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Fantasy MLS: Week 23

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By AVI CREDITOR

It's International Break Week. Is your fantasy team prepared?

With a cavalcade of fantasy contributors away on national-team duty this weekend, you might find yourself dipping deep into your bench or the transfer market (if you have any moves remaining) to field a complete squad.

Missing in MLS action this weekend are (in no particular order): Donovan Ricketts, Bouna Coundoul, Alvaro Saborio, Dwayne De Rosario, Marco Pappa, Rafael Marquez, Omar Cummings, Kei Kamara, Julian de Guzman, Nana Attakora-Gyan, Will Johnson, Sanna and Sainey Nyassi, Kenny Mansally, Roger Espinoza, Shavar Thomas, Roy Miller, Lovel Palmer, Dane Richards, Ryan Johnson, Emilio Renteria, Arturo Alvarez, Osael Romero, Deris Umanzor, Branko Boskovic and Dejan Jakovic.

Here's who should be able to guide your fantasy squad in their stead:

FANTASY MLS WEEK 23 PLAYER RANKINGS

GOALKEEPERS

  1. Kevin Hartman, DAL – Hartman's been at the top of his game, and a home match against a Toronto side missing De Rosario isn't where he'd likely slip up
  2. Will Hesmer, CLB – Fantastic matchup against a D.C. side that has taken just about every punch possible at this point
  3. Matt Pickens, COL – Back spasms sidelined him last week, but he's listed as probable and should reclaim the starting gig against Chivas
  4. Kasey Keller, SEA – Revs seem to be running out of gas, and Seattle is playing with all sorts of confidence
  5. Nick Rimando, RSL – Always performs well at home, and Red Bulls will be without Marquez, Richards
  6. Josh Saunders, LA – Has proven to be a very capable backup for when Ricketts can't go and catches the Fire when they're without Freddie Ljungberg (card accumulation) and Pappa
  7. Stefan Frei, TOR – If anyone can steal a point for Toronto at Dallas, it's Frei
  8. Jimmy Nielsen, KC – As good as Hartman's been for Dallas, nobody is blaming the steady Nielsen for Kansas City's inconsistent season
  9. Pat Onstad, HOU – Earthquakes have been shut out in their last two road matches
  10. Jon Busch, SJ – Brian Ching is doubtful, which should ease things up for the San Jose back line a bit

DEFENDERS

  1. Heath Pearce, DAL – Solid home matchup against a short-handed side…
  2. George John, DAL – …and FCD's defense isn't yielding much these days altogether
  3. Andy Iro, CLB – Underrated threat on the Crew back line has turned in a great fantasy campaign thus far
  4. Chad Marshall, CLB – Played extended minutes on Wednesday so his playing time could be limited Saturday, but the matchup speaks for itself
  5. Drew Moor, COL – Rapids D has posted clean sheets in its last two home matches, has already shut out Chivas this season
  6. James Riley, SEA – Goes up against his former (and struggling) team as the best threat to contribute from the back for the streaking Sounders
  7. Robbie Russell, RSL – Best time for Salt Lake to catch the streaking Red Bulls
  8. Sean Franklin, LA – Tough matchup for slumping Galaxy D, but Franklin can provide offense from the back, too
  9. Jimmy Conrad, KC – Philly is no slouch at home, but Conrad and the Wizards have been improved as of late
  10. Geoff Cameron, HOU – Dynamo defense is a bit too unreliable to count on, but the matchup this week isn't terrible, and Cameron is likely to get involved pushing things forward

