The Wootcakers set the pace this round with 152 points. Nemanja Nikolic (CHI, $10.6) led the team with 22 points on three goals, while Nicolas Lodeiro (SEA, $12.2) was just behind him with 21 points on a goal and two assists. Brad Guzan (ATL, $6.6) kept two clean sheets for 19 points, rounding out the top three.
With just three rounds left, we have a real race at the top of the league. !BL4CKnRED leads with 3130 points, but No Name MLS is just 34 points back after slicing 18 points off their deficit this round.
Positional Leaders
Goalkeepers
Brad Guzan’s 19 points led the goalkeepers, while Jesse Gonzalez (DAL, $4.8) was close behind with two clean sheets and 17 points. There was a two-keeper tie for third with both Joe Bendik (ORL, $5.1) and Andre Blake (PHI, $6.4) tallying a clean sheet and 13 points. DCU’s Steve Clark ($4.5) scored 5 points.
Defenders
Orlando’s Yoshi Yotun ($8.4) justified his absurd (for a defender) price tag with 27 points on a goal, two assists, and a clean sheet, leading the defenders and all players. Two FC Dallas players tied for second, as Maynor Figueroa ($6.1), with two clean sheets and a goal, and Hernan Grana ($6.1), with two clean sheets and two assists, both scored 23 points. The D.C. defense was led by both Kofi Opare ($4.8) and Chris Korb ($4.5) with 6 points, followed by the trio of Steve Birnbaum ($5.3), Sean Franklin ($4.9) and Jalen Robinson ($4.7) with 1 point.
Midfielders
Nicolas Lodeiro’s 12 points were good for the midfield lead, while Valeri Kazaishvili (SJ, $9.2) had a goal and two assists on the way to 20 points. There was a tie for third, as Maximiliano Moralez (NYC, $9.8) had an assist in one game and seven attacking bonus points in another on the way to his 19 points, while Tyler Adams (NYR, $5.1) got his on two goals and one assist. For United, Russell Canouse ($6.6) led with 10 points, followed by Lloyd Sam ($7.9) with 6, the pair of Nick DeLeon ($5.6) and Marcelo Sarvas ($6.7) with 5, both Luciano Acosta ($8.2) and Ian Harkes ($5.7) with 4, and Paul Arriola ($8.7) with 3.
Forwards
Houston’s Alberth Elis ($8.5) scored three goals on the way to 26 points and the positional lead. Nemanja Nikolic’s 22 points were good for second, and Gonzalo Veron (NYR, $7.4) scored two goals on the way to 19 points. For DCU, Zoltan Stieber ($8.0) had 11 points, Patrick Mullins ($8.2) had 8, and both Deshorn Brown ($7.4) and Bruno Miranda ($6.0) had 3.
Looking Ahead
It’s an international break for World Cup qualifiers, so of course MLS is playing five games over the next nine days. It’s easier to say who’s playing this round, so it’s Atlanta, Minnesota, the Red Bulls, Vancouver, Kansas City, Colorado, Dallas, and Houston. Kansas City and Minnesota are playing twice, while 14 MLS teams are chillin’ at the crib. Games start Tuesday night, and the round ends on Wednesday the 11th for some reason. In goal, I’m staying away from Tim Melia, who may stand out as an obvious selection with two games, but they’re both away (MIN, HOU), and he hasn’t had a clean sheet since August 19th. I like Jesse Gonzalez instead, who is on the road for his one game, but it’s against Colorado who he just held scoreless in Frisco. Anton Walkes (ATL, $4.5) is a must in defense, as he’s affordable and he’s facing Minnesota at home, and I really like Ibson da Silva (MIN, $7.0) in midfield for his two games (at Atlanta, vs. Kansas City), as he hasn’t scored fewer than 5 points in any of his last 9 games. At forward, go with Josef Martinez (ATL, $9.8).