Reid, Mike and Jason are joined by Tim from Soccer Captains to review the record breaking events from Round 28 and preview the potential of Round 29. There is some great discussion about the potential fantasy options form each team, and a little extra preview from a galaxy far far away.
It’s not often that the success of a round comes down to a single player, but if you didn’t have Josef Martinez last week then you were left in the dust. With Martinez racking up so many points, my biggest surprise was that we did not see any scores over 200 points. One player did come close, as Rick Collings, manager of Chipper as Flipper, scored an impressive 196 points. Congrats!
The double game weeks continue in Round 29 with and Atlanta, Toronto, Montreal, and LA Galaxy all set to play twice. Here are a few players from their squads and elsewhere in the league that I’ll be looking at for this week:
Goalkeepers
Let it Ride: After a decent showing in Round 28, I see no reason why Brad Guzan ($6.2) should not remain at the top of your list of ‘keeper list. His hiccup in last Saturday’s 3-3 draw against Orlando came as Atlanta were without two of their defensive starters and shouldn’t cause worry. The fact that the Five Stripes have what looks like a pair of manageable home games against the struggling Galaxy on Wednesday (7:00 pm ET; ESPN2 in the US | MLS LIVE in Canada) and slumping Impact on Sunday (5:00 pm ET; FS1 in the US | TVAS in Canada) doesn’t hurt his case, either.
SGW Option: If you don’t want to bother with a DGW ‘keeper this week, then consider Sporting Kansas City’s Tim Melia ($5.9). Even without a recent clean sheet, he’s still remained one of the best home ‘keepers in the league and rarely allows more than one goal at Children’s Mercy Park. SKC have the Open Cup final on Wednesday, but LA will be on their second road game of the week on Sunday (2:00 pm ET; FS1 in the US | MLS LIVE in Canada). The Galaxy have had trouble scoring all season – if form holds, Melia has a good shot at a shutout.
Defenders
Penalty Served: Last week, picking Atlanta’s Leandro Gonzalez Pirez came with the risk that he would miss a game due to yellow card accumulation, and that’s exactly what happened. Now he’s back, rested, and ready to play both games this week. If you’re looking for a strong center back with the ability to generate bonus points, he’s the best option for Round 29.
Playing the Odds: There are many great DGW options this week. If you want to free up a spot for a DGW attacker and save a bit in the back, consider Vancouver’sTim Parker ($5.1) as one of your defenders. He’s played almost every minute this season and that’s unlikely to change as the Whitecaps look to hold onto the top spot in the West against the woebegone Colorado Rapids on Saturday (10:00 pm ET; TSN1/4/5 in Canada | MLS LIVE in the US), so he has a good shot at a clean sheet.
Midfielders
Bright Spot: The LA Galaxy are in a dark place, but Romain Alessandrini ($10.7) has been able to rise above his club’s struggles to have a very solid 2017. He hasn’t featured in both games of LA’s past DGWs so you’re not likely to get 180 minutes, but with his ability to score and generate bonus points, you’re still in a good position. Alessandrini is also off yellow card warning so he’ll be available for both the Atlanta games on Wednesday and Sporting Kansas City on Sunday.
Time to Shine: If you found yourself scrambling for replacements after Toronto’s latest rotation news, consider Marky Delgado ($6.4) as a stand-in. He’s put up respectable numbers over the past several rounds, notching two goals and two assists in his last six games. With some of the Reds’ biggest names getting rested, I think Delgado has a shot at 180 minutes against Montreal on Wednesday (7:30 pm ET; TSN1/4/5, TVAS in Canada | MLS LIVE in the US) and at New England on Saturday (5 pm ET; TSN1/3/4 in Canada | MLS LIVE in the US). That means more chances for goals, and a potentially great return for his price. Just keep an eye on the starting lineups today.
Forwards
SGW Option: If you’re looking for a single game week forward to complement one of the DGW options that Atlanta provides, take a look at New York City FC’sDavid Villa ($12.3). He’s had a couple of weeks to rest from his injury and was eased back onto the field in Round 28. NYCFC still need to ensure they avoid the Knockout Round come playoff time, so I believe Villa will be back this Saturday and eager to exploit Houston’s typically poor road defense (3:00 pm ET; UniMas, Facebook in the US | MLS LIVE in Canada).
WHICH PLAYERS are you considering for Round 29?
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