Fantasy Focus: Rivalry Weak

MLS Rivalry Week was a bit of a flop from an offensive standpoint, with just two games giving us more than two goals, two 0-0 draws, and a further four 1-1 draws. Still, the high scorer last week was eclipsed by this week's leader, Burnanator, who earned 76 points. Burnanator was led by Graham Zusi (SKC, 16 points as captain), Bill Hamid (10,) and Justin Morrow (SJ, 9.) Burnanator has some work to do this week, as five of their starters are on international duty. We have a new overall leader, as Bethlehem Steel FC scored 71 points to rise to the top of the league with 214 points.

Positional Leaders

Goalkeepers

Our own Bill Hamid led the keepers again. He's got 26 points over the three games, which is 9 more than the second place goalkeeper (Troy Perkins.) Hamid ($5.2M) is still cheaper than ten other goalkeepers. The second high scorer this week was Sean Johnson (CHI, $5.0M, 8 points.)

Defenders

Glauber (CLB, $5.0M) scored a goal en route to 10 points, and was the joint high overall scorer with Hamid. George John (DAL, $5.5M) and Justin Morrow (SJ, $5.5M) followed close behind with 9. Glauber's week 3 points and 9 in week 1 sandwich a week 2 in which he scored 0 points, despite playing 89 minutes. Following their week 2 mirror image performances that earned them 9 points each, D.C.'s Brandon McDonald and Dejan Jakovic ($5.5M each) scored 8 points each this week.

Midfielders

Four midfielders scored 8 points this week, leading among those at the position - Brad Davis (HOU, $8.9M,) Sebastian Le Toux (PHI, $8.2M,) Steve Zakuani (SEA, $7.8M,) and the aforementioned Zusi. Andrew Jacobson (DAL, $5.5M) and Patrice Bernier (MTL, $8.0M) each scored goals on the way to 7 points. For United, Perry Kitchen ($6.0M) led with 5 points.

Forwards

Federico Higuain (CLB, $9.2M) led all forwards with 8 points. Four players followed him with 7 - Deshorn Brown (COL, $5.7M,) Marco Di Vaio (MTL, $8.5M), Alvaro Saborio (RSL, $10.1M) and Robert Earnshaw (TOR, $7.6M). Unsurprisingly, the lead D.C. forward, Lionard Pajoy ($8.0M,) only scored 2 points.

Philadelphia, Portland, and Toronto are on bye, but Oxford Comma FC is not. Additionally, a number of players that are probably important to your teams are away on international duty, so look for the little red square next to them.

Who should you grab to fill your starting spots in absence of internationals? Jeb Brovsky (MTL, $4.8M, 18 points) has gone up $0.2M in price from a week ago, but is still a good value, and so is Matt Hedges (DAL, $5.0M, 17), and both are defenders. Uri Rosell (SKC, $6.7M, 17) is going to have to shoulder a bit of the midfield burden in absence of Zusi. Davy Arnaud (MTL, $7.2M, 18) is a similar midfield buy. Deshorn Brown is worth consideration to plug into your forward line, and Dominic Oduro (CLB, $6.7M, 12) hasn't scored since week 1, but he's a good candidate to start this week with Jairo Arrieta away on international duty.

Good luck!