This round may have taken a little longer to wrap up than most, but Round 16 finally ended on Wednesday – and so has our extended period of double game weeks.
This DGW ended like many others, with a groan from most managers, but the one manager who definitely was not groaning was Amber Shellabarger. Her team, IVANSCHITZ DUMPSY, earned her top honors with a score of 134 points and a gift card to the MLS Store. Congrats!
While Amber enjoys the spotlight, it’s time for the rest of us to focus on Round 17. Don’t get too comfortable by looking at the straightforward schedule; it’s just the calm before the storm of byes that are coming in Round 18. Since so many players will be unavailable soon, your trades this round will be crucial. Below is a list of players I think will provide solid numbers for Round 17 without handicapping you for the future.
Goalkeeper
The Replacement: With Clint Irwin out injured, Alex Bono ($4.5) has stepped up for Toronto to replace him and this provides an excellent short-term budget opportunity for fantasy managers. Bono himself is still unproven, but we know a lot about the teams he will face in the coming weeks and many of them have some of the worst scoring records in the league. This means that Bono could put up some surprising numbers for his bargain price.
Defenders
Home Run: Since so few teams are playing in Round 18, finding one with three home games in a row makes them an ideal target for fantasy players. Vancouver is just that team and Tim Parker ($6.2) is one of your best options. It’s been a while since his last clean sheet, but that could change this week as Colorado don’t even average one goal per game when on the road.
Budget CB: If you need a cheap defender with a chance for a big score, then Justen Glad ($5.1) could be just your guy. While home games tend to favor the home team, Montreal have had success at scoring on the road even without Didier Drogba. This will provide Glad with the opportunity rack up defensive bonus points and if he maintains a clean sheet, he could be one of the top scoring defenders of the round.
Rising Stock: With the recent news that Diego Valeri will not play in round 17, the chances for New York to post a clean sheet have increased. If this makes you want to add a Red Bull to your defense, then Sal Zizzo ($6.5) is one of my favorites. In addition to being able to generate both offensive and defensive bonus points, Zizzo rarely misses a game for rotation and that is good news with the upcoming rounds 18 and 19 being so close together.
Midfielders
Under Owned: If you’re trying to find a player who is under the radar, but has a lot of potential, then consider Pedro Morales ($10.9). He started the season strong, but an injury sidelined him for most of the early part of the season. He’s back now and, except for a recent red card, has only scored fewer than six points in one game. This form is sure to pay off over Vancouver's upcoming three-home game run.
Budget Form: If you need to make some room in your budget to help with the upcoming Bye round, then Roger Espinoza ($7.0) should be on your short list. Over his last four games, he’s earned two assists and has only scored fewer than six points once. Combine these stats with SKC’s rising form and Espinoza could be worth the risk for the next couple of rounds.
Forwards
Differential Pick: Looking for the best budget forward currently in the game? Then look no further than Ola Kamara ($8.5). Since stepping up to fill the shoes of Columbus’ previous Kamara, he’s racked up seven goals and only failed to score twice when playing a full 90 minutes. He has a promising away game against New England this week followed by three home games, so more goals are definitely not out of the question.
These are the players I think are worth investing in for Round 17; who are you targeting? Post your thoughts in the comments below and if you are interested in more charts and tips, check out the latest posts over at MLS Fantasy Boss and advice from the other MLS Fantasy Experts.
