Round 17 DiffeRANCHals

Every week, I’m going to go over my 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 not starting/on the bench), average = 4-5 points, good = 6-8 points, great = 9+ points. Players not available for selection I am disregarding and not counting as a positive or negative in the article.

• Maxime Chanot – Bust (1, 0 points: 0.5 average)
• Derrick Williams – Good (1, 11: 6 average)
• Obinna Nwobodo – Bust (5, DNP: 2.5 average)
• Chris Mueller – Average (4, 6: 5 average)
• Chicharito – Average (2, 7: 4.5 average)
• Aidan McFadden – Average (5, 2: 3.5 average)

 

Week 16 Final Results: 1 Good, 3 Average, 2 Bust

Full Season Results: 11 Great, 17 Goods, 14 Average, 48 Busts

 

Welcome to the 17th round of DiffeRanchals Special Edition: Oops, Every Position! This week will feature two MLS teams with a differential in every field position. One will be a chalky team with differential picks, while the other will be a full on differential team and players! This week’s teams: the Philadelphia Union and the San Jose Earthquakes.

Nathan, $6.6m (San Jose Defender)

Nathan… The absolute legend. The original differential. The 0.07% as some may refer to him by. He was the first ever differential that I picked last season who turned out to be an absolute monster. What made him a monster? His bonus point generation. With Francisco Calvo being sold, Nathan takes back that command of generating bonus points for a team that is suspect defensively. The difference this week? San Jose travels to a Toronto team who just traded away their MVP-caliber #10 and whose new big signing is injured. It wouldn’t surprise me if San Jose walked away from BMO Field with a clean sheet (plus a lot of Nathan bonus points).

Jakob Glesnes, $9.3m (Philly Defender)

Jakob “Bangers Only” Glesnes enters as the first Philadelphia Union pick for this week’s differentials. Where did he get his nickname? From the absolute rocket shots (and goals) from 25-35 yards away from the goal. As much as I love the Union’s defense at home, they are going against the clear Newcomer of the Year in the form of Taxiarchis Fountas. I do not fully expect a clean sheet for this reason, but Glesnes is goal dangerous on the other side of the field, whether it be with his head or foot.

Jamiro Monteiro, $11.5m (San Jose Mid)

Miro looks like his old Philly Union self. Oh wait, he isn’t rostered with Philly… wrong team! Playing for his new team (current? Ranch it’s been 17 weeks, this isn’t a new team anymore), Jamiro started off the season struggling under Matias Almeyda’s system. Since the coaching change to Alex Covelo, Monteiro has become a focal point of the San Jose attack. He literally looks like he is playing with the Philly Union from last year, where he was producing a lot of bonus points and providing service all over the field. In just 16 games played this season, the San Jose playmaker has already produced more goals (3) and equaled the assist total (6) from his last year with the Union (27 games). See more Miro hype in the Ebobisse section!

Alejandro Bedoya, $8.4m (Philly Mid)

I’ll be honest, I did not know who to pick for this position. I decided to choose the 2nd best option in midfield for the Union due to the idea that Gazdag could be a more popular option. Bedoya plays on the right side of a diamond midfield formation for Philly, and also is goal/assist dangerous. Maybe he can produce one against a DCU side with a leaky defense?

Jeremy Ebobisse, $9.4m (San Jose Forward)

Welcome to the section of, as the commentators call him, Jeremy Ee-Bow-Bee-Say! The San Jose striker has had his 2 games of not performing and is coming into an extremely favorable matchup against a bad Toronto defense. How bad? Toronto has allowed an astounding 34 goals against, making them the worst defense in the entire Eastern Conference! All that Ebobisse needs is some quality service to put some goals into the back of the net against Toronto. Lucky for him, the San Jose assist leader, Jamiro Monteiro, has the quality to provide inch perfect through balls and passes. Time for an onslaught against a broken Toronto team who has allowed at least 1 goal in a record-breaking 26 straight home matches!

Julian Carranza, $8m (Philly Forward)

This was another difficult decision. I decided to roll with Carranza over Uhre due to his minutes played. I believe Carranza to be not only goal dangerous, but also assist dangerous. He started off the season really hot producing 4 goals and 3 assists in his first 9 games. Since then, Carranza has only provided 1 assist in his last 6 games. Playing at home against a DCU defense that allows approximately 2 goals against per game gives him more opportunity to get on the scoresheet. All that Philly needs to score on DCU is a forward who knows how to position properly and get away from his defender, which is Julian’s skillset.