We’re less than 1 week into the start of the new Premier League season, and already, FPL managers across the globe are desperately scheming, looking for a way to gain an edge on their fellow gaming rivals ahead of Gameweek Two. The first round of fixtures saw a chunk of points heading to familiar names, with Erling Haaland and last season’s surprise package, Chris Wood, both finishing on 13 points. Whilst Friday night’s last-gasp Mo Salah goal helped spare the blushes of a fair few thousand managers who had opted for the Egyptian goal-machine as their opening captaincy choice.
However, victory in this season’s Fantasy League won’t be achieved by following the ‘Tommy Template’ model of every other coach in your mini-league. You’re going to need a few differential picks who can help gain those vital extras to nudge you ahead. Fear not, CULTR have got you covered. These are our Top 10 FPL differential picks….
GOALKEEPERS:
James Trafford: Price £5m, Owned by 2.4%.
Appearing to have won the battle for Man City‘s number 1 shirt this season, Trafford has ousted Ederson and Ortega from Guardiola‘s side, and looks set to feature in a likely title charge for the Citizens this season. Keeping a remarkable record of 30 clean sheets in the EFL for Burnley last season, the Brit is very tough to beat, as Wolves discovered on Saturday. Owned by just 2% of all managers currently, get in there quick, before his price skyrockets!
DEFENDERS:
Maxime Esteve: Price £4m, Owned by 19.9%
Another member of that stingy Scott Parker defence at Turf Moor last season, Esteve‘s ownership is already starting to rise rapidly, but it isn’t too late to jump on the Burnley bandwagon. They face Sunderland at home next, and at just £4m, he’s one of the best-value players in the whole FPL game.
Reece James: Price £5.5m, Owned by 6.4%
Notoriously injury-prone, eyebrows may be raised at this selection, but since the turn of the year, James has proved his fitness in fantastic fashion. As Chelsea captain, he will always play when fit, and often starts in midfield, providing a goal threat. An excellent free-kick taker, this could be the much-needed gamble to edge you ahead of those choosing to play it safe.
Daniel Munoz: Price £5.5m, Owned by 8.6%
It almost seems unfair to list Munoz as a ‘defender’, such is the way he marauds down the right-wing in the Palace wing-back system. Alas, FPL’s admin error is very much your gain for a player who racked up 10 goal/assist involvements last year, and has already kept a clean sheet this season.
MIDFIELDERS:
Rayan Cherki: Price £6.5m, Owned by 8.4%
A creative gem who looked like the best player in France whilst at Lyon, Cherki‘s spectacularly low ownership is perhaps a relation to his modest transfer fee this Summer. Sparkling on his debut at Wolves, he’s got 2 home fixtures in his next 3. We may have just found City’s new De Bruyne.
Cody Gakpo: Price £7.5m, Owned by 8.1%
Top of the ICT (influence, creativity, threat) index, with a whopping score of 13.4, Gakpo is statistically number 1 out of all 309 FPL midfielders for threat. In such a free-flowing Liverpool team, you cannot ignore a man who racked up 127 points last season and has already started this year in equal form.
Declan Rice: Price £6.5m, Owned by 8.1%
Scoring a century of points in his last 3 seasons (including 16 G/A in 2023/24), Rice is already off the mark this season for an assist from his swinging corner at Old Trafford. Benefiting from the new ‘defensive contributions’ points metric, Rice will also be taking Arsenal‘s free-kicks. Nobody can bend it like Declan!
Antoine Semenyo: Price £7.1m, Owned by 11.4%
In a world where the premium picks of Saka (£10m), Palmer (10.5m), and Salah (£14.5m) will scoff up your budget, too many FPL managers are still sleeping on the devastating counter-attacking prowess of Semenyo, who hit 165 points last season, and was off to another thunderous start at Anfield.
ATTACKERS:
Jean-Philippe Mateta: Price £7.5m, Owned by 9%
If you’re looking for a cheap alternative to Erling Haaland‘s monstrous £14m price-tag, then Crystal Palace‘s main man is the answer! Costing half the price, Mateta has scored 30 league goals in the past 2 seasons and is also the penalty taker in Glasner’s attacking team.
Richarlison: Price £6.5m, Owned by 5%
Whilst manager managers are opting for Joao Pedro at a ridiculous 54% ownership (he won’t even take pens at Chelsea with Palmer around!), instead take a peek at Richarlison. Now playing as the main number 9 in Thomas Frank‘s system, the Brazilian will profit from a pacy set of wing support, and following Son‘s departure, is the new gaffer’s main man, with Solanke on the bench. His ICT is also 15.4, making him the most statistically potent attacker in the game right now.
