It’s here, it’s finally here! The massive 12-team Double Game Week is upon us, and is a welcome sight for MLS Fantasy managers after consecutive rounds of low scores across the board.
The average round score of 37 points marks the second straight round that the average owner failed to top the 40-point threshold. Look for that number to rise significantly in Round 17, which sees the most action of any fantasy round this season with 16 games on deck.
The highest score of the round went to Allison McGee, who racked up 90 points with Allie’s Awesome Team. She made her way to the top thanks to a collection of four Round 16 Dream Team players, but also pulled off the top ranking with early-season fantasy favorite Ike Opara occupying a spot on her backline. Say what?
While it’s nice to see Ike back out on the fantasy soccer field, don’t go out of your way to pick Opara up in hopes of pulling off the top round score. The defender was off to a strong start in 2015 before suffering a potentially season-ending injury in April.
We have a quick turnaround before the Round 17 fun begins, so let’s jump right in to the good stuff:
- The transfer deadline for Round 17 is Wednesday, June 24 at 7:00 pm ET.
- Review the MLS Injury Report and MLS Disciplinary Report as it is updated throughout the week. Reach out to me on Twitter (@FantasySoccerFC) with any player specific questions.
Load Up: As noted above, there are 12 teams playing twice this round. Load up on players from the teams in the chart below and watch the fantasy points pile up. Squad rotation always comes into play during these quick turnarounds, so expect some of the DGW players to get a breather at some point during the round. Philadelphia Union and Toronto FC are the only two teams that play both games at home -- just be mindful of the Round 18 bye for the Union before rostering too many Philly players.
One-Game Wonders: Orlando City SC, Chicago Fire, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, Vancouver Whitecaps, Sporting Kansas City and San Jose Earthquakes each have just one game in Round 17. While it is advisable to load up on players who have the potential to play twice, it’s very possible players who have just one game can produce as much or more than DGW players. Will the in-form David Villa stay hot at home against New York City FC’s crosstown foes the New York Red Bulls? Does Kaká add to his streak of three consecutive home games with a goal?
Here are a few reasonably-priced options to consider before the Round 17 fun kicks off:
CJ Sapong - Philadelphia Union - Forward ($7.1m) - The last man standing in the injury-depleted Philadelphia Union strikeforce has made good use of the uptick in playing time. Sapong has quietly scored a goal in three straight games, and has four goals in his last five appearances. Ride the hot hand.
Cristian Maidana
- Philadelphia Union - Midfielder ($8.9m) -
Maidana has been a model of consistency for fantasy purposes, averaging over 5 PPG over his last five games. He’s tied for fifth in the league in assists and will continue to be counted on to pull the strings in the thin Union attack.
Kei Kamara - Columbus Crew - Forward ($9.1m) - While he hasn’t found net in three games, I’m going back to the well with the league’s leading goalscorer. Kamara has 14 shots over his last two games, and i’m pegging him to get back on track with a pair of games this week.
Who are your top DGW targets for Round 17? Are you taking a chance on a one-game wonder? Let us know in the comments below.