Top FPL GW1 Differential Picks to Target Ahead of GW1 Deadline

FPL is just a couple of days away!! The Template Teams are starting to flood the timelines of Insta, X(formerly Twitter), Threads, Bluesky, and YouTube.

While most of us would be going with 7-8 Template players in our team, there is always an option to go with a couple of Tasty Differentials (Lowly owned FPL assets) in your team, so that you enjoy their hauls to yourself.

Jumping on the Bandwagon a week earlier compared to most people can be highly beneficial for your Overall ranks. After that, just enjoy their hauls and hope for some prices rises while most people flock to that Bandwagon.

In this article, we will be highlighting 5 Players who are less than 10% Owned and 1 Ultra Differential (less than 1% Owned) for all of you as of Wednesday, 13th August, 2025 . There are many more whom you guys can consider if you decide not to go with the 6 players mentioned below.

Link to all our 2025/26 Pre-Season articles including all team pre-season friendly updates, team previews, fixture analysis, position-wise analysis, differentials, players to target, budget enablers and more. Completely free to access as well!

Top FPL GW1 Differential Picks

Nikola Milenkovic vs Brentford(H), £5.5 Defender – 9.8 % TSB

Clean Sheet potential – check, Great Fixtures to start the season – check, Monster at set pieces – check, good for defensive contributions (Defcons) – check. No wonder Milenkovic ranks as one of the best defenders to start the season with.

– check, – check, Monster at set pieces – check, (Defcons) – check. No wonder Milenkovic ranks as one of the best defenders to start the season with. Milenkovic scored 5 Goals and got 2 Assists last season and even had a few disallowed. At 6ft 5 inches, he is a set piece target man. He had the Most headed attempts on goal among Defenders (21). He had 8 Shots on Target, got 7 Big Chances and 27 Shots in the Box. He had an xG of 3.79 and these numbers are usually what your attack minded fullbacks get.

Milenkovic got 26 Defcons last season and will be a guaranteed starter along with Murilo at the heart of the defence, even when Forest play in Europe. Milenkovic averaged around 8.4 Defcons per 90 and got a solid base of 4 points in 60% of the games last season. Add that with his attacking threat, and Milenkovic could be a Set and Forget Defender for your FPL teams.

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Elliot Anderson vs Brentford(H)– £5.5 Midfielder – 6.6 % TSB

Here comes another Defcon Monster. Anderson started 33 Games for Forest last season and got 36 Defcon points. He averaged around 13.35 Defcons per 90 and got a solid base of 4 points in 52 % of the games last season .

and got a solid base of . His point tally would have increased to 143 points, which is what Mitoma got with 10 Goals and 5 Assists from last season. As a 5.5 Midfielder who plays week in and week out, this would be a steal. He could allow you to go heavy with the Premium Players this season.

from last season. As a 5.5 Midfielder who plays week in and week out, this would be a steal. He could allow you to go heavy with the Premium Players this season. Anderson is not like Caicedo, Christie, or Baleba, who have almost no attacking threat. He actually got 2 Goals and 6 Assists last season. He is a 90-minute man and will also have an increased share of Set pieces this season with Elanga departing Forest.

Further Read: Premier League Penalty & Set Piece Takers | 2025/26 PL Season

El Hadji Malick Diouf vs Sunderland(A) – £4.5 Defender – 6% TSB

Diouf arrives from Slavia Prague after scoring 7 Goals and getting 3 Assists last season. Even in Pre-season, he has been tearing it up with 1 Assist for Bowen. His crosses and deliveries into the box to Bowen have been amazing. He reminds me of Munoz when he first came to the League, and playing at wing-back will only help his attacking potential.

last season. Even in Pre-season, he has been tearing it up with 1 Assist for Bowen. His crosses and deliveries into the box to Bowen have been amazing. He reminds me of Munoz when he first came to the League, and playing at wing-back will only help his attacking potential. West Ham have a great fixture to start the season. Then the fixtures toughen up. The problem with Wan Bissaka is that he is the highest owned defender, and this could lead to some early price falls if West Ham fail to keep a clean sheet in the 1st 2-3 Gameweeks. Diouf, being lowly owned, will have less chance of this, and although Diouf may not get any Defcons, he could be the more exciting pick for your FPL teams as you cheer him on as he bombs forward, whizzing in crosses.