MIDFIELDERS

  1. David Ferreira, DAL – MVP candidate shouldn't have a problem navigating through Toronto's short-handed side
  2. Javier Morales, RSL – At home, going against a short-handed Red Bulls midfield and in good form; Sounds like a winning combination for one of the league's top playmakers
  3. Sebastien Le Toux, PHI – Hasn't scored in his last six matches but has four assists in that time
  4. Brek Shea, DAL – Breakout season continues getting better for likely future USMNTer
  5. Steve Zakuani, SEA – Has a great matchup against NE, a team he already torched for a goal and an assist earlier this season
  6. Guillermo Barros Schelotto, CLB – Only this low because the minutes he logged against D.C. in Open Cup play on Wednesday could limit him on Saturday; Otherwise he has the best matchup of the week
  7. Eddie Gaven, CLB – Stellar matchup, and if Schelotto starts on the bench look for Gaven to take on an even bigger role than usual
  8. Andy Williams, RSL – Will Johnson's absence gives Williams more of an attacking presence in Salt Lake's offense
  9. Pablo Mastroeni, COL – Great matchup for the Rapids midfield, and Mastroeni has a goal and an assist in his last two matches
  10. Chris Wondolowski, SJ – With Bobby Convey out due to card accumulation, Wondolowski's effort becomes critical for the Quakes and their fragile playoff hopes
  11. Michael Stephens, LA – Rookie catches a break with Chicago's absences; Perhaps a bounce-back game is in the cards
  12. Baggio Husidic, CHI – Without Ljungberg and Pappa to set the pace, Husidic becomes a much more important figure for the Fire
  13. Davy Arnaud, KC – Will have to shoulder the scoring load against the Union with Kamara out
  14. Joel Lindpere, NY – Turned down Estonia call for Euro qualifying and will have pressure to create with Marquez and Richards out 
  15. Justin Mapp, PHI – Starting to hit his stride for the Union, which desperately needs another source of offense other than Le Toux and Danny Mwanga

FORWARDS

  1. Fredy Montero, SEA – Nobody is in better form than the Sounders' MVP candidate
  2. Edson Buddle, LA – Chicago's porous defense should help Buddle break his two-game scoring "drought"
  3. Conor Casey, COL – Coming off his best game of the year, he'll be the focal point of the attack against Chivas with Cummings out
  4. Landon Donovan, LA – Will Donovan snap out of his (relatively speaking) funk this week? Shaky Chicago back line lends the opportunity for that to happen
  5. Robbie Findley, RSL – Should get a chance to go the distance with Saborio out, and he can create problems against the Red Bulls
  6. Steven Lenhart, CLB – Great matchup for Lenhart, who has already proven to be a thorn in D.C.'s side this season
  7. Fabian Espindola, RSL – Has shown the ability to step up and score in a starting role
  8. Patrick Nyarko, CHI – Without Ljungberg and Pappa, Fire need Nyarko to assume his early-season form
  9. Juan Pablo Angel, NY – Could find himself dipping back into a bit of a playmaking role with a shorter roster this week
  10. Thierry Henry, NY – Seems to be hitting his stride and regaining his form, which is bad news for the opposition

COACHES

  1. Schellas Hyndman, DAL
  2. Robert Warzycha, CLB
  3. Gary Smith, COL
  4. Sigi Schmid, SEA
  5. Jason Kreis, RSL
  6. Bruce Arena, LA
  7. Peter Nowak, PHI
  8. Dom Kinnear, HOU
  9. Carlos de los Cobos, CHI
  10. Hans Backe, NY

Soccer By Ives League Standings (Top 10)
1. FC Byrd Turgler………………………………566 points
2. Yankee Racers………………………………565
2. Cpt. Pancakes and Lt. Waffles……….565
4. I <3 MLS………………………………………….564
4. Campione………………………………………564
6. Skillz……………………………………………….557
7. Massive Victory……………………………….517
8. The Lanark Ave Creepers………………514
9. CleartheBall……………………………………505
10. Eves1……………………………………………503

LAST WEEK'S SBI LEAGUE TOP SCORER

Abernethy FC (49 points)

—————————-Coundoul(7)—————————
–Bornstein(3)————-Marshall(2)————–Alston(0)–
–Richards(8)—-Mastroeni(5)—–Zakuani(1)—-Rogers(0)–
—-Casey(12)————-Montero(8)————–Findley(0)–

Coach: Schmid(3)

Soccer By Ives Prediction League Standings (Top 10)
1. FC Byrd Turgler……………………….369 points
2. I<3 MLS……………………………………365
3. The Cool Hands………………………363
4. Ludacris Speed……………………….352
5. The Royal Army……………………….350
5. Sonnenhof……………………………….350
7. Gene's Old Boys……………………..344
8. Morales' mullet………………………..339
9. 3.2's………………………………………….333
10. UT Gunners……………………………331

LAST WEEK'S SBI PREDICTION LEAGUE TOP SCORER

Bleecker Ballers (28 points: 4 exact, 1 tie)

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Is the international break messing with your lineup? Who do you think is in for the best week? What's your lineup looking like?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Is Pappa really going to be out? Guatemala doesn’t play until the 7th. Would he really miss a club match on the 4th for a friendly 3 days later?

    Reply

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