MLS Fantasy Lessons - Week of Injuries

by Dave Clark on Apr 4, 2011 10:30 AM PDT in Sounders: MLS Regular Season

BRIDEVIEW, IL - APRIL 10: (L-R) Brandon McDonald #14, Ramiro Corrales #12 and Ryan Johnson #19 of the San Jose Earthquakes hug teammate Ike Opara #9 after Opara scored the winning goal against the Chicago Fire in an MLS match on April 10, 2010. Wait - 2010? Get OFF my fantasy team! That's his most recent photo in our system...

With ESPN's Fantasy League having the odd rules of "roster set by Tuesday" there were several last-minute injuries that hurt people in MLS Fantasy Soccer this week. Locally the best example was Fredy Montero. Nationally the example was Charlie Davies going from likely starter (and goal scorer) to on the bench over the weekend.

Here is where the power of the 4-4-2 comes into play. Since ESPN will auto-replace a "did not play - injury" with a healthy player, the 4-4-2 means that you have one player in each position on the bench. So I made the switch. My three-man forward line was supposed to put up a ton of goals, except that one is injured (Montero), one had prolonged international duty (Kei Kamara) and one just isn't having the season that he had last year (Danny Mwanga).

I also made a change in my backline because I can't continue to go on thinking that I know better than Frank Yallop. Sure, if this was a sim game, or FIFA'11 I would love to have Ike Opara. In fantasy though that is a big mistake. I dumped him for the more pricey Omar Gonzalez, but with our local 3 CBs for 2 slots hurting my Jhon Kennedy Hurtado pick I can't have two part time players. This also forces me to count on ESPN playing one or both of Jalil Anibaba and Kofi Sarkodie.

To get the money for Big O I had to get rid of one of the high priced midfielders, and so I dumped David Ferriera. There are still 3 MVP candidates in the midfield, so I added Atiba Harris as I have some faith that the Vancouver Whitecaps will continue to score, and their defense improve (I need that as I have Jay Demerit too).

So there are only 18 transfers left for the fantasy side.

No, I'm not dumping Mike Fucito. It just isn't going to happen.

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Comments

DeRo subbed out

Due to not playing for TOR, despite his NYRB gametime. Hoping this gets fixed, as he was my captain and a couple points is better than 0.

"But who would listen to Little old me anyway?"

-by thehemogoblin

by Little old me on Apr 4, 2011 10:36 AM PDT reply actions

Same happened for me

Super weak.

by chrisperry1983 on Apr 4, 2011 11:59 AM PDT up reply actions

Same

Swapped Shalrie in, so at least it wasn’t a total loss (assuming they don’t fix it).

I’m not sure DeRo is worth being my captain anymore, though. Should get some more assists, but he isn’t going to be the primary goal scorer anymore with Agudelo lurking up there and Henry presumably waking up any time now.

Nos Audietis

by sidereal on Apr 4, 2011 12:15 PM PDT up reply actions

I just noticed I got 4 points for DeRo this week, one for the appearance and three for the assist

I’m struggling to figure out who my captain is. It went from Zakuani to Davies to Cooper. After an offensive overhaul, I’m now with Wondo, Davies, and Bunbury, with Wondo as the captain for now. This ESPN system has its issues, but is lightyears better than the FADO/Tigin EPL Fantasy League system. WAY more customizability, use of subs, and a far more advanced scoring system. Love. It.

by chrisperry1983 on Apr 4, 2011 1:30 PM PDT up reply actions

I'd pick captain week to week

I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Dave Clark on Apr 4, 2011 2:03 PM PDT up reply actions

That's what I'm leaning towards

My midfield and defensive line is pretty solidly set (although I need to keep a better eye for when a team has the weekend off ) it’s just my forwards that I need to keep an eye on and see how they perform.

by chrisperry1983 on Apr 5, 2011 8:45 AM PDT up reply actions

Zak's my captain this week.

He seems to be on form, and I believe he will be able to burn the Fire.

by agtk on Apr 4, 2011 2:45 PM PDT up reply actions

Agreed

I’m thinking about switching from Wondo. Zakuani is on a tear and I think he’s gonna keep it up.

by chrisperry1983 on Apr 5, 2011 8:46 AM PDT up reply actions

Sweet

Glad he was credited with the assist. It was deserved but not reported by most outlets for some, unknown, reason.

"But who would listen to Little old me anyway?"

-by thehemogoblin

by Little old me on Apr 4, 2011 2:48 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm hoping they figure out the sub thing

I had montero starting and jack mcinery (philly guy, I forget how to spell it) and they took montero out for jack who got negative 2…i only have him because I have to fill a roster spot, not so he can play

A sky of blue, a sea of green...(or claret)

by kelliott1527 on Apr 4, 2011 10:42 AM PDT reply actions

That is brilliant.

by agtk on Apr 4, 2011 10:46 AM PDT up reply actions

The sub thing is figured out...

If a guy doesn’t play, he’s going to be automatically subbed regardless of who is on the bench. If you don’t want a guy playing, I’d find someone else to replace him. At least that’s my understanding of how it works.

Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter

by Jeremiah Oshan on Apr 4, 2011 10:50 AM PDT up reply actions

That is correct

Though it doesn’t explain DeRo.

"But who would listen to Little old me anyway?"

-by thehemogoblin

by Little old me on Apr 4, 2011 11:00 AM PDT up reply actions

I guess that makes sense, but if it negatively affects your team

it doesn’t make sense…it should only be positive

A sky of blue, a sea of green...(or claret)

by kelliott1527 on Apr 4, 2011 3:18 PM PDT up reply actions

I guess that's what happens

when your backup forward comes on in the 73rd minute and instead of scoring a goal he earns a red for violent conduct in stoppage :)

by agtk on Apr 4, 2011 4:46 PM PDT up reply actions

Working the system

I’m going to try something take advantage of the ESPN substitute system. I am running a 3-5-2, so I have two defenders on the bench. I couldn’t decide which to start, so I put a KC defender in as my starter. He won’t play because they have an off week, so ESPN will automatically insert the better of my two bench players. I’ll let you know how it works out next week.

by Sounder Abroad on Apr 4, 2011 11:57 PM PDT up reply actions

Wow, that's very clever...

Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter

by Jeremiah Oshan on Apr 5, 2011 8:14 AM PDT up reply actions

I think it only subs for DNP-Injured

not “not scheduled”

I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Dave Clark on Apr 5, 2011 12:36 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm Inclined to Agree

If it is a “not scheduled,” they might not bail you out.

by scottykimberly on Apr 5, 2011 3:10 PM PDT up reply actions

I'll let you know

Like I said, I’ll give it a shot this weekend and let you know how it works out. I can’t take credit for the idea, someone on the ESPN forum mentioned this as a bug and I thought I’d try to use it for my advantage. Obviously, from what you are saying, it could backfire if both of my bench guys do well and I get stuck with a “0” for a team that didn’t play.

by Sounder Abroad on Apr 5, 2011 10:55 PM PDT up reply actions