FPL Gameweek 23-differentials tips: Go cheap in midfield
By Arasi Rex · Updated 15 August 2026 · 7 min read
FPL gameweek 23-differentials tips are not about the fixture that broadcasts best. Man City vs Arsenal will grab the attention, but the rank gains are in the mid-priced midfielders at Hull, Coventry and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Build around Ollie Watkins and target players under 10% ownership who already have goals and assists behind them.
The fixtures table
Here is the full Gameweek 23 fixture list, with the differential angle you should care about.
| Home | Away | Differential angle |
|---|---|---|
| Aston Villa | Ipswich Town | Watkins at 12.5% is the best captain route |
| Bournemouth | Fulham | Tavernier at 1.9% gives cheap midfield exposure |
| Brentford | Man Utd | Ouattara has 7 goals and 8 assists at 1.4% |
| Chelsea | Nott'm Forest | Enzo has 10 goals and 5 assists at 5.5% |
| Hull City | Crystal Palace | Sarr has 9 goals and is 9.3% owned |
| Liverpool | Everton | Gakpo is the only Liverpool midfielder worth a punt at 3.5% |
| Man City | Arsenal | The headline game, not a differential game |
| Newcastle | Brighton | Bruno G. is 9.2% owned with 9 goals and 7 assists |
| Spurs | Sunderland | Richarlison is 1.9% owned with 11 goals |
| Coventry City | Leeds | Stach is 1.3% owned with 5 goals and 6 assists |
The table confirms the pattern. Four of the best differential fixtures are not the ones the broadcasters picked: Villa, Palace, Leeds and Spurs all offer an attacking route at low ownership. Man City and Arsenal face each other, which removes the most obvious premium captain from consideration and leaves the week open for mid-priced midfielders.
Captain picks for fpl gameweek 23-differentials tips
Captaincy is where differentials win weeks. If you chase the biggest name, you give back ownership. These three picks offer a better balance of ceiling and low ownership.
1. Ollie Watkins
The Aston Villa forward has 16 goals and 4 assists, 167 total points and is owned by 12.5%. He is the one player in the squad with both fixture and form on his side. Ipswich at home is the sort of fixture where his numbers should translate into attacking returns. He is not a true differential, but he is the best balance of safety and rank gain.
2. Bruno Guimarães
Newcastle face Brighton at home. Bruno G. has 9 goals and 7 assists, 154 points, and 5.3 points per game. At 9.2% owned, he is the rare captain who can jump you up the rankings without relying on a clean sheet. His points per game is the highest of the three captain picks.
3. Richarlison
Spurs host Sunderland. Richarlison has 11 goals and 4 assists in 32 appearances and is owned by just 1.9%. His minutes are a risk, but the output is there, and a home fixture against Sunderland is the exact context for a ceiling play. If you are chasing rank, he is the captain who can do the most damage to the managers above you.
Players to bring in
These are the players I would move into my squad before the Gameweek 23 deadline. They are all under 10% owned, which is the definition of a differential.
| Player | Club | Price | Owned | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enzo Fernandez | Chelsea | 7.0 | 5.5% | 10 | 5 |
| Ismaïla Sarr | Crystal Palace | 6.5 | 9.3% | 9 | 2 |
| Anton Stach | Leeds | 6.0 | 1.3% | 5 | 6 |
| Marcus Tavernier | Bournemouth | 6.0 | 1.9% | 7 | 4 |
| Dango Ouattara | Brentford | 6.5 | 1.4% | 7 | 8 |
Enzo Fernandez is the standout. The Chelsea midfielder has 10 goals and 5 assists, 157 points, and a home fixture against Nott'm Forest. At 7.0 he gives you a second Chelsea route without paying the Joao Pedro ownership tax.
Ismaïla Sarr goes to Hull with Crystal Palace. He has 9 goals and 2 assists and is 9.3% owned. Sarr is the player who turns a solid platform into attacking points.
Anton Stach is the pure play. The Leeds midfielder is 1.3% owned, has 5 goals and 6 assists, and goes to Coventry. His price is only 6.0, which means you can bench him if you are worried about the fixture, but differentials are not about safety.
Marcus Tavernier is the best way into Bournemouth vs Fulham. He has 7 goals and 4 assists, 11 goal involvements, and costs 6.0. At 1.9% owned, he is the type of player who quietly outscores a premium midfielder in a single week.
Dango Ouattara is the best pure differential of the bunch. The Brentford midfielder has 7 goals and 8 assists at 1.4% owned. Against Man Utd at home, he offers a route into a Brentford side that should create chances. His price of 6.5 still leaves room to strengthen elsewhere.
Players to move on
Selling is harder than buying. If any of these three are still in your squad, they need to be out before kickoff.
Hugo Ekitike is the priority. The Liverpool forward has 11 goals and 4 assists, but an Achilles injury and a 0% chance of playing. The 125 points are already banked; the squad slot is more valuable.
William Saliba is the second. The Arsenal defender has 137 points, but he is out with a back injury and carries a 0% chance of playing. If he is sitting in your defence, replace him with a fit defender playing in a more useful fixture.
Jurrien Timber is the third. Same story. Arsenal defender, 149 points, but a groin injury and a 0% chance of playing. Do not hold a defender who cannot play in the week when clean sheets will be decided elsewhere.
The differential
If you want one name to separate you from the field, make it Pedro Neto. The Chelsea winger is owned by 1.3%, has 5 goals and 7 assists, and comes into a home game against Nott'm Forest. He is cheaper than Enzo, and the kind of player who can turn one counter-attack into an attacking return. At 6.5, you can bench him if you want a safer structure. But differentials are not about safety.
These fpl gameweek 23-differentials tips are a bet on ownership, not on names. Pick the midfielder nobody owns, keep a forward who is 12.5% owned against Ipswich, and do not carry injured Arsenal defenders into a week when the fixtures open up elsewhere.
Key takeaways
- Ollie Watkins is the best captain: 16 goals, 4 assists, 12.5% owned.
- Enzo, Sarr, Stach, Tavernier and Ouattara are the best bring-in options.
- Pedro Neto at 1.3% is the single best differential.
- Sell Ekitike before Gameweek 23; he has a 0% chance of playing.
- Avoid the Man City vs Arsenal fixture for rank gains.
FAQ
Who should I captain in FPL Gameweek 23?
Ollie Watkins is the standout. He has 16 goals and 4 assists, is owned by 12.5%, and plays at home to Ipswich. Bruno Guimaraes is the alternative if you want lower ownership.
What are the best FPL Gameweek 23 differentials?
Enzo Fernandez, Sarr, Stach, Tavernier, Ouattara and Pedro Neto all fit the profile. The lowest-owned of the group are Stach and Neto at 1.3%.
Is Richarlison worth bringing in?
Richarlison has 11 goals and 4 assists in 32 appearances and only 1.9% ownership. His minutes are the risk, but Spurs at home to Sunderland is a strong fixture for a one-week punt.
Should I sell injured Arsenal defenders?
Yes, if you own Saliba or J.Timber. Both have a 0% chance of playing in Gameweek 23. Do not carry a defender who cannot be selected when there are fit options at Palace and Bournemouth.