DC United was one of three team’s to produce clean sheet victories in MLS fantasy over the weekend with goalkeeper Bill Hamid, defender Sean Franklin and forward Lamar Neagle among the top fantasy performers at their positions over the weekend. However, those three weren’t the only ones that left their marks on their respective games. Here is a look at the top individual fantasy performers by position in the MLS this past weekend.
GK: Bill Hamid, DC United
Hamid was DC United’s best player in a 2-0 win over the New England Revolution as he stopped all four shots he faced to maintain the clean sheet win. The crucial three points was enough for DC to jump in to fifth spot in the Eastern Conference standings in a tie with Orlando City SC at 20 points, one point up on both Toronto FC and New England.
Honorable Mention: Josh Saunders, New York City FC; Chris Seitz, FC Dallas
D: Ronald Matarrita, New York City FC
DC United’s Sean Franklin would have earned top MLS fantasy honors at his position most weeks but this time around it was Matarrita that narrowly edged him out as the top fantasy defender on the board. Matarrita scored the game-winning goal in NYCFC’s 2-0 win over the Seattle Sounders and finished with two shots in the clean sheet victory.
Honorable Mention: Sean Franklin, DC United; Andrew Jacobsen, Vancouver
M: Diego Valeri, Portland
The best midfield performance of the weekend didn’t come until Sunday when Valeri powered the Timbers to a 3-2 comeback win over Houston to push the club’s undefeated run to six games overall. Both of Valeri’s goals came on penalty kicks with the first in the 82nd minute and then the eventual game-winning goal in the first minute of injury time. Portland is now in fifth place in the Western Conference standings but they need to clean things up on the back end if they’re to go higher. They’ve allowed 29 goals this season, which is the second-most in the entire league.
M: Kaka, Orlando City SC
Kaka played an integral role in Orlando City SC’s 3-2 win over Toronto FC with a penalty kick goal to win the game in the 10th minute of second-half injury time. It isn’t often that both of the top fantasy midfielders on the board score game-winning goals on penalty kicks late in the second half but that was the case with Kaka scoring the winner and finishing with a total of five shots in the game. Orlando City has now produced 28 goals on the season, which makes them an excellent source for MLS fantasy. Only one other team from the Eastern Conference has produced that many goals.
Honorable Mention: Frank Lampard, New York City FC; Kellyn Acosta, FC Dallas
F: Lamar Neagle, DC United
While Hamid and Franklin led the way for DC United from the back end it was Neagle that set the pace up front with a goal and an assist on Franklin’s marker. The two points was enough for Neagle to earn top honors at his position while also helping DC United clinch an important three points in the standings. DC United has still only produced 16 goals on the season, so they haven’t usually been a strong source for MLS fantasy on offense. Only one other team in the conference has scored fewer goals, which is last-place Chicago. However, DC United has also given up just 16 goals, which is the fewest in the Eastern Conference and second-fewest in the MLS.
F: Dom Dwyer, Sporting Kansas City
Sporting Kansas City was fortunate to escape with a point in a 2-2 draw with the Montreal Impact thanks in big part to the play of Dom Dwyer, who scored both of their goals. Dwyer finished with a total of six shots including three on target as Sporting KC rallied from down a goal twice in the game to salvage a point. Sporting KC now sits in seventh place in the Western Conference with just 22 points. Only Seattle and Houston are below them.
Honorable Mention: Will Bruin, Houston; Bradley Wright-Phillips, New York Red Bulls Christian Bolanos, Vancouver
