Best FPL Differentials: Time to jump on the Anthony Gordon train, while Fulham defender can step up in Blank Gameweek 31 for Arsenal and Man City

With Gameweek 30 proving a huge rank gainer for some, all eyes switch to Gameweek 31 of Fantasy Premier League. With that, we shift our eyes to a first Blank Gameweek of the season, with none of Arsenal, Manchester City, Crystal Palace or Wolves in action, leaving managers with decisions to make. We provide three top differential options who could help you to survive a tricky weekend.

Fantasy Premier League is never easy, but when it comes to Blank Gameweeks, it gets particularly challenging.

Now, as we gear up for Gameweek 31, FPL managers are either looking at their teams in despair or with a sense of smugness, depending on how well they have planned for no Arsenal, Manchester City, Crystal Palace or Wolverhampton Wanderers assets.

If you fall into the former, fear not as we will provide three low-owned options who could be just the ticket to ensuring the team you can barely look at now gets you that all-important green arrow.

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The categories are:

• Player 1: Max 10% ownership
• Player 2: Max 5% ownership
• Player 3: Max 2% ownership

And before we start, there is a sneaky Friday night kick-off this week, so the deadline for your team submission is 18:30 UK time on Friday, March 20, as Bournemouth host Manchester United.

1. Anthony Gordon, £7.3m (Midfielder, Newcastle, 6.1%)

Anthony Gordon has struggled to get going in the Premier League this season and much like Newcastle United, has often been a frustrating player to watch if you own him.

We all know what the England winger is capable of producing, but consistency has never been Gordon’s strong point.

Having scored 10 goals in 12 matches for Newcastle in the UEFA Champions League, Gordon’s Premier League form has translated to just five goals and three assists in 24 matches.

So why would you bring him into your team?

Gordon has scored in consecutive Premier League matches for the second time this season, against Manchester United and Chelsea, as the Magpies look to finally establish some sort of rhythm and find their way into Europe for next season.

Gordon wins and converts penalty against Man Utd minutes after Newcastle red card

Video credit: TNT Sports

Last time he did that, that form could not be maintained, as Newcastle fell to a 1-0 defeat to rivals Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

This week, they play Sunderland again, only this time Newcastle are the ones looking up, with the Black Cats struggling for form.

Gordon’s last two matches in the Premier League have shown that he can stay among the goals, registering over 1xG (expected goals) in both, albeit his strike did come from the penalty spot against Manchester United.

The 25-year-old is no guaranteed points machine, but with fixtures against a Sunderland side who appear to have been figured out, as well as Crystal Palace and Bournemouth after the international break, now feels like a decent time to bring Gordon in.

WATCH: Gordon nets his FOURTH goal in wild first-half

Video credit: TNT Sports

2. Dango Ouattara, £6.0m (Midfielder, Brentford, 3.8%)

When FPL players look at Brentford, they understandably go right for Igor Thiago and often feel that is enough coverage.

But, with a Blank Gameweek for four sides and Brentford facing the fourth-worst defence in the Premier League in Leeds United, this could be the week that changes.

Dango Ouattara has been outstanding for much of this season for the Bees, who are on the brink of achieving a historic season and entering the European places.

His numbers of five goals and two assists in 23 matches are hardly earth-shattering, but his work off the ball and on the counter-attack makes him a certain starter.

And, as a certain starter, he is extremely prolific in front of goal, as he showed in the 3-2 win over Newcastle last month.

Brentford may have dropped the ball against Wolves, drawing 2-2 when two goals to the good, but Ouattara was in fine form and netted his second assist in three matches for the Bees.

Similarly to Gordon, with Everton and Fulham next up after the international break, Ouattara would not be a priority sell either, should you opt to wildcard in Gameweek 32, which looks as though it will be a popular option.

Cole: Ouattara was ‘outstanding’ despite 'unexplainable' Panenka miss

Video credit: TNT Sports

3. Calvin Bassey, £4.4m (Defender, Fulham, 0.9%)

With no Arsenal or Manchester City playing, many FPL managers will be scrambling to find a solution for Gameweek 31.

As mentioned earlier, many managers are looking at wildcarding over the international break and effectively ‘dead-ending’ their teams through the Blank Gameweek.

That allows for a player like Calvin Bassey to step up. The Nigerian defender came within inches of a major haul in the 0-0 draw with Nottingham Forest, instead settling for nine points, a score he has now hit four times this season.

A clean sheet and three bonus points for a player worth £4.4m is great, but will it be sustainable?

Well, Fulham’s clean sheet against Forest was their first since Gameweek 18 against West Ham United.

Calvin Bassey could be a top differential for your teams in Gameweek 31.

Image credit: Getty Images

So you may be thinking it is not, but the catch is that Fulham and Bassey line up against Burnley - who are the only team in the game who have a fixture difficulty rating of 1 - at home in Gameweek 31.

It feels as though Bassey would be an option many would talk about had he taken his chance against Forest, but with the ball not quite obliging and going in the back of the net, the Nigerian has gone under the radar.

If you are looking for a one-week punt at the back and are short on funds, look no further.

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