MLS Fantasy Boss: Must-haves and risks to consider before the transfer deadline for Round 13

TRANSFER DEADLINE: Wednesday, 10 pm ET

• MLS Injury Report
• MLS Disciplinary Report
• BYES IN ROUND 13: None
• UPCOMING DOUBLE GAME WEEKS: COL, DC, LA, POR, RSL, SEA (Rd 13);  CHI, CLB, DC, MTL, PHI, VAN (Rd 14)
• Fantasy Doctor: Injury issues? We've got your solutions for busy Round 13

You may be tired of reading about double game weeks at this point in the season, but those other rounds have got NOTHING on Rounds 13 and 14.

Both rounds have six teams on a DGW, presenting many managers with the opportunity to climb the overall rankings. However, as we’ve seen in past rounds, you’re going to need to stock your roster with players who can survive squad rotation to make the most out of these busy weeks.

With all of that in mind, here are my top 180-minute men:

Goalkeepers

• Stay the Course: The results may not have gone D.C.’s way over the past few weeks, but that shouldn’t prevent you from starting Bill Hamid ($6.4m) if you have him. Portland will be without injured attacker Diego Valeri, Philly’s form is still questionable, and D.C.’s rotation plans could keep them fresh enough to pull out some shutouts.
• Great Expectations: If you want to make a trade for a keeper, then Stefan Frei (SEA $5.8m) should be at the top of your list. Besides having two home games in this round, he’s a good long-term pick due the lack of a Round 15 bye and several home games before another DGW in Round 17. Oh, and did I mention he’s the No. 1 overall keeper right now?

Defenders

Familiar Face
: D.C. is expected to
rest several key players
this week as they get ready to tackle back-to-back DGWs, but I expect
Bobby Boswell
($9.3m) to go the distance. He survived the last D.C. shuffle in Round 11, so we know he has the fitness – can he get the shutout bonuses this time around?

Midfielders

Must-Have Man
: I don’t throw this label around lightly, but both form and fixtures point toward
Clint Dempsey
(SEA $11.8m) as must-have player. On the form side, last week marked the first match that USMNT captain didn’t earn a goal and/or an assist since 2014! As for fixtures, Seattle is the only team that has a DGW with two home games. It’s a recipe for fantasy success.

Forwards

Fitness Check
: The biggest fantasy news of the week is that
Obafemi Martins
(SEA $11.6m) should be

for this DGW. However, “should” does not mean 90-minute fit. He’s a bit of a risky pick, but one that could pay off for the daring manager.