Defender | £5.0m | 2% | 5 | 30 |