MLS Fantasy: Week 3 Recap

Looking back at the fantasy impact of a goal heavy Week 3.

It looks like offenses across MLS are starting to figure things out. We’ve come a long way from a week one filled with shutouts. This week just as many teams hit three goals as the teams that got shutout. That means there were plenty of fantasy points across MLS. First let’s take a look at the team of the week.

Seattle and New York posted some big numbers but weren’t able to make the top 11. For the third week in a row, Diego Valeri has put up some big numbers. The four braces this week from Valeri, Maximiliano Urruti, Josef Martinez, and Cyle Larin all made the team. Zac Steffen had a big week for Columbus and is continuing to be one of the best cheap pickups for goalkeepers. The three teams that managed to keep shutouts all have a defender represented as well.

Three Good and Bad Pick Ups This Week:

Good: Ola Kamara

Not only did Kamara get a goal for the second straight week, he drew both penalties for Columbus in their 2-0 win. Kamara has a high price tag but is going to get a lot of opportunities from Frederico Higuian and has delivered in two weeks now.

Bad: Kei Kamara

Columbus fans will certainly feel some schadenfreude at this. It’s a small sample size of only two games, but Kei just hasn’t had the production his replacement in Columbus has had. Kamara has played all 180 minutes of New England’s season but hasn’t produced more than two points in either game. With his high price tag there are plenty of more affordable options to drop him for.

Good: Zac Steffen, Alex Bono, Alec Kann

Very few people had these three keepers in their line ups this week, but all three delivered shutouts. Kann got a little help since his team was a man up for nearly the entire match. Bono and Steffen did their jobs playing against two of the weaker offenses in the league. Vancouver has been shutout twice this year now, and D.C. United is the only team remaining who hasn’t scored this year.

Bad: Every other starting keeper

If you didn’t have one of those three in your line up, and most people didn’t, then you didn’t get more than four points from your goal keeper. 36 goals were scored in league play this week, even winning keepers gave up at least one goal in most matches. That clean sheet bonus was very hard to come by this week.

Good: Diego Valeri

We can’t talk enough about how on fire Valeri is right now. In three games he already has four goals, two assists, and 39 total fantasy points. At this point just he’s giving you 13 points per week, you need to find a way to afford him at this point.

Bad: Sam Cronin

A lot of people have picked up on the idea to load up on players playing Minnesota each week. Cronin was an affordable option that a lot of people went for. He only delivered two points after he got a yellow card and his team gave up two goals.

Three Players to Pick Up for Week 4:

Only three games this weekend due to the international break. That means 16 teams are out of action, making the options for this week few and far between.

Diego Valeri: Seriously. Pick him up. The odds are your favorite team isn’t playing this weekend, and he’s way to hot to ignore right now. Get Valeri on your team this week.

Aaron Long: The Red Bulls giving up three goals should be an anomaly with ice cold Real Salt Lake coming to town. New York is high on their young centerback and has drawn comparisons to Matt Miazga from some.

Next: Worst MLS Designated Player Signings in History

Juan Agudelo: Here is this week’s “he’s playing Minnesota so you better pick him up” player. With some other players around him struggling. Agudelo is the safest option to get a goal for New England.