MLS Fantasy 2014: 7 Forwards Worth Picking Up
7 Forwards Worth Picking Up For Your MLS Fantasy Team
We wrap up our fantasy soccer preview series with a look at the MLS forwards who should be on your team. Fantasy users have a big decision to make when allocating their $120 million to make their squad, that being where the best place is to spend the majority of their money. The answer to that is at the forward position.
Forwards are priced slightly higher on average than the other position groups in the MLSsoccer.com fantasy game. A reason for this could be that forwards have less of a chance to lose points as they are not penalized for their club giving up multiple goals like their goalkeeper and defender counterparts.
The only category which will take points away from forwards on a consistent basis in the cards category; players will lose one point for a yellow card and will loss an additional three points for a red card. Basically if you find forwards who will play more than 60 minutes regularly without receiving a booking then you are doing a pretty good job.
The forward’s job though is to score goals and they will be rewarded greatly for that. Forwards and midfielders who score goals will earn five points per goal; assists count for three points each. If you take Robbie Keane’s 2012 stats where he scored 22 goals with seven assists, you will see that 110 of his 204 accumulated points came just from scoring with another 21 points from the assists. That accounts for 64.2 percent of his total points just in goals and assists.
A good forward will cost you at least $9.5 million or roughly eight percent of your total budget, but they will be good investments especially if they produce. Here are a few suggestions for forwards who could have a positive impact on your fantasy squad.
Make sure you check back with Rant Sports throughout the MLS regular season as we will keep you up to date with all of the fantasy soccer content you need to have a successful season.
Matthew Evans is a soccer writer for www.RantSports.com, “Like” him on Facebook, Follow him on Twitter, or add him to your network on Google
7. Will Bruin, Houston Dynamo
2013 Fantasy Points: 133
Percentage of Fantasy Owners: 13.0
2014 Preseason Price: $8.0 million
Houston Dynamo parted with many of their attacking options during the 2013 offseason like Brian Ching (retirement), Cam Weaver and Calen Carr. Their best returning forward is Will Bruin, who is coming off of a disappointing season by his standards only notching 10 goals. Look for his stats to improve back to his 2012 numbers now that he will be the main attacking option.
6. Obafemi Martins, Seattle Sounders FC
2013 Fantasy Points: 79
Percentage of Fantasy Owners: 10.4
2014 Preseason Price: $9.5 million
Obafemi Martins is finally back to full health which is great for himself and for the Seattle Sounders FC. When Oba moved to the Sounders in March 2013, he was thrown right into the season after already playing nearly a full season in La Liga. The toll that was taken on his body was obvious as he picked up numerous minor injuries.
Martins has gotten that offseason which he missed and is running on all cylinders. His price is on the high side at $9.5 million but his stats will see an increase with a full season alongside Clint Dempsey and Kenny Cooper.
5. Deshorn Brown, Colorado Rapids
2013 Fantasy Points: 114
Percentage of Fantasy Owners: 2.3
2014 Preseason Price: $8.5 million
Deshorn Brown burst onto the scene last season scoring ten goals for the Colorado Rapids including a two-goal performance in October against Seattle which started the Sounders' late-season slump. The Rapids have a great young core of talent and will look to avoid the dreaded sophomore slump. Brown's upside makes him a great buy for your fantasy team.
4. Jack McInerney, Philadelphia Union
2013 Fantasy Points: 103
Percentage of Fantasy Owners: 8.2
2014 Preseason Price: $8.5 million
Jack McInerney went on a tear to start the 2013 season, scoring 10 goals in the first 14 games for the Philadelphia Union. His amazing start led to a call-up from Jurgen Klinsmann to represent the United States at the Gold Cup. Sadly for McInerney, he would go on a slump from that call-up to the end of the season only scoring two more goals coming off the bench.
He should have another great season with the midfield additions as well as the return of Sebastien Le Toux. Hopefully for the sake of fantasy owners, McInerney will stay consistent in his production in 2014.
3. Jermain Defoe, Toronto FC
2013 Fantasy Points: 0
Percentage of Fantasy Owners: 11.0
2014 Preseason Price: $10.5 million
Jermain Defoe is a proven world-class striker with international experience, having been capped 55 times for England. Along with Michael Bradley and Gilberto, Defoe will be tasked with bringing Toronto FC into the Eastern Conference playoff picture. He is still very much in the picture for Roy Hodgson's England squad going to the FIFA World Cup so expect him to play even harder.
Make sure that if Defoe is member of your squad to have another solid forward or two available to use as Toronto FC has four byes in the first 15 weeks of the season.
2. Max Urruti, Portland Timbers
2013 Fantasy Points: 17
Percentage of Fantasy Owners: 7.3
2014 Preseason Price: $7.0 million
Max Urruti looks to be the striker of choice for manager Caleb Porter. He will gets plenty of looks at goal with defenders likely keying on the other dangerous attacking options in Portland like Will Johnson, Gaston Fernandez and Darlington Nagbe.
1. Robbie Keane, Los Angeles Galaxy
2013 Fantasy Points: 183
Percentage of Fantasy Owners: 17.9
2014 Preseason Price: $11.0 million
If you plan on making just one big selection on your Fantasy Soccer team make it Robbie Keane. Keane has scored 38 goals and dished out 18 assists over the last two seasons, amassing a total of 387 fantasy points over that same span. The Republic of Ireland did not make it to the FIFA World Cup, so there will be no worry about him missing time during the summer. You should be wary though as Los Angeles front-loaded their byes to the start of the season due to participation in the CONCACAF Champions League knockout round.
