DiffeRANCHals: 2025 Round 10

 

 

 

 

Every week, we’ll go over our 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 did not play), average = 4-5 points, good = 6-8 points, great = 9+ points. Double gameweeks (DGWs) are scored as follows: bust = 6 or fewer points (or not starting/on the bench), average = 7-9 points, good = 10-12 points and great = 13+ points. Players not available for selection are disregarded and not counted as either a positive or a negative in the article.

Week 9 Results: 

Matt:

• Edier Ocampo  – Good (8 points)
• Owen Wolff – Average (5 points)
• Jacen Russel-Rowe – Bust (3 points)

Ranch:

• Brayan Ceballos – Good (7 points)
• Brian Gutierrez – Great! (9 points)
• Kevin Denkey – Good (6 points)

Matt Results: 2 Great, 5 Good, 7 Average, 10 Bust

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

2025 Full Season Results: 6 Great, 15 Good, 11 Average, 18 Busts (64%)

 

While we might have led you astray two weeks ago, last week we had some solid picks to pick up! Especially with a few major chalk picks busting, if you chose anyone but Jacen Russel-Rowe, you might have made up some ground in the rankings. Why waste any more time with that silly chalk when you can switch it up on your head-to-heads and take leaps in OR? Let’s get into it!

Ranch: Kevin Long, $5.4m (Defender – Toronto)

I might need to get my brain checked after picking another Toronto player as a differential. Especially a defender of all positions. However, for anybody who hasn’t been paying attention recently, Toronto is on back to back clean sheets. The first one was hosting Minnesota, and last week they traveled to RSL. This week, as Toronto welcomes NYC to Canada, I like the idea of targeting another defensive matchup against NYCFC. Last week it worked with Ceballos. This week, I am looking towards Kevin Long to make a statement for Toronto. It’s also nice that he is the first game of the week.

Matt: Dagur Thorhallsson, $6.2m (Defender – Orlando)

Atlanta is a hot mess right now. They love to concede goals and the most expensive attack in the league has really struggled to score in the last few weeks. Surprisingly, Orlando looks to have solidified their early backline issues, making this matchup the perfect combo. Even though Thorhallsson’s attacking returns seem to be a thing of the past, his price point vs. Freeman opens up a lot of flexibility if you are struggling with budget. I think Orlando is the perfect early bench punt for the weekend and provides an easy pivot option for the late Saturday game and Sunday.

Ranch: Max Arfsten, $9.0m (Midfielder – Columbus)

With all the hype this week on Daniel Gazdag, I want to step back and look at the bigger picture. Columbus hosts San Jose, which is obviously a wonderful matchup for the Crew. For that reason, there are many reasonable offensive options to target. Most chalk is focusing on Daniel Gazdag, the newcomer from Philly for Columbus. After taking a look at stats, I personally think Max Arfsten needs more recognition. Arfsten has hit BOTH his KP and passing BPs in all but 1 game this entire season thus far. On top of that, he has contributed to 1 goal and 2 assists already this season. Keep a close eye on his movement up the wing!

Matt: Federico Bernardeschi, $9.3m (Midfielder – Toronto)

The early games are the best games to find differentials and throw them on your bench. You might be seeing Bernardeschi’s name and think, ‘okay, but he got a 2 last week against an awful RSL side.’ Yes, of course he did because Toronto was defending their 1-0 the entire game. The three games prior, he collected a total 21 KPs and is now going against NYC who has not only given up the 6th most SCAs according to Fbref, but also the most corner kicks in the entire league so far. With all that in mind, chance-creating and corner-kick-taking machine Bernardeschi should have a fairly safe floor and a pretty high ceiling this weekend.

Ranch: Brandon Vazquez, $6.5m (Forward – Austin)

If you want to really commit to watching a fun match this week, it’s going to be the Texas Derby between Houston and Austin. There should be some heated back and forth matters, lots of goals, and a lot to play for. The best way to force yourself to watch a match like this is to pick a player in the game. My advice is to look at Brandon Vazquez as that player. Last week he had so many goal chances, yet just finished 1 of them. This week Vazquez gets to play against a Houston team that allows just 2 less goals than the Galaxy. Vazquez should get plenty of chances once again, and hopefully convert his PK should it come this week.

Matt: Felipe Mora/Kevin Kelsy, $8.3m/$7.3m (Forward – Portland)

Maybe I let my anti-Timbers bias get in the way of my fantasy playing a bit because it has taken me a while to see this, but the Portland Timbers attack is the real deal. No Evander? Some problems. But not enough problems for Neville and Co. to keep the team scoring. Mora and Kelsy haven’t been able to stop putting the ball in the back of the net, and the team as a whole is 6 games unbeaten. Whichever striker starts up top for Portland against the Galaxy is who I’d want to have in my team this week.

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Contributors: 
Tyler Norman, @Ranchinator on Discord
Matt Nelson, @Tinkerman on Discord