Roll up, roll up, get your Gameweek 10 differentials! We've identified a handful of underrated gems who currently feature in fewer than 5% of teams and have every chance of bagging a double-digit haul this weekend.
Why Low-Ownership Picks Matter in Gameweek 10
Gameweek 10 is an even playing field with all 20 teams set to play once before the campaign pauses for another highly-anticipated international break. When every side has a single fixture, the pool of viable options widens, allowing managers to chase points from players who are not yet popular among the masses. Selecting a differential, someone owned by less than 5% of teams, can be the difference between a top-ten finish and a mid-table slip.
Jan Paul van Hecke (£4.4m): A Defender With Clean-Sheet Potential
Van Hecke (3.6% ownership) took full advantage of a 10-man Crystal Palace side last Saturday, earning 15 points by contributing to a clean sheet and converting one of his five shots. At the time of writing, he is the top-performing defender of Gameweek 9 and averages an impressive 6.7 points per game this season.
Among defenders who have played at least five games, only makeshift winger Maxim De Cuyper (£4.1m) boasts a better average at this stage. Van Hecke's next fixture is at Elland Road, where Leeds have scored just two goals in their last five outings and look short of inspiration in the final third. That defensive frailty makes a clean sheet a realistic expectation.
Managers who take a punt on the ex-Brighton centre-back can always sell him for a useful profit ahead of GW11 if they don't see him as a long-term mainstay. His low ownership, decent price and favourable fixture combine to make him a classic differential pick.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (£4m): Midfield Engine for Everton
Everton host Coventry on Friday night, and the early deadline means managers must lock in their line-up before the match starts. Dewsbury-Hall features in just 3.3% of teams, placing him firmly in differential territory. The Toffees' No 8 has already logged five goal involvements this season and ranks joint-second among all players for big chances created.
His points-per-game average of 6.6 sits above popular midfielders such as Marcus Tavernier (£3.7m), Bruno Fernandes (6.4m) and Martin Odegaard (£4.5m). With Everton's midfield likely to dominate possession against the Sky Blues, Dewsbury-Hall has a strong chance of adding both goals and assists, delivering the double-digit haul fantasy managers crave.
Yasin Ayari (£3.5m): Sweden's Rising Midfield Talent at Brighton
Ayari appears in just 0.3% of teams, making him the most under-selected player in this roundup. The Swedish midfielder scored Brighton's historic winner at the Etihad last weekend and is the Seagulls' second-most in-form player, a fraction behind Georginio Rutter (£4m) who has excelled in recent cup competitions.
Ayari has banked 33 points over the last two and a half Gameweeks and could add another point-scoring opportunity on Thursday if Brighton are required against Getafe in the Conference League. Brighton's upcoming fixtures, Hull (a), Universitatea Craiova (h), Newcastle (h), Bournemouth (a), Nottingham Forest (h), Monaco (h), Everton (h), Panathinaikos (a), Ipswich (h), are favourable on paper, suggesting continued involvement for Ayari.
James Hill (£3.7m) and Antonio Silva (£4m): Bournemouth's Overlooked Centre-Back Duo
The Cherries have won six games in a row in all competitions, with Marcus Tavernier (£3.7m) and Evanilson (£4.4m) now among the most selected assets in their respective positions. Yet Hill (2.1% ownership) and Silva (4.4% ownership) remain criminally overlooked.
Both centre-backs have benefited from Bournemouth's run of six consecutive clean sheets, propelling them up the defensive rankings. Their next match is an away game at Ipswich on Sunday, a fixture that could see another clean sheet and a modest points return for each.
How to Use These Differentials in Your Squad
When integrating low-ownership players, managers should consider squad balance, budget constraints and captaincy options. Van Hecke and Hill/Silva are priced at £4.4m and £3.7m-£4m respectively, fitting comfortably into most mid-price ranges. Dewsbury-Hall offers a midfield boost at £4m, while Ayari provides a cheap (£3.5m) but high-impact option.
Because these players are owned by a small minority, a strong performance can catapult a manager up the rankings while simultaneously dragging down rivals who have not selected them. The key is to monitor injury news, confirm starting line-ups and watch for any last-minute tactical changes that could affect playing time.
What to Watch Ahead of the Deadline
Gameweek 10's deadline falls on Friday night before Everton's match with Coventry. Managers must ensure their transfers and captain picks are submitted before the cut-off. Keep an eye on official team sheets released an hour before kick-off for any late injuries or rotation decisions, especially for clubs involved in multiple competitions such as Brighton (Conference League) and Bournemouth (European qualifiers).
After the deadline, the Dream Team app's Play Score Predictor will be available for free, offering a chance to predict weekend results and enter a £10,000 prize draw. While the predictor does not affect squad selection, it can provide additional engagement for fantasy enthusiasts.
Bottom Line: Low-Ownership Players Offer High Upside
Jan Paul van Hecke, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Yasin Ayari, James Hill and Antonio Silva each satisfy the three criteria for a valuable differential: low ownership, favourable fixtures and recent points-per-game averages that rival more popular picks. Selecting one or more of these assets could be the decisive move that separates the top-ten managers from the rest in Gameweek 10.
