2024 Round 2 DiffeRANCHals

Every week, I’m going to go over my suggestions from last week, and determine if they were a good or bad pick based on position and points. To describe in detail the ranking system, here is the metric: bust = 4 or fewer points (or not starting/on the bench), average = 5-6 points, good = 7-8 points, great = 9+ points. Players not available for selection I am disregarding and not counting as a positive or negative in the article.

DGW Scoring: Bust = 6 or fewer, Average = 7-9, Good = 10-12, Great = 13+

 

Week 1 Final Results: 

• Miki Yamane – Bust (2 points)
• Nick Hagglund – DNP (Murphy mentioned had a 9)
• Omar Campos – Average (5 points)
• Jon Gallagher – Bust (1 point)
• Dominik Yankov – Bust (3 points)
• Erik Thommy – Good (8 points)
• Cole Bassett – Bust (4 points)
• Christian Benteke – GREAT! (21 points, top scorer)
• Rafael Navarro – Bust (3 points)
• Sam Adeniran – Average (6 points)

2024 Full Season Results: 1 Great, 1 Good, 2 Average, 5 Busts

Welcome back to week 2 of the diffeRANCHals article. How were your scores? Ours were shocking, to say the least. With all of the crazy new scoring changes, the way that we are scoring for the season may change as we start to see average scores in games. How about Benteke, an article mention from last week, being the top scorer on the week with TWENTY-ONE points! As we get into this next swing of picks, keep in mind that CONCACAF Champions Cup is still ongoing for a variety of teams playing. Let’s get into the picks!

Dagur Thorhallsson, $6.5m (Defender – Orlando)

Dagur is a player that I would suggest as a bench player for the week. With Orlando playing in a rivalry match in Miami this weekend, I expect fireworks on both sides. So why would I suggest a defensive player when goals are expected? Well, Thorhallsson ended last week with 9 key passes, an insanely high number for a defender. Dagur got a rotation rest on the weekend during CCC, so I expect him to play a full 90 in this game. Should Orlando score a goal in open play, Dagur may be involved in the build-up. Keep an eye on him!

– Ranch

Noah Eile, $6.0m (Defender – NYRB)

Although new arrival Emil Forsberg might have stolen the show last week, posting 13 key passes and an eight-point performance without a goal or an assist, it’s his fellow countryman that we’re looking at this week. The 21-year-old center-back performed admirably in his debut, a scoreless draw against Nashville, racking up a 93% accuracy rate on 71 passes, enough for two bonus points alongside a clean sheet. With NYRB’s stout road defense from years past remaining away this week at Houston, who ran out a largely first-team squad against St Louis in Champions Cup action midweek, there’s more reason yet that the Red Bulls could double-dip in the shutout jar as they continue their start to the season.

-Brandon

Damir Kreilach, $7.0m (Midfielder – Vancouver)

KungFuOrca (aka Samurai Panda) deserves credit for this pick. In Vancouver’s CONCACAF Champions Cup matches against Tigres, Kreilach looked really good in that front three with White and Gauld. Even though Charlotte put together a solid performance against NYC last weekend, Vancouver should very much dominate this matchup and because of that Kreilach should rack up KPs and have plenty of chances to have attacking returns.

-Matt

Haile-Selassie, $6.1m (Midfielder – Chicago)

Another pick coming via the MLS Fantasy Boss Discord server, Chicago’s Maren Haile-Selassie could intrigue some folks as an alternative option to the more expensive Xherdan Shaqiri ($6.4m) and Brian Gutierrez ($8.0m), or, the highly popular Fabian Herbers (8.03% ownership). The Swiss-Ethiopian winger contributed eight key passes in the Fire’s season-opening 2-2 draw against Philadelphia, and comes up against a Cincinnati side that still had to dispatch Cavalier in Concacaf action (though doing so with a heavily-rotated side) and which looked a touch off the mark last weekend at home against Toronto.

-Brandon

Federico Bernadeschi, $8.0m (Forward – Toronto)

While it has been a rollercoaster of emotions for Bernadeschi at Toronto, he is still here for the time being and looking dangerous in the attack. He led the team in Shot-Creating Actions against a tough Cincinnati side and will be lining up on Sunday against a Revs team that loves to give up chances (allowed the most SCAs in 2023) and will be tired from a CONCACAF Champions Cup match Thursday night. If anyone is going to take advantage of New England, it will be Bernadrdeschi.

-Matt

Teemu Pukki, $8.0m (Forward – Minnesota)

With the forwards showing up in week 1 of fantasy, this is going to be an interesting section to be looking at going forward into the rest of the season. Pukki is a player that I expect to start to generate more and more points as Minnesota gets healthier. From what I understand, Reynoso is still out for this weekend’s game. Bongokuhle Hlongwane might also be out. As they start to return, Pukki’s points will slowly rise. So why pick him this week? Well, even with them out, Pukki put up 4 points last week. He also should be the primary PK taker for Minnesota. As they host their first home game of the season against Columbus, Pukki has the potential to show us what can happen when you sleep on a forward of his caliber.

-Ranch