PRIMER: MLS Conference Championships
- Fantasy owners dropping Timbers' players ahead of 2nd leg vs. Real Salt Lake
- Is it wise to stack your team with Real Salt Lake attackers and defenders?
- Do Sporting KC have enough firepower without Kei Kamara and Claudio Bieler?
- How Houston Dynamo's finishing struggles could hurt your team
The transfer deadline for the Conference Championship second-leg matchups is Saturday at 7:15 pm ET. Be sure to have your lineups set before then! For the latest advice from Jason Saghini and Andrew Wiebe, check out the fantasy video above.
Before I share the experts' predictions for both matches and give you a sneak peek at my final lineup, here's a look at the current top 10 most-added players for this round.
Team |
Player |
Position |
Selected |
Price |
Total Score |
Transfers IN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
<img alt="Real Salt Lake" class="ismShirtData" src="http://cdn.ismfg.net/static/mlsf/img/shirts/data_view/shirt_14.png" title="Real Salt Lake"> |
Robbie Findley |
FWD |
4.9% |
$7.1 |
79 |
<strong>638</strong> |
<img alt="Real Salt Lake" class="ismShirtData" src="http://cdn.ismfg.net/static/mlsf/img/shirts/data_view/shirt_14.png" title="Real Salt Lake"> |
Javier Morales |
MID |
17.6% |
$9.1 |
196 |
<strong>508</strong> |
<img alt="Sporting Kansas City" class="ismShirtData" src="http://cdn.ismfg.net/static/mlsf/img/shirts/data_view/shirt_17.png" title="Sporting Kansas City"> |
Seth Sinovic |
DEF |
7.8% |
$5.8 |
161 |
<strong>405</strong> |
<img alt="Portland Timbers" class="ismShirtData" src="http://cdn.ismfg.net/static/mlsf/img/shirts/data_view/shirt_13.png" title="Portland Timbers"> |
Ryan Johnson |
FWD |
15.7% |
$7.9 |
117 |
<strong>383</strong> |
<img alt="Real Salt Lake" class="ismShirtData" src="http://cdn.ismfg.net/static/mlsf/img/shirts/data_view/shirt_14.png" title="Real Salt Lake"> |
Nat Borchers |
DEF |
8.7% |
$5.0 |
138 |
<strong>371</strong> |
<img alt="Sporting Kansas City" class="ismShirtData" src="http://cdn.ismfg.net/static/mlsf/img/shirts/data_view/shirt_17.png" title="Sporting Kansas City"> |
Jimmy Nielsen |
GKP |
14.9% |
$5.7 |
168 |
<strong>353</strong> |
<img alt="Sporting Kansas City" class="ismShirtData" src="http://cdn.ismfg.net/static/mlsf/img/shirts/data_view/shirt_17.png" title="Sporting Kansas City"> |
Matt Besler |
DEF |
16.3% |
$5.9 |
140 |
<strong>342</strong> |
<img alt="Portland Timbers" class="ismShirtData" src="http://cdn.ismfg.net/static/mlsf/img/shirts/data_view/shirt_13.png" title="Portland Timbers"> |
Will Johnson |
MID |
16.1% |
$8.1 |
174 |
<strong>339</strong> |
<img alt="Real Salt Lake" class="ismShirtData" src="http://cdn.ismfg.net/static/mlsf/img/shirts/data_view/shirt_14.png" title="Real Salt Lake"> |
Chris Schuler |
DEF |
7.1% |
$5.1 |
105 |
<strong>331</strong> |
<img alt="Real Salt Lake" class="ismShirtData" src="http://cdn.ismfg.net/static/mlsf/img/shirts/data_view/shirt_14.png" title="Real Salt Lake"> |
Joao Plata |
FWD |
6.2% |
$6.2 |
99 |
<strong>309</strong> |
* See the complete list of Top Transfers here.
Forwards might be the hardest position to choose from this round, but you still have to put one out there. Robbie Findley is the clear No. 1 option after his breakout performance in the first leg, but I already explained why I won't be taking a flier on him in the second leg.
Ryan Johnson and Joao Plata are the Nos. 2 and 3 options at forward currently, but what you can't see in the table above is that Will Bruin is right behind Plata with more than 300 player adds.
Some might still be hoping Bruin overcomes his "questionable" status in time to suit up Saturday night, but regardless, the Dynamo have a backup plan in place if he can't.
Predictions
- Me: Sporting KC 1-0, Draw 2-2
- Jason Saghini: Sporting KC 1-0, Portland 3-2
- Andrew Wiebe: Sporting KC 1-0, Portland 2-1
We’re all expecting a one-goal affair at Sporting Park as well as a clean sheet for the home team. But in the second match, we're all predicting different outcomes.
I agree with Andrew that the Timbers will get two goals, but I also agree with Jason that Real Salt Lake get two. What do you think about our predictions?
My Lineup
I can't share my full lineup because I advanced to the semifinals in a couple of head-to-head leagues and my opponents will likely be looking for any advantage they can get. But I will give you a couple formations to choose from and seven of the 11 starters I'm going with.
Formation: 4-5-1 or 3-5-2
- GK: Jimmy Nielsen
- DEF: Aurelien Collin
- DEF: Rodney Wallace
- MID: Javier Morales
- MID: Graham Zusi
- MID: Diego Valeri
- MID: Will Johnson
Who do you think is missing from my lineup and who are some of the "must-haves" I left out?
