By CASEY CANNON

Hello and Welcome to the Soccer by Ives Fantasy Corner – now in a new shade of green! Every week I dig through statistics, news, and rumors to provide the reader with the kind of fantasy advice that only a suddenly old man can provide.

Apologies for missing out last week. The main lesson learned is don’t go to an amusement park on the day an article is due. Apparently since I’m not an astronaut my inner ear has decided that I don’t need to handle zero G or sudden acceleration. Last week the most important fantasy news was the emergence is Crew Goalie Matt Lampson. This super value player was great last week and is a lock to be great … on the road against RSL… Never mind.

Last week the fantasy team TeamPK scored a league high 102 points. Meanwhile EternalBluForeverGrn gained the SBI top spot by earning 89 points. I stopped my two week slide and am now at 69th after earning 66 points. With several teams playing double games this should be a big week for fantasy points.

Here’s a closer look at this week’s best ways to maximize your points:

TEAM PICKS

Take Three – Real Salt Lake – RSL has a midweek game in Portland this week. I don’t expect either team to earn a shut out. RSL then flies home to face the Columbus Crew. Crew coach Robert Warzycha has benched his best Argentine player in Salt Lake before, so anything is possible – except a Crew victory. It is possible the Crew steal a goal and a point but the safe money is on RSL.
Take three – FC Dallas This week FC Dallas travels to play in the quiet confines of El StubHub Center. Then return home to welcome the San Jose Earthquakes. The Earthquakes have only scored seven goals in 12 away games. Take a moment and reacquaint yourself with the FC Dallas players.
Avoid – Chivas USA I know they have the double but research shows that these players will still be on your team Monday morning. Getting rid of these guys requires trades. Yes, I expect Chivas to score a goal in each of their two home games. I also expect them to give up goals in each of their home games. To be clear there is only a 16% chance each home game they earn a clean sheet. Don’t do the fantasy soccer walk of shame Monday morning, pick players from good teams.

Individual picks

Vice Captain – Javier Morales, Real Salt Lake – This is the best offensive option available from the double game teams. He averages 5.9 PPG. He faces Portland playing without midfielder Will Johnson and against the Crew when he will be matched against rookie midfielder Wil Trapp. For a more differential pick Alvaro Saborio works here too.
Caparoo Bench Player – Jose Gonçalves, New England Revolution – A nice safe fall back position. Nothing too fancy here, just a reliable defender with a 45% chance for a shutout.
Value Pick – Michel, FC Dallas – If he didn’t play the full 90 last week I wouldn’t recommend him. While 17% of the league own him, most active players dropped him over the last few weeks. A reasonable price tag and a double week Make Michel a great pick up.

THREE-PLAYER MONTE
The three player Monte game has two elements selecting: three players to score goals and creating a streak of picking a captain who scores every week. The players can be awful, tossed out of the game for reprehensible fouls, and single handedly responsible for costing his team the game but like absurd back heel flicks for a goal all that matters is that singular moment of brilliance.

Captain: Camilo, Vancouver Whitecaps
2. Blas Perez, FC Dallas (Chivas USA Game)
3. Blas Perez, FC Dallas (San Jose Earthquakes Game)

Tiebreak: 28

That’s all for today. I’ll be back next week with more Fantasy advice.