MLS Fantasy Boss A Fantasy MLS Community
Montreal Impact 2 vs. Orlando City SC 0
Highlights
Montreal came into this game with the continued ambition of proving to MLS their Champions League performance wasn’t just a fluke and to remind everyone they have a lot of games in hand. They’ve got 6 games in hand on first place DC United and look to be on a helluva run. The one difference this game was that none of Montreal’s big guns were involved. Piatti was held quiet and McInerney had just 2 of Montreal’s 18 shots. Despite the win being a fantastic result for the Impact, the offense still needs to get back in sync so they don’t have to rely on a ridiculous header by Donny Toia. Orlando on the hand has some serious soul searching to do or maybe they can just forfeit the rest of their games and focus on the US Open Cup.
Fantasy Standouts
- Donny Toia ($4.8): The defense looked solid and Toia showed his propensity to get into the attack. Oh and he’s really really cheap.
- Laurent Cimant ($7.8): I’m going to label him the cheap man’s Omar Gonzalez. Numbers are just as good and the MTL defense seems to be just as likely for a clean sheet these days as LA.
- Andres Romero ($7.9): he made the standout category despite not performing, because I watched this game and watched Romero embarrass defenders. He was just a hair off the whole game. It was no fluke he had 6 shots on goal and I don’t expect him to be quiet this DGW.
Fantasy Letdowns
- Orlando City: Collin went off with an injury making the shaky defense even shakier. Meanwhile the offense can’t find an identity. I can’t help but think the loss of Molino is having a far more profound impact on the team than anyone could’ve thought.
Philadelphia Union 1 vs. Los Angeles Galaxy 5
Highlights
Welp, that’s what we call a dominant performance. Zardes had an absolute game and Lletget got on the score sheet again further cementing his case to be a starter, while Keane somehow stayed off the score sheet, but don’t expect that to stay that way for long. CJ Sapong also scored!…. but at the end of the game and only to annoy all Omar Gonzalez owners (thank god he got that assist). The takeaway from this is (hopefully) that the LA Galaxy are back and a viable fantasy option once again. The Union? not so much.
Fantasy Standouts
- Gyasi Zardes ($9.8): 2 assists and a goal. I think Robbie being back is going to only increase Zardes’ value from here on out so he’s worth a look in my book.
- Robbie Keane ($11.0): The man is back. We can tell Robbie is hungry and it doesn’t look like his appetite is going anywhere. Watch out MLS.
- Omar Gonzalez ($10.0): Yes he’s incredibly expensive at this point, but he proved his worth once again. Robbed of a clean sheet at the end, he still managed 8 points with an assist and 2 BPs (My highest scorer for the week).
- CJ Sapong ($7.1): For his price and with scores of 6, 7, 7 the past 3 weeks the guy definitely warrants a look (especially at 2.1% ownership).
Fantasy Letdowns
- The rest of the Union….
Portland Timbers 2 vs. Houston Dynamo 0
Highlights
Timbers saw their 4th MLS victory behind goals from Argentines Urruti and Fernandez. However, the scoreline was pretty rare given the woeful offensive performance put forth by both sides. The Timbers had 6 shots and 2 of those were on goal. The Dynamo managed more shots but only put one on frame. That’s not how you score goals or make fantasy owners happy, but regardless it’s a fantastic win for the Timbers and much needed to keep their momentum.
Fantasy Standouts
- Jorge Villafana ($6.4): Relatively cheap and with scores of 9 and 13 the last two weeks it has become apparent Villafana’s importance to the Timbers attack. He takes corner kicks and gets into the attack with more consistency than most other outside backs in MLS.
Fantasy Letdowns
- Timbers attack: While the 2-0 scoreline was great for the Timbers, it still left the fantasy owners with question marks. Urruti and Fernandez scored, but where does that leave Adi or Nagbe? Will Adi replace one of them given the Timbers willingness to switch up the line up? Valeri will be coming back in soon so there’s the question of who makes way for him. Too many question marks and a lack of consistency from one player makes the Timbers a risk not necessary to be taken.
