TRANSFER DEADLINE: Thursday, 7 pm ET
So, how did that first double game week (DGW) treat everyone?
Columbus and Vancouver kicked things off with the 2015 season’s first DGW, playing a brilliantly exciting 2-2 draw on Wednesday night. That game set the tone for a week that saw some favored teams stumble and some big fantasy scores across the board.
It’s been a lurching start to the MLS Fantasy season with bye weeks, international absences and the like, but the season is now in full swing as we head into Round 7.
Before we get into that, though, some highlights from the fantasy week that was:
Rapids buck shutout trend
When I say that no one outside the Rapids’ locker room expected Colorado to smash FC Dallas to open the weekend, I mean no one. Pay close attention to the highlight below.
The play-by-play announcer Ramsés Sandoval was so unconcerned about a potential Rapids goal-scoring opportunity that he didn’t even cut in over color guy Paul Caligiuri until the ball was basically in the net.
Of course, it only got worse from there for FC Dallas. Any fantasy manager with an FCD defender went into the match hoping for a shutout – not the -2 for the four conceded goals they got. That was just one of many interesting results around the league this weekend.
Round 6 in 80 words
Columbus-Vancouver was dynamite for Kei Kamara, Darren Mattocks and Octavio Rivero.
Dillon Powers and Perry Kitchen made their cases as sub-$8.0m midfielders to watch.
Clean sheets for everyone in RSL-SKC and Revs-Crew.
Philly and Houston showed signs of life.
Fantasy managers woke up to disappointment after Pedro Morales’ DGW-killing red card in Vancouver’s second match.
A Diego CharaDOGSO red card might have actually prevented a Kaká goal.
Robbie Keane and Clint Dempsey sat out, but you should find budget room for Omar Gonzalez.
Looking Ahead...
It’s another double-game week, with Philly and NYCFC lacing ‘em up twice in Round 7. (Chicago and New England rescheduled their midweek game originally scheduled for April 15, which is why those teams are not on a DGW.) Fernando Aristeguieta (be on the lookout for injury news) and David Villa seem to be the most obvious additions – whoever you choose, be sure to get those transfers in by Thursday at 7 PM ET!
Round 7 Dream Team
I think we’re all a bit surprised to see this much yellow on the Dream Team for Round 6. With Columbus facing a bi-coastal road trip (with both games on artificial turf, no less), many players chose to stock up on Whitecaps. It just goes to show you how unpredictable MLS Fantasy can be.
2015 Dream Team...So Far
Central defenders are really setting the standard, with five on the season-long Dream Team after six rounds. Consider adding a few and watching those bonus points stack up.
How did the first DGW work out for you? Were you one of the unlucky 13.7 percent of players who had Pedro Morales on your squad? Share your joy and laments in the comments below.
