DiffeRANCHals: 2025 Round 2

 

 

 

 

 

Every week, we’ll go over our suggestions from the previous week, and determine if they were a good or bad pick based on player position and points. Here is the scoring system: 

• 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 
• great = 13+ points
• Players not available for selection are disregarded and not counted as either a positive or a negative.

Week 1 Results: 

Matt:

• Tomas Totland – Good (8 points)
• Santi Moreno – DNP
• Ezequiel Ponce – Good (6 points)

Ranch:

• Vitor Costa – Good (7 points)
• Saba Lobjanidze – Good (7 points)
• Jacen Russell-Rowe – Good (8 points)

Matt Results: 2 Good

Ranch Results: 3 Good

2025 Full Season Results: 0 Great, 5 Good, 0 Average, 0 Busts (100%)

 

Ranch: Andy Najar, $6.8m (Defender – Nashville)

Last week Nashville held a clean sheet against New England at home. This week, they travel to New Jersey/York to play the Red Bulls. A positive in this travel is that the Red Bulls were shut out in week 1 and looked shaky in the attack. I am choosing to focus on Andy Najar, the new right wingback for Nashville this week. Najar is a former DCU player and was successful there. In week 1, Najar was just as active in the attack, racking up 3 KP and 1 cross. As the season continues, I would suggest keeping a close eye on Najar and his success in Nashville.

Matt: Sam Adekugbe, $6.5m (Defender – Vancouver)

Is this point chasing? Maybe, but Adekugbe was a great attacking threat against a lifeless Portland team. Do you know who else looked lifeless last week? The defending MLS Cup Champs LA Galaxy. From the injuries they are facing and the turnover they had after the final, they look confused on what to do out on the pitch and away to Vancouver seems like another spot for them to struggle. Adekugbe should have plenty of chances to get forward again this weekend and can find himself some KPs and a potential attacking return.

Matt: Philip Zinckernagel, $7.7m (Midfielder – Chicago)

Brian Gutierrez is out with a suspension, so the question is who will take over as the big chance creator? I have a feeling (and so does Backheel’s depth charts) that Zinckernagel will be their main central creator, hopefully linking up with Bamba outwide. What is great about Zinckernagel is that he also took all of Chicago’s corner kicks against Columbus. This is a tasty matchup against a DC United team that looks like they are going to try and concede goals for fun, so with Gutierrez off the field why not search for another creative outlet to double up with Bamba?

Ranch: Ignatius Ganago, $6.5m (Midfielder – New England)

I don’t even know how to pronounce this guy’s name, but I love his playing style–Ganago is lined up as a left winger for New England. Although there were no goals scored in week 1, Ganago still produced 5 KP. He also passed the eye test, as he was cooking defenders down the line. I am looking forward to seeing how he plays this weekend as New England hosts the Columbus Crew.

Ranch: Brian White, $8.1m (Forward – Vancouver)

There were two teams that had the most convincing wins in week 1: San Jose and Vancouver. Although Brain White was not involved in any of the 4 goal contributions, he still finished on 5 points. Vancouver do have a mid-week game on Thursday, however I still expect them to play a full lineup as the Galaxy come to town. It sounds weird to say, but in week 1 the Galaxy looked really bad. With the idea in mind of Vancouver dominating and the Galaxy looking poor, I have high hopes in White scoring a goal or two on Sunday.

Matt: Brandon Vazquez, $8.0m (Forward – Austin)

I know I’m a Sounders fan and I like to think I’m fairly unbiased. But I don’t need to try very hard to see how easily the Timbers folded against Vancouver this weekend. Yes, they got a red card early that really affected the way the game was played. But even going back to last year, Portland’s struggled defensively. While a lot of people are eyeing Bukari this week as a great mid option to target Portland, I like either pairing him with Vazquez, or using Vazquez as a way to move away from Bukari and open up a mid spot (to maybe fill with one of our guys above). Either way, Vazquez could score multiple goals against this Portland defense and it would be great to snag him over other chalk pieces.

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