Defense was once again the name of the game in Round 3 of MLS Fantasy.
Saturday’s six-game slate produced a mere five goals, while Sunday's two games equaled that total. The weekend's action – or lack thereof in the attacking end – was another reminder of how important Clean Sheet and Defending Bonus points are when goals are hard to come by. The 5-3-2 formed the Dream Team, with 2014 Golden Boot winner Bradley Wright-Phillips leading the way with 13 points. Lukas Illion captained BWP to post the highest score of the round with 86 points.
It’s a marathon, not a sprint
: It’s easy to be discouraged after a slow start, but my advice is to stay the course. While the Chicago Fire are off to a dismal start in 2015, there’s no doubt
head coach Frank Yallop is doing everything he can to right the ship
. We, as fantasy managers, must have the same mentality. With 31 rounds still to be played, remember that it’s a marathon, not a sprint.
And there are plenty of ways to better understand your squad heading into Round 4. The information is all around us. MLS Fantasy expert advice is featured on MLSsoccer.com daily. That will point you in the right direction, but it is still up to you to decipher the information and make your own transfers. More questions? Tweet them at me using #MLSFantasy.
With that in mind, and with the Round 4 transfer window now open, here is what I’m watching leading up to the transfer deadline:
- The transfer deadline for Round 4 is Saturday, March 28 at 1 pm ET.
- Study the running list of MLS international call-ups for March FIFA dates. Obviously, these players will not earn your squad points for their international performances. It also means you’ll have to dig a bit deeper to fill that international void. It’s a perfect chance to look for sleepers.
- Keep an eye on the MLS Injury Report and MLS Disciplinary Report as they are updated throughout the week.
- Review the upcoming schedule before confirming your transfers. There are no byes in Round 4, but Columbus Crew SC and New York City FC are both on a bye in Round 5. The first double-game week is in Round 6 with Columbus Crew SC and Vancouver Whitecaps both playing twice.
Here are a few players I am considering to bolster my squad heading into Round 4:
Tesho Akindele ($8.1m) - The reigning MLS Rookie of the Year opened his 2015 account with a nice goal vs. Philadelphia. With Blas Perez out on international duty, Akindele will be leaned on even more to carry the FC Dallas scoring load.
Pedro Morales ($11.1m) - Pedro Morales rewarded fantasy owners for sticking with him, showing up with an eight-point performance in Round 3. Vancouver has three straight home games, including one on the front end of a double game week in Round 6. The price tag is steep, but you will not want to be left without the 2014 MLS Newcomer of the Year over this favorable stretch of games.
Harry Shipp ($7.6m) - Shipp made me look foolish for jumping ship on him after Round 1, providing a goal vs. San Jose in a solid all-around performance in Round 3. With DP Shaun Maloney called into the Scotland side for Euro 2016 qualifying, I expect Shipp to continue to spark the Fire attack with back-to-back home games in Rounds 4 and 5.
Where are you ranked after Round 3? What players do you have an eye on during the FIFA international window? Let us know how you’re doing in the comments below.
