Here we are, the dreaded Round 13 of MLS Fantasy. The bye round. Only 12 teams are playing this week and if you have not already made a plan for how to deal with this, then you are going to have to take some -4 hits.
But that's no reason to throw in the towel – even a -4 transfer can pay off if you bring in the right player. Below is my list of players who I think have a good shot at earning a high score.
Goalkeeper
Best Odds: With many of the most popular 'keepers either on a bye, called-up, or now on the bench, Round 13 offers a good excuse for a change and Chris Seitz ($4.9) is a great option. Not only is his price budget-friendly, but of all of the home teams, Dallas have conceded the second-fewest number of home goals. Combine all of this with Houston’s ongoing scoring problems, and Seitz’s chances for a clean sheet start to look very promising.
Defenders
Replacement: Seattle’s continued struggles to score mean two things for fantasy managers. 1) You still don’t want any of their players, and 2) now could be a good time to bring in D.C.’s Kofi Opare ($5.5). Thanks to international call-ups, Opare got his second start of the season and racked up an impressive number of bonus points. He may only be around for a couple more games, but they could both be high-scoring thanks to D.C.’s promising schedule.
Best Price: If you can no longer afford Walker Zimmerman, and are looking for the cheapest way into the Dallas defense, then consider getting Atiba Harris ($5.7). He has good bonus point potential and is often in a position to provide service. As an added bonus, there is a good chance that Harris could continue to start even after Copa America.
Second chance: With the shocking 7-0 Heineken Rivalry Week loss suffered by New York City FC still fresh on our minds, it’s understandable if managers want to keep away from their defense. But RJ Allen ($5.2) could be an exception. Even without clean sheets, Allen has demonstrated an ability to generate both offensive and defensive bonus points and NYC have one of the easier schedules over the next few rounds.
Midfielders
Differential: If Columbus’s four goals left you with a glimmer of hope, but not enough cash to invest in Federico Higuain, then consider Justin Meram ($8.6) He’s played about 200 fewer minutes than Higuain but has scored just nine fewer points thanks to a handful of goals and assists. Unlike Pipa, though, Meram is not going to be the one called on for set pieces, so you’ll have to rely on points from open play.
Consistency: Were you one of the managers who brought in Kaka and is now looking for a replacement?Then Steven Gerrard ($10.1) could be just the player you need. Out of the nine games he has played, Gerrard has only scored fewer than five points in one of them. Additionally, over his last four games, he’s scored a goal and earned two assists and he could get more when LA host struggling Sporting Kansas City this week.
Long Shot: If you are someone who likes to gamble, then consider adding Lamar Neagle ($7.8) to your team this week. He’s not one who can normally generate a high score without a goal or an assist, but so far Seattle’s defense has allowed an average of two goals per game when on the road. That’s good news for D.C. United fans, and gives Neagle an excellent shot and scoring against his former team.
Forwards
Road Warrior: If you want to break away from the standard forward mold, then take a look at Joao Plata ($9.5). He started the season hot and after a short dry spell, he’s scored a goal and earned two assists over his past two games. His production has helped RSL become one of the best road scoring teams in the league and we all know that Yankee Stadium provides teams with plenty of scoring opportunities.
These are the players I like for Round 13. Who are you going with this round? If you are interested in more charts, tips and advice on when to take a -4 hit, check out the latest posts over at MLS Fantasy Boss and the other MLS Fantasy Experts.
