We’re less than a week away from the start of the 2008 Major League Soccer season, and as the action nears commencement on Saturday, things in the fantasy ranks are already running hot.

Don’t put it off any longer; if you haven’t done so already, now is the time to complete your fantasy team so that when the weekend rolls around (and it never rolls around soon enough, does it?) you’ll be off and running. We advise that you not shoot yourself in the foot and post a goose egg the first week. Instead, get all your ducks in a row, fill out that roster, and watch the points add up.

You have until an hour before kickoff of the first game Saturday (Toronto FC at Columbus Crew, 4 p.m. ET in a Least of the East clash) to stock up your roster. Need some tips? Fine, here ya go.

First of all, use your bankroll. You were given $1M fantasy bucks for a reason. Do your best to use as much of it as you can. Second, mix things up a bit. Even if you’re a fan of one particular team, it’s a good idea to have a diverse fantasy lineup. Just like in the stock market, you don’t want everything to be riding on one aspect of your portfolio.

Keeping with the diversity theme, use your cash wisely on a combination of tried-and-true talent that is almost guaranteed to earn you some points, and some more under-the-radar contributors that can also get the job done. That may be the most important part, aside from choosing players who will actually play. Nobody earns points on the bench.

Before this weekend’s games you can make as many trades as you want, so just spend a little time plugging players in and seeing who will fit your budget. Buy, sell, mix, match, and as long as you’re solid before Saturday, you’ll be in good shape. To help you get there, consider these options when filling out your team sheet.

Goalkeepers

Goalkeepers can be great for earning a lot of points, as saves and shutouts can add up quickly. But you also have to remember that when you’re buying a goalkeeper, to a certain extent you’re buying his whole defense as well. As good as Petr Cech is, he’s gonna get scored on plenty if the guys in front of him are a bunch of Ryan Suarezes.

Marquee options: Brad Guzan (Chivas), Matt Reis (New England), and Pat Onstad (Houston) are all fine options at the top of the class. They have individual skills and their teams aren’t likely to leak goals at unusually high rates.

Bargain buys: After years as a back-up and occasional starter, New York’s Jon Conway is likely to be the regular this year in the Big Apple. He’s big, loud, and strong individually. But can you trust the Bulls’ defense? D.C.’s Zach Wells is a similar option.

Defenders

They say that defense wins championships, but that’s probably not really true in fantasy soccer. However, a strong defensive core can certainly help. Having a player or two who will occasionally venture forward is nice to have, as a goal or assist here or there will be a nice addition.

Marquee options: Jose Burciaga (Colorado) and Jonny Bornstein (Chivas) like to gallop down the wings and aren’t strangers to the score sheet. Michael Parkhurst (New England) and Wade Barrett (Houston) are more stay-at-home types who are good long-term options.

Bargain buys: Devon McTavish (D.C. United) is an obvious choice here. He’s likely to get a lot of time this year, and he’s been on fire offensively for the Black-and-Red in the Champions’ Cup. Three goals in two games is a record any forward would be proud of. His teammates Bryan Namoff and Marc Burch are also available on the cheap. For just a little more green you can get a lot of experience in Frankie Hejduk (Columbus) or Nick Garcia (San Jose).

Midfielders

The fantasy game skews towards offensive-minded midfielders, as they are the ones most likely to pick up points from goals and assists. Midfield hardmen are fine, respectable players, but they are of less value to you here. Just don’t say that to Shalrie Joseph’s face.

Marquee options: It’s the usual suspects here. Christian Gomez, some guy named Beckham, Dwayne De Rosario. All are great players, but they’ll cost you a pretty penny.

Bargain buys: As sad as it is to say it, Khano Smith provides decent bang for the buck (yes, on the soccer field). He’s talentless, but pace can go a long way in this league. Arturo Alvarez actually has skills and is a great deal. The same can be said for Justin Mapp, though only he decides if/when he wants to actually be useful. Gamble if you please.

Forwards

Surely you can call me biased (just don’t call me Shirley), but if you’re going to splurge anywhere, this is the place to do it. These are the guys that will carry your team, so you may as well get something for your money. It’s all about goals, and these are the guys who are paid the big bucks (or would be in other leagues, mind you) to do that.

Marquee options: You know who they are. Luciano Emilio, Juan Pablo Angel, Cuauhtemoc Blanco, and Maykel Galindo if you want to go the foreign route. If you’re looking for ‘Made in the USA,’ try Landon, Ante, or Taylor (last names not needed).

So there you have it. Get the checkbook out and start spending. Your team isn’t going to build itself! See you next week.