The most lopsided score of the week went in favor of Sporting KC this week as they capitalized on FC Dallas with a 4-0 win after Dallas went down a man. Despite the lack of shots against, their goalkeeper still managed to produce the most impressive stat line of the week at his position. Meanwhile, a key Sporting KC midfielder also played a starring role in this week’s action. Here is a breakdown of the best fantasy performers from this past week in the MLS.
GK: Tim Melia, Sporting KC
Melia didn’t have to do much to post the best fantasy numbers of any MLS goalkeeper this past week as his one save was enough to preserve the clean sheet in a 4-0 win over FC Dallas. Sporting KC led 1-0 when FC Dallas defender Zach Loyd was sent off after his second yellow card and Melia’s offense poured in three more goals and kept the majority of the action at the other end of the pitch in order to secure the shutout win.
Honorable Mention: Jon Busch, Chicago; Steve Clark, Columbus
D: Steve Birnbaum, DC United
Birnbaum’s giveaway that directly led to a goal by Sebastian Le Toux wasn’t enough to keep him from registering the best fantasy stat line of any MLS defender this past week as he had a couple of blocked shots and winning tackles in a 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Union. A big part of the equation was the way that Birnbaum jumped in to the attack as he finished the game with three shots on target and if he continues to step up and join the attack there is a good chance he will continue to rank among the top fantasy defenders every week – especially if he eventually finds the back of the net.
Honorable Mention: Warren Creavalle, Toronto; Omar Gonzalez, LA Galaxy
M: Graham Zusi, Sporting KC
Another key player in Sporting KC’s dominant win over FC Dallas was the midfielder Zusi, who registered the top stat line of the week at his position after he scored and added two assists in the 4-0 win. Zusi plays an integral role for SKC – especially when it comes to set pieces – so keep an eye on him as a midfielder that should continue to rank near the top of the list at his position.
M: Ignacio Maganto, LA Galaxy
It was no surprise to see Maganto back near the top of the list of MLS fantasy midfielders from this past week as he scored the Galaxy’s first goal and then assisted on their second in a 2-2 draw with the New England Revolution on Sunday. Maganto has emerged as one of the Galaxy’s better midfielder’s and it will be interesting to see how his role is altered once Steven Gerrard arrives in LA.
Honorable Mention: Javier Morales, Real Salt Lake; Gershon Koffie, Vancouver
F: Sebastian Giovinco, Toronto FC
Giovinco’s ascension has played an integral role in Toronto FC’s climb up the standings as he played a starring role again in their 3-1 win over San Jose on Saturday. Giovinco hit the cross bar early on and while he failed to score a goal, he had two assists. The first was a beautiful cross to Justin Morrow at the end of a lovely run that opened up the scoring and the second was on Luke Moore’s 71st minute goal that put the game away. Giovinco’s stat line of two assists and four shots on target easily ranked as the best of the week for MLS forwards and it should be no surprise to see him in this spot again.
F: David Villa, New York City FC
From one big name to another, the star forwards certainly produced this past week with Villa joining Giovinco among the top fantasy producers of the week at his position. Villa scored NYCFC’s lone goal in a 1-1 draw with the Houston Dynamo and was easily his team’s most dynamic offensive threat n the game as he finished with four shots on goal.
Honorable Mention: Kennedy Igboananike, Chicago; Teal Burnbury, New England
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