2024 Round 7 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 6 Final Results: 

• Ryan Hollingshead – Bust (2 points)
• Sam Junqua – Bust (1 point)
• Albert Rusnak – Average (5 points)
• Carlos Andres Gomez – Bust (1 point)
• Jared Stroud – Average (4 points)
• Bongokuhle Hlongwane – Bust (1 point)
• Mikael Uhre – Bust (2 points)

2024 Full Season Results: 4 Great, 4 Good, 9 Average, 24 Busts

Matt Results: 5 Average, 9 Bust

Brandon Results: 2 Great, 4 Average, 7 Bust

Ranch Results: 2 Great, 4 Good, 8 Bust

 

Welcome back to week 7 of the diffeRANCHals article. It seems that we got off on the wrong foot last week. That is okay, though, because we will bounce back with a lot of positives this week. After doing some thorough research, I truly believe (aside from Ranch’s picks) that this might be our best week yet. Keep your eyes peeled because it is the off-week where we have picked the top scorer of the week in previous iterations of the article. Let’s get into it!

Ranch: Chris Brady, $6.0m (Goalkeeper – Chicago)

This is solely a gut pick. I would not advise picking Brady due to the lack of clean sheets that Chicago tends to put up. However, he was the first person in my mind when I was looking through the matchups. Why am I not picking a defender? Well, that is because I like to live life on the edge, and I made a name for myself by picking differentials, so I chose a goalkeeper this time. I also love the idea of betting on Matt to have another bust this article!

Ranch: Fernando Alvarez, $6.3m (Defender – Montreal)

Listen to me, Linda. I have watched every single Seattle Sounders game so far this season. If there is anything that I have learned, it is that Seattle does not know how to score this year. Out of all the options for Montreal, Alvares has the highest average, so he is the player that I am putting on the article. Unless Montreal gives up a penalty kick, I can see a clean sheet happening. And for all the people who read this, feel free to ping me about how I am putting a Montreal player on here when typically I would never do that.

Brandon: Julio Cascante, $6.9m (Defender – Austin)

It’s straight back to Texas for another defender this week – the Verde third of the Lone Star state, to be specific, with Austin centerback Julio Cascante. Despite their own defensive frailties, San Jose are equal, if not worse, for conceding key passes and scoring opportunities, particularly on the road. Although Cascante (and Austin) likely won’t keep a clean sheet this week, Cascante has also seen hauls at the other end of the pitch, scoring twice off headed goals so far this season; a notable point given the Quakes’ have already conceded four goals off of corner kicks themselves.

Matt: Amine Bassi $7.7m (Midfielder – Houston)

While he hasn’t played a ton this season, Bassi has been an important part of Houston’s attack when he is on the field. His two starts have yielded 15 KPs and 10 Crosses, giving him the best chance creation per 90 stats on the team. Chicago has given up multiple goals in all but one of their matches this season and their leaky backline has had no reprieve at home, giving up 2 goals to Cincinnati and 3 goals to Montreal. To add onto their defensive struggles, Chicago will be without the suspended CB Carlos Teran after getting a red card against Atlanta last week. All this should mean plenty of chances will come Houston’s way and with Bassi pulling the strings, he should be involved in whatever Houston does in front of goal.

Brandon: Yaw Yeboah, $8.7m (Midfielder – Columbus)

The Crew’s Ghanaian wide player has been as consistent as consistent can be so far this season, having picked up a pile of bonus points to go along with his three assists. Despite a 0 in Columbus’ ten-man showing against Charlotte, Yeboah has managed to average a 5.33, and could be a good shout to add to his 34 key passes against a defensively shaky DC. Furthermore, with Cucho Hernandez’s status still in flux, other names along Columbus’ front line, including Yeboah – and honorable mention Diego Rossi (F, $7.6m) – will likely pick up the slack, having already done so in a 1-1 draw midweek against Tigres in Champions Cup action.

Matt: Willy Agada $7.1m (Forward – SKC)

While one of the many unofficial rules of FMLS is not to bet on or against the Portland Timbers. But two things seem to be consistent with Portland so far this season: Evander is going to score BPs and that backline will give up plenty of chances. That is where Agada comes in. Since Russell’s injury, Agada has had 1 goal, 1 assist, and 19(!) KPs, and 12 shots across two games. SKC should have a similar attacking threat against Portland and Agada should be a main part of that attack, collecting plenty of bonus points along the way.

Brandon: Teemu Pukki, $8.8m (Forward – Minnesota)

Although Minnesota’s Finnish talisman hasn’t had the same talisman-ic production yet this season, sitting on just two goals from five matches (with both scored in the same match against Orlando), he gets the nod this week as MNUFC welcomes RSL to Allianz on Saturday. With RSL yet to keep a clean sheet in non-inclement weather this season, and the Loons flying high under new manager Eric Ramsay… well, actually, who am I kidding… this pick is mostly just for the vibes, even if Pukki usually only plays ~70 minutes.