It was ShowtimeJR who led the round with a score of 84 points. Erick Torres (HOU, $8.7) wore the armband and scored 32 points with a hat trick to lead the team. Kevin Molino (MIN, $9.9) added a goal to two assists for 15 points, and Diego Valeri (POR, $10.3) scored a goal and 10 points. MLS Muppets ascended to the top of the league, taking a three-point lead.
Positional Leaders
Goalkeepers
The pair of Zack Steffen (CLB, $4.8) and Stefan Frei (SEA, $6.1) earned a clean sheet apiece and 9 points, while the pair of Tim Melia (SKC, $5.7) and Alec Kann (ATL, $4.8) did the same for 8 points each. For United, Bill Hamid ($5.5) was good for 7 points.
Defenders
Ronald Matarrita (NYC, $6.3) tallied two assists and 12 points to lead the position, and just behind him was Alex Crognale (CLB, $4.9), who earned a clean sheet and 10 points. Six defenders tied for third on 9 points, with each earning a clean sheet — Harrison Afful (CLB, $5.9), Nicolai Naess (CLB, $6.0), Tony Alfaro (SEA, $4.6), Joevin Jones (SEA, $5.1), Eriq Zavaleta (TOR, $5.1), and Tyrone Mears (ATL, $5.7). The DCU defense was led by Steve Birnbaum ($5.8) with 5 points, Bobby Boswell ($5.5) and Taylor Kemp ($5.8) with 3, and Sean Franklin ($5.4) with 1.
Midfielders
Romain Alessandrini (LA, $9.4) scored 16 points on two goals to lead the midfielders and tie for the overall lead. Kevin Molino’s 15 points were good for second, and Matias Laba (VAN, $7.2) scored two goals of his own on the way to 13 points. D.C.’s midfield was led by Luciano Acosta ($8.6) with 8 points, followed by Lloyd Sam ($8.4) and Marcelo Sarvas ($7.0) with 5 points, Patrick Nyarko ($8.0) with 4, Nick DeLeon ($6.0) with 3, Ian Harkes ($5.9) with 2, and both Jared Jeffrey ($5.4) and Lamar Neagle ($7.5) with 1.
Forwards
Erick Torres’s 16 points led the forwards and tied for the overall lead. Christian Ramirez (MIN, $8.1) scored two goals for 14 points, and Fredy Montero ($9.0) who contributed a goal and an assist for 9 points. For DCU, only Jose Ortiz ($6.9) scored, putting up 7 points.
Looking Ahead
Everyone plays once this round, even though the site had a two-game round for a handful of teams as recently as Monday afternoon. Tim Melia is your man in the goal at home against the low-scoring Rapids, and I like Nicolai Naess in defense at Chicago. In the midfield, go with Matias Laba on the road against RSL, and Cyle Larin is a go at home against the Red Bulls.