Team of the Season - Ike Opara

A stellar performance this season, has seen Ike Opara rise like the mythical phoenix from the ashes of the last two seasons.

Not fancied by many, even though Sporting Kansas City were tipped to do well this season – in MLS Fantasy (FMLS), the American defender saw his price rise from 5.0 at the start to 6.7 at the finish.

That already looked good value, given his attacking capabilities from central defender and the prospect of having a good season with Sporting KC was definitely reason to do well in 2016.

Sure enough, a consistent performer throughout the entire season, Opara would keep many a clean sheet and score three goals throughout the entire season, to help keep Sporting KC solid at the back and help Kansas City reach 5th in the Western Conference.

That spell ultimately earned the defender a place in our Team of the Season.

THE STATISTICS

Three clean sheets in his first five Rounds meant Ike Opara had set down a solid footing for himself in MLS Fantasy, especially when he picked up 11 points in the 0-0 draw at home to FC Dallas in Round 2.

He followed that up with another clean sheet in the 0-0 draw against Toronto FC in Round 5, in which he came out with an 8 point haul – which meant he picked up 8, 5, and 9 points in Rounds 5, 6 and 7.

In terms of clean sheets, Opara registered 11 over the course of the season, with Sporting Kansas City keeping 11 in total – for a player that didn’t have the greatest campaigns for the two previous campaigns.

But it was a 16-point haul in the emphatic 3-0 victory over Minnesota United at home in Round 14 that has MLS Fantasy managers going wild for the former San Jose Earthquakes defensive player.

Opara registered an assist and a goal in this win, which came ahead of a hugely favourable schedule for Peter Vermes’s side.

By this stage, Opara’s price had risen from 5.0 to 5.8 and was rising still.

The big points hauls for Opara continued during this run of fixtures for Sporting, especially in Gameweek 16 and Gameweek 17 against San Jose Earthquakes and LA Galaxy. Opara would keep a clean sheet in one and score in the other, netting 10 points in consecutive weeks.

He ended the campaign with 201 points in MLS Fantasy, placing him second place amongst the top defenders.

THE PROSPECTS

His performances this season will definitely merit a price rise to 5.5 in MLS Fantasy, I am certain of it next season, I bet money on it.

With Matt Besler as the elder statesman of the team and his minutes being managed over the course of the season, Ike Opara and Jimmy Medranda stepped up for Sporting Kansas. Seth Sinovic, showed that he can definitely be an option when called upon as well.

Sinovic is a definite option next season in MLS Fantasy, with his 5.0 price tag. Another defender to keep an eye on for Sporting is Saad Abdul-Salaam, having had a little rise from 5.0 to 5.2 over the course of this, his first MLS season.

As for Opara, his progress will be keenly monitored, and should he be able to recreate the form he showed this fantastic season, there’s little doubt that his Fantasy stock will soar once again.