By AVI CREDITOR

Yes, the marquee match of the week is taking place at the Home Depot Center Friday night, but in Fantasy MLS circles, much should be focused on the teams playing two matches this week. FC Dallas, Kansas City, Houston and New England each play twice in Week 26, with the first three teams deserving your attention.

Dallas might be missing some key pieces, but Schellas Hyndman has found a way for his team to get results no matter who is on the pitch, and that shouldn't change with a home match against the Revolution and a road match at Kansas City.

The Wizards are in solid form as they make a playoff push, and they host both of the league's Texas-based teams at CommunityAmerica Ballpark, where they play their best on the narrow pitch.

As for the Dynamo, the team is most definitely going to be on the outside of the playoff picture, but that doesn't mean they can't play spoiler. Even more, their second game of the week comes against a scrappy but flawed D.C. United.

These three, two-match, middle-America teams play a big role in this week's player rankings:

FANTASY MLS WEEK 26 PLAYER RANKINGS

GOALKEEPERS

1. Dario Sala, DAL – If you somehow kept him on your bench all this time, it's your lucky day; Sala replaces the injured Kevin Hartman for the team that just can't lose
2. Jimmy Nielsen, KC – Two home matches against the Texas teams should make for a decent fantasy line for Nielsen
3. Will Hesmer, CLB – Will look to recover from last week's anomaly by shutting down floundering New England
4. Kasey Keller, SEA – Even after those major moves, Chicago doesn't seem like it'd be able to find the back of the net with a map and a compass
5. Pat Onstad, HOU – Two matches on the road, but the second one comes at goal-challenged D.C.
6. Jon Busch, SJ – Quakes can deal a potential deathblow to Toronto with a head-to-head win, and Busch has been up to the task recently with clean sheets in his last two matches
7. Nick Rimando, RSL – Has to deal with Colorado's two in-form strikers, but Salt Lake doesn't tend to concede many goals at home 
8. Donovan Ricketts, LA – Red Bulls will miss Thierry Henry, which makes things a bit easier for the Galaxy defense Friday night
9. Stefan Frei, TOR – Hasn't yielded more than one goal in any of his last five matches and has two clean sheets in that span
10. Matt Pickens, COL – Doesn't make for a good play this week, but if Javier Morales (knee injury) is forced to miss the match, that would boost the Rapids' defense

DEFENDERS

1. Heath Pearce, DAL – Quietly having a stellar season, buoyed by his strong service from the outside
2. Jair Benitez, DAL – FCD's other attacking threat from the back
3. Jimmy Conrad, KC – Has amassed 19 fantasy points in his last four matches
4. Andy Iro, CLB – Great matchup for all Crew defenders this week
5. Leo Gonzalez, SEA – Chicago hasn't scored in its last three matches, making Sounders defenders look extremely enticing this week
6. Geoff Cameron, HOU – Can salvage an otherwise mired fantasy campaign with strong performances this week
7. Brandon McDonald, SJ – At least two fantasy points in five of his last six matches
8. Jamison Olave, RSL – One of the most consistent fantasy producers among defenders this season 
9. Sean Franklin, LA – Has recorded an assist in each of his last two matches
10. Todd Dunivant, LA – Not having to deal with Henry simplifies things a bit for the Galaxy D 

MIDFIELDERS

1. David Ferreira, DAL – Team's success rest on his shoulders (and feet) with Hartman, Brek Shea out; On the plus side, a huge week boosts his MVP campaign
2. Sebastien Le Toux, PHI – Top MFLS midfielder has a great home matchup against Chivas
3. Dwayne De Rosario, TOR – Resurfacing when the Reds need him the most
4. Brad Davis, HOU – Two solid matchups this week for consistent set-up man
5. Steve Zakuani, SEA – If Blaise Nkufo is going to complement Fredy Montero up top like he did last week, then Zakuani's assist numbers could skyrocket these final five weeks
6. Guillermo Barros Schelotto, CLB – Held out of the Crew's Champions League match, meaning he should be good to go against New England
7. Davy Arnaud, KC – Two goals and an assist in his last three games for veteran, who is helping to lead Wizards' resurgence
8. Andy Williams, RSL – If Morales is out, Williams' attacking role expands
9. Chris Wondolowski, SJ – Keeps finding ways to score; Has three goals in his last six games
10. Eddie Gaven, CLB – Scored on New England in their earlier meeting this season
11. Mehdi Ballouchy, NY – Deadline acquisition already coming through for Hans Backe's side
12. Geovanni, SJ – DP has a nice matchup against what could be a worn-out TFC after its midweek Champions League war with Cruz Azul
13. Ryan Smith, KC – Speedy winger does his finest work at home
14. Kyle Beckerman, RSL – Hardly flashy, but typically effective
15. Eric Alexander, DAL – Rookie has upped his level of play and become a significant part of Dallas' unbeaten streak

