With only one round of Premier League fixtures remaining, Fantasy Premier League managers are scouring the market for the game-changing differentials that can tip the balance in mini-leagues. Final-day motivation, injuries, and form all coalesce to create unique opportunities — and FPL expert Prasun Singhal has highlighted three players with the potential to deliver a decisive final-week impact. Their low ownership makes them ideal candidates for those chasing a deficit or aiming to protect a narrow lead.
Tottenham forward Richarlison (owned by just 6.4% of managers) emerges as a prime differential courtesy of Dominic Solanke’s injury, which has cemented the Brazilian’s role as the lead striker. Spurs host Everton knowing a point will likely secure Premier League survival, but they will be eager to finish with a flourish at home. Under Roberto de Zerbi, the team’s performance levels have risen, and Richarlison has directly contributed to three goals in his last four matches — scoring twice and providing an assist — while completing 90 minutes in each of the past three gameweeks. Against an Everton side that has little but pride at stake, his physicality and penalty-box nous could translate into substantial FPL returns.
The appeal of Richarlison lies not only in his recent output but also in his guaranteed minutes and the fixture’s context. For managers staring down a rival in their league, the combination of a proven scorer with a home fixture and a motivated team is textbook differential territory. His underlying statistics — shots in the box, touches in the danger area — have also trended upward, suggesting sustained involvement. In final-week scenarios where popular captaincy choices may falter, a brace or even a single goal from an overlooked asset can trigger significant rank swings.
Another potential game-breaker is Burnley winger Jaidon Anthony, whose ownership sits at a microscopic 1.9%. The Clarets, while mathematically still in the relegation conversation, have shown renewed fight under caretaker boss Mike Jackson: a point at Aston Villa and a narrow defeat at Arsenal hint at their determination to go down swinging. Their last home match pits them against a Wolves outfit that has leaked goals on the road, conceding 12 times in their last four away fixtures. Anthony, who has already accumulated 125 FPL points this season, has the pace and directness to exploit Wolves’ defensive frailties, making him the ultimate Hail Mary for those in need of a quantum leap up the overall rankings.
Cody Gakpo (5.6% ownership) offers a high-risk, high-reward proposition from Liverpool’s home clash with Brentford. Despite external noise about player unrest and squad tensions, the Dutch international has been a constant in Arne Slot’s starting lineup since Gameweek 20, suggesting he is the manager’s trusted attacker in a pivotal role. With Alexander Isak’s fitness still clouded, Gakpo could once again feature as the central striker — a scenario that boosts his goal-scoring prospects. Brentford’s defense has been stubborn at times, but Liverpool’s need to end the season on a positive note and Gakpo’s consistent selection make him a tantalizing punt; if the match opens up, he is likely to be at the heart of Liverpool’s attacking movements.
The wider FPL picture is shaped by expert insights. Statman Dave advises targeting teams with something left to play for: “You are looking at Bournemouth, Liverpool, Spurs and West Ham players as ones that you want to bring in.” He singles out Jarrod Bowen, who has registered eight goals and 10 assists — a combined 18 goal involvements that equate to about 42% of West Ham’s league goals — as the top transfer target this week. Bowen’s soaring ownership dilutes his differential appeal, but the underlying premise holds: squads with concrete objectives, whether European qualification or top-half finishes, are more likely to deliver in the season’s closing act.
Conversely, Chris Sutton injects a note of caution, questioning the wisdom of taking points hits for unproven assets. “Why would I risk taking a minus four to bring someone in?” he wonders, highlighting the allure of safer captaincy bets like Bruno Fernandes or Erling Haaland, the latter potentially playing in Pep Guardiola’s final Manchester City match. Sutton’s perspective underscores the delicate calculus facing FPL bosses: the pursuit of a differential can just as easily backfire as catapult a team upward.
For those willing to embrace the inherent chaos of Gameweek 38, the three low-owned players profiled offer a spectrum of risk. Richarlison provides the sturdiest floor, Anthony the highest ceiling, and Gakpo a blend of both. Final-week history is littered with tales of unlikely heroes — defenders scoring braces, goalkeepers saving penalties — and the edge often goes to the manager who correctly reads the motivational tea leaves. Whether it is Spurs’ desperation, Burnley’s last stand, or Liverpool’s proud finale, the narratives are ripe for exploitation.
As the season reaches its crescendo, the difference between mini-league glory and disappointment can be a single, well-timed transfer. Calculated gambles on low-owned differentials can transform a good campaign into a legendary one, and the insights from experts like Singhal, Statman Dave, and Sutton provide the roadmap. In the end, the final week rewards those who marry instinct with evidence, daring with discipline. Based on reporting from BBC Sport.
