The first international break of the season is finally behind us, and Fantasy Premier League action returns with Gameweek 4.
With template squads already forming and some managers still trying to recover from a shaky start, differentials could be the key to making up ground.
Spotting those under-the-radar gems can give you the edge in your mini-leagues — here are five FPL picks, each under 10% ownership, that could deliver this week.
Our strategy balances attacking potential with defensive coverage:
⚽ 3 attackers – midfielders or forwards with goal threat
🛡️ 2 defensive players – defenders or goalkeepers with clean sheet upside
This ensures coverage across the pitch while prioritising attacking points, essential for Gameweek 2 success.
Mateta scored in Palace’s impressive 3-0 win away at Villa, returning 5 points in Gameweek 3. With Eberechi Eze now at Arsenal, he has taken over penalty duties — a huge boost to his FPL appeal.
Last season, he netted 14 goals from 15.01 xG and was especially reliable at Selhurst Park, where he racked up 73 points at an average of 4.1 per game — the best of any Palace player, according to the Opta Heatmaps feature. With newly-promoted Sunderland visiting in Gameweek 4 and West Ham away to come in Gameweek 5, the fixtures are firmly in his favour.
The Brazilian striker delivered 8 points in Gameweek 3, scoring the winner away at Spurs and collecting 2 bonus points.
He found the net 10 times from 13.22 xG in the 2024/25 season, suggesting he underperformed and may now be due more goals as he settles into his second Premier League campaign. At just 2.3% ownership, he’s a genuine differential.
According to the Predicted Points & Stats tool, Evanilson is level with Mateta on 16.2 projected points over the next four Gameweeks, but comes in £0.5m cheaper. Three of his next four fixtures are at home, with the other away to newly-promoted Leeds.
Brighton are yet to keep a clean sheet this season and managed just seven in the whole of 2024/25 (the seventh fewest in the league), making this weekend’s fixture an ideal chance for him to deliver again.
Fulham have started the season slowly, drawing 1–1 with Man United and Brighton before losing to Chelsea in Gameweek 3.
Despite this, Iwobi has been their standout performer, collecting 10 FPL points — the most of any Fulham player so far. He also leads the team for shots (5), is joint-top for big chances created (1), and ranks second for expected assists (0.64). While those numbers aren’t spectacular, Iwobi is very much a fixture-based punt.
He faces newly-promoted Leeds at home in Gameweek 4, then Brentford — who have already conceded twice to Sunderland and three times to Forest — before Villa, who have picked up just one point from their opening three matches. Early in the season, narratives about which teams are “good” or “bad” can shift quickly with limited data, but this run is appealing enough to place Fulham top of the Fixture Planner for the next three Gameweeks.
For extra context, Iwobi was Fulham’s top FPL scorer last season with 156 points, finishing as their second-highest goalscorer (9), third for assists (6), and second for bonus points (16) according to the Opta Stats Sandbox.
That proven track record, combined with his upcoming fixtures, makes him a strong short-term differential.
Lacroix has started the season strongly, collecting 22 FPL points thanks to two clean sheets against Villa and Chelsea, plus an assist, 2 bonus points, and 4 DEFCON points.
He looks one of the best defenders to benefit from the new DEFCON scoring system. So far, he’s contributed 38 DEFCON points — the third-highest among defenders — and last season he racked up an impressive 343, ranking fifth overall.
With Sunderland visiting Selhurst Park in Gameweek 4, Lacroix is well-placed for another return. Our Algorithm in the Match Centre tool even predicts a 2-0 Palace win, with fellow differential Mateta tipped to score the opener.
When it comes to DEFCON monsters, Senesi might be the best pound-for-pound option available. He’s already contributed 43 DEFCON — joint-highest with Virgil van Dijk — earning him 6 extra points across the opening three Gameweeks.
On top of that, the Bournemouth defender has an assist, 4 bonus points, and 2 clean sheets to his name, underlining both defensive reliability and attacking potential.
He’s even made it into the Wildcard squad of Philman, a manager with nine top 10k finishes. While Senesi is currently benched in that draft as part of a rotation strategy alongside Palace, Spurs, and Chelsea defenders, our AI Rotation Planner suggests he could be worth starting in Gameweek 4.
At just £4.6m, Senesi looks excellent value for 2025/26. With Brighton up next, he offers another strong opportunity for returns from this budget-friendly pick.
From Mateta’s penalty-taking role to Iwobi’s creativity and Lacroix’s defensive dominance, these five differentials all carry the potential to spark green arrows in Gameweek 4. With each sitting under 10% ownership, even a single haul could transform your rank.
Backing differentials is often what separates good FPL managers from great ones — and GW4 could be the perfect moment to take advantage.
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