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This week in MLS Fantasy Soccer: Manager, we saw a huge increase in scoring overall. The average score was 56 points and the high was 109. The big guns produced this week with 15 players tallying nine points or more.
For the second week in a row, Columbus' Federico Higuain was outmuscled for the top spot by an LA Galaxy player. Robbie Keane had his sixth double-digit performance of the season and the best overall score (18 points) in Round 26. He becomes the first player to notch a hat trick in multiple games this season.
Here's the breakdown on the rest of the Dream Team for Round 26...
Round 26 Statistics
- Top Fantasy Score: 109 points
- Average Fantasy Score: 56 points
- # teams that scored 0 goals: 6
- # teams that scored 1 goals: 4
- # teams that scored 2+ goals: 8
- # clean sheets per round: 7, 2, 5, 6, 3, 3, 6, 6, 4, 7, 7, 4, 5, 4, 3, 5, 7, 3, 4, 7, 4, 8, 3, 3, 5, 6
- # goals scored per round: 24, 21, 17, 16, 22, 16, 14, 22, 27, 17, 41, 29, 27, 26, 16, 25, 17, 27, 24, 13, 25, 19, 25, 28, 24, 23
Dream Team formation: (4-3-3)
Top Player: Robbie Keane – 18 points
Defenders (4)
Three defenders truly earned their spot on the DT this week. Omar Gonzalez (10 points) scored a goal in LA's 4-2 win over Real Salt Lake, while San Jose's Steven Beitashour (10 points) and New England's ChrisTierney (11 points) assisted on goals in shutout wins over Sporting KC and Chicago, respectively.
Six teams earned clean sheets this past weekend, the most since Round 22. Marvell Wynne, along with seven others, had an eight-point outing as a result.
Midfielders (3)
Three midfielders had top-notch performances, accumulating nine points or more in Round 26. Giles Barnes (12 points) led all midfielders, scoring two goals in Houston's 3-1 win over the Seattle Sounders at home. Brad Davis (nine points) had the assist on two of the three goals.
Landon Donovan (10 points) only notched one assist, but his attacking bonus (plus-five) gave him a huge boost. His nine successful crosses and seven key passes were the most he's had in a game all season.
Forwards (3)
The LA Galaxy are no stranger to putting the ball in the back of the net, and this week it was no different. Keane tallied the third hat trick by a LA player and the sixth hat trick recorded in MLS this season. His 18 points were one less than Donovan's 19-point effort last week.
For the second straight week, Higuain was outscored for the top spot by a Galaxy player. After a brilliant goal against the New York Red Bulls, Higuain followed it up with an even more superb finish against Toronto FC this past weekend. He's averaging 15 points over the last two rounds.
Houston's Will Bruin and Montreal's Marco Di Vaio had 10-point outings on Saturday, but it was Bruin who got the nod to round out the forward crop this week.
Goalkeeper – Matt Reis (9 points)
Six goalkeepers recorded shutouts in Round 26 and five of them ended the day with nine points. Matt Reis made his first start since Week 4, capping off his return with an MVP performance.
Congratulations to Matthew Holmes (Hopheads) who finished Round 26 with 109 points. Holmes had three players from this week’s DT in his Starting XI: Keane, Higuain and Donovan. His Captain was LD!
*Dream Team subject to change. All point totals are finalized Wednesday for Rounds ending on Sunday
