Fantasy Football

FPL gameweek 35 tips: 0.2%-owned midfielder to cause havoc against leaky defence

Tommy Joyce
April 29, 2022

With just four gameweeks remaining of the FPL season, it’s squeaky bum time. 

We and our friends at PickGuru have picked three differentials to help you boost your ranking this week. There are no guarantees, but there could be a few picks to boast to your mates about.

All of these players are currently under 3% ownership, and none cost more than £5.7m.

Check them out.

Michael Olise (Crystal Palace, 5.2m)

Fixtures Position Selected by
Southampton (A) Midfielder 0.2%

For some, FPL is about more than just reaching the highest ranking you possibly can. Sometimes, it can be about bragging rights; pulling off picks that few others thought of.

Michael Olise, costing £5.4m, could be considered as one of these picks. Indeed, the talented 20-year-old only has 11 Premier League starts to his name this season and has played less than 45 minutes in both of his last two appearances. Yet against a Southampton side that has conceded 15 in their last six games, he could cause havoc.

Returning from a minor injury, Palace looked all the more threatening when he came on against Leeds. The Eagles haven’t scored in their last three, and with an attacking spark needed, Olise is likely to get the nod over Jordan Ayew.

Despite being managed carefully by Patrick Vieira all season, he has some strong numbers. Two goals and five assists in the league – as well as a two goals and three assists in the FA Cup – show that he’s a real threat. In fact, his minutes per xA is 340.4 – the fourth highest in the entire division (for players that have played more than 10 games). With few games to go, now really is the time to unleash Olise and give him the license to go and express himself.

His delivery not only makes him a danger but so does his shooting accuracy. 52.9% of his shots this season have been on target – the fifth highest in the league.

Take a chance on Olise and gain points on the 99.8% of other managers who won’t.

Ismaila Sarr (Watford, 5.7m)

Fixture Position Selected by
Burnley (H) Midfielder 2.8%

Ismaïla Sarr got us a return the last time we chose him as one of our differentials of the week, and we’re hoping he can do the same against Burnley.

Watford’s home record has been poor and the Clarets are on the rampage, but an away win should be far from assumed. Funny things can happen at this time of the season.

No Watford player has had more shots in their last four matches (six) than Sarr, and only Emmanuel Dennis has scored more points in that time. His Nigerian counterpart is another option, but Sarr has the better minutes per xGI over the last four games (388.5 vs 425.4). Dennis has also been chosen by over 26.8% of managers and Sarr just 2.8% – the latter is therefore a more enticing option.

The Hornets may be all but down, but Sarr still very much has something to play for. The Senegalese forward is likely to want a move this summer and he’s got an opportunity to show potential suitors that he’s worth the high fee Watford are likely to demand.

He looks a strong option for GW36 too, with games against Crystal Palace and Everton.

Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal, 5.5m)

Fixture Position Selected by
West Ham (A) Forward 2.3%

West Ham’s injury and suspension crisis at the back means that they are going to be clutching at straws for their game against the Gunners.

As such, Eddie Nketiah, who has started the last three Arsenal games and has featured in the last 13, could be a solid differential shout. The young English forward has been picked by only 2.3% of players and could go big after some impressive performances recently.

Bearing in mind Arsenal have scored seven goals in two games against Chelsea and Manchester United, they’ll be confident of cashing in against a threadbare West Ham.

In the last two gameweeks, Nketiah has had six shots inside the box, the ninth-best in the league in that time. He’s also had an xG of 1.21 during that period, which is 11th-best in the division.

West Ham will have very few first-team centre backs available. Craig Dawson is suspended, while Issa Diop and Angelo Ogbonna are all injured. Furthermore, with a trip to Frankfurt in the Europa League semi-final second leg on Thursday, Moyes may rest key players such as Aaron Cresswell, Kurt Zouma and Declan Rice who would usually fill in.

That’s going to leave a big opportunity for Arsenal forwards, and with Nketiah growing in confidence and desperate to take his opportunity, we could see a return from the 22-year-old.