DiffeRANCHals: 2025 Round 24

 

 

 

 

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 23 Results:

Matt:

• Brendan Hines-Ike – Bust (2 points)
• Emil Forsberg – Great! (9 points)
• Leo Campana – Good (8 points)

Ranch:

• Kyle Duncan- Bust (1 point)
• Alexey Miranchuk – Great! (9 points)
• Dejan Joveljic – Bust (3 point)

Meg:

• Dante Sealy – Great! (9 points)
• Quinn Sulivan – Average (4 points)
• Logan Farrington – Bust (3 points)

Matt Results: 7 Great, 15 Good, 12 Average, 26 Bust (57%)

Ranch Results: 13 Great, 18 Good, 6 Average, 25 Bust (60%)

Meg Results: 7 Great, 5 Good, 4 Average, 16 Busts (50%)

2025 Full Season Results: 27 Great, 38 Good, 22 Average, 67 Busts (56%)

 

Welcome back to diffeRANCHals! It was a fun week for differentials last week, and this week is another wonderful opportunity. There were USOC games midweek and there are some Leagues Cup games still happening. Take a look at who we suggest for diffeRANCHals this week. Let’s get into it!

Matt: Christopher McVey, $9.6m (Defender – San Diego)

With more potential injuries to the Vancouver backline, it seems like the chalk late-game Whitecaps fallback will need to be replaced. San Jose and NYCFC are the other two home teams playing on Sunday, but they are both long shots to a clean sheet. That is why I think San Diego might be our best bet. While the new expansion side are good to give up a goal or two, San Jose have not looked like the same team that was firing on all cylinders at the beginning of the season. Plus, someone like McVey could easily pick up 90+ passes in a game like this, so he realistically has a 4-point floor. I think his outside shot of a CS and some proven bonus points makes him a great late-game differential.

Ranch: Steven Morreira, $7.6m (Defender – Columbus)

The Columbus Crew has been on a decently long break. Although the break has been long, I do still think that the Crew has been itching for a clean sheet. A game against a Toronto team who is still trying to figure out formations with Mihailovic added is a great chance for Columbus to get another cleansheet under their belt. I’m keeping an eye on Morreira as he is typically the leader in the back and has a good chance at getting forward for attacking potential.

Meg: Andreas Maxso, $6.2m (Defender –Colorado Rapids)

I know Colorado is kind of a wildcard in every single category and definitely not a team we discuss as being a brickwall defense but this week they host Atlanta at home and we know that LatteLath and crew are struggling to find the back of the net. Not only does Maxso take on such a questionable team but also has the upside to gain some BPs. Early game + Atlanta = fun bench play. Can you envision a Colorado CS plus BPs? Oh that would be epically sweet.

Ranch: Rodrigo De Paul, $11.0m (Midfielder – Miami)

Rodrigo De Paul (RDP) is the newest signing for Inter Miami. His presence has already made an impact for Miami in Leagues Cup. Although he didn’t produce in his first MLS game, I do believe that he has the ability to erupt for multiple goal contributions at any point. This week, Inter Miami gets to host a LA Galaxy team who could potentially rotate with Leagues Cup looming in their minds. A prime opportunity for RDP and company to show how good of players they really are!

Meg: Caden Clark, $5.3m (Midfielder – Montreal)

Clark has sneaked in an assist in Montreal’s last two matchups. This week they host DC United who we know is struggling defensively. Early matchup makes him a perfect candidate to run on the bench. Last week Prince struggled to find his rhythm but maybe this week Clark and him can create a pace to run all over the DCU defense. I know no one is struggling on stretching funds to field a team, but Clark is priced fairly cheap. Ownership is less than 1% which makes him a deep differential. Are you brave enough to take a chance on him? Let me know in the discord if you do! =]

Matt: Eduard Loewen, $9m (Midfield – St. Louis)

I think this is a sneaky good matchup for St. Louis. Chicago has not been a great home team all season and STL have been slowly improving since sacking their coach. Having Loewen back in the team is one of the reasons for that. If St. Louis is on the attack, he will be collecting plenty of BPs two goal involvements in his last two games. I think the slow, but steady, improvement of this attack, plus Chicago’s ability to give up chances, makes Loewen a great Saturday option.

Meg: Petar Musa, $11.7m (Forward – FC Dallas)

Disclaimer- Yes I know he’s on the road BUT Austin has not been shut out at home since they played the Revs. Musa has found his form since the departure of Acosta and has been putting up stellar points these past several weeks. I think with the way Austin’s defensive line continues to shift around, that Musa will be able to make threats on frame. They are the 7:30 game, which could still make Musa a bench punt if you have fallback options for the later night games or Sunday matchups. Just to make him more enticing, let me list his scores for the past few weeks….14,17,9 and 7….that’s pretty solid for a forward and this matchup has upside for Musa to hit double digits.

Matt: Rafael Navarro, $10.4m (Forward – Colorado)

Navarro’s stock went down after Mihailovic went to Toronto, right? Well, maybe not. In last week’s match against Minnesota, Navarro became the focal point of the Rapids attacking. While Yapi’s brace might have taken the headlines, it was Navarro’s creative work that made the front line tick. Playing against Minnesota always forces a team out of their comfort zone and into a new tactical makeup, but I don’t see Navarro’s role changing much against a struggling Atlanta United team. Depending on timing, he could be the perfect late bench play or early scrub candidate.

Ranch: Christian Benteke, $10.4m (Forward – DCU)

It feels really odd to be calling a player like Christian Benteke a differential. However, with DCU overhauling their coaching staff, Montreal being subpar defensively, and Benteke able to produce goals out of nothing, I believe in him. Benteke is currently at 8 goals in about 1,300 minutes of play. With not much support, that is impressive in itself. Keep your eyes peeled for Benteke to disappoint all the Sealy havers!

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