Further Read: 2025/2026 FPL Team Structure Guide with Drafts & Ratings

Cody Gakpo vs Bournemouth(H)– £7.5 Midfielder – 6.3 % TSB

What a Pre-season Gakpo has had. 4 Goals and 1 Assist, he has been Liverpool’s most impressive player in Pre-season. Not Wirtz, not Salah, not Frimpong, not Ekitike. Good old, consistent, and boring Cody Gakpo. Gakpo also does not have too much competition on the Left wing until Isak joins, as Ekitike should continue playing as a Center Forward.

he has been Liverpool’s most impressive player in Pre-season. Not Wirtz, not Salah, not Frimpong, not Ekitike. Good old, consistent, and boring Cody Gakpo. Gakpo also does not have too much competition on the Left wing until Isak joins, as Ekitike should continue playing as a Center Forward. Gakpo got 10 Goals and 5 Assists last season. His stats were impressive despite starting only 23 Games. He had 23 Shots on Target, 43 Shots in the Box, he got 12 Big Chances, and he also created 11 Big Chances for his teammates. He had an xG of 7.02 and an xA of 3.77. He is also good for Bonus, having got 22 Bonus Points last season.

last season. His stats were impressive despite starting only 23 Games. He had 23 Shots on Target, 43 Shots in the Box, he got 12 Big Chances, and he also created 11 Big Chances for his teammates. He had an xG of 7.02 and an xA of 3.77. He is also good for Bonus, having got 22 Bonus Points last season. At 7.5 million (7 million less than Salah), he could be a viable double-up with Wirtz for those going out without the Egyptian King. He could also form a double-up with Salah, and my hunch is he sees more minutes in the initial few games, compared to Wirtz.

Ownership difference between Wirtz and Gakpo as it stands

Further Read: 2025/26 Pre-Season Summary of All 20 Premier League Teams

Niclas Fullkrug vs Sunderland(A)– £6.0 Forward – 3.1 % TSB

Fullkrug looks to have got back to his groove after scoring 3 Goals in Pre-season . He looks set to start alongside Bowen in Potter’s 3-5-2 formation. West Ham have a tasty Gameweek 1 fixture against Sunderland. He got 3 Goals and 2 Assists last season from only 6 starts, and he is a clinical finisher who is a massive unit from set pieces.

. He looks set to start alongside Bowen in Potter’s 3-5-2 formation. West Ham have a tasty Gameweek 1 fixture against Sunderland. He got 3 Goals and 2 Assists last season from only 6 starts, and he is a clinical finisher who is a massive unit from set pieces. Remember that before his injury last season, Fullkrug had a great few seasons for Dortmund and was even in the Bundesliga team of the season. He also has 13 Goals for Germany and had a great Euros despite not starting a single game for Germany.

and had a great Euros despite not starting a single game for Germany. With Wilson not even on the bench in West Ham’s last friendly and his partnership with Bowen prospering, he should be free from rotation for the time being. Also, Fullkrug is a streaky player. When he is hot, he is HOT, and when he is not, he is NOT. Currently in Pre-season, Fullkrug is HOT!!

Further Read: 2025/26 PL Season: Predicted GW1 Lineups of All 20 PL Teams

Ultra Differential Pick for FPL GW1(Under 1 % Ownership)

Georginio Rutter vs Fulham(H)– £6.0 Midfielder – 0.8 % TSB

An OOP Midfielder playing as a Striker is something we all want for our FPL teams. Rutter has been doing that in Pre-season, playing as the Center Forward for Brighton in Pre-season. He has got 1 Goal and 3 Assists in Pre-season and seems to have replaced Welbeck (for now) as Brighton’s main striker.

playing as a Striker is something we all want for our FPL teams. Rutter has been doing that in Pre-season, playing as the Center Forward for Brighton in Pre-season. He has got and seems to have replaced Welbeck (for now) as Brighton’s main striker. Rutter had a decent debut season in the Premier League last season, where he got 5 Goals and 6 Assists from only 21 starts. He had 12 Shots on Target, 37 Shots in the Box. He also got 9 Big Chances. He even created 6 Big Chances for his teammates. Rutter could also be on penalties if Welbeck is not on penalties.

That’s it for Gameweek 1. We will be back with 6 More Differentials next Gameweek, where we will be hoping to get some positive returns from our current selected Differentials for Gameweek 1.

