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Fantasy MLS: Week 4

 Dwayne DeRosario (ISIphotos.com)

Photo by ISIphotos.com

 

By AVI CREDITOR

Ah, another scheduling curveball. Two matches for lowly Toronto FC, another bye week for the Columbus Crew. Are you prepared?

Toronto's slate is intriguing, not because the Reds are full of fantasy potential, but because if the team is ever going to get going, it'd be against expansion Philadelphia at BMO Field. 

Columbus, meanwhile, is frustrating fantasy managers at no fault of its own. Perhaps because of the team's involvement in the CONCACAF Champions League, the powers-that-be at MLS elected to give the Crew two byes in the first four weeks.

For managers who are banking on Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Will Hesmer or even coach Robert Warzycha for fantasy success, this week figures to be one spent on the transfer market. There are definitely players who can fill the void left by the Crew's absence, though.

Here are this week's player rankings by position:

FANTASY MLS WEEK 4 PLAYER RANKINGS

GOALKEEPERS

  1. Matt Pickens, COL – Rapids welcome goal-starved Toronto team playing second game in four days
  2. Donovan Ricketts, LA – Until he's scored upon, you've got to put your trust in him, especially if Javier Morales misses this weekend's match
  3. Pat Onstad, HOU – Dynamo D should be able to handle Chivas at home
  4. Andrew Dykstra, CHI – Matches up well with league's worst team thus far
  5. Preston Burpo, NE – Only conceded two goals in three matches; Has nice matchup with Earthquakes
  6. Stefan Frei, TOR – Two-game slate looked more appealing until Union showed offensive capabilities vs. D.C.
  7. Zach Thornton, CHV – 2009 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year made triumphant return vs. Red Bulls, faces Ching-less Houston
  8. Bouna Coundoul, NY – As long as he can hang onto the ball, Red Bulls defense should have decent day at home vs. FC Dallas
  9. Kasey Keller, SEA – Wizards have looked sharp, but aren't quite road tested
  10. Kevin Hartman, DAL – NY attack sputtered against Chivas

DEFENDERS

  1. Wilman Conde, CHI – D.C. attack lacks creativity; Hard to see Fire conceding, even on the road
  2. Cory Gibbs, NE – Stingy Revs D draws below-average San Jose attack
  3. Marvell Wynne, COL – Former No. 1 pick settling in nicely with Rapids, gets a chance to silence former team
  4. Kosuke Kimura, COL – Cheap alternative for owners of Crew defenders and has solid matchup at home against Toronto
  5. Sean Franklin, LA – RSL isn't a great matchup for defense that has yet to concede, but Franklin already has two assists
  6. Omar Gonzalez, LA – Sterling reputation grows each match
  7. Geoff Cameron, HOU – When will the buzz about Cameron being the heir apparent to Holden/Clark/De Rosario become justified? Slow start (for fantasy purposes) isn't helping, but home matchup with Chivas might
  8. Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, SEA – KC attack may be league's most improved, but Wiz will have to work hard to crack Sounders back line
  9. Tim Ream, NY – Rook's matchup with Jeff Cunningham will be one to watch
  10. Chris Tierney, NE – Another midfielder labeled as a defender, Tierney mans the left in improving NE attack

MIDFIELDERS

  1. Dwayne De Rosario, TOR – Two matches means 90 more minutes to score than players from every other team, but shouldn't expect a stellar +/-
  2. Shalrie Joseph, NE – Return to lineup coinciding with team's four-goal outburst is no coincidence
  3. Ryan Smith, KC – Highest scoring midfielder in MFLS faces toughest test
  4. Marco Pappa, CHI – Wonder goal against Quakes may be the boost Pappa needed
  5. Steve Zakuani, SEA – So far, so good (goal, assist) in Zakuani's second year
  6. Freddie Ljungberg, SEA – Sounders need his creativity, skill against sound KC defensive unit
  7. Sebastien Le Toux, PHI – Listed as a midfielder even though he starts up top; Can he maintain momentum after hat trick in home opener?
  8. Joel Lindpere, NY – No place like home for a bounce-back performance
  9. Javier Morales, RSL – Salt Lake Tribune reports that Morales' groin injury won't necessarily prevent him from playing Galaxy; He won't be 100 percent, though
  10. Julian de Guzman, TOR – Two-match week for TFC's other threat
  11. Brad Davis, HOU – Nice midfield matchup for Dynamo star
  12. Roger Torres, PHI – Speedy, creative right winger has impressed in first games with Union
  13. Mehdi Ballouchy, COL – New signings not withstanding, TFC defense has been awful; Rapids should hit for multiple goals, meaning Jeff Larentowicz, Pablo Mastroeni are useful too
  14. David Ferreira, DAL – Hoops need his spark at Red Bull Arena
  15. Arturo Alvarez, SJ – Goal last week was Quakes' first tally of the year

FORWARDS

  1. Edson Buddle, LA – Has scored all five of Galaxy's goals and is fantasy gold
  2. Omar Cummings, COL – Not to kick a team even more while it's down, but Toronto defense is not exactly impenetrable
  3. Collins John, CHI – DCU won't have either of it's starting centerbacks = too easy
  4. Brian McBride, CHI – Even with starting CBs, DCU allowing an average of three goals per game
  5. Landon Donovan, LA – Scoring in fantasy even if he's only assisting in real games
  6. Fredy Montero, SEA – Wizards D yet to concede a goal but hasn't faced anything like Sounders at Qwest
  7. Conor Casey, COL – Like Cummings, has great matchup against putrid Toronto back line
  8. Kei Kamara, KC – Two goals in two games, but faces a tough Sounders defense.
  9. Zack Schilawski, NE – Matched up against Ike Opara daily at Wake Forest practice; Hat-trick hero won't be surprised by San Jose's stellar rookie centerback
  10. Jeff Cunningham, DAL – Perhaps last week's PK gets last year's Golden Boot winner rolling 

