Gameweek 24 is here, and the fixtures are swinging. Whether you are wildcarding or holding strong, there could be some tempting differentials available.
Our under-the-radar picks this week are budget-friendly and include a defender and two forwards.
James Hill
Ownership in FPL: 0.7% Price: £3.9m Position: Defender
As FPL managers stack their midfields, budget options at the back will be in high demand. One such differential option is James Hill, costing just £3.9m with 0.7% ownership.
The 24-year-old has taken his chance since coming into the starting role in gameweek 19. While there have been no clean sheets to speak of, his manager has been very pleased with the performances:
‘I think we’ve been defending very well lately. I think even the other day against Brighton, we concede a stoppage-time equaliser but defending a lot lower. I think we are conceding less chances’
While it may seem obvious that this has been a focus given Bournemouth’s defensive woes, it is encouraging to hear Iraola speak about it.
This improvement may, in part, be down to James Hill’s defensive contributions (defcon). Since coming into the side, only Tarkowski has recorded more defcon. Hill is on 63, while his partner Senesi trails slightly on 60. Senesi has been in a league of his own for defcon this season, making Hill’s numbers all the more impressive.
Continuing his similarities to his companion at the back, Hill recorded an assist last time out against Liverpool. Senesi has provided similar creative contributions all season, which may reflect how Iraola wants his centre-backs to play.
It is not just the open play assist threat that Hill brings, either. In Semenyo’s absence, he has stepped up to take over Bournemouth’s long throw duties.
Bournemouth sit third on our FDR table for the next eight gameweeks, where they face none of last season’s top five.
Between the defcon and assist potential, Hill is already value for £3.9m. When you consider Bournemouth’s fixtures and the defensive improvements Iraola has identified, Hill’s stock only increases.
Raul Jimenez
Ownership in FPL: 2.1% Price: £6.2m Position: Forward
Raul Jimenez featured in our gameweek 16 differentials article, along with his teammate Harry Wilson. It is clear who stole the limelight from the two, but Raul has quietly been delivering returns and posting more encouraging underlying numbers. This is making him an intriguing differential again.
Raul’s data is impressive, especially over the past few weeks. Since gameweek 17, his three goals and one assist are good, but they do not paint the full picture of what he offers.
In that time, Jimenez leads all forwards for chances created with 11. This would be good enough to rank him 16th if you included midfielders, showing the creativity he brings.
Encouragingly, he is not just creating chances. Since gameweek 17, he has also received the most passes in the box among forward options. This goes a long way in explaining why he also leads forwards for shots in the box in this timeframe, level with Haaland on 21.
What helps Jimenez is his consistency in starts and minutes. Despite his age, he regularly puts in 90-minute shifts for his team, which is a great quality for a fantasy asset. He has now started every match since gameweek 8.
With penalties also in his locker, Jimenez is heading into a favourable run of fixtures. Gameweek 26 aside, he is an asset you could comfortably start every week.
Crucially, he also has the best fixture on offer in gameweek 31. This is the week where Arsenal, City, Wolves and Palace are likely to blank. Those needing to navigate this gameweek without a chip can feel safe with Jimenez in the team.
Thierno Barry
Ownership in FPL: 1% Price: £5.7m Position: Forward
Another budget forward throwing his hat into the differential ring is Everton’s Thierno Barry. He offers a £0.5m saving versus Jimenez, so could be considered by those with slightly tighter budgets.
Barry endured a tough start to his Everton career. He shared minutes with Beto and consistently missed chances. His work ethic and overall play were eventually rewarded in gameweek 15 when he scored in the 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest.
This goal appears to have given him a lot of confidence. He now has four goals in his last five appearances. While he was underperforming for large parts of the season, he is now massively outperforming his xG, scoring almost three more goals than expected since gameweek 19.
In what may be a reward for his improvement in front of goal, he has been trusted with the starting role, playing over 80 minutes in each of the last five.
As is often the case with Everton assets, the volume is not quite there in terms of shots due to the way they set up. Encouragingly, though, 50% of Everton’s big chances have fallen to Barry in the last five.
Barry’s uptick in performance comes at a good time for Everton, who welcome Ndiaye, Dewsbury-Hall, Gueye and Branthwaite back. As the team improves around him, this could provide him with the platform to build on his form.
Fixture-wise, it is a mixed bag for Everton in the coming weeks. He is someone you could rotate depending on your depth. There is a chance that Everton could have a double gameweek in 26, should Chelsea beat Arsenal in the League Cup.
FPL Gameweek 22 Differentials: Round Up
James Hill £3.9m brings defcon and some assist potential, as Bournemouth embark on a great run of fixtures 0.7% Ownership.
Raul Jimenez £6.2m leads forwards for shots in the box, and chances created since gameweek 17. He also has penalties to boot 2.1% Ownership.
Thierno Barry £5.7m has turned it around at Everton, discovering a rich vein of form just as the team get reinforcements 1% Ownership.
