Guide · Explanation. "Differential" is a term FPL managers use; it is not in the official rules.
What an FPL differential is, and when to pick one
The short answer
A differential is a player few managers own. When he scores, you gain on almost everybody. FPL Tilt counts a player as a differential when he is owned by under 10% of managers.
Why low ownership matters
Your rank moves only when you score points your rivals do not.
Take two players who each score 10 points:
| Player | Owned by | Managers you gain 10 points on |
|---|---|---|
| A popular one | 60% | 40 in every 100 |
| A differential | 5% | 95 in every 100 |
The same 10 points are worth more than twice as much in the second case.
The other side
It works the same way in reverse. When the popular player scores and you do not have him, you fall behind 60 managers in every 100. When the differential blanks, you have spent a place in your team on nothing while most others got something from theirs.
A player is usually low-owned for a reason: he is new, he is coming back from injury, his minutes are uncertain, or his team is poor. A differential is a bet that the reason no longer holds.
When to pick one
- When you are behind. If you copy the team above you, you cannot catch it. You need points they do not have.
- When the gap in projected points is small. If a differential is projected close to the popular choice, you take on little extra risk for a much larger possible gain.
- In one or two places, not five. A team of differentials is a team of uncertain starters.
When to leave them
- When you are ahead. The manager in front gains nothing from being different. Matching the popular players protects a lead.
- For the captaincy, most weeks. A wrong differential captain costs double.
Your league, not the whole game
A player owned by 4% of all managers may be owned by half of your mini-league. What counts as a differential for you depends on who your rivals have.
See this Gameweek's
The Differentials page lists the players owned by under 10% with the highest projected points for the next Gameweek. The Live page shows which players the rest of your league has and you do not.