Fantasy on Fire: Week 4 Recap - Part 2

The second leg of this week 4 double game week saw quite a few shut outs, a blow out, and in true MLS form, some pretty wild performances.  We saw the return of Kaka to the Orlando midfield, Giovinco struggle to put his team on his back after going down a man early, Sporting KC suffering their first loss (at home too), and most importantly, the Fire’s first three-point haul of the season.  Let’s take a brief look at how the end of the season’s first DGW panned out and how my DGW suggestions fared.

Chicago Fire v. Philadelphia Union

After pitching another shutout, it should come as no surprise that the top performers for the Men in Red were in the back half of the pitch.  Matt Harrington ($5.3) led all players with 9 fantasy points as perhaps the week off due to a red card helped him find some form.  Coming in with 8 points apiece was the trio of goalkeeper Matt Lampson ($4.6), defender Johan Kappelhof ($7.6), and DP forward Kennedy Igboaninike ($8.0) who scored the team’s lone goal.

Heading into the blustery grounds of Toyota Park, the Union was riding a pretty impressive form having won their last two matches and sitting atop the Eastern Conference table.  That ended on Saturday as they had plenty of shots (17) but only managed three on target.  Leading an overall poor fantasy charge was Ilsinho ($8.5) and CJ Sapong ($8.1) who could only muster four points each.

Colorado Rapids v. Toronto FC

Goalkeeper Zac MacMath ($5.1) as well as defenders Marc Burch ($5.5), Bobby Burling ($6.0), and Axel Sjoberg ($5.5) all benefited from the clean sheet as each pulled in 7 fantasy points.  Fresh off a stint with the Guatemalan National Team was Marco Pappa ($8.3) who led everyone with 11 points.

As good as the Rapids did on the fantasy ledger, TFC obviously was on the other end of the spectrum.  Clint Irwin ($5.5) stood on his head for most of the match (7 saves) and was rewarded with a solid six fantasy points.  No other Toronto player managed more than five points with the Atomic Ant, Sebastian Giovinco ($11.8), only able to manage four fantasy points.

Sporting KC v. Real Salt Lake

I am not a Real Salt Lake fan mind you.  I hate their name.  They seem to be the oldest team in the league with guys like Javier Morales ($10.4) and Kyle Beckerman ($8.3) running (and I use that term loosely) around.  However, I am loving their pack-it-in-on-defense-then-transition-with-a-long-pass style.  With that type of play you would imagine some Alan Gordon-size target forward on the end of those longs bombs?  Not in Salt Lake.  I love that the guy on the end of so many of those Hail Marys is 5’2 Ecuadorian Joao Plata ($9.4).  Plata is proving to be the main fantasy threat for RSL as he put up an eight point performance in this one and hasn’t scored less than seven points this season.  Defender Justen Glad ($5.1) led the team with 9 points mainly bolstered by a goal in the 29^th minute.

As for the former Wiz, the only fantasy highlight was Benny Feilhaber ($11.0) who made his season debut, scored a goal, and earned six fantasy points.

FC Dallas v. Columbus Crew

In their second game of week 4, the Hoops could only manage a draw at home against the Crew.  From a fantasy perspective this game showed us that Chris Seitz ($4.7) is a more than adequate fill in for Jesse Gonzalez ($6.0), that Michael Barrios ($8.1) is the real deal and someone worth keeping an eye on, and that Maximiliano Urruti ($8.7) is one of the best bang-for-your-buck forwards in the game.

As for the Crew, Justin Meram ($8.2) had a great outing but until he can get regular minutes will remain a week-to-week play.  Federico Higuain ($10.2) continued his good form while Kei Kamara ($10.9) continues to be a marked man and has struggled to put up points.

Seattle Sounders v. Montreal Impact

Seattle finally found a win and it came at home against a rolling Impact squad.  Fantasy-wise the Sounders were led by Clint Dempsey ($10.9) and goalkeeper Stefan Frei ($6.0) who both managed 9 points.  The Impact was without Didier Drogba ($11.5) but, on the season, the Impact have been managing just fine with Dominic Oduro ($7.6) at the point of the attack.  This match, however, saw Oduro manage a paltry two points, Ignacio Piatti ($10.4) a paltry four points, and former Fire star Harrison Shipp ($8.1) just three points.

Vancouver Whitecaps v. LA Galaxy

This was the Whitecaps second game of the DGW and while they were able to mute the explosive Galaxy, they themselves struggled to get shots on goal.  David Ousted ($6.1) enjoyed another clean sheet but the main source of offense for the ‘Caps, Pedro Morales ($10.9), managed just a single fantasy point after having to exit from the match in the 19^th minute.

As for the Galaxy, theirs appears to be a situation of too many cooks in the kitchen as they are loaded with talent but sadly can only field 11 men.  There is no doubt that they are loaded with talent but with Robbie Keane ($11.5) injured, Gyasi Zardes ($9.5) playing out of position, and Steven Gerrard ($10.0) off to a slow start, it is probably worth sitting back and watching the dust settle before adding a Galaxy player.

San Jose Earthquakes v. DC United

Despite having 15 shots against DC United, the Quakes were nothing to write home about on the fantasy scoreboard as nobody scored more than six points.  DC United was on their second match of this DGW which saw Lamar Neagle ($7.6) redeem himself with a 9 point haul.  Patrick Nyarko ($7.0) was much the same as he scored 7 points after putting up just three against FC Dallas.

Orlando City v. Portland Timbers

The last game of the DGW was a shellacking as the Lions welcomed back Kaka ($10.7) who put up a monstrous 16 points with one goal and two assists.  Kevin Molino ($8.1) is getting back into his pre-injury form as he earned 12 fantasy points.  The only bright spot for the Timbers was Argentinean Diego Valeri ($10.4) who continued his stellar performance with nine fantasy points.

How Did I Do?

All-Stars

Bobby Shuttleworth ($5.9)- The Revs ‘keeper picked up 13 points over the DGW which made a him a addition.

Lamar Neagle ($7.6)- Neagle had a poor game against FC Dallas but rebounded nicely with a 9 point effort against Orlando to finish the DGW with 12 points.

Zach Loyd ($7.6)- Loyd wound up the DGW totaling 13 points which is made more impressive considering he had not logged a single minute before this week.

Maximiliano Urruti ($8.7)- Urruti has had a solid season thus far and put in two more good performances during the DGW.  FC Dallas’ starting forward was worth 15 points over the two weeks and has only scored under 7 points once this season.  For the price and with such a terrific surrounding cast, Urruti is worth keeping in your lineup the rest of the season.

Solid Starters

Travis Worra ($4.1)- Worra was worth 8 points over the two weeks which isn’t stellar but a solid contribution especially considering his cost.

Ridin’ the Pine

Taylor Kemp ($7.5)- 180 minutes played.  5 points scored.  ‘Nuff said.

Marcelo Sarvas ($6.8)- A red card against FC Dallas knocked him out of the second game leaving him dangling with just a single point to his name.

Octavio Rivero ($8.3)- It has become increasingly obvious that as Pedro Morales goes, so goes the Whitecaps offense.  Rivero started off last season on a hot streak but has been unable to find that same form.  Six points from two games will not cut it on any fantasy roster.

Matias Laba ($7.5)- As underperforming as Rivero was, Laba was even worse.  He only scored four points in the first match and then managed to get a red card in the second match.  So if you are keeping score, Laba will be worth two points in three weeks.