Michael Keane, and especially Leroy Sane, came through for the differential picks last time out. Keane picked up an expected clean sheet as Everton beat Cardiff, while Sane shone on the left of City’s front line at West Ham with a 19 point haul. This week seems especially difficult to nail down good under the radar options, but here are a few to keep an eye on:
CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN – £9.2m – TSB: 4.2% – Arsenal (A)
Tottenham’s creative force is finally fit and in form ahead of the busy Christmas period. In his first start back from injury, Christian Eriksen grabbed 2 assists and maximum bonus as Spurs ended Chelsea’s unbeaten run in style. In addition to his 7 attempted assists at the weekend, Eriksen came off the bench to score an important winner in a midweek Champions League tie with Inter Milan. With Kieran Trippier still out, Eriksen should have free reign over set-piece duty and could profit against an Arsenal side without a clean sheet in their last six outings.
OLIVIER GIROUD – £7.7m – TSB: 2.1% – Fulham (H)
In a strictly one week punt, Olivier Giroud could profit from Alvaro Morata’s truly awful performance at Tottenham last weekend. Morata had seemingly started to hit form but after blanking in his last two, Giroud took his chance off the bench and netted a consolation goal last time out. Eden Hazard owners will be hoping for the Frenchman’s inclusion at home to Fulham, as the two combine for far greater attacking returns than Hazard and Morata. Claudio Ranieri may have lifted his new side with victory in his first game, but Fulham still conceded twice at home to a goal-shy Southampton and it’s likely the worst defence in the league hasn’t improved overnight.
STEVE MOUNIE – £5.8m – TSB: 0.2% – Brighton (H)
Huddersfield are coming off a surprising two goal victory over fantasy favourites Wolves last weekend and look ready to pick up another three points against a side that are notoriously bad travellers. It has been pointed out by one David Munday that Mounie is getting in a lot of headed attempts as of late, while Brighton are weak defensively from set-pieces. Mounie has had the fourth highest headed attempts in the Premier League this season with 13, and with delivery specialist Aaron Mooy beginning to pick up form, Mounie could benefit this weekend.
CHRISTOPHER SCHINDLER – £4.3m – TSB: 2.5% – Brighton (H)
Two Huddersfield players? Yes, you read that correctly. Though not the most fashionable team for fantasy managers, a few Huddersfield players do appear to offer some value at this juncture. Captain Christopher Schindler offers security of starts across a busy Christmas schedule, attacking potential from set-pieces (Brighton’s weaknesses here have been mentioned) and clean sheet potential, with the Terriers picking up 2 in their last three games. Huddersfield play three of their next five at home in promising fixtures.
CALLUM PATERSON – £5.2m – TSB: 1.2% – Wolves (A)
Wolves were nowhere near at their best in their home loss to Huddersfield and will face a struggling Cardiff coming off a tight defeat away at Everton. If Cardiff are to survive the drop this year, they will likely be relying on their home form, with 7 of their 8 points this season achieved in Wales. The man currently spearheading their attack is budget fantasy midfielder Callum Paterson, whose OOP potential has not gone unnoticed in recent weeks. Paterson has accumulated 3 goals and an assist over his last five fixtures and leads the xG rankings of midfielders over the past four gameweeks. At a budget price, he looks a nice differential heading into Gameweek 14.
Good luck everyone!
Written by FPL Forum (@FPLForum)
