What a crazy week in MLS Fantasy Challenge! Six of the seven home teams were NOT victorious. What? San Jose scores their first goal! Kansas City wins in Chicago for only the second time in 16 tries! Toronto wins two games in a row!
How did this all happen? Was it a full moon? No, it was just a strange week, so hang in there if your team didn't do well. More predictable things will happen in the next few weeks.
This week's focus: Top five undervalued defenders:
Stephen Keel (COL, $203,000). The Wake Forest product has stepped into a starting central defender role for the Rapids and has been an integral part in the two shutouts registered by Colorado this season. Last year's reserve team captain also looks dangerous on set pieces in the box.
Tyson Wahl (KC, $246,000). The 19th overall pick in the 2006 MLS SuperDraft is living up to his high draft status. He has adjusted well this season to K.C.'s formation shift to a three-man backline. Sunday's shutout against Chicago, K.C.'s third of the season, proves it.
Kevin Goldthwaite (NY, $290,000). The 25-year-old Goldthwaite, out of Notre Dame, has looked good coming out of the back into the offensive flow of play for the Red Bulls. He's always a threat to send a long ball or make an overlapping run with a cross to his two dangerous forwards, Juan Pablo Angel and Jozy Altidore.
Sean Franklin (LA, $175,000). The fourth overall pick in this year's draft has really stepped up his play. Though he's playing a new position in central defense, Franklin has looked like an experienced veteran there.
Chance Myers (KC, $200,000). Myers, the No. 1 overall pick in this year's SuperDraft, is just beginning to round into form after an injury pushed back his development at the start of the season. Playing more of an outside midfield position should help his fantasy points.
Tip of the week: Don't put too much money into your defensive players. Defenders don't score goals very often, so it's not worth it. Find a low priced starting defender that plays on a good defensive team to maximize the shutout points.
This week's Top XI for points:Goalkeeper: Jon Busch (CHI). Busch plays at home against a Colorado team that was shut out at home this past week against San Jose. With the way he has been playing this season, look for his third shutout here.
Defender: Kevin Goldthwaite (NY). With one goal this season, Goldthwaite has been one of the most productive defenders this season. Playing against offensively challenged San Jose this week should yield shutout points.
Defender: Bakary Soumare (CHI). The 22-year-old out of the University of Virginia has found a new home at central defense this year for the Fire. Playing against Colorado at home this week could mean shutout points.
Defender: Michael Harrington (KC). With one assist so far this year, Harrington has proven that he is dangerous running up and down the left flank. Playing away against Toronto should give him more points this week.
Midfielder: Sacha Kljestan (CHV). Playing on his home field against LA's porous defense should be a welcome sight for Sacha as he comes back for his first game after his red card suspension.
Midfielder: Guillermo Barros Schelotto (CLB). The 34-year-old Argentinean has been playing extremely well in his second MLS season. Playing at home against Houston's backup 'keeper should help him to continue that.
Midfielder: Marcelo Gallardo (DC). Gallardo has looked spectacular this year. However, his teammates have not been able to help him out, missing on many of his perfectly placed and weighted passes. With the Argentinean midfielder taking most of the free kicks for D.C., we feel he'll be able to beat the vertically challenged Rimando for his second goal of the season.
Midfielder: Cuauhtemoc Blanco (CHI). With two goals and an assist already in the current campaign, Blanco is making an early MVP bid. A home game in Toyota Park against the inconsistent Rapids could be a good backdrop for another productive week.
Forward: Kenny Cooper (DAL). With his fourth goal of the season this past week against Chivas, Cooper has proven he has come back completely from his broken leg suffered last season. Cooper plays at home against New England this week.
Forward: Landon Donovan (LA). We think we'll ride this one till he proves us wrong. The leading scorer in MLS with five goals this season, Landon plays at home against Chivas this week. He's always up for big matches, so the LA SuperClásico could see Donovan on the scoresheet again.
Forward: Alejandro Moreno (CLB). The Venezuelan international is one of the hottest strikers in MLS this season, with three goals and an assist so far. The resurgent Crew take on Houston at Crew Stadium this week.
Our official teams for Week 4:
Dave:
GK Jon Busch; DF Stephen Keel; DF Kevin Goldthwaite; DF Marc Burch; MF Sacha Kljestan; MF Arturo Alvarez; MF Marcelo Gallardo; MF David Beckham; FW Josmer Altidore; FW Landon Donovan; FW Kenny Cooper. Coach Tom Soehn. Bench: Will Hesmer, Eddie Gaven, Kenny Mansally.
Traded FW Luciano Emilio for FW Kenny Cooper, traded MF Fred for MF Marcelo Gallardo, traded GK Matt Reis for GK Will Hesmer, moved MF Eddie Gaven to bench, Sacha Kljestan to midfielder.
Jimmy:
GK Jon Busch; DF Chance Myers; DF Chris Leitch; DF Marc Burch; MF Cuauhtemoc Blanco; MF David Beckham; MF Fred; MF Dave van den Bergh; FW Luciano Emilio; FW Josmer Altidore; FW Landon Donovan. Coach: Ruud Gullit. Bench: FW Kenny Cooper, MF Stuart Holden, DF Stephen Keel
Traded DF Tyson Wahl for DF Chance Myers; traded FW Omar Cummings for FW Kenny Cooper; traded MF Dax McCarty for DF Chris Leitch; moved DF Chance Myers to defender; moved Stephen Keel to bench; moved DF Chris Leitch to defender.
Next week's focus: We take a look at the undervalued goalkeepers.
Questions? Comments? Contact us at mlsfantasygurus@comcast.net.
