Find out why Wolfsburg player Yannick Gerhardt could be an early gem along with other differential picks in our Fantasy Bundesliga differential picks for matchday 17.
Forwards
Saša Kalajdžić Vs Arminia Bielefeld (A)
Kalajdzic was the go-to budget forward before he was replaced by Nicolás González due to a string of subpar performances but now replaces him against Arminia since he is suspended for accumulation of yellow cards. The Austrian target man might be rescinded due to the bench but he is having an underrated season with five goals and three assists in 15 games. Six of those games off the bench. Stuttgart boasts the best away record in the league and will look to secure another away victory at the Bielfelder Alm with 4.9M Kalajdzic leading the line.
Midfielders
Yannick Gerhardt Vs FSV Mainz 05 (A)
Wolfsburg has always been in the need of a creative midfielder since KDB’s departure after his record-breaking 21 assist season back in 14/15. Many players have tried to fill in but they’ve been unable to so far. In desperation to create some chances, Head coach Oliver Glasner pushed Gerhardt up the pitch as an attacking midfielder. He has had stints as a defensive midfielder and in defence but stitching key-passes and creating goal-scoring opportunities might be his hidden talent. Gerhardt has lead Wolfsburg in key passes over the last two games including six key-passes which resulted in two assists and 15 fantasy points last week against RB Leipzig. He is certainly one to watch as he settles into the playmaker role and could be a budget gem at just 6.5M.
Ondrej Duda Vs Schalke (A)
To say that Koln is due a goal is an understatement. They’ve now failed to score in five Bundesliga games in a row and face the worst defense in the league this week – Schalke. This fixture has, surprisingly, been a goal-scoring one in the past with minimum two goals the last four times these teams met each other. Duda has been filling in out-of-position (OOP) in the absence of striker Sebastian Andersson and will look to exploit the worst set-piece defending team’s vulnerabilities with his free kicks and corner kicks. Teammate Marius Wolf deserves a shout for his recent performances of 10,8,10 at just 4.5M. He is a cheaper entry and offers a higher floor than Duda.
Defender
Jannes Horn Vs Schalke (A)
Koln might have conceded five goals in their last away game against Freiburg but they are still the joint second-best away defense in the league with just nine goals conceded. There was some hype that Schalke would turn their season around after the 4-0 win against Hoffenheim – or at least their attack would but they only registered four shots against Frankfurt and scored with the only one on target. These are two bottom teams playing each other but Koln has a much better chance of keeping a clean sheet here than Schalke. If you want to go more budget than 2.2M Horn then Sava-Arangel Čestić will start and costs just 1M. So you won’t feel anything even if Schalke happen to score.
Goalkeeper
Koen Casteels Vs FSV Mainz (A)
Wolfsburg have kept a clean sheet in each of the last four times these sides met and looking at Mainz’s recent performances, I am hopeful that it will be five clean sheets in a row. That being said, saves matter more in this game than clean sheets and Mainz keeper Robin Zentner is another option for his shot-stopping ability.
Differential XI MD 17
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