Round 25 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.

• Graham Zusi – Great (10 points)
• Maxime Chanot – Bust (3 points)
• Erik Thommy – Good (8 points)
• Santiago Moreno – Average (5 points)
• Luis Amarilla – Good (8 points)
• Jefferson Savarino – Bust (3 points)

Week 24 Final Results: 1 Great, 2 Good, 1 Average, 2 bust

Full Season Results: 20 Great, 25 Goods, 23 Average, 62 Busts

 

Welcome back to the DiffeRanchal article. Are you looking to gain an edge for the first week of FCL? Are you just outside the top 25 and looking for that one player that could push you into the final spot? Look no further! I have six players that are worth considering for this big double game week. Let’s get into it!

Alex Roldan, $7.8m (Seattle Defender)

Alex Roldan is a player that has a similar upside to the likes of Kai Wagner, Brooks Lennon, and Diego Palacios. The difference with Roldan is that he is not on set pieces whereas Lennon and Wagner are. Roldan gets up the line quite often and is now being utilized in practiced set pieces. Seattle face two weak defenses in Orlando and Houston during this double game week, which will hopefully result in Alex getting some goal contributions.

Dave Romney, $8.4m (Nashville Defender)

Dave Romney has two home matches this week, one being against a struggling Colorado team. Romney is very likely to get a clean sheet in the midweek game against Colorado and will also generate some bonus points.

Riqui Puig, $9.2m (LA Galaxy Midfielder)

Have you ever wanted to roll your dice on a new player? Maybe one that’s not as popular as Zlatan or Bale? Well, now’s your chance. Riqui Puig (I feel like I just said his name wrong simply typing it) showed the quality that he has to offer last week with his absolutely beautiful pass to Chicharito’s goal against New England. The 23-year-old playmaker travels to Toronto midweek then returns home to face SKC. Both of these matchups feel like shootouts for both teams. Avoid the defense and look at the offense!

Albert Rusnak, $8.5m (Seattle Midfielder)

With Nicolas Lodeiro on yellow card watch, Albert Rusnak’s appeal rises. Although Rusnak is more of a defensive midfielder in this Sounders system, he is still splitting set pieces with Lodeiro.  Should Lodeiro pick up a yellow midweek, Rusnak will be on all set pieces for the home weekend fixture against Houston. On top of all of this, Seattle is in do-or-die mode while pushing for a playoff position. Pretty much every game from here on out is a must-win and Seattle often shows up late in the season.

Romell Quioto, $11.7m (Montreal Forward)

Well, I initially thought that Quioto would be more of a differential pick, but he is slowly becoming the 4th/5th forward pick under consideration this week. Why? Well, Montreal hosts the NYRB midweek and then travels to Toronto to face their cross-town rivals. The big asterisk with Quioto is that he tends to rotate with double game weeks. Take him at your own risk!

Talles Magno, $7.8m (NYCFC Forward)

I feel like I say the same two things every week: “I love the idea of picking forwards that may not be fully in-form against a weak defensive team” and “Playing at home against DCU results in approximately 2 goals per game.” Let’s do it again this week with a double whammy. Pick the NYCFC striker that is looking to find his form again against a DCU defense that allows 2+ goals per game lately.