Further reads from ALLABOUTFPL ahead of FPL GW1 of the 2025/26 FPL Season

GW1 Articles:

2025/26 PL Season: Predicted GW1 Lineups of All 20 PL Teams

FPL GW1 Team Reveal, Strategy and Keynotes- 2025/26 Season

Top FPL Gameweek 1 Captain Picks Based on Analysis & Metrics

Top FPL GW1 Differential Picks(<10% TSB) to Target Ahead of GW1 Deadline

Premier League Penalty & Set Piece Takers | 2025/26 PL Season

Must Read Articles:

2025/2026 FPL Team Structure Guide with Drafts & Ratings

FPL Rotational Pairs & Combinations for the 2025/26 FPL Season

Premier League Penalty & Set Piece Takers | 2025/26 PL Season

2025/26 PL Season: Predicted GW1 Lineups of All 20 PL Teams

Interview with FPL World Number 1 Manager Over Last 2 Seasons

Best FPL Budget Enablers For The 2025-26 FPL Season

2025/26 Pre-Season Summary of All 20 Premier League Teams

FPL Defensive Contribution Points- Rule explained, Top Picks, Stats & Impact

Best FPL Picks Outside Big 6 Teams | 2025/26 FPL Season

List of Free to Join Prize FPL Mini Leagues Ahead of 25/26 Season

FPL Players To Avoid in Your GW1 Drafts | 2025/26 FPL Season

Underpriced FPL Assets at Each ‘Big Six’ Club | 25/26 Season

FPL 2025/26 Team Structure and Planning based on Fixtures

2025/26 Premier League Clubs Pre Season Friendlies Fixtures List

Funny & Creative FPL Team Names for the 2025/26 Season

2025/26 FPL Season- New Rules & Changes | What’s New in FPL?

GW1 Drafts & Team Structure:

2025/2026 FPL Team Structure Guide with Drafts & Ratings

Initial FPL GW1 Drafts for the 25/26 FPL Season with Pros & Cons

FPL Gameweek 1 Drafts with Haaland and Salah with Keynotes

Position Wise Analysis:

Goal Keepers:

Best FPL Goalkeepers to Target For The 2025/26 FPL Season

Best FPL Goalkeepers at Each Price Point for the 2025/26 Season

FPL Rotational Pairs & Combinations for the 2025/26 FPL Season

Defenders:

Best £4.0 Million FPL Defenders for the 2025/26 FPL Season

Best £4.5 Million FPL Defenders for the 2025/26 FPL Season

Best £5.0-5.5 Million FPL Defenders for the 2025/26 FPL Season

Best Premium FPL Defenders(6.0) for the 2025/26 FPL Season

FPL Rotational Pairs & Combinations for the 2025/26 FPL Season

Best FPL Defenders at Each Price Point for the 2025/26 Season

Midfielders:

Best Budget FPL Midfielders for the 2025/26 FPL Season

Best Mid-Priced FPL Midfielders (£6.5 -£8.0 Million) | 25/26 Season

Best Premium FPL Midfielders (£8.5 – £14.5 Million) | 25/26 Season

Best FPL Midfielders at Each Price Point for the 2025/26 Season

Forwards:

Best FPL Budget Forwards (£4.5 – £6.0 Million) | 25/26 FPL Season

Best FPL Mid Priced Forwards (£6.5 – £7.5 Million) | 25/26 FPL Season

Best £7.5m FPL Forwards Comparison for 2025/26 FPL Season

Best Premium FPL Forwards Analysis Ahead Of 2025/26 Season

Best FPL Forwards at Each Price Point for the 2025/26 Season

Fixture Analysis:

FPL 2025/26 Team Structure and Planning based on Fixtures

FPL Fixture Analysis for The 2025/26 FPL Season | PL Fixtures

Fan Team Articles:

2025/26 FanTeam Season Game Strategy Guide | EPL Fantasy

FanTeam EPL Fantasy Season Game Drafts with Keynotes

Budget/Value Picks for FanTeam EPL Fantasy Season Game

If you’re new to FPL, here is a link to all our FPL Beginners Guide including FPL Beginner’s Guide- How to play? , Bench boost , Team value , Triple captain , Effective ownership , Price Changes , Free Hit , Bonus Points , and more.

Link to all our 2025/26 Pre-Season articles including all position-wise analysis, team previews, fixture analysis, position-wise analysis, and more. Completely free to access as well!

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