The transfer deadline is over, but you can still set your starting lineup for MLS Fantasy Soccer: Manager until 3:45 pm ET on April 20. You can find all the injury news, projected lineups and sleeper options you'll need to make informed decisions below.
WEEK 8 FANTASY PRIMER
Who were the big winners and losers from Wednesday nights’ midweek clash?
Why a defender should be your Captain, not Thierry Henry!
WATCH: Starting Lineup – Week 8 Preview
SUPSENSIONS: Alan Gordon (Red card), Leonardo (Red card), Ashtone Morgan (Red card), Juninho P. (Red card)
Chicago Fire
Arne Friedrich ($4.8m) had a setback as he was nearing his return to the pitch. His return date at this point is unknown. Steven Kinney ($3.8m) is out as well. Is Chicago making a play to get Bakary Soumaré ($4.7m) back from the Philadelphia Union?
Chivas USA
Juan Agudelo ($8.3m) is “Out” this week with a hamstring strain. Tristan Bowen ($5.0m) and José Correa ($5.2m) will likely pair together at forward.
Chivas lost midfielder Daniel Antunez ($5.5) to a significant knee injury. Marvin Iraheta ($3.9m) could be in line to start again while Oswaldo Minda ($5.4m) and Miller Bolaños ($5.6m) are still sidelined with quad and hamstring strains.
Colorado Rapids
Brian Mullan ($5.9m) and Edson Buddle ($7.8m) are “Questionable” with foot and back issues this week. Chris Klute ($4.4m), Shane O’Neill ($5.0m), Marvell Wynne ($5.0) and Drew Moor ($5.3m) will make up the backline if Mullan sits and Danny Mwanga ($7.0m) could get the start up top in place of Buddle.
Stayed tuned to @MLSFantasy for the latest news on Dillon Powers ($5.5m) and Deshorn Brown ($6.2m). Brown is "Out" with a thigh injury and Powers will likely require stitches from a collision that occurred during practice. His status for Satruday's game against the Seattle Sounders is uncertain.
Columbus Crew
The Crew are all set to go. With Federico Higuaín ($9.4m) healthy, nothing should differ from last weekend’s match against the Montreal Impact. Did you hear Dominic Oduro ($6.8m) talk about his potential deal with Papa Johns on this week’s ExtraTime Radio podcast?
D.C. United
Dwayne De Rosario ($9.4m) got 45 minutes last weekend, but should be back in line to start this weekend against the Philadelphia Union. Daniel Woolard ($4.0m) has earned his starting spot back from JamesRiley ($4.8m) for the time being.
FC Dallas
All starters are healthy and fit for their match against the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Houston Dynamo
Boniek García ($8.2m) is the only question mark this week for the Dynamo, although he did return to full training on Thursday. Andrew Driver ($7.4) will likely get the start in his place.
LA Galaxy
There were several questions marks heading into this week regarding the Galaxy, but Todd Dunivant ($5.0m), Sean Franklin ($5.3m) and Robbie Keane ($10.5m) trained fully on Thursday and appear ready to go for their match against Sporting KC.
It’s possible we see a new lineup this weekend with Landon Donovan ($9.8m) at right mid and Mike Magee ($8.8m) at left mid, while Jack McBean ($6.0m) gets the start up top alongside Keane. Another possibility is Magee up top with Keane and Greg Cochrane ($4.4m) at left midfield.
Jose Villarreal ($5.5m) is “Questionable” and will likely be sitting this one out wth a shoulder injury.
Montreal Impact
Alessandro Nesta ($4.9m) is back in the starting lineup, but Montreal’s center back issues aren’t back to normal just yet. Matteo Ferrari ($4.9m) is “Out” for the next three weeks with an injury he suffered while warming up for last weekend’s match against the Columbus Crew. Karl Ouimette ($3.9m), who filled in for Nesta when he missed time, will be slotted back into the starting lineup in Ferrari’s place.
New England Revolution
Matt Reis ($4.9m) seemed ready to return to action until tragedy struck his family at the Boston Marathon on Monday afternoon. He returned to practice to give his teammates an update on Wednesday. He is not expected to be in the lineup on Saturday.
New York Red Bulls
Jámison Olave ($6.1m) is “Questionable” with a left knee injury. He’ll likely miss the Red Bulls second game of Round 8, but head coach Mike Petke is still optimistic that he could be available. Heath Pearce ($5.5m) will replace Olave if he can’t go.
Juninho ($7.7m) is suspended after firing the ball at Sporting KC goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen in stoppage time of Wednesday night's game. He will miss one game as a result.
Philadelphia Union
Conor Casey ($7.9m) and Jack McInerney ($8.2m) seem like an inseparable tandem at the moment. Head coach John Hackworth is also set when it comes to his GK, backline and Brian Carroll ($5.7m) manning the deep-lying midfield role. He’s been rather inconsistent with the rest of his midfield however which makes his lineups a tad bit more unpredictable.
