We have a new overall league leader, as American Soccer FC used a round-leading 96 points to ascend to the top of the standings. Bastian Schweinsteiger (CHI, $9.3) led the team with 14 points on the strength of a goal and an assist. Not far behind him were Nemanja Nikolic (CHI, $9.6), who scored two goals and 12 points, as well as captain Erick Torres (HOU, $8.6), who had an assist and 12 points of his own.
Positional Leaders
Goalkeepers
A trio of goalkeepers tallied a clean sheets on the way to a tie for the positional lead with points — Sean Johnson (NYC, $5.8), Luis Robles (NYR, $6.1), and Tim Melia (SKC, $5.7). D.C.’s Bill Hamid ($5.5) went for 3 points.
Defenders
Jimmy Medranda (SKC, $5.5) hasn’t scored fewer than 7 points in a game this year, and he led all defenders this round with 13 points on an assist and a clean sheet. Trailing him were the NY pair of Ronald Matarrita ($6.4) and Alexander Callens ($4.9) who each scored 11 points with a clean sheet, while only Matarrita tallied an assist. For United, Bobby Boswell ($5.5) scored 4 points, followed by Steve Birnbaum ($5.8) with 3, both Sean Franklin ($5.4) and Taylor Kemp ($5.7) with 2, and auxiliary forward Kofi Opare ($4.5) with 1.
Midfielders
Bastian Schwiensteiger’s 14 points led all midfielders and all players, and Will Johnson (ORL, $7.1) was the second highest scorer with 10 points on a goal and an assist. Seven players scored 9 points to tie for third — Federico Higuain (CLB, $9.8), Ignacio Piatti (MTL, $10.3), Sacha Kljestan (NYR, $10.2), Alex Muyl (NYR, $6.6), Jahmir Hyka (SJ, $8.2), Benny Feilhaber (SKC, $10.2), and Cristian Techera (VAN, $7.6). Higuain had 2 assists; Kljestan, Feilhaber, and Techera had 1 assist; and Piatti, Muyl, and Hyka had a goal each. The DCU midfield featured Luciano Acosta ($8.7), Ian Harkes ($5.9), and Lloyd Sam ($8.4) with 3 points each, followed by Nick DeLeon ($5.9) and Jared Jeffrey ($5.3) with 2, and Lamar Neagle ($7.5) and Sebastien Le Toux ($6.5) with 1.
Forwards
Nemanja Nikolic’s position-leading 12 points were matched by Fredy Montero (VAN, $9.2), who scored two goals. Colorado’s Kevin Doyle ($8.1) scored a goal and 8 points. D.C.’s lone forward, Jose Ortiz ($6.7), scored 2 points.
Looking Ahead
Two teams play twice (SJ, NE) and everyone else plays once. If you feel compelled to load up on two-gamers, Nick Lima (SJ, $4.6) is a good option in defense, followed by Lee Nguyen (NE, $10.0) in midfield, and Chris Wondolowski (SJ, $8.5) at forward. Otherwise, I like Evan Bush (MTL, $5.5) in goal at Philadelphia, and keep playing Jimmy Medranda in defense, this time at Dallas. In midfield, Romain Allesandrini (LA, $9.6) has 5 goals in 3 games, so play him at home against Seattle, and Christian Ramirez (MIN, $8.1) is your forward at home against Colorado.