FORWARDS

1. Kei Kamara, KC – Showed quite well against Chivas last week and has three goals and four assists in the Wizards' last six matches
2. Landon Donovan, LA – "I want to be MVP again." The man means business, and if you need proof, re-watch the last 10 minutes of the Galaxy's win over D.C. last week
3. Edson Buddle, LA – Not scoring at will like he used to, but his last two goal have come against former teams, and the Red Bulls were one of those casualties
4. Fredy Montero, SEA – Won the Fredy/Freddie battle the last time they met, and there's no indication that things will go any differently this time around
5. Alvaro Saborio, RSL – Could be too much for a pretty stout Colorado defense to handle
6. Juan Pablo Angel, NY – Must step up and deliver with Henry sidelined against L.A.
7. Blaise Nkufo, SEA – Welcome to MLS, Blaise! Now, can he come close to repeating that performance? Facing a Chicago defense that will be missing Wilman Conde (red card) would suggest yes
8. Omar Cummings, COL – RSL is mighty tough to score on at Rio Tinto, but it's tough to ignore the fact that the Jamaican international has scored in four straight games
9. Milton Rodriguez, DAL – Midseason acquisition needs to play a bigger role with FCD missing some quality pieces this week
10. Brian Ching, HOU – Two decent matchups this week for Ching, who has quietly scored seven goals this season; Lingering knee injury may put a dent in his minutes this week though

COACHES

1. Schellas Hyndman, DAL
2. Peter Vermes, KC
3. Robert Warzycha, CLB
4. Dom Kinnear, HOU
5. Jason Kreis, RSL
6. Sigi Schmid, SEA
7. Bruce Arena, LA
8. Frank Yallop, SJ
9. Hans Backe, NY
10. Peter Nowak, PHI

Soccer By Ives League Standings (Top 10)
1. I <3 MLS……………………………………654 points
2. FC Byrd Turgler………………………..646
3. Yankee Racers…………………………640
4. Cpt. Pancakes and Lt. Waffles…631
5. Campione…………………………………630
6. Skillz………………………………………….625
7. The Lanark Ave Creepers…………574
8. ShaggyReAL…………………………….573
9. MassiveVictory………………………….570
10. RRSC……………………………………..563

LAST WEEK'S SBI LEAGUE TOP SCORER

St. Xavier Bombers (54 points)

——————————-Keller(10)——————————
–L. Gonzalez(6)———–Dunivant(2)————Cameron(-1)–
–Zakuani(7)——–Smith(2)——–Davis(2)——–Ferreira(0)–
—-Cummings(9)———–Donovan(8)————-Casey(6)—-

Coach: Schmid(3)

Soccer By Ives Prediction League Standings (Top 10)
1. FC Byrd Turgler……………………418 points
2. I <3 MLS………………………………407
2. The Cool Hands………………….407
4. Ludacris Speed…………………..401
5. Sonnenhof…………………………..389
6. Orange Menace…………………..386
7. UTGunners………………………….385
8. Artichokers…………………………..382
9. The Royal Army……………………381
10. Gene's Old Boys………………..380

LAST WEEK'S SBI PREDICTION LEAGUE TOP SCORER

Sonnenhof (28 points: 2 exact, 1 correct margin, 1 blowout, 1 tie, 1 correct)

—————————–

Are you relying heavily on the two-match teams? What's your lineup looking like? Who do you think is in for the biggest week?

Share your thoughts below.