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Fantasy MLS: Week 7

GuillermoBarros Schelotto (RickOsentoskiISI)

Photo by Rick Osentoski/ISIphotos.com

 

By AVI CREDITOR

Decisions, decisions.

Six teams play two matches apiece in an early, but crucial week for Fantasy MLS

What's tough to determine is how each coach will manipulate his rotation to get through two matches in a four-day span. We've already seen Seattle's Sigi Schmid use most of his roster in said situation, frustrating fantasy owners in the process. Some players are likely to get surprise starts/rests, and choosing the right players will be key to maximizing the two-game advantage.

Nevertheless, the teams with the two-match slates deserve much of your attention, although some of the teams with just one game have matchups too good to pass up (i.e. Real Salt Lake, Kansas City).

Here are this week's player rankings by position:

FANTASY MLS WEEK 7 PLAYER RANKINGS

GOALKEEPERS

  1. Pat Onstad, HOU – Matches against offensively challenged FC Dallas and Chivas USA fall in veteran keeper's favor
  2. Jimmy Nielsen, KC – Next in line to shut out goal-starved D.C. United
  3. Nick Rimando, RSL – Clean-sheet opportunity at home against Philadelphia
  4. Will Hesmer, CLB – Will gladly welcome a weary Revolution side playing its third match in a week's time
  5. Zach Thornton, CHV – Faces two undermanned squads in New England and Houston, though Dynamo have proven to be strong facing adversity and could welcome Brian Ching back
  6. Donovan Ricketts, LA – Two matches, but both on the road against challenging offenses in Rapids, Sounders
  7. Bouna Coundoul, NY – San Jose's offense has surprised, but Red Bulls defense should be up to the task
  8. Preston Burpo, NE – Home fixture with Chivas is Revs-friendly, but road match at Columbus is not
  9. Dario Sala, DAL – Hard to trust Hoops, but matchups with Houston, D.C. aren't awful
  10. Joe Cannon, SJ – Improved Earthquakes defensive unit counters improved New York everything

DEFENDERS

  1. Mike Chabala, HOU – Top-scoring Dynamo defender gets two good matchups
  2. Pablo Escobar, KC – Any Wizards defender makes for a good play against D.C., regardless of the game site
  3. Robbie Russell, RSL – Every defender on Salt Lake looks good this week too, though Jamison Olave always presents the card risk
  4. Frankie Hejduk, CLB – Great home matchup against struggling offense for Crew veteran
  5. Andy Iro, CLB – Hejduk's effectiveness at a fraction of the cost
  6. Jonathan Bornstein, CHV – Two solid matchups for South Africa-bound defender 
  7. Omar Gonzalez, LA – Two tough away matches, but LA's defense is the league's stingiest
  8. A.J. DeLaGarza, LA – Gonzalez' college teammate taking advantage of starting opportunity
  9. Tim Ream, NY – Three of San Jose's goals have come from defenders; It'll take something more than that to top Red Bulls' defense
  10. Wilman Conde, CHI – Fire defense is solid, but Toronto attack at BMO Field has proven to be fruitful

MIDFIELDERS

  1. Guillermo Barros Schelotto, CLB – Home match against depleted Revolution midfield provides amazing opportunity
  2. Ryan Smith, KC – See highlights of season opener vs. D.C. to see what Smith is capable of on Wednesday
  3. Javier Morales, RSL – A potential return to the lineup would mean a potential monster game; Philadelphia defense has not been sharp on road
  4. Brad Davis, HOU – Turns out Davis has offensive support after all
  5. Dwayne De Rosario, TOR – Goals (PKs included) in five straight matches have made De Rosario MFLS top scoring midfielder
  6. Joel Lindpere, NY – Keeps finding ways to produce for East's top squad
  7. Marco Pappa, CHI – Best of the Fire midfield bunch
  8. Eddie Gaven, CLB – Just one assist to his name thus far, but primed to break out against fatigued New England
  9. Steve Zakuani, SEA – Second-year standout is tough to contain
  10. Kyle Beckerman, RSL – Excellent matchup for dreadlocked captain
  11. Sacha Kljestan, CHV – Two chances to force his way onto Bob Bradley's mind this week
  12. Michael Stephens, LA – Rookie is playing impressive minutes for team with top goal differential in all MLS
  13. Dax McCarty, DAL – Should be able to contribute at the very least against D.C.
  14. Jack Jewsbury, KC – If season opener is any indication, Wizards are in for a nice +/- Wednesday night
  15. Chris Wondolowski, SJ – Goals in three straight matches; Not a game-to-game threat, but riding the hot streak can't hurt

FORWARDS

  1. Edson Buddle, LA – Running out of superlatives for star striker after nine goals in six matches
  2. Landon Donovan, LA – Two more matches to assist Buddle; It's becoming a given at this point, that is until both report for USMNT duty
  3. Kei Kamara, KC – Opposing strikers have scored on D.C. in every match so far; That includes Kamara's goal in the season opener
  4. Dominic Oduro, HOU – Can follow up career-best game with two more strong performances given the matchups
  5. Jeff Cunningham, DAL – My money's on Cunningham scoring a non-PK goal in at least one of his two matches this week, most likely against United
  6. Juan Pablo Angel, NY – DP is on a roll with goals in three straight games
  7. Robbie Findley, RSL – Can get on right track by burning Union D at Rio Tinto
  8. Patrick Nyarko, CHI – Toronto defense is better at home, but still beatable
  9. Zack Schilawski, NE – If the Revs get on the board, the rookie's likely the one to do the scoring 
  10. Fredy Montero, SEA – Hard to bench Montero, but the Galaxy defense isn't the easiest to crack, even at Qwest

COACHES

  1. Dom Kinnear, HOU
  2. Bruce Arena, LA
  3. Jason Kreis, RSL
  4. Peter Vermes, KC
  5. Robert Warzycha, CLB
  6. Martin Vasquez, CHV
  7. Schellas Hyndman, DAL
  8. Hans Backe, NY
  9. Steve Nicol, NE
  10. Frank Yallop, SJ

Soccer By Ives League Standings (Top 10)
1. The Woolly Mammoths………………..193 points
2. Lyn………………………………………………189
3. Voyageur Express……………………….187
4. Zambezi Highlanders…………………186
5. MLS United………………………………….183
5. Chubby United……………………………183
7. West New York FC……………………..182
7. Polish Pimps……………………………..182
9. BestofNW…………………………………..180
10. Rainbow Chickens…………………..178
10. "SCHOLES!!! what r u doing?…..178

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How many players with two matches do you have in your lineup? Who do you pick to be a sleeper this week? Who do you think will be the week's top scorer?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Payne in regards to a new stadium:

    “So we’re not going to rush anything,” he concluded. “And we’re not going to be rushed. I don’t really care about the fact that we’re one of the few teams in the league that doesn’t have a stadium option. Because there’s probably a few teams in the league that maybe wish that they hadn’t done what they’ve done. So it’s not always the right thing to rush into it. We’re going to try to make sure to make the right decision.”

    haha gee, i wonder if he is talking about Dallas!?

    Reply
  2. In no particular order:

    LA (at Colorado, at Seattle)
    Chivas (at New England, vs. Houston)
    Houston (vs. Dallas, at Chivas)
    D.C. (vs. Kansas City, at Dallas)
    Dallas (at Houston, vs. D.C.)
    New England (vs. Chivas, at Columbus)

    Reply

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