The lead-up to Christmas is notoriously hectic in Fantasy Premier League (FPL). With matches occurring rapidly, managers’ rotation decisions become erratic, and fluctuations in mini-league and total rankings are common.
While many FPL managers tend to gravitate toward the same popular players, selecting less common differentials—players with favorable fixtures who play regularly and have various scoring opportunities but are under-owned—can provide a competitive edge.
If you’re eager to improve your standings as we approach Gameweek 16 and the busiest part of the season, consider these five differentiable players that could make a difference.
The Underrated Star
Despite being a consistent performer in the Premier League over the last two seasons, accumulating 29 goals and 17 assists, Jarrod Bowen (£7.5m) was owned by less than six percent of FPL managers at the time of writing. Having scored one goal and provided one assist in his last two matches, he stands out as an ideal differential for the holiday season.
A major advantage of Bowen is his consistent playing time; he is among the few attackers in the Premier League who can be relied upon to play the full 90 minutes when available. During December, when many FPL managers face surprise benchings, having Bowen’s reliability is invaluable.
Even when West Ham displays inconsistent form, Bowen is their main attacking threat—taking set pieces, making runs, and significantly contributing to the team’s offense. Plus, West Ham’s upcoming fixtures look manageable: they face Aston Villa (H), Manchester City (A), Fulham (H), Brighton (H), Wolves (A), Nottingham Forest (H), Tottenham (A), and Sunderland (H).
The Overlooked Forward
Another proven player with low ownership (one percent at the time of writing) is Raul Jimenez (£6.2m). After overcoming a head injury that almost ended his career, he showed promise last season with 12 goals and three assists.
Jimenez has notched one goal and three assists since Gameweek 8 and has started every match since while fellow striker Rodrigo Muniz (£5.4m) recovers from surgery. His minutes are likely secure as Muniz may need time to regain fitness. The Mexican striker serves as Fulham’s first choice and designated penalty taker, with favorable fixtures against Burnley (A), Forest (H), and West Ham (A) this December.
