Let’s talk about the New York Red Bulls for a moment, as their 2-0 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes last weekend was quite the boon to MLS Fantasy managers.
Three players – Felipe ($8.3), Lloyd Sam ($8.9) and Sacha Kljestan ($9.0) – were each good for at least nine points last round, and they get the LA Galaxy coming off of a cross-country trip this round before a double game week in the next.
“Be thou as sharp as spikes, as smart as cats, there’s no guarantees in MLS Fantasy. Yet get thee some Red Bulls guys, go, and fare well.”
Shakespeare said it, so you know it’s good advice. Here’s more from the Bard:
“Or if thou wilt need other side, choose from the Fire, for Harry Shipp ($7.9) and Jeff Larentowicz ($7.5) are in great form during a home stretch and have one more match at home against New York City.”
That’s a direct quote. Who knew Elizabethan Era playwrights were such avid MLS Fantasy players?
Our patient today is Josh Mlot, whose Twitter submission has one dream-teamer surrounded by solid contributors.
Dear MLS Fantasy Doctor:
How serious are the injuries to David Villa and Jason Hernandez? I’m making my transfers for the week and am not sure where to focus.
The injury bug hit NYCFC pretty hard this weekend, with four players suffering from muscle strains and another going down with an ACL rupture. With NYCFC having to rotate so much of their defense recently, I have serious doubts about their ability to keep the Chicago Fire off the board.
I’m not waiting on Hernandez, I’d swap him for Chicago’s Joevin Jones ($6.4). Over the Fire’s last three matches, Jones has managed an assist, a clean sheet and a goal. He’s a good pick as Chicago hosts Jason Kreis and Co., at minimum as a one-week hired gun.
I’ve written in the past about how scary it can be to cut the high-priced, big-name-players when playing MLS Fantasy. Robbie Keane is still owned by 13 percent of fantasy players despite only one appearance in the last four rounds. Clint Dempsey hasn’t gone a full 90 since his early injury but is still owned by almost 20 percent of owners.
It might be time to put Villa in that category. We can get you looking forward to the next double game week with the addition of the Red Bulls’ Mike Grella ($6.2). With two goals this season, he should be headed for more consistent minutes, and the savings from Villa set you up to add Sam next round.
Let’s see if this helps get things on the right track!
-MLS Fantasy Doctor
