MLS Fantasy Focus: Thiago Big or Go Home

In a high-scoring round, BL4CKnRED set the pace with 129 points, leading by a margin of 11 points. GSFC still leads overall, though that lead is now just two points.

Positional Leaders

Goalkeepers
Seattle’s Stefan Frei ($7.9) kept a clean sheet on the way to 10 points, leading the position. Behind him, Steve Clark (HOU, $5.7) and Sean Johnson (NYC, $6.7) each kept a clean sheet for 9 points. For DCU, Tyler Miller ($5.5) scored 4 points.

Defenders
Caleb Wiley (ATL, $5.5) tallied a goal, an assist, and a clean sheet, leading the defenders with 17 points. Well behind him were Dejuan Jones (NE, $8.0), who scored 13 points on a clean sheet and an assist, and Richie Laryea (TOR, $6.7) did the same for 12 points. The D.C. defense was led by Steven Birnbaum ($5.3) with 7 points, followed by Derrick Williams ($5.7) with 4, Jacob Greene ($4.0) with 2, and the pair of Pedro Santos ($5.8) and Matai Akinmboni ($4.4) with 1.

Midfielders
Thiago Almada (ATL, $11.0) blew up this round, scoring two goals, assisting two more, and amassing 26 points to lead the midfielders and all players. Meanwhile, Junior Moreno (CIN, $7.4) scored twice for 15 points, and DCU’s Mateusz Klich ($9.0) rounded out the top three with two assists and 13 points. The remaining United midfielders were Victor Palsson ($6.9) with 3 points, both Chris Durkin ($6.9) and Ted Ku-Dipietro ($5.6) with 2, and Yamil Asad ($6.3) with 1.

Forwards
Philadelphia’s Mikael Uhre ($7.7) scored two goals and 13 points, leading the forwards ahead of Romel Quioto (MTL, $8.0), whose 12 points came on two goals of his own. Rounding out the top three was Luiz Araujo (ATL, $9.0), with a goal, and assist, and 11 points. For D.C., Christian Benteke ($8.0) scored 7 points, and Nigel Robertha ($4.8) scored 1.

Looking Ahead
Montreal is on bye, and everyone else plays once. Colorado has scored all of once in four matches, so feel good about playing Brad Stuver (ATX, $7.3) in goal vs. the Rapids. In defense, I like Kai Wagner (PHI, $7.9) to break out vs. Orlando, and I like his teammate Daniel Gazdag ($10.5) in midfield. Federico Bernardeschi (TOR, $10.2) looks good at forward @ San Jose.