The 2020/21 FPL Season got of to a wild start with Willian picking up three assists and outperforming Aubameyang in the first game. Salah scoring a hattrick and a couple of high scoring games meant a lot of managers got off to a good start. It’s totally alright if you couldn’t fetch a decent score in GW1 at the end of the day it’s the rank come GW38 is what that will matter and nothing else. So in order to help you get those crucial extra points over your rivals, we’re here with the Allaboutfpl top 5 differential picks for GW2. By mixing a few of these differentials with your FPL GW2 squads you’ll be able to get those extra differential points and climb up the ranking with a green arrow.
As always, our differential article will have five players with less than 10% ownership who have a high chance of returning for that particular GW and beyond. Check out our top differential options for FPL GW2 below!
Note: all player ownership at the time of writing, subject to change as we move close to the FPL GW2 deadline
FPL GW2 Differential picks
1. Marcus Rashford vs Crystal Palace (H) £9.5 Mil TSB: 6.1%
Marcus Rashford had one of his best PL seasons last year scoring 17 goals and assisting 8 goals taking his points tally to 177 points. It’s to be noted that Rashford was out injured for a period which makes his 177 points tally a highly respectable score.
All these numbers yet he’s found in just 6% of the FPL squads whereas teammates Bruno Fernandes(22.4%) and Martial(15.7%) and Greenwood(8.3%) all have higher ownership compared to Marcus. The United winger has now been listed as a midfielder this year which means an extra point for a goal and a Clean sheet meaning his output will increase considering the fact that he was already playing through the wing last season.
Rashford vs Martial Stats last season: Shots on goal: 95 vs 80 Shots on Target: 44 vs 40 Shots inside the box: 56 vs 46 Big Chances: 29 vs 19 Big Chances Created: 9 vs 8 Key passes: 33 vs 30 xG:18.72 vs 13.36 xA: 7.25 vs 6.82 G: 17 vs 17 A:9 Bonus:31 vs 14 Rashford out performing in most of the metric when compared to martial and with shaw back he'll be expected to cut more and shoot!
Manchester United have not lost their last six home games scoring 16 goals whereas Crystal palace have lost all four of their last four games away from home conceding 11 goals in the process. All of which is an indicator that United and Rashford are in for a good outing come GW2.
Key stat: Manchester United have the highest bookies odds (52%) to score 3+ goals in GW2, whereas Crystal palace have the lowest clean sheet odds(10%) in PL for GW2. Rashford has an anytime goal scorer in GW2 odds at 43%, Bruno and Martial also are on 43%.
2. Harvey Barnes vs Burnley (H) £7.0 Mil TSB: 3.8%
Although Jamie Vardy took the limelight for Leicester in GW1 scoring twice from the penalty spot. Harvey Barnes stood out for Leicester, maintaining a higher average position than Vardy and recorded five shots on goal, two of them on target, and all of them coming from inside the box registering the highest non-penalty Expected Goals (npXG) (0.65) of anyone in the match.
Barnes also produced the same number of shots on target as Vardy (2) albeit coming from the penalty spot. Vardy did not register a further shot on goal all game. Up against Burnley who did not play in GW1 and are struggling with injuries to their backline, we expect Barnes to improve his shooting and be amongst the goals for Leicester against Burnley in GW2.
Key stat: Barnes had an Expected FPL points return of 7.2 against West Brom but got just 3 points. The only other player to have such difference was Richarlison.
3. Jack Harrison vs Fulham (H) £5.5 Mil TSB: 3%
Harrison announced himself to the big stage with a stunning goal vs Liverpool. Harrison was a menace constantly troubling the Liverpool backline and if he could do it against one of the best teams in the country then he should be up for it against a fulham side who put in a lackluster performance against Arsenal and their defense looked worrying which Bielsa and Leeds will look to exploit.
Fulham conceded a whopping 13 shots on goal (3rd highest in GW1) and three big chances (second highest in GW1), Leeds were fairly clinical against Liverpool scoring three goals from just six shots on goal. If they keep up with their conversion rate then it is going to be raining goals come FPL GW2.
Jack Harrison vs Liverpool Shots: 1 Shots on target: 1 Shots inside the box: 1 Goal: 1 xG: 0.16 Harrison (23) was also Leeds’ most creative player in championship, creating the 3rd most big chances in the league. He was also their 2nd top assister and 3rd top goalscorer.
Key stat: Harrison was on the score sheet the last time these two teams played in the championships a few months back with Leeds winning 3-0. Harrison, Alioski, and Bamford were amongst the goals for Leeds.
4. Raheem Sterling vs Wolves (A) £11.5 Mil TSB: 4.6%
Raheem Sterling is being largely overlooked ahead of GW2 with managers concentrating on KDB and Bruno(The two most transferred IN players). The thing to remembered is that, Sterling finished last season a remarkable high and would want to continue.
Sterling end season form(GW30+ – GW38+) :
- Points- 86(Highest)
- Goals- 9(Highest)
- xG- 6.84(Second highest)
- Big chances- 10(Second best)
- Shots on Target- 16(Second best)
Sterling is being surprisingly owned by just 4.6% of managers and is largely overlooked at the moment. Sterling has molded himself into a better player while playing away last season. He has clearly outscored KDB while playing away from home.
Sterling vs KDB in Away last season:
- Points: 121/103
- Goals: 14/4
- xG: 13.7/3.0
- Big chances: 26/1
- Assists: 2/10
- xA- 5.03/7.95
Sterling scored both of City’s goals when the teams played last time out where Wolves defeated 10-man City 3-2. He could also be a great shout for the Differential Captain choice this weekend!
5. Luke Ayling vs Fulham (H) £4.5 Mil TSB: 4.3%
Ayling put in a solid performance against Premier League Champions Liverpool, keeping mane quiet the whole game. Although Ayling didn’t keep a clean sheet or record an attacking return, he looked promising. Leeds and Ayling face a Fulham side who didn’t look set for PL action and were pretty similar to how they looked in their 2018/19 PL Campaign.
Fulham’s attacking numbers looked worrying recording just five shots on goal (Lowest in GW1), 2 Shots on target (Second lowest in GW1), and just one shot from inside the box (Lowest in GW1). The worrying attacking sign is that fulham didn’t record a big chance all game and had an xG of just 0.33.
Fulham also let Arsenal take 13 shots on goal(3rd highest in GW1) out of which 9 were from inside the box and six on target (2nd highest in GW1). Fulham were right on top for big chances conceded as well conceding three big chances vs Arsenal, only West Brom(4) conceded more in GW1.
Fulham’s woes at both ends of the pitch make Luke Ayling £4.5 Mil TSB: 4.3% a great differential pick for FPL GW2 and beyond as their fixtures look good. His attacking full-back compatriot, Dallas looked equally promising and even registered an assist in GW1 and he could be a good differential pick for GW2 as well. But we’ll go Ayling over Dallas this week considering Fulham looked even more fragile through the right flank something Ayling can exploit.
Key stat: Leeds have a clean sheet odds percentage of 44%, only manchester united(52%) and Leicester(45%) have a better CS odds percentage ahead of GW2.
Further Read: History Of Fantasy Football And Origin Of FPL
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