MLS Fantasy Boss A Fantasy MLS Community
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 = 3 or fewer points (or not starting/on the bench), average = 4-5 points, good = 6-8 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 19 Final Results:
Matt:
- Ranko Veselinovic – Bust (0 points)
- Felipe Mora – Average (5 points)
Brandon:
- Dylan Nealis – Bust (3 points)
- Hernan Lopez – Average (4 points)
Ranch:
- Erik Thommy – Good (6 points)
- Petar Musa – Bust (2 points)
2024 Full Season Results: 15 Great, 18 Good, 20 Average, 59 Busts
Matt Results: 4 Great, 5 Good, 9 Average, 21 Bust
Brandon Results: 6 Great, 5 Good, 7 Average, 19 Bust
Ranch Results: 5 Great, 8 Good, 4 Average, 19 Bust
Welcome back to week 20 of the diffeRANCHals article! Last week was… bad for all of us. But nothing like another double gameweek to get us back into shape, right? Check in down below for six more (hopefully better) picks ahead of Wednesday/Thursday and Saturday/Sunday games this week!
Matt:Dagur Thorhallsson, $6.4m (Defender – Orlando)
Orlando will for sure concede both matches this week, but both Toronto and DC are exploitable defenses to target. While Thor hasn’t been getting involved much in the attack, he has moments of flare, most recently an assist against Chicago and a goal against NYC. The Orlando fullback should have opportunities to get forward this matchweek to add to those moments.
Brandon: Miki Yamane, $8.5m (Defender – LA Galaxy)
Looking at the double-home Galaxy this week, one might be thinking that this isn’t much of a differential. However, with most looking at the Galaxy’s other last-name-starting-with-Y (and also Japanese) defender Maya Yoshida, right-back Yamane offers a chance to zag where others might zig. Yamane offers plenty offensive potential from the flank, and with the Galaxy on a three-game shutout streak, has a chance for extra points there too as well, in two tasty matchups — a midweek El Trafico, and on the weekend against Minnesota, who will be without both first-team goalkeepers Dayne St. Clair (international duty) and Clint Irwin (injury).
Matt: Maren Haile-Selassie, $7.5m (Midfielder – Chicago)
MHS is on a tear with a goal in each of the past few games and 15 KPs across those three games. This DGW he will be playing at home to a struggling Philly side and away to a San Jose side who can’t stop conceding. Chicago should be scoring in both these matchups and MHS should be very involved in the attack.
Ranch: Asier Illarramendi, $8.8m (Midfielder – Dallas)
With FC Dallas down Jesus Ferreira and Patrickson Delgado, they have to rely on their #10 playmaker Illarramendi to step up and make a difference. Last week against Cincinnati, he did step up and put up 6 points without a goal or assist. This week, Dallas gets to host Portland then travel to SKC, both of whom have weakened defenses. If you want to be different from the pack, take a chance on a Dallas midfielder with these favorable matchups.
Ranch: Bongokuhle Hlongwane, $7.6m (Forward – Minnesota)
I know what you’re thinking: “Ranch are you crazy? Minnesota is missing just about everybody on their team!” Well, yes, I am crazy. On top of being crazy, I also have taken a peek at Bongi’s scores recently and his opponents this week. First Minnesota gets to host a Vancouver side who just gave up 3 goals to STL, then they travel to LAG, the 3rd worst defensive team in xGA. With a player who has been figuring it out next to Jeong Sang-Bin, I see that as an opportunity to put up some top tier numbers on a week where forwards aren’t as set in stone.
Brandon: Federico Bernardeschi, $11.6m (Forward – Toronto)
This pick takes a page out of the “one great game is better than two decent games” book, in contrast to the popular Cucho, Arango and LAG/LAFC options this week. The Reds host Orlando this week, a side that didn’t travel well to NYCFC last Friday, and who had just one win in five attempts throughout June, conceding 12 goals along the way. Although Toronto themselves haven’t looked great for a while (including last week’s dramatic finish against Atlanta), Bernardeschi has been in great form, racking up two goals and two assists plus a bevy of bonus points in his last four games.
