FPL GW3 Differentials: 5 Low-Owned Players to Target
Gameweek 3 is shaping up as a popular Wildcard week, which makes finding low-owned players with secure roles especially valuable. These five GW3 differentials all offer a combination of minutes, role, underlying involvement and upside that could separate your squad from the template.
For the full player order, see our FPL Gameweek 3 Rankings.
Check RotoWire's predicted lineups and injury report in the days before the deadline to confirm all starters, and keep an eye on any late fitness news that could affect the picks below.
| Player | Club | Price | Ownership | GW1-2 Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Egan | Hull | £4.0m | 4.3% | 17 |
| Phil Foden | Man City | £7.0m | 5.0% | 10 |
| Kai Havertz | Arsenal | £7.5m | 7.0% | 8 |
| Anthony Elanga | Newcastle | £6.1m | 8.1% | 17 |
| Kevin Schade | Brentford | £6.0m | 3.9% | 13 |
John Egan, Hull City
$4.0m | 4.3% ownership | 17 total points
Sometimes on a Wildcard, a budget player is all that makes the rest of the squad work, and Egan is exactly that. Only four defenders in all of FPL have scored more points through the opening two gameweeks.
Egan operates as the central center-back in a Hull back three, which means he sees the majority of his side's defensive action. That has been clear across GW1 and GW2, where he picked up 21 and 13 defensive contributions, respectively, with the majority coming as clearances. That volume makes him one of the most reliable DEFCON accumulators at the budget end of the market.
Hull will not sustain their clean sheet run all season, but at £4.0m with this kind of consistent underlying output and minimal price, Egan is worth building around.
Phil Foden, Manchester City
$7.0m | 5.0% ownership | 10 total points
Manchester City are the popular team for a Gameweek 3 Wildcard given their home fixture against Coventry, and with no clean sheets this season it makes sense to load up on attackers.
Foden has started both games on the right under manager Enzo Maresca, provided two assists in the 4-1 win over Crystal Palace and crucially played the full 90 minutes. Manchester City made a flurry of signings on the final days of the transfer window, but Foden should remain central to Maresca's plans, particularly over the next few gameweeks.
At 5.0% owned, he sits on the edge of differential territory and will not stay there long if he delivers against Coventry.
Kai Havertz, Arsenal
$7.5m | 7.0% ownership | 8 total points
Havertz may be the lowest scorer on this list through two games, but he's played the full 90 minutes for one of the best teams in the league in each of them. He showed his goalscoring ability with a goal in the opener against Coventry and again in the Community Shield victory over Manchester City.
The one area that may frustrate in certain gameweeks is his shot volume, having taken only one shot in each game, but his movement and positioning inside the box suggest that will improve as Arsenal settle into their rhythm.
In a forward pool that remains thin at every price point, 90 minutes and a defined starting role at Arsenal counts for a great deal.
Anthony Elanga, Newcastle
$6.1m | 8.1% ownership | 17 total points
Elanga has become a main attacking outlet for Newcastle and has scored two of their four league goals this season. His pace is his point of difference and has made him devastatingly effective on the counter-attack.
What feels different about him this season is his finishing. He has taken two shots in each game and put three on target, and his composure in front of goal has noticeably improved, though a lot of that is related to how his team plays under a new manager. Newcastle don't face another Big Six side until Arsenal in Gameweek 11, with two newly promoted sides arriving in Gameweeks 5 and 6.
That fixture run makes him one of the more compelling mid-price holds of the Wildcard window.
Kevin Schade, Brentford
$6.0m | 3.9% ownership | 13 total points
Brentford have been one of the best sides of the opening two gameweeks, scoring four goals in two games they mostly controlled, and Schade offers a value route into that attack at £2.0m less than Igor Thiago.
Against Spurs in GW1, Schade took five shots, all from inside the box, and created a chance. Against Leeds in GW2 he took three shots from inside the box and again created a chance. The underlying numbers across both games point to a player generating high-quality opportunities consistently.
For Wildcard managers wanting Brentford representation without spending £8.0m on Thiago, Schade is the most efficient entry point into one of the division's most productive attacks.
Final Thoughts
The biggest mistake in GW3 is chasing points without checking whether the role is sustainable. Elanga, Foden and Schade have the clearest combination of secure minutes and repeatable attacking involvement, while Egan offers the strongest budget route into DEFCON production. The best low-owned GW3 targets are the players whose roles should continue, not simply the ones who scored last weekend.
