Our Gameweek 22 differentials column offers a trio of low-owned Fantasy Premier League (FPL) assets for your consideration.
KAORU MITOMA
- FPL Ownership: 1.9%
- Price: £6.1 million
- GW22-26 fixtures: BOU | full | EVA | CRY | avl
Facing a Bournemouth side who have desperately struggled away from home in 2025/2026, we back the Brighton and Hove Albion side Kaoru Mitoma (£6.1m) to deliver.
The Cherries have conceded 29 goals this season, the most of any team.
They are also bottom for StatsBomb’s expected goals conceded (xGC) per 90 minutes in away games:
Brighton have been in very good form of late, triumphing 2-0 against Burnley in Gameweek 20 before claiming a crucial point at Manchester City last time out.
They also secured their place in the fourth round of the FA Cup with a 2-1 win against Manchester United.
As for Mitoma, he scored the all-important equalizer against Man City and later hit the post, earning praise from his manager.
“We all know that he can make a difference in a match, that he can be a game changer. He is still not 100%, but we have to push him to 100%, we have to involve him more and more in our game.” – Fabian Hurzeler about Kaoru Mitoma
Fabian Hurzeler’s side also face Fulham, Everton and Crystal Palace over the next four matchweeks, so Mitoma, whose ownership currently stands at just 1.9%, could be worth considering as a punter, especially against Bournemouth, with the right-back generally considered a weak point in Andoni Iraola’s squad.
DAN BALARD
- FPL Ownership: 2.9%
- Price: £4.6 million
- GW22-26 fixtures: CRY | how | BUR | ars | LIV
It’s the threat of a set piece Then Ballard (£4.6m), leading us to select Sunderland’s centre-back as our next differential.
The 26-year-old has already successfully scored twice from dead-ball situations in the 2025/2026 season.
He has also had more tries from set plays than any other Fantasy defender except Pascal Struijk (£4.3m), with 15.
Above: Defenders sorted by set-piece shots (total) in 2025/26
Crucially, no team has conceded more goals from set play this season than Crystal Palace.
Macclesfield Town’s Paul Dawson was the latest player to score after scoring a free-kick in the FA Cup last weekend. It was the tenth goal from a set-piece that Palace has conceded in the last twelve.
“We can’t defend the rules of the game. It’s not acceptable, I have to find solutions… it’s shameful.” – Oliver Glasner
Without a win in nine games in all competitions, Oliver Glasner’s team looks vulnerable.
As for Sunderland, they have kept a clean sheet in four of their ten home games this season, while in front of their own fans they managed a very respectable eighth place for xGC (12.53).
And with games against West Ham United (a) and Burnley (h) on the horizon, as well as Fulham (h) in Gameweek 27, there is a lot to like about Ballard, who has collected 16 defensive contribution points (DefCon) in the 2025/2026 season.
HARVEY BARNES
- FPL Ownership: 1.4%
- Price: £6.1 million
- GW22-26 fixtures: wool | Breeding | life | BRE | everything
A ‘proceed with caution’ choice due to its long-term rotation risk status, Harvey Barnes (£6.1m) nevertheless looks like a very solid difference in Gameweek 22.
The in-form winger was left on the bench in midweek but now looks set to start against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday.
Even more with Jacob Murphy (£6.0m) leaves the Carabao Cup match with a hamstring problem.
Barnes, who scored four goals in his last two games against Leeds United and Bournemouth before Tuesday evening, leads all Newcastle United midfielders minutes per shot in the penalty area this season (45.9).
He is also Newcastle’s leading goalscorer in all competitions, having scored 11 times.
“It’s a brilliant return from someone who has always had the ability to score, has always been a very, very good finisher, we see that consistently in training. It’s just great to see him getting the rewards on match day.”
“His two goals today were excellent and very pleasing for me because one comes from one side and the other from the other, so he shows versatility.” – Eddie Howe on Harvey Barnes after Newcastle’s victory over Bournemouth in the FA Cup
Considering this represents only 1.4% of FPL squads, this suggests Barnes could provide a short-term solution in the mid-range.
The first is Wolves, who, despite showing recent signs of improvement under Rob Edwards, still kept just one clean sheet all season.
Then it’s Aston Villa at St James’ Park, at which point Barnes could potentially be moved to someone like Enzo Fernandez (£6.4m), when we will hopefully know a little more about where Liam Rosenior wants to use him.
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