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In Round 31 of MLS Fantasy we saw another slight dip in both the average score (51 points to 45 points) and the top score (97 points to 91 points).
Seven teams were represented on this week’s Dream Team, although five teams had just one selection apiece. The Vancouver Whitecaps and Houston Dynamo led the way with three each.
It was a fantastic week for several players, with 14 tallying at least 10 points or more.
See which players barely missed the cut this week!
Round 31 Statistics
- Top Fantasy Score: 91 points
- Average Fantasy Score: 45 points
- # teams that scored 0 goals: 4
- # teams that scored 1 goal: 8
- # teams that scored 2+ goals: 6
- # 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, 5, 4, 7, 5, 4
- # 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, 37, 24, 31, 24, 25
Dream Team formation: (3-4-3)
Top Player: Four players tied with 12 points
Defenders (3)
For the leading point-getter in defense, Carlyle Mitchell, this was just his ninth 90-minute performance all season. Mitchell notched an assist, a clean sheet and multiple bonus points in Vancouver's 3-0 victory over Montreal. He has 22 points in his last three matches, but is still owned by only 0.2 percent of owners. With some tough matches scheduled in the coming weeks, you're better off using your transfers elsewhere. Although at $4.2m, he could be a pretty decent bargain worth stashing on your bench.
One of the most-coveted defenders in the game, Rodney Wallace, had another superb week. He assisted on the only goal in Portland's 1-0 win against Colorado, which puts him at six for the season. The left winger was also credited with his eighth clean sheet of the season as well. If you still don't have Wallace on your team, something needs to change quickly. He's the fourth-highest scoring defender in all of MLS.
Y.P. Lee grabbed the final spot at the back in Round 31. Lee's been inconsistent all year, but has pulled it together as of late, logging his best two outings (seven points, 10 points) in back-to-back rounds since Week 1.
Midfielders (4)
The Houston Dynamo must've worked on their finishing in practice because they were on top of their game this weekend. Boniek Garcia (12 points) and Will Bruin (11 points) each bagged a brace in their 5-1 victory over Chivas USA on Saturday. Both players have had somewhat of a bad season, but will need to perform down the stretch if Houston wants to make another deep playoff run.
Tony Tchani (10 points) had his best performance of the year to get his first Dream Team appearance of 2013. Before this week the Columbus Crew midfielder had never had more than five points in a game.
LA's Juninho (10 points) also grabbed his first Dream Team appearance of 2013. His spectacular free-kick goal against Seattle this weekend even earned him a spot in ESPN FC's Top 10 goals.
Argentinian playmaker Javier Morales (10 points) was the odd man out this week.
Forwards (3)
Two unlikely candidates, Steven Lenhart and C.J. Sapong, notched their third and fourth goals of the season via header this past Saturday. Lenhart was officially credited with "Top Player" honors, but Sapong was right there with him. Don't expect this to be a reoccurring theme.
With nine big chances fluffed (BCF) in the last seven rounds, Houston's Will Bruin finally got the monkey off his back. Bruin now has seven goals and seven assists on the season.
Federico Higuain and Camilo Sanvezzo just missed the cut with 10 points apiece.
Goalkeeper – David Ousted (11 points)
Four goalkeepers grabbed clean sheets in Round 31, but only one surpassed the double-digit mark. Vancouver's David Ousted had his best outing in 2013, recording six saves and 18 recoveries in the team's 3-0 victory at Stade Saputo Stadium. This was Ousted's first DT appearance.
Congratulations to MLSsoccer.com's Albert Lanzillo (This is Shooters Tour) who finished Round 31 with 91 points. Albert had three players from this week’s DT in his Starting XI: Giles Barnes, Rodney Wallace and Will Bruin. His captain was Giles Barnes!
*Dream Team subject to change. All point totals are finalized Wednesday for Rounds ending on Sunday
