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Round 8 of MLS Fantasy Soccer: Manager paid dividends for some owners while others were left wondering what could have been. If you invested properly in Sporting KC and the New York Red Bulls, the two teams who participated the first double-fixture week of the 2013 season, you reaped the rewards for your foresight.
Only six teams were represented on the Dream Team in Round 8. Aurélien Collin accumulated just three points in Sporting KC’s 2-0 loss to the LA Galaxy on Saturday night, but it was his 15-point effort on Wednesday night against RBNY that made him the top scorer this round. Landon Donovan’s 16-point breakout performance was a close second.
Here’s the breakdown of the first (3-5-2) formation of the 2013 MLS season:
Round 8 Statistics
- Most Captained player: (Graham Zusi – 3,943 people)
- Transfers made: 15,789
- Wildcards played: 266
- # teams that scored 0 goals: 6
- # teams that scored 1 goals: 9
- # teams that scored 2+ goals: 5
- # clean sheets per round: 7, 2, 5, 6, 3, 3, 6, 6
- # goals scored per round: 24, 21, 17, 16, 22, 16, 14, 22
Dream Team formation: (3-5-2)
Top Player: Aurélien Collin – 18 points
Defenders (3)
In all, 25 players from nine different teams scored seven points or more in Round 8, but a great week from players at other positions only made room for the top three here. Collin had a monster week with 15 of his 18 points coming from Wednesday night's game in New York. His $6.5m asking price is the highest for any defender in MLS.
Teammate Matt Besler ($6.1m) and Toronto’s Jeremy Hall ($5.0m) rounded out this group with 11- and nine-point efforts, respectively. The Chicago Fire’s Austin Berry ($5.2m) also had a nine-point effort after notching an assist and a clean sheet in a 1-0 victory against the Columbus Crew on Saturday. This is the third DT appearance for Collin and Besler.
Midfielders (5)
Plenty of midfielders shined this week, but only 14 of them scored seven points or more. It was hit or miss for the big-name players here, but one thing for sure is that Landon Donovan ($9.9m) is back. His 16-point performance was one of the best by a midfielder so far this season, and with the Galaxy back to their normal ways, there’s no telling how high his price could go. Donovan is owned by 10.0 percent of the league and climbing. Are you a buyer at $9.9m?
Graham Zusi ($10.0m) is the only non-forward that’s been the most-captained player in a round this season. He’s also tied for the league lead in Dream Team appearances (3) with RBNY’s Brandon Barklage ($6.1m).
Jonny Steele’s ($6.5m) 12-point effort in the Red Bulls' 4-1 victory against the New England Revolution made up for the fact that he didn’t play a single minute against Sporting KC last Wednesday. And Amobi Okugo ($6.3m) continues to deliver solid performances, notching an assist and four (defending) bonus points in Philadelphia’s 3-2 victory over D.C. United.
Note: Javier Morales ($8.2m) and Marcelo Sarvas ($8.0m) each tallied 10 points in Round 8 as well. Has the consistent play from Morales caught your eye just yet? Maybe watching his sublime header that gave Real Salt Lake a 1-0 victory this weekend will change your mind.
Forwards (2)
If you didn’t take the advice of MLSsoccer.com’s Andrew Wiebe a couple weeks ago, Jack McInerney ($8.3m) is likely still not on your team. The leading goalscorer in MLS is currently owned by only 9.7 percent of fantasy owners and his price will only go up in the next few weeks. I’m predicting at least a $9.0m price tag by the time Round 12 rolls around.
Tip: If you want to make a profit on Jack Mac, BUY NOW!!
Thierry Henry ($10.5m) has played 90 minutes in three straight games and has scored in two of them. He’s in form at the moment and could be in for another big performance next week against Toronto FC, barring any injury setbacks or severe weather conditions of course
Note: Only four forwards scored more than seven points in Round 8. Are you still investing too much up top?
Goalkeeper – Nick Rimando (14)
Stopped a penalty kick and nailed down a clean sheet just like Clint Irwin did a couple weeks ago. You can’t ask for much more from your goalkeeper. Rimando is the third-highest scoring 'keeper in FS:M, currently averaging 6.1 points/game.
Congratulations to Matt Rivera (Oly Flying Headers) who finished Round 8 with 124 points! Matt captained Collin and got some consistent play from midfielders Zusi, Dax McCarty and Barklage. However, the play from Rimando and McInerney is what put him over the top this week.
*Dream Team subject to change. All point totals are finalized Wednesday for Rounds ending on Sunday.
