FPL Gameweek 4 Differentials: Low-Owned players to target

Whether you’re on Wildcard this week or simply in need of some inspiration for your next transfer, finding the right differential can be a great way to gain an early edge.

Here are five players, across different positions, all owned by fewer than 10% of FPL managers, who I’d be considering ahead of Gameweek 4 (2 of which are in my current GW4 team)

There’s a mix of short-term punts for those looking to attack the upcoming fixtures, as well as a few longer-term options who could become valuable assets over the coming weeks.

Neco Williams

Ownership: 8.2% Price: £5.0m Position: DEF Outlook: Long-Term

• 🕒 Minutes security – Has played the full 90 minutes in all three Premier League games so far. The arrival of new signing Daniel Muñoz is worth monitoring, but his introduction saw him replace Aina rather than threaten this player’s starting spot.

• 🎯 Set-piece involvement – Has a role on some set pieces, giving him another route to FPL points beyond open play.

• ⚡ Strong open-play threat – One of the few FPL defenders operating as a genuine winger, giving him significantly more attacking potential than your typical full-back.

• 📅 Short-term fixture appeal – A favourable run of fixtures makes him an attractive short-term punt for managers looking to gain an edge over the next few Gameweeks. Murillo is another alternative that I am considering buying.

Harvey Barnes

Ownership: 2.1% Price: £6.0m Position: MID Outlook: Short-Term (GW4,5,6)

• 📅 Short-term fixture appeal – Leeds, Hull and Coventry in the next three league fixtures give him an excellent opportunity to return points in the short term.

• 🕒 90-minute security – Has played the full 90 minutes in all three Premier League games so far, giving him the minutes floor you want from a defensive differential.

• 📈 Newcastle's attacking potential – Newcastle are projected to post an xG of 2+ in the upcoming fixtures, making their attacking assets particularly appealing. With secure minutes, he has a good chance of benefiting if those projections translate onto the pitch.

• 🔥 Recent form – He's already showing promising form, making this more than just a fixture-based punt. The combination of current form, attacking potential and favourable fixtures makes him an appealing differential.

Malick Thiaw

Ownership: 2.1% Price: £5.0m Position: DEF Outlook: Long-Term

• 🕒 Minutes look secure – Fabian Schär appears to be the main threat to his minutes, but he is only just returning from injury and has so far been limited to a cup appearance. That makes this differential look relatively safe for now.

• 🧱 Strong DEFCON potential– Averaged 9 defensive contributions per 90 minutes last season, giving him a strong floor for defensive contribution points alongside his attacking potential.

• 🎯 Set-piece threat – Scored four goals last season, highlighting his ability to provide an additional route to attacking returns from set pieces.

• 📅 Favourable fixture run – Newcastle have a very appealing run coming up, with Leeds, Hull and Coventry in the next three Gameweeks. The wider fixture run also makes their defenders attractive options. Newcastle have the 4th-highest average clean sheet % over the next 6 gameweeks

• 👀 Flying under the radar – With more fashionable full-backs in the Newcastle squad attracting the attention, he could be getting overlooked. Some of those alternatives also carry greater rotation and DEFCON concerns, making this a potentially shrewd way into the Newcastle defence.

James Justin

Ownership: 1.5% Price: £4.5m Position: DEF Outlook: Short-Term (GW4,5,8)

• 🕒 Minutes look secure – Played as a wing-back before Rodon’s injury, but has now moved into the right-sided centre-back role and kept his place even with Elvedi back in the squad. Crucially, he has effectively pushed Bijol down the pecking order for now.

• 🧱 Multiple routes to points – Already has 30 DEFCON this season, while also showing an ability to contribute at the other end of the pitch. With Leeds looking much more solid defensively, there is plenty of upside for clean-sheet and defensive-contribution points.

• 🔄 Excellent rotation option – His fixtures rotate nicely with defenders from Fulham, Brighton, Bournemouth, Newcastle and Spurs, making him particularly useful as part of a rotating defensive five.

• 💰 The ultimate enabler – At just £4.5m, there aren't many starting defenders offering this combination of minutes security, open-play attacking potential and DEFCON upside. That makes him an ideal budget enabler without feeling like you're simply carrying a £4.5m defender.

Thierno Barry

Ownership: 5.7% Price: £5.6m Position: FWD Outlook: Short-Term (GW5,6)

• 🕒 Locked for minutes – As Everton’s only established striker, he looks extremely secure for starts and minutes, which is a huge advantage at this price point.

• 📈 Elite underlying numbers – Has the second-highest non-penalty xG among all forwards this season, ahead of both Isak and Pedro. The underlying numbers suggest the goals should follow if he continues getting this volume of chances.

• 🎯 Penalty potential – Looks likely to be Everton’s first-choice penalty taker, giving him an additional route to goals and significantly increasing his FPL ceiling.

• 💰 Rare budget enabler – At under £6.0m, there aren't many forwards who combine a starting role with genuine attacking upside. That makes him an incredibly useful enabler for managers looking to spend big elsewhere.

• 🔮 Immediate upside – Projected to score around 10 points across Gameweeks 5 and 6, making him an appealing short-term punt as well as a player who could have longer-term value if his underlying numbers continue.