Round 4 presented fantasy players with some major roster problems. Several crucial players, included Mauro Diaz, Obafemi Martins, Axel Sjoberg, David Villa, and Chad Marshall, all were duds for MLSFM players last week due to unexpected injuries. On top of that, several teams were missing their stars due to international duties. For many players, Round 5 presents itself as a bounce back week for teams that weren’t able to field 11 starters. Will you #DareToOpara again, or will you find a different way to score some points for your team? Here are the Round 5 rankings:
Goalkeepers:
- Luis Marin ($5.6, vs Phi)
- Stefan Frei ($5.5, vs Hou)
- Clint Irwin ($5.1, vs NE)
- Donovan Ricketts ($5.3, vs DC)
- Adam Kwarasey ($5.4, vs Dal)
- David Bingham ($5.0, vs RSL)
- David Ousted ($5.5, vs LA)
- Sean Johnson ($5.4, vs Tor)
- Nick Rimando ($6.1, @ SJ)
- Chris Seitz ($5.1, @ Por)
Differential: Clint Irwin (3.6% owned). While the offense hasn’t necessarily produced for the Rapids, the defense has been rock solid. Colorado is the only team thus far to not concede a goal this year, and there is reason to believe the streak will continue against a New England team that has found goals hard to come by. Colorado probably has the best chance for a shutout this week, and Irwin is one of the few guaranteed starters for the fluctuating Rapids backline.
Buyer Beware: Chris Seitz (19.8% owned). The top scoring goalkeeper this year faces a tough task this round, when he plays a Portland team that are beginning to jell on offense. Portland-Dallas matchups have tended to be high scoring, averaging 3.4 goals per game, and it seems unlikely that Seitz will keep a shutout up against Darlington Nagbe, Fanendo Adi, and Rodney Wallace in the Rose City this Saturday.
Defenders:
- Ike Opara ($7.4, vs Phi)
- Matt Besler ($8.9, vs Phi)
- Liam Ridgewell ($8.4, vs Dal)
- Chad Marshall* ($8.6, vs Hou)
- Rafeal Ramos ($5.5, vs DC)
- Victor Bernandez ($7.1, vs RSL)
- Kendall Waston ($8.6, vs LA)
- Michael Harrington ($5.5, vs NE)
- Auerlian Collin ($7.9, vs DC)
- Omar Gonzalez ($9.2, @ Van)
*Pay close attention to Chad Marshall’s injury status. Despite his questionable tag, it was a large surprise that he wasn’t able to play last week vs Dallas. I would expect him to play this week, but follow the Sounders’ beat reporters on Twitter (@donruiztnt, @mattpentz, and @Mitch_Jason). By the end of the week, we should have a better idea of his status for this week.
Differential: Clarence Goodson (0.3% owned). Back from injury, Goodson has looked pretty solid in his first two games. Last week, he recorded three defensive bonus points, and two the game before. On top of that, he has been a factor offensively as well, recording an assist against Chicago and earning a penalty against New England.
Buyer Beware: Axel Sjoberg (36.8% owned). Sjoberg was a scratch last week with a foot injury, and there has been little reporting about it since. As of now, there is a lot of confusion whether or not he will play this week, or miss yet another game. Early indications are that he will potentially sit again. However, Colorado has a great chance of a shut out this week against New England, so if he does play, he should be in your lineup. Be sure to monitor the situation, this could potentially be a large risk/reward play for your fantasy team.
Midfielders:
- Kaka ($11.3, vs DC)
- Pedro Morales ($11.2, vs LA)
- Harry Shipp ($7.8, vs Tor)
- Benny Feilhaber ($9.2, vs Phi)
- Sebastian Giovinco ($11.0, @ Chi)
- Darlington Nagbe ($8.5, vs Dal)
- Lamar Neagle ($8.5, vs Hou)
- Pedro Ribeiro ($6.2, vs DC)
- Fabian Castillo ($9.8, @ Por)
- Javier Morales ($10.9, @ SJ)
Differential: Pedro Ribeiro (1.8% owned). Ribeiro is one of the few out of position players in MLSFM this year. Although he is listed as a midfielder, he has played the lone striker role in Orlando’s 4-5-1 formation. In the past couple of games, he has looked solid, pairing well will Kaka lately. Up against a DC team missing Steve Birnbaum and prone to giving up chances, Ribeiro has a good chance to put some points.
Buyer Beware: Kelyn Rowe (1.7% owned). Rowe scored thirteen points last round, but what’s concerning is the way he got there. He scored two goals against an average at best San Jose defense, but managed only one bonus point despite being an important player in the Revs’ offense. Goals are not necessarily Rowe’s forte, and if you take away the two he had, he would have an average of 3.25 points per game. His performance last week seems like an outlier; I would be hesitant to bring him in until he shows more consistency.
Forwards:
- Obafemi Martins ($11.2, vs Hou)
- Dom Dwyer ($10.3, vs Phi)
- Fanendo Adi ($9.3, vs Dal)
- Chris Wondolowski ($10.8, vs RSL)
- Octavio Rivero ($8.7, vs LA)
- Jozy Altidore ($9.6, @ Chi)
- Robbie Keane ($11.1, @ Van)
- Blas Perez ($9.3, @ Por)
- Innocent Emeghara ($9.0, vs RSL)
- Robbie Findley ($7.0, @ Chi)
Differential: Fanendo Adi (4.7% owned). Don’t look now, but one of the hottest strikers in MLS this season is none other than Timbers DP Fanendo Adi. The Nigerian front man has three goals in the past three games and has looked rather impressive so far this season. The Portland attack is beginning to come together with the reassurance of Darlington Nagbe playing in the number ten role. Adi should fair well in what should be a high scoring game against FC Dallas.
Buyer Beware: Fernando Aristiguieta (11.4% owned). The Philly offense has looked awfully flat in the two games after Christian Maidana’s injury. There just hasn’t been enough attacking creativity and shots on goal have been scarce. I wouldn’t trust Fernando Aristiguieta against the solid Sporting Kansas City defense at all.
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