7 Forwards Worth Picking Up For Your MLS Fantasy Team
We wrap up our fantasy soccer preview series with a look at the MLS forwards who should be on your team. Fantasy users have a big decision to make when allocating their $120 million to make their squad, that being where the best place is to spend the majority of their money. The answer to that is at the forward position.
Forwards are priced slightly higher on average than the other position groups in the MLSsoccer.com fantasy game. A reason for this could be that forwards have less of a chance to lose points as they are not penalized for their club giving up multiple goals like their goalkeeper and defender counterparts.
The only category which will take points away from forwards on a consistent basis in the cards category; players will lose one point for a yellow card and will loss an additional three points for a red card. Basically if you find forwards who will play more than 60 minutes regularly without receiving a booking then you are doing a pretty good job.
The forward’s job though is to score goals and they will be rewarded greatly for that. Forwards and midfielders who score goals will earn five points per goal; assists count for three points each. If you take Robbie Keane’s 2012 stats where he scored 22 goals with seven assists, you will see that 110 of his 204 accumulated points came just from scoring with another 21 points from the assists. That accounts for 64.2 percent of his total points just in goals and assists.
A good forward will cost you at least $9.5 million or roughly eight percent of your total budget, but they will be good investments especially if they produce. Here are a few suggestions for forwards who could have a positive impact on your fantasy squad.
Make sure you check back with Rant Sports throughout the MLS regular season as we will keep you up to date with all of the fantasy soccer content you need to have a successful season.
Matthew Evans is a soccer writer for www.RantSports.com, “Like” him on Facebook, Follow him on Twitter, or add him to your network on Google
7. Will Bruin, Houston Dynamo
2013 Fantasy Points: 133
Percentage of Fantasy Owners: 13.0
2014 Preseason Price: $8.0 million
Houston Dynamo parted with many of their attacking options during the 2013 offseason like Brian Ching (retirement), Cam Weaver and Calen Carr. Their best returning forward is Will Bruin, who is coming off of a disappointing season by his standards only notching 10 goals. Look for his stats to improve back to his 2012 numbers now that he will be the main attacking option.
6. Obafemi Martins, Seattle Sounders FC
2013 Fantasy Points: 79
Percentage of Fantasy Owners: 10.4
2014 Preseason Price: $9.5 million
Obafemi Martins is finally back to full health which is great for himself and for the Seattle Sounders FC. When Oba moved to the Sounders in March 2013, he was thrown right into the season after already playing nearly a full season in La Liga. The toll that was taken on his body was obvious as he picked up numerous minor injuries.
Martins has gotten that offseason which he missed and is running on all cylinders. His price is on the high side at $9.5 million but his stats will see an increase with a full season alongside Clint Dempsey and Kenny Cooper.
5. Deshorn Brown, Colorado Rapids
2013 Fantasy Points: 114
Percentage of Fantasy Owners: 2.3
2014 Preseason Price: $8.5 million
Deshorn Brown burst onto the scene last season scoring ten goals for the Colorado Rapids including a two-goal performance in October against Seattle which started the Sounders' late-season slump. The Rapids have a great young core of talent and will look to avoid the dreaded sophomore slump. Brown's upside makes him a great buy for your fantasy team.
4. Jack McInerney, Philadelphia Union
2013 Fantasy Points: 103
Percentage of Fantasy Owners: 8.2
2014 Preseason Price: $8.5 million
Jack McInerney went on a tear to start the 2013 season, scoring 10 goals in the first 14 games for the Philadelphia Union. His amazing start led to a call-up from Jurgen Klinsmann to represent the United States at the Gold Cup. Sadly for McInerney, he would go on a slump from that call-up to the end of the season only scoring two more goals coming off the bench.
He should have another great season with the midfield additions as well as the return of Sebastien Le Toux. Hopefully for the sake of fantasy owners, McInerney will stay consistent in his production in 2014.
3. Jermain Defoe, Toronto FC
2013 Fantasy Points: 0
Percentage of Fantasy Owners: 11.0
2014 Preseason Price: $10.5 million
Jermain Defoe is a proven world-class striker with international experience, having been capped 55 times for England. Along with Michael Bradley and Gilberto, Defoe will be tasked with bringing Toronto FC into the Eastern Conference playoff picture. He is still very much in the picture for Roy Hodgson's England squad going to the FIFA World Cup so expect him to play even harder.
Make sure that if Defoe is member of your squad to have another solid forward or two available to use as Toronto FC has four byes in the first 15 weeks of the season.
2. Max Urruti, Portland Timbers
2013 Fantasy Points: 17
Percentage of Fantasy Owners: 7.3
2014 Preseason Price: $7.0 million
Max Urruti looks to be the striker of choice for manager Caleb Porter. He will gets plenty of looks at goal with defenders likely keying on the other dangerous attacking options in Portland like Will Johnson, Gaston Fernandez and Darlington Nagbe.
1. Robbie Keane, Los Angeles Galaxy
2013 Fantasy Points: 183
Percentage of Fantasy Owners: 17.9
2014 Preseason Price: $11.0 million
If you plan on making just one big selection on your Fantasy Soccer team make it Robbie Keane. Keane has scored 38 goals and dished out 18 assists over the last two seasons, amassing a total of 387 fantasy points over that same span. The Republic of Ireland did not make it to the FIFA World Cup, so there will be no worry about him missing time during the summer. You should be wary though as Los Angeles front-loaded their byes to the start of the season due to participation in the CONCACAF Champions League knockout round.
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