MLS Fantasy Challenge: Week 17 line-up

So after an off week last week, I am trying to redeem myself this week. Real Salt Lake, New York Red Bulls and D.C. United are off this week; FC Dallas Kansas City and Seattle are off next week. Also make sure you remember that there are still lots of guys gone with the Gold Cup. I like that my midfield is all red.

Changes:
In: Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Aaron Hohlbein, Jon Busch
Out: Chad Marshall, Mac Kandji, Omar Cummings

Marshall and Cummings are out because they are away at the Gold Cup. Mac Kandji is gone because the Red Bulls are off this week and he is injured. I added Cuauhtemoc Blanco because he is awesome and Chicago plays at home this week and next week (against San Jose). Chicago also doesn't have a bye week again until week 25. I added Jon Busch because I think that Chicago has a good chance at shutting out San Jose next week at home. I added Hohlbein because he is a good points earner and he is cheap (175K). It is disappointing, however, that Kansas City doesn't play next week, so I'll have to find a replacement.

Goalkeeper:
Stefan Frei - Toronto plays away this week against San Jose, one of the weaker teams in MLS. If they were at home I would be fairly confident about a shut-out, but playing away makes me less sure. I think that Matt Pickens would be a good pick too, Colorado is at home against FC Dallas.

Defenders:
Aaron Hohlbein - The Wizards are away against New England. New England is still dealing with tons of injuries and have not looked great recently.

Omar Gonzalez - L.A. is going to have a tough "away" game against Chivas USA. But Chivas USA has not been the dominant team that is was earlier on in the season. Hopefully Landon's return will give the Galaxy a boost.

Kosuke Kimura - Colorado is at home against FC Dallas. I think that this is a definitel possibility for a shut-out.

Midfielders:
Cuauhtemoc Blanco - Chicago is at home against the Columbus Crew. I'm not sure how this game will finish, but I would guess that it will be an entertaining game. It features two of my favorite players, Blanco and Schelotto. I hope it is a high-scoring affair.

Dwayne De Rosario - Toronto FC is away against San Jose. I think that Toronto should be able to put in some goals against San Jose. And as we've seen, most of the goals for Toronto are going to come from their midfield, specifically from De Rosario and Guevara.

Amado Guevara - See above. I might have to make a change later this week, because it seems that Guevara missed training this week and is currently stuck in Honduras. Read here. I'll probably swap Brad Davis in if the situation doesn't change.

Marco Pappa - Home against Columbus. Hopefully Pappa can keep up is recent form. He scored last week.

Forwards:
Guillermo Barros Schelotto - Away against Chicago. Should be a tough, but entertaining game.

Landon Donovan - "Away" game against Chivas USA. Hopefully Donovan will actually play this week. He has been falling back in the Golden Boot race, hopefully he can make up some ground this week.

Fredy Montero - Home game against Houston. He has been really hot lately, with four goals and four assists in the last four games. Seattle should get some additional help because the Dynamo will still be missing some guys in their back line due to long term injury, Bobby Boswell to suspension and Holden and Ching to Gold Cup. (Captain)

Coach:
Dominic Kinnear - Houston are going to have a tough time getting a result in Seattle this week missing key guys. But Houston is fairly deep and have performed without key players before.

Bench: Chris Pontius, Jon Busch, Brad Davis

Make sure you check out the injury list: http://web.mlsnet.com/stats/injuries (on Friday too), and the discipline list: http://web.mlsnet.com/stats/discipline.jsp.

Now here is, in my opinion, the best line-up this week starting from scratch and with no salary limits:

GK- Matt Pickens (COL)
Home vs. FCD, and Kenny Cooper should be away with the Gold Cup.

Defense-
Adrian Serioux (TOR)
Away vs. SJ, one of the weaker teams in MLS.
Jhon Kennedy Hurtado (SEA)
Home game vs. HOU, who are missing some key guys.
Jordan Harvey (COL)
Home vs. FCD, who have been another one of the weaker teams this year.

Midfield-
Dwayne DeRosario (TOR)
Away vs. SJ
Amado Guevara (TOR)
Away vs. SJ
Freddie Ljungberg (SEA)
Home vs. HOU
Cuauhtemoc Blanco (CHI)
Home vs. CLB

Forward-
Guillermo Barros Schelotto (CLB)
Away game vs. CHI
Landon Donovan (LA)
"Away" game vs. CHV
Fredy Montero (SEA)
Home vs. HOU

Coach- Gary Smith (COL)
I think that Colorado has the best match-up this week. They should be able to handle FCD at home.

Comments, questions, suggestions? I have $10K in cap space still. I've been thinking that I should choose a different coach for this week, I'm not sure that Houston can deliver this week. I'm also not thrilled about picking up Hohlbein because he doesn't play next week. Thoughts, ideas anyone?