While Double Gameweek 32 isn’t over just yet — with Newcastle set to face Crystal Palace on Wednesday — it’s a good time to start planning ahead.
In this article, we’re spotlighting five differential picks for Double Gameweek 33 who could help you climb the ranks, all without leaning too heavily on the usual suspects.
But before we reveal the names, here’s a quick look at the criteria we’ve used to select them:
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Kevin De Bruyne delivered a reminder of his class in Gameweek 32, racking up 12 points against Crystal Palace thanks to a superb free-kick goal and an assist.
✅ Goal and assist vs Palace
— Fantasy Football Fix (@FantasyFootyFix) April 14, 2025
✅ Says he's now "basically pain-free"
✅ Double Gameweek 33: Everton & Villa
Anyone tempted by one last De Bruyne hurrah? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/JAZQoYs8Cn
This performance could be the start of a strong finish to the season, especially given the Belgian’s recent comments:
“It’s been a hard year. You know, having a hernia wasn’t fun but I think now I would say I’m basically pain-free for the last six weeks and that’s a massive difference—playing with pain or no pain. It was hard, but now I feel free. I’m able to do a lot of training sessions and I feel I can do a good job.”
His improved fitness suggests we could see more consistent minutes in the final stretch of the campaign. However, the ever-present risk of Pep Guardiola’s rotation – the dreaded Pep roulette – still lingers.
De Bruyne is projected to score 10.0 points in Double Gameweek 33, with matches against Everton and Aston Villa. That’s the highest projected score among all players (not just differentials), according to the Predicted Points & Stats tool.
In just 22 appearances this season, De Bruyne has created 44 chances, including 12 big chances, and registered 9 assists. If he’s given significant minutes in DGW33, there’s every chance he could return again—with an assist or two well within reach.
At the time of writing, Arsenal are yet to play their second leg against Real Madrid in the Champions League. Martinelli’s involvement and fitness following that crucial clash will be worth monitoring closely.
With Arsenal managing their squad for European commitments, nailing down their attacking starters has been difficult. However, Martinelli has played 304 minutes across Arsenal’s last four league matches—only Declan Rice (345) has more among midfielders. This hints at some favour in Arteta’s rotation plans, though there are no guarantees.
In a recent Who To Target article, we compared Martinelli with Merino over the last five matches. While the Brazilian came out on top in many underlying stats, it was the Spaniard who delivered two goals compared to Martinelli’s none.
DGW33 brings favourable fixtures against Ipswich and Crystal Palace, and Martinelli is projected to score 6.8 points. With six goals and four assists this season, he’s clearly capable of returns when given the minutes.
According to the Predicted Lineup tool, Martinelli currently has a 66% chance of starting against Ipswich. However, there’s still considerable uncertainty around which three Arsenal attackers will be selected.
Which Arsenal midfielder do you think will score the most FPL points in DGW33? 🤔
— Fantasy Football Fix (@FantasyFootyFix) April 16, 2025
Choosing the right Gunners asset for this double gameweek could be a big differential play—but success may come down to getting lucky with minutes.
Rashford finds himself on the differential radar again, despite drawing a blank against Southampton last gameweek.
Aston Villa’s Champions League journey came to an end on Tuesday night, losing 5-4 on aggregate to PSG. With their European campaign over, the focus now shifts entirely to securing a top-five finish in the Premier League. This could lead to a more settled and consistent starting XI—which may benefit Rashford.
The Manchester United loanee has started each of the last three matches up front and in five of Villa’s last six games across all competitions. He appears to be edging ahead of Ollie Watkins in the pecking order, though nothing is certain.
Villa face Newcastle and Manchester City in Double Gameweek 33, and Rashford is projected to score 6.0 points. While that may seem modest, it reflects the uncertainty around his minutes. Still, for FPL managers looking to climb the ranks, this could be the kind of calculated gamble that pays off.
Using the Opta Heatmaps tool to compare Rashford and Watkins per 90 minutes since Gameweek 25 (when Rashford joined Villa), there are clear differences: Watkins leads on goal threat, while Rashford has shown more creativity—although it's worth noting Rashford has also been deployed out wide in some matches.
Like Martinelli, Timber’s DGW33 potential depends on his involvement in Arsenal’s Champions League second leg against Real Madrid. Any injury news or minutes in that game could influence his availability for the league fixtures.
Timber has quietly impressed this season, returning 110 points so far—including one goal and two assists. While his attacking threat is limited (xG: 1.05, xA: 0.97), there’s still potential for a return at either end of the pitch.
At the time of writing, Timber is the third most transferred-in defender this week (57,922), trailing only Gvardiol (87,439) and teammate Saliba (99,583).
With favourable fixtures against Ipswich and Crystal Palace in DGW33, Timber’s projected 7.2 points make him a compelling differential. Arsenal are given a 90% chance of keeping at least one clean sheet—the highest of any side—according to the Predicted Points & Stats tool.
With highly owned defensive assets like Raya (42.9%) and Saliba (32.8%) already popular among managers in the top one million, Timber could offer an alternative route to Arsenal’s clean sheets while helping your team stand out.
Picking a Manchester City player always comes with the risk of rotation—but Ruben Dias is starting to look like an exception. The Portuguese centre-back has started each of City’s last six league matches and, according to the Opta Stats Sandbox, has played more minutes (540) than any other City player during that time.
While Dias hasn’t registered a goal or assist this season, his underlying stats hint at some minimal attacking upside, with an xG of 1.12 and xA of 0.45. Still, his primary value comes from clean sheet potential—and with two shutouts in City’s last three games, he’s part of a defence finding form at the right time.
With fixtures against Everton and Aston Villa in DGW33, Dias is projected to score 6.3 points. For FPL managers seeking a (possibly) nailed-on route into City’s defence with differential appeal, Dias could be a smart and steady pick.
Double Gameweek 33 presents a real opportunity for FPL managers willing to roll the dice on high-upside differentials.
Kevin De Bruyne’s return to fitness and form offers explosive potential—if Pep grants him the minutes. Martinelli and Timber give FPL managers intriguing routes into Arsenal’s double, though rotation risk looms large. Ruben Dias brings consistency and clean sheet appeal as City’s most nailed defender, while Rashford’s minutes and attacking involvement at Villa could reward bold managers looking to climb the ranks.
Each option comes with risk, but in a gameweek where the template could falter, it’s these calculated gambles that might just make all the difference.
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