- Houston Dynamo: Defense couldn’t keep a clean sheet and the offense was lost most of the game. Where’s Cubo Torres?
DC United 2 vs. New England Revolution 1
Highlights
The Revolution came back into this game replacing Fagundez with Agudelo and got off to a good start with Davies scoring in the 10th minute. That would be the last time they scored and Chris Rolfe would lead DC United to victory even with Espindola on the field.
Fantasy Standouts
- Chris Rolfe ($9.2): Even with Espindola back it’s clear that Rolfe is vital to this team’s success. He took the PK over Espindola and scored the other goal from the run of play. Safe to say he may be back after a slow past couple of games.
- Fabian Espindola ($10.4): Everyone knows from last year that Espindola is the most talented player on the field for DC and he showed it this weekend with an assist and attacking bonus. Don’t expect him to stay satisfied with assists, he will score.
- Charlie Davies ($9.2): He scored again and he’s one of the hottest strikers in MLS. Despite New England’s defensive woes the offense is still clicking and Nguyen looked to be making his way back to the playmaker he was last season, which will benefit Davies.
Fantasy Letdowns
- DC United Defense: The defense couldn’t keep a shutout and is tough to figure out for fantasy anyways. Kemp and Korb started over Opare and DC United’s tendency to rotate for DGWs is scary for fantasy owners. Birnbaum had 3 bonus points this weekend and would be my only recommendation, but even still Birnbaum and Boswell are too expensive for the quality of the defense.
- New England Revolution: Everyone outside Davies and Nguyen performed poorly fantasy-wise. That’s not to say I think it will stay that way, but I just can’t say for certain who else will emerge as a valid scoring threat. Agudelo has the talent, but Davies seems in favor up top. Bunbury can be a huge impact player some games, but have long silent stretches. The one I like most as a player is Fagundez, but he can’t seem to keep himself in the starting lineup for some reason.
Real Salt lake 2 vs. Sporting Kansas City 1
Highlights
Benny Feilhaber is Benny Feilhaber AND Fantasy God for all you Fantasy MLS owners. However, that’s not the real story. RSL got a much needed win and SKC’s defense still hasn’t found what works. Javier Morales looks to be injecting some much needed will into his side and the return of Jordan Allen provides some more young energy into the side. Despite RSL’s win, however, there’s still a question of whose the reliable fantasy option outside of Morales. with Saborio out this game it looks like Morales is the only option for now. RSL did provide one interesting wrinkle with Justen Glad starting in defense, providing an interesting option going forward if Olave and Schuler have setbacks in recovery.
Fantasy Standouts
- Benny Feilhaber ($10.2): at 114 points so far this year Benny is absolutely dominating fantasy. This week he only had an assist, but given the performances of most other players that was a fantastic performance in a losing game.
- Dom Dwyer ($10.8): Given the slump he’s been in this goal is very crucial. The only problem for me now is not whether or not he will score more, but if the amount he scores will be consistent enough and at a rate that I can justify spending this kind of money on him for.
- Javier Morales ($11.5): His price tag is beginning to rise to the other big guns and for good reason. With two assists this week he’s signaled his return as the playmaker and we should continue to see this kind of production from him in the coming weeks. The person who will be on the end of his service, however, is up for debate.
Fantasy Letdowns
- Graham Zusi ($10.8): He hasn’t looked particularly bad, but when you look at his price tag it makes you feel a lot worse about owning him. I don’t see a world in which Feilhaber every let’s you think you should own Zusi over him.
That’s the breakdown for the first half of Round 10. What do you think? Did any players jump out at you who you think deserve to be highlighted? Mention them in the comments below, or send me or Tyler a Tweet and let us know. Also, don’t forget to get involved with the get community her at MLS Fantasy Boss and over at /r/FantasyMLS.
