In this article, we will look at the potential differential picks for your Fantasy Premier League team for Double Gameweek 34 in the 2023/24 season.
Read more about GW34 in our guide: FPL Gameweek 34 Tips, Captain, Transfer Targets & Team Selection
Best differentials for FPL 2023/24 Gameweek 34: Our Watchlist
Goalkeeper differential
Henderson (4.4m, Crystal Palace)
- owned by less than 1% of managers
- cheap enabler that allow you to invest money elswhere
- Crystal Palace 4th for clean sheet odds in GW34
Our rating: 4/10
Read more: Best FPL Goalkeepers to Pick
Defense differential
Mitchell (4.5m, Crystal Palace)
- small attacking threat, he has 1G + 3A this season
- Crystal Palace with 2 nice fixtures in Double Gameweek 34
Our rating: 4/10
Read more: Best FPL Defenders to Pick
Midfield differentials
Ben Brereton Diaz (5m, Sheffield)
- budget enabler for double gameweek 34
- he has a solid 4.9 points per match this season but from small sample size
- But it is Sheffield – do not have unrealistic expectations from them – they scored the fewest goals (30) of all teams this season
Our rating: 2/10
Olise (5.6m, Crystal Palace)
- back from injury
- He is 6th for points per match among midfielders this season (only Salah, Palmer, Saka, Son, Foden have higher ppm among MIDs)
- Eze is still our number one Palace pick, but you can have both, especially if you are on free hit in GW34
Our rating: 4/10
Diogo Jota (7.9m, Liverpool)
- very explosive FPL asset, owned only by 2% of managers
- He is rotation risk, but he will get minutes – perhaps one game from the start, the other from the bench
- when he plays he can deliver points, and even if he is benched, he can do some damage in the last 30 minutes of the game
- can be very explosive fantasy asset
Our rating: 6/10
Read more: Best FPL Midfielders to Pick
Attack differentials
Cunha (5.6m, Wolves)
- He is back from injury and back in form, looks like an almost essential pick on GW34 free hit
- He is 6th for points per match among forwards this season
- Wolves with 2 home fixtures in GW34, and then play Luton in GW35
Our rating: 6.5/10
Read more: Best FPL Forwards to Pick
Who is a differential in Fantasy Premier League?
In the context of the FPL, a “differential” refers to a player who is not widely selected by other managers but has the potential to perform exceptionally well, thereby providing an edge over opponents. For example in this article, we considered as differentials only players who are selected by less than 5% of FPL managers.
The impact of differentials on your FPL score
The impact of differential players can be profound. For instance, if a differential player scores a goal, only a small number of managers will benefit from the points awarded for that goal. This means that those managers will move ahead of their rank competitors who did not have that player.
Read more: What is Effective Ownership in FPL?
On the other hand, if a widely owned player, such as Haaland, scores, almost everyone will benefit from his goal, which means, almost no one can move in the ranking,
Strategies to identify differentials
- Understanding player performance statistics can provide insights into potential differentials. This includes not only goals and assists but also underlying stats, such as shots on target, key passes, crosses, and other metrics that might indicate a player is in good form.
- A player’s Fixture Difficulty Rating (FDR) can be a useful tool for identifying potential differentials. The FDR rates upcoming matches based on their perceived difficulty, which can influence the likelihood of a player performing well.
- If a regular starter is injured or suspended, a less popular player may get the chance to play and could become a valuable differential.
Common pitfalls when picking differentials
One of the common mistakes in identifying and selecting differentials is chasing last week’s points. Managers often pick players who performed well in the last game week without considering their overall performance and upcoming fixtures.
Over-reliance on differentials is another pitfall. A balanced team with a mix of popular and differential players could work better than a team full of differential. To avoid these mistakes, it’s important to carry out thorough research, take calculated risks, and maintain a balanced team.