COACHES

  1. Preki, TOR – Because he's the only one capable of earning six points and is likely to earn at least three
  2. Gary Smith, COL
  3. Dom Kinnear, HOU
  4. Steve Nicol, NE
  5. Sigi Schmid, SEA
  6. Bruce Arena, LA
  7. Carlos de los Cobos, CHI
  8. Hans Backe, NY
  9. Schellas Hyndman, DAL
  10. Jason Kreis, RSL

Soccer By Ives League Standings (Top 10)
1. ooooo MLS………………………….104 points
2. Zambezi Highlanders……………….103
3. Klarson……………………………..101
4. BestofNW…………………………..100
5. Cpt. Pancakes and Lt………………..98
6. Vols FC………………………………97
7. Fixmycleats………………………….95
8. BuckyBalls FC………………………..94
8. Raiders………………………………94
10. The Western District……………….93
10. the lone rangers…………………….93

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Did you have Sebastien Le Toux and/or Zack Schilawski in your lineup last week? What's your lineup looking like this week? Who do you think is in for the biggest performances?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Guys, these rankings are purely based on the matchups that are more likely to yield fantasy points according to the MFLS rules. The fact of the matter is, Seattle’s a tough team at home. That doesn’t mean KC can’t or won’t score or win (in fact, I haven’t even ranked Sounders players that highly this week, indicating I don’t think it’s an easy match for them either), but other teams have easier matchups in which they’re more likely to do both.

    These rankings have nothing to do with whether I’m a believer in KC’s success. Try not to take these personally…Just trying to help you score fantasy points.

    Reply
  2. How about adding in past results in the rankings to your weekly report, comparing rankings to actual rankings by points scored? Or would it be too embarrassing?

    Reply
  3. KC is improved this season. The bad KC of last season even beat Seattle at Qwest….no reason to think they can’t do it again if they play as well as they have been so far this season.

    I guess it will take a road win to make some people believers, including this Avi Creditor person who wrote this article.

    Reply
  4. This is their first real test. Still think KC will be the KC of the past. They have just been having baseball stadium home field advantage.

    Reply
  5. Players lose points for every goal scored against their team and teams are averaging 3 goals/game vs. DC. Plus Quaranta seems to rack up the yellows. I believe he has 2 in his first 3 games.

    Reply
  6. I really suck at Fantasy MLS. Think I’ll blame it on Don Garber… or could someone give me tips. Quaranta is in my midfield, sucking points away… what’s wrong with him?

    Reply
  7. Thanks for using a photo from when DeRo & TFC were playing my Puerto Rico Islanders. Warms my heart…

    (SBI-Thought it was a nice touch since it’s Christian Arrieta in the photo and they’ll be doing battle tomorrow.)

    Reply
  8. Johnson doesn’t score goals often, i’m sticking with Javi cause he’s sure to get assists and goals. Gonzalez will be a good darkhorse, he came in for his second game ever and got an assist.

    Reply
  9. Probably because Seattle isn’t scoring at home and not adding points to Keller’s total that way. Also, it seems other teams are more aware of what to expect of Seattle.

    Plus that horrible turf they use (worst field in the league?) sends a lot of balls bouncing weirdly.

    Reply
  10. I still can’t see Preki as the most viable option at manager…3 games…5 games to be played. He and TFC have so much to prove before I’d start him.

    Two darkhorses that could steal valuable points:

    1. Will Johnson–Javi may sub out or not start at all, giving him the creative reigns in an already fluent midfield

    2. Marko Perovic–Last week he showed great skill with very minimal PT. More minutes this week could mean big chances vs a shaky SJ.

    Reply
  11. Get used to it. Once that game has assigned a position they almost NEVER change it. It can get kind of tricky as guys like Padilla are forwards in the game and spend a lot of time as midfield wingers in real life. That means he gets docked if he doesn’t score during the game. Likewise, Cameron is a D, as is Tierney and both can get bonus points for shutouts unlike all the other Midfielders in the league.

    Reply
  12. You might as well start off by saying “I THINK SEATTLE IS FAR SUPERIOR AND WILL HANDLE KANSAS CITY EASILY AT QUEST” then I wouldn’t have bothered to read the rest of the Sounders players snippets or even looked to see why Jimmy Neilsen, Jimmy Conrad, Matt Besler, Jack Jewsbury, Davy Arnuad, or Peter Vermese aren’t mentioned although they are all scoring highly in the fantasy numbers already this season.

    Reply
  13. I don’t get these rankings. Keller keeps ending up 9th, when he had the 2nd lowest goals against average last year. Too old now ?

    Not in my opinion.

    Reply
  14. Franklin played midfield last week, and I’d imagine will continue to, so having him listed as a defender is probably wrong.

    (SBI-They’re listed by the positions they’re listed at in the fantasy game. Franklin is listed as a defender, and is scored as such in the game regardless of where he’s actually used.)

    Reply

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