DiffeRANCHals: 2025 Round 20

 

 

 

 

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 19 Results:  

Matt:

• On Baby Duty

Ranch:

• David Schnegg – Good (6 points)
• Marco Reus – Average (4 points)
• Prince Owusu – Great! (9 points)

Meg:

• Edier Ocampo – Bust (0 points)
• Ted Ku Di-Pietro – Average (4 points)
• Zavier Gozo – Bust (2 points)

Matt Results: 5 Great, 11 Good, 11 Average, 21 Bust (56%)

Ranch Results: 10 Great, 16 Good, 6 Average, 19 Bust (63%)

Meg Results: 2 Great, 4 Good, 3 Average, 11 Busts (45%)

2025 Full Season Results: 17 Great, 31 Good, 20 Average, 51 Busts (57%)

 

Welcome back to diffeRANCHals! This week, although there are 4 teams on a DGW, we will be having a special where we focus solely on SGW players. Our thoughts are that there will be quite a few chalky DGW players this week, so why not suggest some SGW players that we believe can compete with the DGW players. Do you have some in mind? Compare with our picks. Let’s get into it!

Matt: Rodrigo Schlegel, $7.3m (Defender – Orlando)

Freeman seems to be the hot pick this week, but if you need to save a little budget, Schlegel is a great option. Not only does he have a solid CS chance, he frequently hits his passing BPs as well.

Ranch: Sigurd Rosted, $7.6m (Defender – Toronto)

Ahh, back to the classic of Ranchinator suggesting a defender on a team that really shouldn’t be getting clean sheets. This week: Toronto FC. With Meg stealing my other team that I would suggest from, I guess I have to settle with the 2nd best, a team playing against Atlanta. The Schnegg suggestion last week was basically the exact same line of logic that I have for Rosted this week. Atlanta has been struggling in the attack, even with all of their firepower. Although Toronto is a very unlikely team to secure a clean sheet, if they are to complete it, this is the week to do so.

Meg: Maya Yoshida, $6.4m (Defender – LA Galaxy)

I know LAG is just now getting things working offensively but last week they shut out Vancouver at home. Shockingly because if you recall, I had suggested running Vancouver defense…oh how wrong I was. =] However, this week LAG is at home against DC United and although they do have Benteke back, I still do not trust them to bring an attacking front that creates too many problems for Yoshida and the LAG defense. If you would like a less popular defender this week, as a later flyer, take a look at Yoshida, even if they manage to let in a goal, he still typically generates BPs for passes.

Ranch: David da Costa, $10.3m (Midfielder – Portland) boooo lol

I’m going to start off this rivalry against Meg and Matt by picking the best of the 3 players in the STL-POR game, David da Costa. I know it doesn’t sound like a Sounders supporter saying that a Timbers player is ever a good pick. However, I truly  believe that if Portland is to show up and perform this weekend, it is going to ride on da Costa being involved. Clearly there is going to be a gem of a player in this matchup, given that all 3 of us are suggesting a player in the match. Do you have a suggestion for a different player? Let us know!

Meg: Marcel Hartel, $10m (Midfielder – St. Louis City)

St. Louis is coming off a great outing against RSL, hosting Portland at home. Hartel is almost always involved in the attack and he is also a set piece taker…if you know much about the Timbers defense, you are aware they struggle against set pieces. This just makes Hartel more intriguing! Last game of the week so if something does not go your way early on, or you choose to have a Sunday player- Hartel is definitely your guy.

Matt: Pablo Ruiz, $6.4m (Midfield – Real Salt Lake)

RSL seem to have found some sort of form and this matchup against Houston could easily bring their unbeaten streak to 4 games. If you want to use this game as a differential target, Ruiz has been farming KPs and has a fairly solid floor, if he gets an attacking return alongside that, he could easily outscore a struggling DGW mid.

Meg: Kevin Denkey, $12m (Forward – FC Cincinnati )

Hell is Real derby is here…again…lol. Denkey really has found his place and with Evander having found his rhythm these past few weeks have been full of fun ball movement and lots of creative plays. This week Columbus comes to Cincy and although Columbus defense is doing okay, it also tends to let in goals…take that in scale when knowing the form Cincinnati is in and I would think goals will transpire. Looking for a SGW forward instead of running three on a double? Take a look at Denkey =]

Matt: Joao Klauss, $8.2m (Forward – Saint Louis)

Klauss has been a very reliable goalscorer over the past few weeks with 6 goals in the past 6 games. The Portland Timbers have a very exploitable defense so we should expect Klauss to get plenty of chances in front of goal.

Ranch: Petar Musa, $8.1m (Forward – FC Dallas)

Why not go for a point chasing forward in Petar Musa. He has 4 goals and 1 assist in his last 6 games. Musa has been transforming FC Dallas as of late. Additionally, Dallas gets to play against a LAFC team that is on a DGW after not playing in 2 weeks. Players get very tired legs from situations like that. My final driving factor for picking Musa is that Dallas are actually a better team on the road than at home. In fact, 5 of Musa’s 7 goals are on the road this season.

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Contributors: 
Tyler Norman, @Ranchinator on Discord
Matt Nelson, @Tinkerman on Discord
Megan Lee Turner, @Meg on Discord