Earlier this week, we put out a "Buy, Sell, Hold" on five potential "must-haves" for Round 10 of MLS Fantasy. It's still early and Round 9 hasn't even started yet, but I've decided to prepare you for the weeks ahead by revealing some of my top sleepers and must-haves.
If you've saved the image I created at the beginning of the season that breaks down of the 2014 schedule, including DGWs, byes, transfers, etc, you'll be ready for the rounds coming up. My Round 10 lineup has a DGWer at every single position. That's the result of proper planning.
I haven't determined my exact adjustments for Rounds 10, 11, 12 or 13 just yet, but I've already started mapping out some options ... and you should, too!
Six teams have a DGW in Round 10, but none of those teams have a DGW in Round 11 and only two have a DGW in Round 12 (Dallas and Houston). Philadelphia and Sporting KC are the only teams with a DGW in Round 11, but you have free wildcards in Rounds 11 – 15 and 16 as well – so don't worry too much about that right now.
Some of the players I've listed below are good pickups for Round 10, while others may be worth adding in Rounds 11-13. I'll let you be the judge of that. Here are the top 20 players I will be focusing on over the next few rounds:
GOALKEEPERS
- Bill Hamid – Huge bargain and should return to his starting position very soon.
- Clint Irwin – For the price, no other 'keeper in the game has a better defensive unit.
- Eric Kronberg – Delicious schedule coming up and he's been flying under the radar.
- Stefan Frei – Very good to start the season and a favorable schedule from Rounds 9-11.
- Chris Seitz – Two DGWs approaching and Chivas USA sandwiched in between at home.
DEFENDERS
- Aurélien Collin - Highly touted as the No. 1 defender in FSM. Enough said.
- Waylon Francis – Second in MLS in crosses from open play. Two DGWs coming up.
- Matt Hedges – CBI machine with the ability to score goals on set pieces. Nice schedule.
- Chad Marshall – Favorable schedule. Attacking threat on a very good defensive team.
- Michel – Defender who contributes so much offensively. Takes penalties and set pieces.
- Drew Moor – Reliable defensive player with bonus-point potential and offensive prowess.
- Erik Palmer-Brown – One injury/suspension away from starting on a superb team.
- Thomas Piermayr – Low cost-differential pick on a team that's very solid defensively.
MIDFIELDERS
- Lamar Neagle – Resonably priced and solid in the attack. Favorable schedule as well.
- Wil Trapp – Inexpensive midfielder who will play 90 minutes week in and week out.
- Sal Zizzo – Will fill in for Graham Zusi when he departs for the World Cup. Cheap, too.
FORWARDS
- Dom Dwyer – Fiesty and relentless. Plus, he's already got four goals in 425 minutes.
- Fabián Espíndola – Two goals, two assists and the only weapon D.C. has on offense.
- Obafemi Martins – Great matchups on the horizon and offensively it's been clicking.
- Vicente Sanchez – Set-piece specialist who's well rested and budget friendly.
Most World Cup participants will leave to join their respective clubs around Round 11, hence unlimited transfers for that week. However, none of the players I've listed above will be leaving.
I highly recommend mapping out a general plan over the coming weeks by tweaking your lineup on the transfers page. You don't have to confirm anything, but get a general sense of what you can afford and how many moves it will take you to accomplish your gameplan.
Agree or disagree with my picks? Tell me why in the comments below.
