DiffeRANCHals: 2025 Round 13

 

 

 

 

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 12 Results: 

Matt:

• Andy Najar – Good (7 points)
• Lucho Acosta – Bust (3 points)
• Darren Yapi – Bust (2 points)

Ranch:

• Tayvon Gray- Bust (3 points)
• Diego Luna – Good (6 points)
• Danny Musovski – Good (6 points)

Meg:

• Aaron Herrera- Average (4 points)
• Brian Gutierrez – Bust (3 points)
• Mohammand Sofo – Bust (2 points)

Matt Results: 4 Great, 7 Good, 7 Average, 15 Bust

Ranch Results: 5 Great, 14 Good, 4 Average, 11 Bust

Meg Results: 1 Great, 2 Good, 1 Average, 2 Busts

2025 Full Season Results: 10 Great, 23 Good, 12 Average, 28 Busts (61%)

 

Welcome back to diffeRANCHals! This is our first big DGW of the season and I couldn’t be happier to have the experts of Meg (OR33) and Matt (OR27) with me to pick some diffeRANCHal players for this week. Although the week may seem chalky, that is when scores get boring. Need to brighten up your day with fun picks? Check out the players listed below. Let’s get into it!

Ranch: Mo Farsi, $8.5m (Defender – Columbus)

With everybody else looking at the defender matchups of home teams and favorable matchups, Farsi seems to quietly fade into the background. This week, however, Columbus starts by traveling to Montreal then coming back home for a rivalry game against Cincinnati. Mo Farsi is the attacking presence on the wing for Columbus, which has a chance at a goal/assist this week. More than that, though, is the fact that the Columbus Crew is the best defensive team this DGW in goal allowed aside from Minnesota. Their chances at getting a clean sheet this week are large simply for that reason.

Matt: Ryan Hollingshead, $7.0m (Defender – LAFC)

LAFC have some sneaky good defensive matchups this week that is going under the radar. Many are expecting Seattle to rotate a bit in preparation for their big weekend game against Portland, and El Trafico, while usually a goal fest, will be again an LA Galaxy team that has set records with how bad they have started the year. Hollingshead specifically can easily get in the attack and potentially find a goal involvement in this double game week alongwith a clean sheet or two.

Meg: Francis Westfield, $7.5m (Defender –Philadelphia Union)

When you think Philly defense the first name that comes to mind is Wagner, and rightfully so. He is always finding a way to be involved, however they have another defender that seems to be getting a piece of the attack and sometimes snagging a goal- Francis Westfield. Maybe you are like me and think Philly has a wonderful DGW with promising double CS results but don’t want to spend a ton of your budget on running Wagner- Westfield can get you the same chances for BP production, attacking potential and that CS but at a cheaper price tag. Philly is a split DGW this week hosting a very bleak LA Galaxy and then traveling to a struggling Atlanta United both teams in which are struggling to score goals really sets high chances for a double CS this week. 

Ranch: Cristian Roldan, $9.8.m (Midfielder – Seattle)

If there is any Sounder that wakes up during rivalry matches for Seattle, its Cristian Roldan. With the Sounders playing against LAFC on Wednesday, which is generally considered a rival of sorts due to both being good teams in the past few years, and Portland on Saturday, the matchups are perfect for Roldan. Cristian is the enforcer when it comes to Portland. Although Cristian Roldan is the 6/8 pivot with Obed Vargas, I do still fully believe he has the chance at an assist this week. If that does not come up, I still trust his bonus point production for the DGW points.

Meg: Onni Valakari, $8.4m (Midfielder –San Diego FC)

I know everyone knows that Valakari seems to always make his way into my lineup when matchups are juicy but if you are trying to run more premium defenders this week, he is cheaper than the more chalky pick- Andres Dreyer. The big thing to weigh when choosing an attacker in SDFC, is knowing which one is going to pop off the most. In the games that I have watched of theirs, I typically feel that Valakari is always trying to set things up and create chances which is why I feel he is a great play this week – double home games vs Colorado Rapids team who just got shut out by SJ while at home and a lackluster Sporting Kansas City squad who hasn’t looked cohesive much this season. If you are running an autoroo (which I strongly encourage) he makes a great bench punt. 

Matt: Marco Pasalic, $9.5m (Midfielder – Orlando)

Ojeda is rightfully pretty chalk, but Pasalic has an incredibly high ceiling this weekend too. Being at home against a Charlotte team that has struggled on the road is a great spot for Orlando in general, but if Marshall Rutty starts on the left side again I though Pasalic can do a lot of damage. The Florida derby in Miami also promises to be a fun high scoring game. I really like Ojeda this week (if he starts both), but adding Pasalic alongside him could be a great way to gain some ground and get a good start in FCL qualifying.

Meg: Giacoma Vrioni, $8.0m (Forward– CF Montreal)

Montreal is just starting to click and I think we can thank Vrioni’s return for that. This is a deep differential this week but once again, as long as you are running an autoroo, Vrioni makes a great choice to be a part of it. Montreal is also a double home vs a Columbus Crew who have been letting a few goals happen and an inconsistent Toronto FC, which happens to be a derby match. Vrioni also has been getting 5+ key passes per match which helps him look even more appealing, snagging those BPs. Last but not least, you know how I always suggest listening to your gut and rolling on those feelings, I have a feeling that Vrioni will pop off this week. Are you brave enough to take him? 

Ranch: Danny Musovski, $6.4m (Forward – Seattle)

Time to go for 6 goals in a row! I mentioned Musovski on the podcast and I do really like him this week. I personally cannot pull the trigger on taking him, but I love the idea of picking a forward in form, especially during a DGW. Keep close eyes on Seattle as they have two good matchups this week!

Matt:  Cedric Teuchert, $7.0m (Forward – St. Louis)

Has St Louis been really bad? Yes. Has Teuchert been a shell of his former self? Also yes. But part of hitting differentials targeting certain matchups that could pop off, and I really like STL hosting Sporting Kansas City in the first part of this double game week is a great matchup. If St. Louis can take advantage of Sporting’s inconsistent backline, Teuchert should be involved. In favorable matchups, he also can collect KPs alongside his attempts on goal. So if Teuchert can get a solid score, anything he does in Minnesota for the second part of the DGW.

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