2024 Round 24 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 = 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 23 Final Results: 

Matt:

• Diego Gomez – Bust (3 points)
• Alonso Martinez – Great! (14 points)

Brandon:

• Tim Ream – Average (4 points)
• Karol Swiderski – Good (6 points)

Ranch:

• Yeimar – Bust (1 point)
• Marcel Hartel – Great! (11 points)

2024 Full Season Results: 23 Great, 24 Good, 22 Average, 67 Busts

Matt Results: 8 Great, 5 Good, 9 Average, 24 Bust

Brandon Results: 7 Great, 9 Good, 9 Average, 20 Bust

Ranch Results: 8 Great, 10 Good, 4 Average, 22 Bust

 

Welcome back to week 24 of the diffeRANCHals article! Last week was a fun one, where differentials were essential if you wanted a good score on the week. The chalk from the week wasn’t the greatest, but the differentials hit! Look at Alonso Martinez and Marcel Hartel from last week, absolutely amazing scores!

Now we are entering game week 24 where there was already a midweek game. Should you still have some positions open for differentials, here are the picks for the week. Let’s get into it!

Brandon: Jackson Ragen, $10.0m (Defender – Seattle)

So you might look at this pick and think ‘he’s gone absolutely crazy’ — and to be honest, you might partially be right for thinking that. However, saying that with… some pause, hear me out. Portland will be without Felipe Mora and Jonathan Rodriguez, both due to suspensions. Phil Neville’s side also just conceded four goals last week on set pieces, something that the Timbers have struggled with over the last couple years. Coincidentally, Ragen, just last weekend against Minnesota, happened to net a header off a wide Rusnak cross. Yes, clean sheets are rare in this Cascadia rivalry with a lot of games ending 2-1, and yes, the Sounders still have both Evander and Santi Moreno to deal with. As a late option though, why not have some fun?

Matt: Dagur Thorhallsson, $7.0m (Defender – Orlando)

While his goal involvements have dropped off recently, Thorhallsson still likes to get forward and be involved in Orlando’s attack. And while that isn’t the sole reason to get him on its own, Orlando is hosting a garbage heap of a team in Nashville. They are continuing to struggle in the attack, scoring .6 goals per away game, and they also are giving up plenty of chances, something that Thor could take advantage of. Not only does Orlando have a chance at a clean sheet, but similarly to their game against DCU GW 20, Thor could really pop off by getting a goal involvement as well.

Ranch: Luca Orellano, $9.9m (Midfielder – Cincinnati)

I know that I mentioned Orellano on the podcast briefly, but I really do think that a Cincinnati player is going to be the top scorer on the week. How can you not trust Cincinnati when they have a home game against Montreal? I mean New England even just beat Montreal 5-0 ON THE ROAD! That is saying something. With Lucho Acosta’s suspension for this game, Orellano should be the guy to fill-in for Lucho’s position. If not Orellano, it will be Yuya Kubo, who is also a fun pick.

Matt: Sebastian Driussi, $7.8m (Midfielder – Austin)

Has Austin had a good season? Nope. Has Driussi had a good season? Nope. But have I made good picks recently? … Maybe! But recently, Driussi is doing a great job getting involved in the attack, collecting KPs and shots. Looking at goals in general, Austin has scored in 85% of their home games and, similarly, Vancouver has been scored on 85% of their away games. In other words, Austin should be scoring and if someone is going to be involved, why not Driussi?

Brandon: Osman Bukari, $9.3m (Forward – Austin)

At the risk of jinxing Bukari’s score in my own team, as has seemingly been the case all season somehow, the Ghanaian forward is my second pick this week. Tied in part to Matt’s reasoning for Driussi, Bukari has shown out decently in his first couple of appearances as long as you ignore his double-booking sending-off in Leagues Cup, scoring a high-effort goal last week against Nashville. Most importantly here though, is the Verde’s opposition this week — a Vancouver side who had to grind out a 1-0 win over Canadian Premier League opposition Pacific FC on Tuesday in the Canadian Championship, in which much of the squad Vanni Sartini trotted out was first-choice (or near enough to first-choice) and now make the 1,900 mile (or 3,000 kilometre) one-way trip to Austin.

Ranch: Hugo Cuypers, $10.3m (Forward – Chicago)

Another player who I hinted to on the MLS Fantasy Boss podcast was Hugo Cuypers. Reid himself even likes this pick! Cuypers is the go-to forward for Chicago, and I would assume PK taker now that Shaqiri is gone. Chicago is known for scoring garbage time goals in almost every match, and I expect the same when Miami comes to town. I don’t expect Chicago to win this game, but I do think that they will score a goal. For this, I am betting on Cuypers to be the guy to make that happen.