2024 Round 4 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 3 Final Results: 

• Tim Parker – Bust (1 point)
• Andrew Privett – Bust (3 points)
• Santiago Rodriguez – Average (5 points)
• Santiago Moreno – Bust (3 points)
• Giorgos Giakoumakis – Great (21 points)
• Elias Manoel – Bust (2 point)

2024 Full Season Results: 2 Great, 1 Good, 4 Average, 14 Busts

Welcome back to week 4 of the diffeRANCHals article. We are now 2 for 3 on finding the top scoring player of the week in one of these articles. Maybe you should keep your eyes peeled on the players more often.

This week we changed format a little bit because we felt like it would be better to target defenders with the differential picks. Let’s get into it!

Julian Aude, $5.5m (Defender – LA Galaxy)

We start off this week’s article out west with the LA Galaxy’s Julian Aude, a comparatively cheaper option on the cost scale at 5.5m. Although the Galaxy defense hasn’t been the strongest to start of the season, with this pick, we’re tipping Aude – and his number on the opposite side of the Galaxy defense, Miki Yamane ($6m) – to contribute offensively against a St Louis side who will be missing their primary creator in Eduard Löwen, due to injury. Yamane does offer you a slightly safer floor due to his higher and more accurate passing volumes, but Aude could still be a cheaper way into a clean sheet with attacking returns, especially if he betters his one assist and three key passes that he picked up away at Nashville last week.

– Brandon

Sam Junqua, $5m (Defender – Dallas)

FC Dallas doesn’t have the best Clean Sheet chance this week, but Vancouver has given up the 3rd most passes per 90 in the league. Similarly to other CBs that have played against Vancouver, Junqua should get 1 if not 2 passings BPs this week. If Dallas can hold Vancouver’s struggling attack off, Junqua could put together a solid score.

– Matt

Caleb Wiley, $5.5m (Defender – Atlanta)

Are you looking for a defender that is cheap with a good matchup? Look no further than Caleb Wiley. I know what you are thinking: “Doesn’t Atlanta still have Guzan?” Well, yes they do! Am I trusting that he will keep a clean sheet? Not likely. However, I do still like Wiley’s offensive pressure on the wing. Additionally, New England just played a full game on Wednesday in Mexico, so they will likely have tired legs for this match.

-Ranch

Mathieu Choiniere, $6.1m (Midfielder – Montréal)

Playing their fourth consecutive match on the road to the start the season due to the unavailability of both Stade Saputo and Olympic Stadium, one could be forgiven for not looking at Montréal, especially with a wealth of cheap midfield options on the other side of their matchup against Chicago to lead off the week. Laurent Courtois, however, seems to have breathed new life into the Québec club, with the side taking seven of nine possible points so far, in increasingly high-scoring games. This bodes well for Choinière, who has picked up good bonus points for passing and key passes after weathering a quiet game against Orlando to open the campaign, having also contributed an assist in last week’s win over Inter Miami. At just 6.1m and with the first game on the schedule, Choinière could be the perfect player to place on the front end of a switcheroo, especially if you’re looking to upgrade elsewhere in your team.

– Brandon

Gabriel Pirani, $7.3m (Midfielder – DC)

To be clear, there are better options in DC United’s attack. What Pirani gives you is a cheaper option and different look. Klich and Santos give you more set piece plays, but Pirani gives you more open play creation which is where Miami has given up the 4th most chances per 90 from this season. Benteke’s probable return also gives Pirani a boost in his potential.

-Matt

Alan Pulido, $7.6m (Forward – SKC)

SKC already has a good matchup this week – playing against a San Jose team who has allowed 8 goals through 3 games. Given that a good chunk of people are eyeing Johnny Russell as one of their midfielder picks, I would suggest doubling down on their offense with Alan Pulido. This guy has been a consistent scorer for SKC since the day he arrived. Once he opens his account for the season, the floodgates will open as well!

-Ranch