You've got the basics, now here's how to play the game from week to week | Fantasy Soccer 101

Now it's time for the real fun: actually playing the game!

We'll close out this Fantasy 101 series with some tips on weekly gameplay. We've already covered team creation, joining leagues, the scoring system and the transfer market. You've got all that down, now it's just a matter of updating you on a few new features and offering some humble tips to enhance your fantasy experience.

AUTO-SUBS VS MANUAL SUBBING

We all love a good toggle, and this year's version of Fantasy Soccer Manager allows you to choose between auto and manual (manager) substitution. The round begins with auto-subs on (even if you used manager subs the previous round). Once the first match of the round has started, you can begin making manager subs. To begin making a manage sub, you'll beed to toggle auto-subs off. Once you confirm your manager sub, auto-subs will be off for the rest of the round.

Here's how auto-sub works: you're expecting Clint Dempsey to play, but he's away on international duty or he's injured. Rather than taking a zero at that position, the game will automatically swap in the first player on your bench to take Deuce's place. (Your formation will change accordingly.)

However, once a round has started and before a player's match has started, you may switch players using Manager Substitutions. Your formation will automatically change based on the players you have chosen and you may make an unlimited number of manager substitutions during a round. But, remember: once you make a Manager Substitution auto-subs are turned off for the rest of the round.

A player is locked in your starting lineup, including Captain choice, at their match start time. Likewise, your choice between auto and manual subs locks once the first match of the round begins.

You may replace any player whose team has not played with one from your bench whose team is yet to play. You may also change your captain (if his team has not played) to another player from your fantasy roster whose team is yet to play.

Use fantasy.mlssoccer.com on your tablet or phone via a web browser.

PLAYING FANTASY ON MOBILE DEVICES

This year's game was built on a fully responsive platform, so it's viewable from any desktop, laptop, tablet or mobile device. Just use fantasy.mlssoccer.com and the game will fit your screen. Consider using your tablet or phone to follow the real-time stats in your head-to-head league – you'll be able to see how well you're doing against that week's opponent.

TIPS AND TRICKS FOR THE FANTASY SEASON

Finally, I'll offer a few of my own tips for fantasy success. Maybe you disagree. Give your fellow owners your own approach in the comments section below.

Use transfers wisely: If possible, use your transfers sparingly. In order to make a profit on the players you sell, you should wait until their value reaches a maximum. It's sort of like trading the stock market; buy low and sell high. But owners must always be aware of the difference between an Apple stock and Enron.

Pay attention to the future: The MLS season is uneven. Some teams will play twice in one week (Double-game week – DGW – is the unofficial offical term for this scenario), while others might not play at all. It's worth casting a glance a few weeks ahead before you make any transfers. If there's a certain team that plays more than others in a given stretch of time, why not stock up on a few of their players?

Locate reliable news sources: One of the hardest things to do in fantasy soccer is keep up to date with player news. We'll do our best to update you here, but you'll want to get some news directly from the horses' mouths. Of course we recommend following all the club pages on Twitter and Facebook, but you can also get plenty of insight from each team's MLSsoccer.com beat writer, as well as the local and national soccer media.

Have fun with point projections: This season, we are adding a new feature to fantasy soccer: projected points. This stat forecasts the fantasy points a player will earn in his next match, based on a number of variables including: a player's points in previous games played (when he played over 45 minutes), his chances of playing the next round (based on injury status or international duty) and finally the strength of the opponent he is playing. Use this information to guide your transfer strategy and your sit/start decisions.

Keep some money in the bank: You'll be tempted to use all of your salary cap. However, you might want to keep a couple million in reserve. If a higher-priced player like Darlington Nagbe or Pedro Morales goes on a hot streak, it's nice to have a little reserve cash available on hand to snag him.