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- MLS Injury Report
- MLS Disciplinary Report
- BYES IN ROUND 21: None
- UPCOMING DOUBLE GAME WEEKS: None (Rd. 21), RSL, TOR (Rd. 22)
Goals, Goals, Goals. That’s the best way I can summarize Round 20 and as a soccer fan, that’s exactly what I want to see.
Unfortunately, from a fantasy manager’s point of view, I also saw many clean sheet bonuses disappear like foam spray. Fortunately, attacking midfielders and a few forwards came through and put up some fantastic numbers, but it was Zach Graziani, manager of the team BEADLING BHOYS, who came out on top. Graziani’s team scored 137 points and earned a gift card to the MLS Store. Congrats!
While many managers may have been excited about the match-ups in Round 20, I don’t think the same can be said for Round 21. Many of the best offensive teams are on the road and many of the poorest defensive teams are at home. This is a frustrating mix if you like statistics, but stats and analytics don’t mean everything, and several away teams have promising match-ups.
Here’s my list of some of the players who I think will do well in Round 21.
Goalkeepers
Rock Solid: If you are looking for a 'keeper from the, hands down, best defense in the league, then you want Tim Howard ($6.2). After 20 rounds, Colorado have maintained the best home-and-away defensive records and that is not likely to change as the season winds down. This makes Howard not only the Secretary of Defense, but a set and forget player.
Defenders
Proven Choice: With so few of the defender match-ups jumping out as great point opportunities, it may be best to just stick with what works, and that’s Walker Zimmerman ($6.6). Dallas have been one of the three defensive giants at home this season and Zimmerman has been a big part of that success. Vancouver will not be a walk in the park, but they will provide a chance for a lot of bonus points.
DGW Prep: If you want to get a jump start on loading up with double game week players then consider bringing in Real Salt Lake's Justen Glad ($4.9) for this round. This is truly a luxury pick because while Glad’s price is amazing, I’d advise keeping him on your bench for this round as Philadelphia have the best home scoring record in the league.
Midfielders
Home Form: As I mentioned above, Philadelphia are on fire when it comes to home goals, racking up 25 over their past 11 home games and it’s Chris Pontius ($7.4) who is leading the way. So far, Pontius has scored eight goals and five of them have been at home. He’s also currently on a two-game scoring streak, so his form is peaking at the right time.
Advantage Seeker: If you are looking for an under-owned player with the potential for a great round, then consider Benny Feilhaber ($11.3). He’s been in a little slump lately but with most of Sporting Kansas City’s big midfielders on the injured list, that could change this week as Benny will be the driving force for their offense against a Portland team missing two of their starting defenders.
Forwards
Let it Ride: If you didn’t bring Robbie Keane ($11.7) into your team last round then you may have missed out on a few points. However, Round 21 could be even more lucrative for the veteran forward. The Galaxy will be facing a Seattle team that is in turmoil and, with LA being one of the best road scoring teams, this should provide Keane with many goalscoring opportunities.
Coin Flip: After his impressive hat-trick against Philadelphia, Didier Drogba ($12.3) may have many managers thinking if he can do it again this week. We know he has the skill, and a quick look at the D.C. United injury report makes me think that the odds are in his favor since Bill Hamid is likely going to be unavailable due to a hand injury. However, only one question remains and that is will Drogba play after participating in the AT&T MLS All-Star Game on Thursday?
These are the players who I think will do well during Round 21, 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 atMLS Fantasy Boss and advice from the other MLS Fantasy Experts.
