FPL Waiver Wire: Gameweek 17 Differentials

Gameweek 17 is the calm before the storm. Teams get somewhat of a break after three straight midweeks with matches, but then Gameweek 18 is followed by Boxing Day and New Year's Day fixtures. While six teams are competing in the League Cup this upcoming midweek, a lot of them will feature backups. Some players were already rested and Liverpool probably played their hand more than any, as Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah all sat before taking part in Tuesday's UCL contest. In addition to the Reds not having a Gameweek 18 match, you'll have to deal with possible rest for any of their top players during the holiday season.

FPL DIFFERENTIALS

Mane is the most-owned Liverpool player, and by more than 20 percentage points over Salah, in the Premier League's official fantasy game, and it wouldn't be surprising if Salah's ownership dropped further in the coming weeks. Liverpool's senior squad has to travel to Qatar for Dec. 18 and Dec. 21/22 matches in the FIFA Club World Cup. Given Salah's ankle issues, I don't want to try my luck with him during this stretch because it's unknown what the lineup will look like. I think Mane is fine because he hasn't had injury issues, though the Dec. 26 trip to Leicester is by no means favorable. Either way, you have time to make a decision because Liverpool host Watford this weekend, so there's no reason to give up on those guys yet. The other player I'd give up on is Jamie Vardy, but he's also a week away from discussion with a home match against Norwich.

That said, there isn't one move at forward I'd make ahead of this gameweek. You could test out Chris Wood or David McGoldrick, but neither are in form or worth trusting. Dominic Calvert-Lewin would be intriguing given that he's starting under new management and coming off a brace, but I wouldn't back him with upcoming matches against Manchester United and Arsenal. 

Instead, I'd look for replacements in the midfield for Mason Mount and Bernardo Silva, and that's in addition to Salah. All three are on more than 10 percent of FPL squads, with Mount the third-most owned midfielder. While home against Bournemouth, he doesn't have bonus points since Gameweek 5, and he hasn't made the score-sheet in the last six league matches. The difficult schedule is about over for Aston Villa, which pushes Jack Grealish back into view, and he's surprisingly on fewer teams than John McGinn. Since returning from injury, Grealish has made the score-sheet in three of his last four starts and is doing it all for Villa, drawing almost five fouls per match. They travel to a suddenly iffy Sheffield United back line this weekend but after are home to Southampton and Norwich City. James Ward-Prowse is also a cheaper option who takes set pieces and has made the score-sheet in four of his last six. I don't like Southampton, but they are home against West Ham before the Villa trip. 

Crystal Palace may have the best upcoming schedule (v. Brighton, at Newcastle, v. West Ham, at Southampton, at Norwich) and while I'm not sure Wilfried Zaha and Luka Milivojevic are worth it, I'd definitely look at their back line. Vicente Guaita is oddly on two percent of teams and is coming off three straight clean sheets. After a rough run of fixtures, they're turning things around and at least two clean sheets in their next five matches seems likely. While Martin Kelly is the most popular Palace defender because of price, Gary Cahill is back from injury and at a similar rate. Elsewhere, Ezri Konsa has become a regular for Villa, and while they aren't as likely to secure clean sheets, they're at least possible due to schedule.

FANTRAX FINDS

There isn't much news about the forward situation in draft leagues because the best choices (who are available) remain whoever starts up front for Sheffield United. David McGoldrick is the most popular of the bunch, while Oliver McBurnie, Callum Robinson and Billy Sharp have to fight for time with Lys Mousset injured. The good thing is that they're home to Aston Villa and whoever starts will get opportunities.

In a normal week, Lucas Torreira would be in the midfield conversation because he's gone a full 90 in Arsenal's last two matches, but I can't suggest using him against Man City. I'd rather take a chance on Robbie Brady, Jack Cork or Jeff Hendrick against Newcastle. Burnley aren't playing well and haven't found a replacement for an injured Ashley Westwood, but they at least have a chance to win. Alexander Tettey is another guy who is on almost no teams and receiving consistent starts, though I'm not sure I'd use him at Leicester.

Maybe the biggest name at defender is Antonio Rudiger, who returned to the starting XI midweek and there's a good chance he stays there. Otherwise, there are plenty of other viable options, with Crystal Palace and Southampton in great matchups. There should be at least one of those guys available from James Tomkins and Gary Cahill to Ryan Bertrand and Cedric Soares. Once again, it seems almost too easy to grab a last-minute defender if your current ones are injured or in tough spots.

CAPTAIN DEEP DIVES

Now that Vardy is the most popular FPL player in the game, he'll be the most popular captain this gameweek at home against Norwich. Then again, Mane will get some love against Watford and the same for Abraham versus Bournemouth, so you'll have options. However, you come to me for the deep dives and I'm looking at Danny Ings and Raul Jimenez. Ings has somewhat gone under the radar with a goal in each of his last five starts, and he'll get chances to tally against West Ham, who are a mystery every match. They went from beating Chelsea 1-0 at Stamford Bridge to losing 2-0 against Wolves and allowing three goals to Arsenal in 10 minutes. Jimenez has made the score-sheet in seven of his last eight starts in all competitions (UEL included) and faces the unreliable Tottenham back line.