Fantasy Focus: Call Me Ismael

Acosta Bennyfits led this round with 131 points.

We have a new overall leader, as West Knox United used a 128-point week to take a two-point lead.

Positional Leaders

Goalkeepers

Montreal’s Evan Bush ($6.1) posted clean sheets in each of his two matches on his way to 17 points, comfortably leading all goalkeepers. Behind him, D.C.’s own Bill Hamid ($8.3) had a clean sheet and 11 points, while each of Tyler Miller (LA, $7.0), David Bingham ($6.0), and Brad Guzan ($6.5) had a clean sheet and 8 points.

Defenders

Zakaria Diallo’s (MTL, $6.7) two clean sheets took him to 19 points, leading all defenders. Just behind him were two players with 17 points — D.C.’s Steven Birnbaum ($9.0), who had a clean sheet and an assist, and Daniel Lovitz (MTL, $6.3), who had two clean sheets. The remaining DCU defenders were Frederic Brillant ($7.2) with 10 points, Leonardo Jara ($8.1) with 8, Donovan Pines ($5.0) with 7, and Chris McCann ($4.4) with 1.

Midfielders

Atlanta’s Ezequiel Barco ($7.4) scored a brace on the way to 14 points, narrowly leading the position. On his heels were Benny Feilhaber (COL, $7.9), who scored 13 points on a goal and an assist, and Luciano Acosta (DCU, $10.4), who scored 12 on the strength of a goal. The remaining United midfield featured Lucas Rodriguez ($9.0) with 11 points, Junior Moreno ($8.0) with 10, Chris Durkin ($5.1) with 7, Ulises Segura ($5.1) with 6, Paul Arriola ($8.4) and Russell Canouse ($7.0) with 5 each, and Zoltan Stieber ($6.3) with 3.

Forwards

Ismael Tajouri-Shradi (NY, $7.2) added an assist to his brace on his way to 21 points, leading all forwards and all players. Far behind him was Zlatan Ibrahimovic (LAG, $12.7), whose two goals helped him to 14 points, and Atlanta’s Hector Villalba ($7.8), who posted two assists on the way to 13 points. For DCU, Wayne Rooney ($11.1) scored 3 points, and Quincy Amarikwa ($5.3) scored 2.

Looking Ahead

LAFC and Vancouver play twice this round, with games starting on Wednesday. I’d shy away from Vancouver because they’re just not very good, but you should be playing three LAFC players for their matches at Vancouver and home vs. Seattle. That said, I like Tim Melia (SKC, $6.6) in goal at San Jose, and prefer to save a little money on Walker Zimmerman by playing his LAFC teammate Steven Beitashour ($7.2) in defense. Minnesota may have a great new home, but they’re at Toronto this round, so I’m still playing Alejandro Pozuelo ($11.5) in midfield at home. At forward, Carlos Vela (LA, $13.8) is the no-brainer captain pick, with an honorable mention to Jozy Altidore (TOR, $11.1), with his five goals in four games.