If MLS Fantasy was a Magic 8 ball, then the answer many managers would have received about their teams last week would have been, “Outlook not so good.”
A week of unexpected results has shaken the faith that many put into their teams and may have people considering taking drastic measures as their eyes drift over to their wild card. My advice is to not be hasty because there is still a lot of time left in the season. To help, I’ve put together a list of players who I think can help managers overcome their #FantasySorrows.
Keepers
Budget Starter: With the two main D.C. United goalkeepers out due to injuries, Travis Worra ($4.1m) is set to be the starting keeper for the next several weeks. Last’s week’s draw against New England shows that he is capable of clean sheets so this change comes just in time if you’re ready to drop a big name keeper.
Differential: If you want to get in on the ground floor of a keeper who’s showing promise, then Bobby Shuttleworth ($5.6m) is one to consider. Shuttleworth has three things going for him right now: He’s in the Top 4 for points earned, he’ll save you some cash if downgrading from a $6.0m player, and the Revs are currently the highest-ranked team of the four that have a double-game week (DGW) in Round 4,.
Defenders
Good History: New England has a promising set of games over the next few weeks, but you’ll have to pay if you want one of their defenders. Andrew Farrell ($8.0m) tops my list as the best option due to his good bonus point potential as a center back and his history of high overall season scores.
2nd Chance: I know that Dallas really dropped the ball last week, but this is not the time to clean house. Thanks to his bonus point production, Walker Zimmerman ($6.1m) is still one of the best value defenders in the game. Yes, they are going up against Didier Drogba ($11.5m) this week, but this could be his first game back in the lineup and that may cause more problems for Montreal than goals.
Differential: If you want to pick up a defender from a team that has not lost a game yet, then Montreal’s Victor Cabrera ($7.1m) is the way to go. He offers a similar bonus point and points per 90 production to teammate Laurent Ciman ($8.7m), but is much cheaper! The only downside is Montreal’s schedule, which does not include a DGW until Round 8.
Midfielders
On Form: If you are not satisfied with your value midfielders, then Andrew Wenger ($7.3m) could be your ideal replacement. Wenger is firing on all cylinders right now, scoring two goals and earning two assists over his last two games while racking up a slew of bonus points as well. The only question is can he keep this up on the road as Houston travel to face the Red Bulls?
DGW Prep: Even though Diego Fagundez ($8.2m) may have contributed to some players' Fantasy Sorrows last week, I still think he’s a viable transfer for Round 3. Besides helping you prep for the upcoming DGW, there are still some lingering questions about Philly’s defense and Fagundez should prove more of a challenge than he did against D.C.
Forwards
Budget Pick: If you are looking for a low cost player to round out your forwards, then Quincy Amarikwa ($7.6m) is a great option. Amarikwa seems to be doing well in the San Jose system and opened the year with a goal and an assist. This will be his first away game so we may not see big numbers, but his price makes him a viable long term option.
Captain Pick: NYC's run of home games has just started and David Villa ($11.1m) performed exactly as many of us had hoped by scoring a couple of goals and getting a couple of good chances for a third. This week he’s up against an Orlando team that has yet to keep a clean sheet. This gives him a good chance for more goals and makes him a front runner for the captain’s armband.
Record Breaker: Big promises don’t always pay off but Dom Dwyer ($10.1m) is doing what he can to make his 30-goal season a reality. He started his journey with two goals against Vancouver last week and this week he could increase his total as SKC hosts Toronto, who could really be missing home cooking at this point as they continue their season-opening road trip.
This are my picks to help you rebound from your #FantasySorrows. Who are you looking at for Round 3? If you are interested in more charts and tips, check out the latest posts over at MLS Fantasy Boss and the other MLS Fantasy Experts.
