It’s rare to see a round with no double-game teams end with so many 100-plus point scores, but that’s what happens when more than 30 goals are scored in a single weekend. Round 22 also showed us the advantage a fantasy manager can gain when willing to take smart risks and go against what is typically considered the “safe pick.” So hats off to all those who captained Nicolas Lodeiro ($11.8) over Sebastian Giovinco ($13.6).
With the next set of bye games just one week away, Round 24 is your last chance to get your team in order if you want to avoid four-point penalties. It you’re lucky, you’ll be able to bank a free trade, if not, then consider some of the players below.
Goalkeeper
Long-term Option: If you were one of the many managers who was impacted by Brian Rowe’s ($5.1) injury last week, then there is a chance you’ll need a new 'keeper and Andre Blake ($5.0) is one of your best options. Philly’s defense does not have the best record, but the recent addition of Alejandro Bedoya ($9.0) should help and they don’t have a bye until Round 32 so you won’t have to worry about another trade any time soon.
Defenders
Must Have: With so few teams untouched by the Round 25 and 27 byes, you’ll likely need to replace some of your go-to defenders. Fortunately, this is not a problem for LA and that makes Daniel Steres ($5.5) a must-have player for the upcoming future. In addition to no upcoming byes, LA also has one of the best schedules over the next six rounds, the best away defense record, and is allowing less than one goal per game when at home.
Short-term Pickup: If you need a solid defender for the next few weeks, then Hassoun Camara ($6.0) should be on your short list. Over the next two rounds, Montreal will host two of the worst road scoring teams in the league. That screams clean-sheet opportunities to me, and Camara is the cheapest way to invest in the Montreal defense.
Budget Pick: If you want to fill your defense with cheap set-and-forget players, then Keegan Rosenberry ($5.7) is a great choice. As one of the few sub $6.0 defenders still available, he definitely falls into the value range, and if you overlook this week’s Toronto game, Philly have an above-average schedule for the next few rounds. That could allow Rosenberry to snag a few more unexpected clean sheets.
Midfielders
Differential Value: If you’re looking for a way to make up some ground in the second half of the season, then low-cost, high-scoring, and under-owned fantasy players are key. Few are better than Steven Gerrard ($10.7). Over his last seven games, Gerrard has scored one goal and earned six assists. This makes him one of the most on-form midfielders in the game, and at only 4.4 percent ownership he’ll help you earn points that others don’t.
Safe Bet: They say that death and taxes are the only sure things in life, but a dire away record for Chicago may need to be added to that list. That’s bad news for the Fire but good for Montreal and Ignacio Piatti ($11.4), who has scored one goal against Chicago already this year and has two goals and two assists over his last four games.
Forwards
Bad Blood: Few things motivate a player more than proving themselves against a former team, so if you’re interested in a one-round punt, then consider Kei Kamara ($11.1). The last time Kamara faced Columbus, he scored a goal. Crew SC are allowing almost two goals per game, so the odds that Kamara comes away with big points are worth wagering on.
Budget Forward: If you want to take advantage of Seattle’s changing form but don’t want to spend a lot of cash, then Jordan Morris ($8.4) is the player for you. With two assists and a goal over his last two games, Morris is on a nice run of form and with Seattle taking on Portland this week, he’ll likely get more if the score line is as high as some are predicting.
These are the players who I think are worth investing in for Round 24, who are you considering? 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.
