DiffeRANCHals: 2026 Week 4

 

 

 

 

Introduction

Welcome back to diffeRANCHals season 5! I can’t believe we already are at 5 consecutive seasons of doing an article about differentials. I wouldn’t have been able to continue for this long without the support of all of the readers along with the contributors who have stepped up to help out. This season is going to be a little bit different compared to previous season due to the divide among locations of where people are playing the fantasy MLS games. For this reason, Meg and I will be focusing on differentials with Kickbase while Matt is focusing on FUTD and xChandyo will be joining the team to write about Sofascore. We’re so excited for this season and hopefully all of you are too. Let’s get into it!

 

Ranch & Meg’s KB Differentials

Week Results: KB has a color-coded system that lets managers know if their picks were great, good, average or a bust so this season, we plan to use the colors to show how our differentials score.

Ranch: Jefferson Diaz, $13.4m (Defender – Minnesota)

For my defender pick this week, I want you to take a look at Jefferson Diaz. Although in week 2, Diaz got a clean sheet, which led to his 116 score, last week he put up a 133 – with 3 goals against. Those are some favorable numbers when looking for a defender generating points. On top of that, Diaz and Minnesota are traveling to Vancouver who just lost to the Sounders 0-3 in CCC. Will Vancouver have tired legs or come after Minnesota strong? Either way, Diaz could be getting points.

Meg: Jack Elliott, $23.1m (Defender – Chicago)

Jack Elliott might be worth a look as The Fire hosts D.C. United. We know that CBs can quietly rack up solid points through clearances, interceptions, and winning duels — and Elliott tends to stay busy in the middle of Chicago’s back line. D.C. United’s direct attacking style should give him plenty to do defensively, which can translate into a solid baseline score. Add in the possibility of a home clean sheet, and Elliott feels like the kind of under-the-radar defender who could surprise managers this weekend. 

Meg: Martin Ojeda, $35.3m (Midfielder –  Orlando City)

Believe me, I know that this one is a big risk. You might even be questioning such a ridiculous suggestion to consider Ojeda…or anyone on the Orlando City squad. However, they fired their head coach, and for some crazy reason, that typically means the team shows up and shows out. To make this more enticing, Orlando is hosting Montreal which has not looked great. Surely, this is the week Ojeda and the team gets everything in order and snags multiple goals. 

Ranch: Patrick Yazbek, $14.5m (Midfielder – Nashville)

Nashville has been playing super well in both league play and CCC. In fact, they are undefeated in MLS play. Yazbek has been one of the key contributors to their success. He assisted twice last week, which led to a 240 score, and in the previous weeks had his floor scores. I would continue to keep on eye on that production, especially as Nashville leave CCC and start to focus on MLS play.

Ranch: Morgan Guilavogui, $23.0m (Forward – RSL)

RSL playing against an Austin team without Biro. RSL has been playing surprisingly well this season, which feels like they are exceeding expectations. Guilavogui is RSL’s newest DP forward signing, and definitely is showing his worth in fantasy. Versus the Sounders, he subbed in for only 28 minutes and scored 92 points. Then last week he got 1 assist, but put up 200 points versus Atlanta. If you are looking for a key contributor who likely will score lots of points, take a look at Guilavogui.

Meg: Ousseni Bouda, $9.6m (Forward – SJ)

I know Bouda isn’t the first name that jumps off the page when you’re scrolling through forwards this week. But hear me out. He’s actually been quietly steady for San Jose all season, consistently getting involved and finding ways to impact the attack. Now this week SJ is hosting Seattle, that possibly could be rotating their back line, and that’s exactly the kind of situation where Bouda’s pace has the potential to cause problems. If the Earthquakes can stretch the field and create a little chaos, Bouda feels like the type of player who could grab some solid points this week. 

 

Matt’s FUTD Differentials

With CCC in full swing and some injuries popping up, there are some sneaky gems we can target ahead of this matchweek instead of just looking at which players to potentially hold for a while.

Week Results: 7, 1, -1

Matt: Mbekezeli Mbokazi, $3.2m (Defender – Chicago)

The Chicago backline seems to have improved a lot over the offseason. I also love this matchup for them against DC United. I expect a very low scoring game with another potential CS up for grabs along with some solid floor points for Mbokazi.

Matt: Hector Herrera, $5.8 (Midfielder – Houston)

With Bouzat suspended and Artur still out with injury, it’s time for the return of Hector Herrera. While Jack McGlynn’s role might eat into the floor Herrera used to have during his first stint in MLS, he could still have a massive game against a Portland team that is struggling to do much of anything right now.

Matt: Ousseni Bouda, $3.7m (Forward – San Jose)

Bouda might very well be owned in your league already, but he’s far from the flashiest name and should be getting some real minutes against what should be a rotated Seattle side prepping for leg 2 of their CCC draw against Vancouver. I expect San Jose to go toe-to-toe with Seattle in this one and rotation across their backline could make way for a few very solid opportunities to fall to the San Jose backline.

 

Chandyo’s SofaScore Differentials

Another pretty decent week. Sergeant ended with 9 (Great), Gozo with 7 (Good), and the Bust of the week De Rosario at 2.  Lets see what I can do this week:

Week Results: 9, 7, 2

Season Results: 2 Great, 2 Good, 1 Average, 4 Bust

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. 

Chandyo: DEF – Griffin Dorsey – 6.0M (ORL) – Dorsey has been one of the bright spots in the ORL defense. I like him this week as ORL welcomes in MTL. Dorsey and ORL is coming off a 0-5 loss and MTL is coming off their surprising Win over the Red Bulls. Dorsey doesn’t have Crepeau this week either so this one is a really risky play and I’m all for it. 

Chandyo:  MID – Indiana Vassilev  5.0M (PHI) – Philly has looked like a shell of themselves this season. However, they play ATL this week and that defense doesn’t look good at all. So this week I’m going with the lone goal scorer on the season for PHI in Vassilev. Philly has to figure it out right? I feel like if they do Vassilev will be involved. 

Chandyo:  FWD – Dejan Joveljić – 7.5M (SKC) – Joveljić, call this one a gut feeling, but I think Dejan gets a goal against his old team. 2, 12, 2 has been his points this season so far. Not to impressive but I haven’t been to impressed with the LAG defense, I wanted to pick Manu Garcia at MID this week too but ultimately decided to go with a forward instead.