Best differential XI for Gameweek 14

In this weekly series, Will from Fantasy Football 92 explores the low ownership differential options that could be the hidden gems to help you climb up those world rankings. He is his best differential XI for Gameweek 14.

We’ve all seen the template XI and figured out which elite assets to jump onto for this season. Whether on the Salah train, the Haaland bus or both, FPL managers need some unique names to ensure they’re always one step ahead of your mini-league rivals.

Here are the differential options we like the look of for Gameweek 14.

GOALKEEPER

Vicente Guaita – Crystal Palace – 3.0% TSB

If you persist with something then eventually it will come off, surely. We’ve unsuccessfully predicted several Crystal Palace clean sheets with Vicente Guaita between the sticks but the Eagles have a great chance of keeping their first home shut-out against struggling Southampton.

DEFENDERS

Dan Burn – Newcastle United – 1.7% TSB

Luke Shaw – Manchester United – 0.9% TSB

Takehiro Tomiyasu – Arsenal – 0.9% TSB

To the surprise of most, Dan Burn seems to have nailed down Newcastle’s left-back spot at the expense of unlucky Matt Targett, making him a very useful FPL differential. Gameweek 14 opponents Aston Villa don’t travel well, so in-form Newcastle should be favourites to win and keep the clean sheet.

Someone else enjoying a mini-revival is Luke Shaw who is slowly creeping back towards the form that saw him star for England at Euro 2020. Two clean sheets and one assist have arrived in his last three outings, ahead of a nice fixture run.

Takehiro Tomiyasu completes the defence with a home game against Nottingham Forest, continuing to fill in at left-back.

MIDFIELDERS

Granit Xhaka – Arsenal – 3.7% TSB

Harrison Reed – Fulham – 1.3% TSB

Bruno Fernandes – Manchester United – 2.3% TSB

Michael Olise – Crystal Palace – 0.2% TSB

Emiliano Buendia – Aston Villa – 0.3% TSB

Granit Xhaka costs £5.1m, with more points than Wilfred Zaha and Son Heung-min and only three less than Mohamed Salah. Despite another goal at the weekend, he is still in only 3.7% of FPL teams and can add to his 55 points against Nottingham Forest. If you’re getting sick of Zaha’s inconsistency, Xhaka could be your man.

From one generally unattractive FPL option to another, with Fulham’s Harrison Reed. He won’t be on most radars but a goal and assist during his last two make him an attractive £4.5m enabler. Fulham have scored six goals in their last two games.

He’s been mentioned a few times lately but Bruno Fernandes is slowly getting back to being the player he was when he first moved to Manchester. His Gameweek 12 performance against Tottenham was magical and ensures he’ll be their main man for an attractive run of fixtures.

Michael Olise makes another appearance here as he continues to hint at a breakout season, whereas Aston Villa’s Emiliano Buendia may finally be getting the minutes he deserves. If so, he could be the FPL asset he’s threatened to be since entering the Premier League with Norwich four years ago.

FORWARDS

Callum Wilson – Newcastle United – 2.3% TSB

Odsonne Edouard – Crystal Palace – 3.4% TSB

Callum Wilson’s goal at Tottenham was his first since Gameweek 9 and he is hoping for a late push at England’s World Cup squad. He’s up against a rejuvenated Aston Villa but will be central to Newcastle’s goal-scoring exploits, as always.

Finally, Odsonne Edouard is the third Crystal Palace player in this week’s differential XI. He’s nailed down a starting spot as Patrick Vieira’s forward and will always fancy his chances of scoring when supplied by the likes of Olise, Zaha and Eberechi Eze.