By AVI CREDITOR
Some scheduling changes have made Week 17 a rather light one as just 10 teams take to the pitch in league play prior to the Major League Soccer All-Star Game.
The league's three front-runners all play at home, and as is the case most weeks, The Los Angeles Galaxy and Real Salt Lake deserve the bulk of your attention.
With the Seattle-Colorado, Toronto-Dallas and Columbus-Houston matches all erring on the side of toss-up, lean toward the home team if you're in a bind.
Here are this week's player rankings by position:
FANTASY MLS WEEK 17 PLAYER RANKINGS
GOALKEEPERS
- Nick Rimando, RSL – All-Star selection had his shutout streak snapped but can get cranking on a new one with a home match against Chivas
- Donovan Ricketts, LA – Makes the tough saves look easy, makes the easy saves cleanly and has the league's top defensive unit in front of him
- Stefan Frei, TOR – Dallas is playing well, but the Reds are usually the better team, or at least an equal, when playing at home
- Will Hesmer, CLB – Notched a clean sheet at Houston less than two weeks ago and will be at home this time around
- Kevin Hartman, DAL – Comes off a hard-earned shutout of RSL, and Toronto's attack isn't that dynamic
- Kasey Keller, SEA – Status is in question after foot injury suffered on Thursday, but a return between the pipes would make things difficult for Colorado's attack at Qwest
- Pat Onstad, HOU – Was on the other end of the 0-0 draw between the Dynamo and Crew on July 10, but trying to tame Crew in Columbus is a different task
- Matt Pickens, COL – Seattle's offense is starting to click, and Colorado's defense has been less stingy recently
- Jon Busch, SJ – Has shown the ability to individually keep Quakes in matches, but the Galaxy at HDC might be a bit much to overcome
- Zach Thornton, CHV – Tough matchup for the Goats; This isn't a Top-10 nod, it's a 10th-out-of-10 one
DEFENDERS
- Jamison Olave, RSL – Deserving All-Star should enter the break with another strong performance
- Robbie Russell, RSL – A Top-3 MFLS defender because of his ability to get up in the attack and play in front of a keeper like Rimando
- Nat Borchers, RSL – The addition of Giancarlo Maldonado helps Chivas, but I just don't see the Goats scoring at Rio Tinto
- Sean Franklin, LA – Coming off what Bruce Arena called "one of his better games this year," Franklin gives the Galaxy a threat going forward on the right
- Todd Dunivant, LA – MFLS' top-scoring defender is wildly under-owned, considering his cost and his production
- Omar Gonzalez, LA – Galaxy defenders have turned in at least one clean half in every game this season
- Adrian Cann, TOR – Has turned in at least one clean half in 12 straight matches and has only been with the Reds for 13
- Chad Marshall, CLB – Crew have a chance for the clean sheet every time Marshall plays
- Andy Iro, CLB – Less-heralded member of Crew defense is just as effective in fantasy terms
- Heath Pearce, DAL – His five assists lead all defenders
MIDFIELDERS
- Javier Morales, RSL – In the league MVP discussion and can head to the All-Star game with a super performance against Chivas
- Dwayne Re Rosario, TOR – My money's on his five-match scoreless streak coming to an end
- Guillermo Barros Schelotto, CLB – Should be well-rested and ready to go again after another strong performance against New York
- Michael Stephens, LA – Landon Donovan's return only helps Stephens growth as a contributor
- David Ferreira, DAL – One of the hottest players in the league, deserving of his All-Star spot
- Steve Zakuani, SEA – Fredy Montero's form and the addition of Blaise N'Kufo (and pending subtraction of Freddie Ljungberg?) boost Zakuani's scoring and assist chances
- Eddie Gaven, CLB – Always involved for Robert Warzycha's side and makes for the ideal wingman for Schelotto on the pitch
- Brek Shea, DAL – Quickly gaining the consistency to match his potential
- Bobby Convey, SJ – Not the strongest of matchups this week…
- Chris Wondolowski, SJ – …for a pair of San Jose All-Star snubs
FORWARDS
- Alvaro Saborio, RSL – All-Star snub has the best matchup of the week, at home against the last-place team in the conference
- Landon Donovan, LA – Hopefully won't be rested against former team; His current form isn't going anywhere
- Edson Buddle, LA – As big a threat as any in the league to score every match
- Fredy Montero, SEA – At least a goal or an assist in six straight matches
- Conor Casey, COL – The chances are there week-in, week-out; Whether he converts the ones he should is another story, but he has scored in four of his last seven matches
- Robbie Findley, RSL – World Cup experience has translated into some better play from speedy forward
- Brian Ching, HOU – Commish's All-Star pick is main threat to break down the Crew
- Chad Barrett, TOR – Quietly putting together a fantasy-friendly season with five goals and an assist
- Milton Rodriguez, DAL – Showed the ability to make a difference in his FCD debut and should be on opponents' radars going forward
- Justin Braun, CHV – In the off-chance that Chivas cracks the RSL D, the up-and-coming Braun will likely have a hand in the action
COACHES
- Jason Kreis, RSL
- Bruce Arena, LA
- Robert Warzycha, CLB
- Sigi Schmid, SEA
- Preki, TOR
- Schellas Hyndman, DAL
- Gary Smith, COL
- Dom Kinnear, HOU
- Frank Yallop, SJ
- Martin Vasquez, CHV
Soccer By Ives League Standings (Top 10)
1. Campione……………………………………449 points
2. Yankee Racers…………………………….448
3. Cpt. Pancakes and Lt. Waffles…….441
4. FC Byrd Turgler……………………………424
5. Timbers4Ever………………………………417
5. I <3 MLS……………………………………….417
7. Miles Davis FC…………………………….416
8. ShaggyReAL………………………………..413
9. Skillz…………………………………………….411
10. CleartheBall………………………………405
10. Rainbow Chickens……………………405
LAST WEEK'S SBI LEAGUE TOP SCORER
Westeros United FC (39 points)
——————————Nielsen(8)—————————–
–Marshall(4)————Harrington(4)———-Franklin(2)–
–Le Toux(6)–Arnaud(5)–Schelotto(3)–De Rosario(-1)–
—Buddle(5)————Findley(0)———-Cummings(0)—
Coach: Schmid(3)
—————–
Who do you see having a big Week 17? What's your lineup looking like?
Share your thoughts below.