Big Man Bakar’s Best GW1 Differentials in FPL

For our purposes, a differential refers to a player owned by around 15% or less of FPL managers. The lower the ownership percentage, the greater the differential you have because any return or haul is shared by a lower percentage of FPL managers.

Best differentials to own in GW1:

Here are Big Man Bakar’s favourite differentials to own in GW1 of the 25/26 FPL season!

1. Pedro Porro (Ownership: 12.9%, Price: £5.5m):

Given Spurs’ favourable opening run, I’m fairly certain I’ll be starting the season with at least one of their defenders. Yes, their defensive metrics were underwhelming last season, but I’m optimistic about an upturn under the new manager, especially with João Palhinha’s arrival bringing much-needed midfield protection. Porro, in particular, stands out — his forward runs, set-piece responsibilities, and the added influence with Maddison absent make him arguably the most attractive route into the Spurs backline.

2. Murillo (Ownership: 5.3%, Price: £5.5m):

Murillo is another name firmly in contention for my squad. Nottingham Forest begin the campaign with a promising set of fixtures, and Murillo is a standout when it comes to defensive contributions. Last season, he topped all defenders for defensive contributions per 90 minutes and finished with 16 more bonus points than Milenkovic, highlighting both his consistency and his knack for racking up bonus points.

3. Cody Gakpo (Ownership: 6.0%, Price: £7.5m):

Gakpo is quietly flying under the radar as managers flock to the shinier Wirtz pick, but his pre-season form has been excellent. Firmly first-choice on the left wing, he’s played the full 90 minutes in both the Community Shield and against Bilbao, signalling strong minutes security. Last season, he posted an impressive 0.53 xGI per 90, underlining his attacking threat. With just 6.1% ownership, he’s as genuine differential a differential you’re going to get in Gameweek 1.

4. Omar Marmoush (Ownership: 13.1%, Price: £8.5m):

Marmoush is an intriguing £8.5m option as he offers a relatively affordable route into one of the league’s most potent attacks — and with under 15% ownership, he could emerge as a standout differential. Of course, as with any player at City, minutes and rotation will be a concern, but if he gets regular game time, he has the tools to be explosive.

5. Elliot Andersen (Ownership: 6.0%, Price: £5.5m):

With the new defensive contributions rule in play, Andersen’s FPL appeal has risen sharply. Using last season’s numbers as a guide, he would have earned an additional 36 points under the updated system — a remarkable boost that underlines the value of his defensive work. At £5.5m, paired with a favourable opening fixture run, he emerges as a strong contender, offering not only steady defensive returns but also creativity from set pieces that could add an extra dimension to his points potential.

 

Bakar has you covered on all things FPL ahead of GW1. He covers the Salah vs Haaland debate. He also crafted his ultimate GW1 Bench Boost team.

If you are looking for the best premium team builds – check out his Salah and Haaland GW1 draft or alternatively his Salah, Palmer and Bruno GW1 draft. If you are looking for a slightly different premium players draft, then we tried our hand at a wild Salah, Haaland, Palmer and Isak super draft!

If you like the idea of a heavy premium player drafts, but wanted some alternative cheap options to help you build these premium player heavy teams, then look no further than our best budget Goalkeepers, Defenders, Midfielders and Forwards in FPL for the 25/26 season.