DiffeRANCHals: 2025 Round 7

 

 

 

 

 

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 6 Results: 

Matt:

• Brandon Bye – DNP
• Marco Pašalić – Bust (2 points)
• Brian White – Bust (3 point)

Ranch:

• Finn Surman – Average (4 points)
• Quinn Sullivan – GREAT! (9 points)
• Luis Muriel – Good (8 points)

Matt Results: 3 Good, 5 Average, 8 Bust

Ranch Results: 2 Great, 6 Good, 4 Average, 5 Bust

2025 Full Season Results: 2 Great, 9 Good, 9 Average, 13 Busts (61%)

 

Oh Matt… I need everyone to get together and send Matt some messages to help him with his diffeRANCHal picks. It seems last week really threw off his mojo. Hopefully this week is much better. Keep in mind that some teams are playing in CCC and USOC, so there may be more players to target than initially thought. I can see a TON of different differential plays this week. We have selected the best 6 picks that we believe will provide the best potential. Let’s get into it!

Ranch: Chris McVey, $7.7m (Defender – San Diego)

Yet another week where it feels like I am going anti-Seattle. Last week it was rooting for Portland, this week it’s choosing a defender against Seattle. Although the pick doesn’t make me feel super excited, there is logic behind it. Although the Sounders have been rattling off a lot of shots, they only have produced 1 goal through the last 3 games. That goal came from a solo effort from Albert Rusnak. With that in mind, San Diego is a team who started off the season with back to back clean sheets. If they can revive that, there is a good chance that they get a clean sheet on Saturday against Seattle. McVey is the player to target in this matchup due to his goal threat and his passing bonus points. Am I going to need to re-get my Sounders card? Only time will tell.

Matt: Oleksandr Svatok, $6.4m (Defender – Austin)

Now that we are 6 weeks into the season, stats are starting to become trends. One thing that many of us weren’t expecting was Austin’s strong defensive start to the season. They have given up the least xG in the league so far and have only conceded 3 goals so far this season. Portland, who Austin is hosting, has proven they can score goals (and did score against Austin a few weeks ago), but is constantly over-performing their xG. I fully expect Austin to limit Portland’s chances at home and come out with a CS. Svatok himself can pick up a BP here and there, but his value comes from his price point.

Matt: Alexey Miranchuk, $7.9m (Midfielder – Atlanta)

After Atlanta’s tactical switch against NYC, many people will be looking at Almiron playing as the 10 against a Dallas team that feels like it could defensively implode at any moment. But Miranchuk’s move to being a deep-lying playmaker could provide a sneaky way into that Atlanta attack. Not only will be still be on set pieces, but he will also be able to pick out passes that either break the lines or play Latte Lath in behind. If anyone is going to catch Dallas’ backline sleeping with a quick ball through, it’ll be Miranchuk.

Ranch: Pep Biel, $8.8m (Midfielder – Charlotte)

Charlotte at home is completely different than on the road. One player who that affects the most is Pep Biel. On the road so far this season, Biel has 1 total assist in 3 games. However, at home Biel has 3 assists and 2 goals in 3 games. Although it is a smaller sample size, I see this as Biel being the clear playmaker at home and is able to make the magic happen. This week Charlotte hosts Nashville. In each of their games so far this season, Nashville has allowed at least 1 goal. I’m rooting for Biel to get on the scoresheet this weekend.

Ranch: Alonso Martinez, $9.8m (Forward – NYCFC)

If you are looking for a forward who is consistent for this gameweek, Alonso Martinez is your guy. Martinez has played in 5 matches so far this season and scored in 4 of them. If that isn’t consistency, I don’t know what is. This week Martinez is at home against a Minnesota United team who seems to be pretty solid defensively this season. However, playing in Yankee stadium changes everything. This is the place that Martinez should thrive. I’m expecting his first brace this season in their game on Sunday.

Matt: Chicho Arango, $10.1m (Forward – San Jose)

We all know DC (mostly Benteke) can score at any given moment. But we also know DC will probably be conceding more than one or two games. That means this game should be very open, and Chicho is the perfect person to take advantage of that. This should give Arango plenty of KPs and shots, but it is fair to expect him, with the 5th most xG in the league so far, to get on the score sheet as well. He is an expensive differential piece, but if any of the chalk forward miss and, depending on what we learn about Messi’s chances to start on Sunday, he could be a great fall back that many FMLS players will overlook.

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