Everyone is healthy in Philadelphia so this becomes even harder to predict. Out of the three open positions in the Union midfield, Hackworth will have to choose between; Sébastien Le Toux ($8.5m), Michael Farfan ($7.7m), Gabriel Farfan ($4.8m), Keon Daniel ($5.9m), Danny Cruz ($6.2m) and now newly acquired DP, Kléberson ($7.3m), who is fit and eager to play.
Daniel seems to have locked down a starting role in central midfield with Carroll which leaves the two flank positions up for grabs. Le Toux owners might be holding their breath on a weekly basis from here on out.
Portland Timbers
Mamadou “Futty” Danso ($4.4m) got his first start of the 2013 MLS Season last weekend against the San Jose Earthquakes, helping the Timbers earn their second consecutive clean sheet. He will likely remain in the starting lineup alongside Mikaël Silvestre ($4.8m) while Andrew Jean-Baptiste ($4.5m) remains the first available sub off the bench.
Diego Valeri ($7.7m) has been cleared to play and participated fully in practice this week. However, taking into consideration how physical their match against the Earthquakes was last weekend, head coach Caleb Porter might choose to use Valeri as a second-half sub instead. Tread with caution.
Real Salt Lake
Robbie Findley ($7.2m) is "Questionable", but he’s been a full participant in practice and all signs point to him getting the nod this week alongside Álvaro Saborío ($10.1m) up top. If for some reason he doesn’t get the call, Olmes Garcia ($7.5m) could get the start in his place.
Kyle Beckerman ($8.4m) is “Questionable” with a dislocated rib. He was subbed off around the half-hour mark of last week's match due to discomfort. Yordany Álvarez ($5.9m) will get the start against Chivas USA so the veteran can get an extra week of rest to heal. Javier Morales ($8.2m) played 90 minutes last week so it looks like he’s primed and ready to take off. Are you a buyer at $8.2m?
Chris Wingert ($5.3m) is all set to make his first start of the 2013 MLS season. Don’t you think it’s about time we get to see the first-team defense play together?
San Jose Earthquakes
Alan Gordon ($7.2m) will miss the next four games due to suspension. Steven Lenhart ($8.2m) will likely start up top alongside Chris Wondolowski ($10.3m) for the first time this season.
Jason Hernandez ($5.0m) is still “Out” with a calf strain and now his fill-in Ty Harden ($4.5m) is listed as “Doubtful.” Nana Attakora ($5.0m) is probable and could return as the starter this week at center back.
We’re still awaiting the return of Steven Beitashour ($5.2m) and Marvin Chávez ($7.6m) who both have yet to see action with the first team due to injuries. Beitashour saw 45 minutes of action with the reserve team on Monday, however Chávez was not used. The Honduran speedster might be on the bench this week, but there’s a good chance we see Beitashour get his first minutes of 2013.
Shea Salinas ($7.8m) is still “Questionable” with a bone bruise that held him out of last weeks’ match.
Seattle Sounders
Obafemi Martins ($9.1m) has been upgraded to “Questionable”, but is he ready to start? Eddie Johnson ($9.8m) is also “Questionable” with a hamstring strain that kept him out last weekend, but he practiced late in the week and could be available on Saturday.
David Estrada ($7.7m) is still “Out” with an eye injury, although it’s highly unlikely he’ll offer you any significant value in FS:M anytime soon regardless.
Toronto FC
Ashtone Morgan ($5.0m) is suspended for one game after receiving a red card in last week's match against the Philadelphia Union.
Fullbacks Richard Eckersley ($4.8m) and Darel Russell ($5.0m) are both out with hamstring injuries. Ryan Richter ($4.0m) and Doneil Henry ($4.2m) are in line to take their place.
Terry Dunfield ($5.8m) is still “Out” with a left knee sprain. Luis Silva ($7.1m), Justin Braun ($6.7m), Reggie Lambe ($6.4m) and Hogan Ephraim ($6.4m) should all remain in the starting lineup.
Vancouver Whitecaps
Head coach Martin Rennie has been extremely unpredictable the last few weeks. Darren Mattocks ($8.5m) has been benched in favor of Corey Hertzog ($5.7m). Gershon Koffie ($7.8m) has been benched in favor of Russell Teibert ($5.2m) and Kenny Miller ($7.9m), who has missed time due to a nagging hamstring injury, has seen Camilo Sanvezzo ($7.6m) get the nod in his place.
With Hertzog “Questionable” due to concussion symptoms and Miller still “Questionable” with hamstring issues, expect to see Teibert and Sanvezzo back in the lineup, with Mattocks possibly reappearing as the lone striker up top.
