FPL Blank Gameweek 34: 5 Differentials to Boost Your Rank

Double Gameweek 33 isn’t quite in the rear-view mirror yet — Arsenal still have Palace to play on Wednesday — but it’s never too early to look ahead.

With Blank Gameweek 34 on the horizon, now’s the perfect time to consider a few under-the-radar options. In this piece, we’re highlighting five differential picks who could give your rank a healthy boost — without relying on the go-to names everyone else is picking.

But before we reveal the names, here’s a quick look at the criteria we’ve used to select them:

• 3 attacking options (midfielders or forwards)
• 2 defensive picks (goalkeeper or defenders)
• All players selected have less than 10% ownership

Ready to discover the hidden gems that could transform your team’s fortunes? Let’s get started!

Need to save your FPL season? 

Get 30 days of Premium Plus – completely free! Pay absolutely nothing to unlock the tools that can turn your season around. 🤯

👉Click here now to claim your exclusive 30-day free Premium offer!

Matheus Cunha: Wolves’ Talisman Offers Differential Firepower

• Position: Forward
• Ownership: 9.6%
• Cost: £6.9m
• Projected Points: 6.5

Matheus Cunha has been a rare bright spark in what has otherwise been a challenging season for Wolves.

With 14 goals and 5 assists to his name, he’s firmly established himself as the side’s attacking talisman and continues to deliver consistently in front of goal. His recent form makes him a compelling differential option for managers looking to gain ground.

While teammate Jørgen Strand Larsen (12 goals, 4.9% ownership, £5.4m) offers better value on paper—particularly when comparing their per 90 stats via the Opta Heatmaps tool—Cunha’s overall output and underlying data still edge him ahead as the preferred pick. Interestingly, Strand Larsen does top Cunha for expected goals (xG).

Looking ahead to Blank Gameweek 34, Wolves host Leicester at Molineux—a fixture that could see Cunha add to his tally. For those using the Free Hit chip, doubling up on Wolves attackers could be the differential strategy that propels you up the ranks.

Harvey Barnes: Newcastle's In-Form Midfielder

• Position: Midfielder
• Ownership: 4.7%
• Cost: £6.0m
• Projected Points: 4.1

Harvey Barnes has been in scintillating form recently, making him an enticing differential pick—especially for FPL managers considering the Free Hit chip and weighing him up against the in-form Jacob Murphy.

With 9 goals and 5 assists this season, Barnes has played a vital role in Newcastle’s attack. Over the last five matches, he leads the team in goals (4), shares the highest xG total of 3.3 with Alexander Isak, and is joint-top for assists (3) alongside Murphy and Joelinton, as highlighted in the Match Centre feature.

One caveat is the recent return of Anthony Gordon from injury. He’s been easing back into action from the bench and could potentially impact Barnes’ minutes moving forward. Even so, Barnes’ current form, combined with Newcastle’s strong attacking output, makes him a highly appealing option for Blank Gameweek 34 when they face Ipswich Town.

Diogo J.: Liverpool's Rotation Risk with High Reward Potential

• Position: Midfielder
• Ownership: 2.8%
• Cost: £7.2m
• Projected Points: 4.6

Selecting a Liverpool attacker—aside from the ever-reliable Mohamed Salah—comes with an element of risk due to rotation and limited minutes. However, getting the right one could lead to a huge return, especially against a Spurs side that appears to be spiralling in the league.

Luis Díaz may offer a slightly safer route into the Liverpool attack, having logged 300 minutes over the last four matches compared to Diogo Jota’s 232. That said, Díaz’s ownership sits at 18.1%, limiting his differential appeal.

A comparison of Diogo Jota, Luis Díaz, and Cody Gakpo per game stats using the Fix Comparison Matrix reveals just how effective each can be when given minutes. Jota stands out for goal threat, with the highest xG among the trio, while Díaz leads on creativity, boasting the best xA.

Diogo Jota represents a classic high-risk, high-reward pick—perfect for managers chasing rank. Tottenham have conceded 1.55 goals per game this season (7th worst in the league), and things appear to be worsening, highlighted by the four goals they shipped to Wolves recently.

If you're feeling bold and looking for explosive differential potential in Blank Gameweek 34, Diogo Jota could be your secret weapon.

Tino Livramento: Newcastle's Budget Defensive Option

• Position: Defender
• Ownership: 9.0%
• Cost: £4.6m
• Projected Points: 3.9

Tino Livramento has been a reliable budget option in Newcastle’s defence this season. While his attacking returns have been minimal (0 goals, 1 assist), his underlying stats suggest there’s more to come. With an xA tally of 2.38 and 4 big chances created, Livramento offers potential at both ends of the pitch.

Since Hall's injury in Gameweek 27, Livramento has been granted more attacking freedom—nearly half of his total xA has come in the seven games since, highlighting his increased involvement going forward.

Newcastle face Ipswich Town in Blank Gameweek 34, a fixture that looks favourable for a clean sheet. According to the Predicted Points & Stats tool, the Magpies have a 40% chance of shutting out the visitors.

Ipswich have scored just 33 goals this season—the third fewest in the league—with an xG of 33.68, which is even lower than Southampton’s 34.14.

Livramento’s low price and minimal ownership make him a standout differential for managers aiming to free up funds while still targeting returns in BGW34.

Toti Gomes: Wolves' Budget Enabler

• Position: Defender
• Ownership: 0.3%
• Cost: £4.3m
• Projected Points: 4.2

If you’re really stretched for funds, they don’t come much cheaper than Toti Gomes—an excellent budget enabler from the Wolves defence.

With just 0.3% ownership, he’s a true differential pick. While his teammate Agbadou is priced even lower at £4.0m, Toti’s slightly better underlying stats make him the preferred choice.

Toti has recorded an xG of 0.73 from 5 shots and an xA of 0.92 from 3 attempted assists this season, indicating some potential for the occasional attacking return to go along with his clean sheet prospects.

In Blank Gameweek 34, Wolves welcome Leicester City to Molineux—a fixture that offers solid potential for defensive points. The Foxes’ recent attacking form has been dismal: according to the Opta Stats Sandbox, they’ve failed to score in 9 of their last 10 games. During that stretch, they’ve managed just 76 shots (15 fewer than Southampton) and only 22 of those were on target.

Toti’s price, low ownership, and favourable fixture make him a smart option for managers looking to free up funds without sacrificing the chance for returns.

BGW34 Conclusion: FPL Differentials to Watch

These five differentials could be the key to climbing your mini-league rankings in Blank Gameweek 34. While they all come with their own risks, their low ownership and potential for returns make them exciting options for managers looking to take calculated gambles.