The first double game week of the 2016 season is finally over and it lived up to the crazy history that we have come to expect. Red cards, injuries, rotations, but the one player who was able to navigate it the best was Francis Cote, manager of LES IMPACTS, who earned the highest score for Round 4 (145 points), won a $25 MLSStore.com gift card, and proved himself to be a true MLS Fantasy Boss. Congrats!
With the next DGW coming up in Round 6, Round 5 can be viewed in two ways: 1) a prep round for the DGW or 2) a throwaway if you plan to use your Wild Card for Round 6. This is what I had in mind while deciding on my picks below.
Keepers
Away Chance: If you’re looking for an under-owned 'keeper who can last you through the DGW, then consider Tim Melia ($5.5m). Normally his away game would a red flag, but with SKC’s strong defensive history and New York’s ongoing scoring problems, Melia has a good chance for a clean sheet in Round 5 before the DGW.
On Form: Over the past few rounds, by far the hottest 'keeper has been Bobby Shutleworth ($5.9m). He’s racked up 37 total points, jumped $0.5m in value, and is able to earn several bonus points even without a clean sheet. All nice qualities to have in a keeper that is still under $6.0.
Defenders
The Replacement: The number of injuries suffered by the Red Bulls backline may be a cause of frustration to fans, but provides an opportunity to fantasy managers. If you are looking for a cheap starter then consider Karl Ouimette ($5.4m). He may not rack up a lot of points, but he’ll definitely free up budget space for more productive players.
Returning Starter: Now that the Olympic qualifying rounds are over, Walker Zimmerman ($6.1m) should again be available for Dallas. This is great news if you’re looking for an inexpensive way into one of the league’s best defenses and want a piece of their upcoming DGW schedule.
Value Pick: If you’re not already on the Daniel Steres ($5.2m) train then you have been missing out on one of the best value payers of the season. Not only has he been a goal threat on set plays for LA, but he also has respectable bonus numbers. Will he be a starter forever? Doubtful, but at just $5.2m he’s worth keeping around until he’s benched.
Midfielders
Welcome Back: If you are one of the managers who has been wondering if it’s time to bring Kaká ($10.7m) into your team, then I’m here to tell you yes. With Cyle Larin out for the game against Philly, Kaká will be the target man for the offense, and last week’s game showed us that he is ready and able to succeed at that role.
Value Pick: If you are trying to find the perfect budget midfielder for the next couple of rounds, then consider Colorado’s Micheal Azira ($5.5m). He’s yet to score fewer than 4 points and while that consistency is not be great for a premium player, it’s not that bad if you need someone under $6m to round out your roster.
Differential: After starting the season with goal, an unfortunate injury caused Cristian Maidana ($9.1m) to miss out on a few games for the Dynamo. However that game demonstrated his ability to not only score but generate bonus points and now that’s he’s back in the starting lineup, I think he’ll be able to capitalize on Seattle’s leaky defense.
Forwards
Point Man: If you looking for a forward who has knack for scoring points, then take a look at Joao Plata ($9.4m). Over the first four rounds, Plata has been involved in all but one of the seven goals that Real Salt Lake has scored. So far Colorado has allowed one goal in each of their previous away games, so he has a good shot at keeping that streak going.
Replacement: With Robbie Keane out for the next several weeks, Mike Magee’s ($7.2m) play time and bonus point production has increased. While he’s not playing in a true forward position, Magee has a knack for finding himself is good positions, and he could very well come away with another goal if Portland continues to struggle on the road.
This are my picks Round 5, who are you considering bringing in? If you are interested in more charts and tips, check out the latest posts over at MLS Fantasy Boss and the articles by the other MLS Fantasy Experts.
