TRANSFER DEADLINE: Saturday, 7:30 pm ET
- NOTE: Fantasy players will receive unlimited transfers ahead of Week 27.
- MLS Injury Report
- MLS Disciplinary Report
- BYES IN ROUND 27: COL, DC, HOU, LA, NYC, NY, POR, RSL, SKC, VAN
- UPCOMING DOUBLE GAME WEEKS: COL, SKC (Wk. 28); MTL, NE, NYC, NY, SJ, TOR (Wk. 29)
- Optimizing your DraftKings daily fantasy lineup on a light Saturday night
- Bonus Points: The key to finding the best players in short-sided Round 27
- Fantasy Doctor: How to navigate an abbreviated week and the international window
- MMCB: An early look at who to targeted with unliminted transfers in Round 27
Over the past couple of rounds, there have been a lot of surprising results. Houston dominated the Fantasy dream team, San Jose’s defense has become a clean sheet machine, and several key players have left for national team duty. Combine all of this with half of the league on a bye this weekend and it makes Round 27’s free wild card a huge blessing if you’re able to pick the right players.
Below is a list of several players I think can help you make the most of your unlimited transfers while setting yourself up for the weeks to come:
Goalkeepers
On Fire: The obvious 'keeper pickup for this week is San Jose’s David Bingham ($5.8). Not only has he earned five clean sheets in his last six games, but the Quakes are also facing a Philadelphia team lacking their key playmaker in the suspended Cristian Maidana. San Jose also have the most home games left in the season, so he’s a good bet for the long term.
Searching for a Shutout: If you are looking for the best shot for a clean sheet, then grab Bobby Shuttleworth (NE $5.3). The Revolution currently have the fourth-best home defense in the league and they have not lost any of their defenders to international call-ups. This gives Shuttleworth a great shot at a clean sheet, especially against a weakened Orlando offense.
Defenders
DGW Investment: With a promising match against Chicago this round and many upcoming DGWs, now is a good time to plan ahead and grab a Montreal player for your team. They have a couple of tempting options but Donny Toia ($5.0) is the player who offers the most flexibility for the rest of your team. Just make sure you have a backup because he’s likely to get rested a game or two.
Double Up: If you think that San Jose can keep up their run of clean sheets, then consider splurging on Clarence Goodson ($8.5). He’s one of the Quakes two big center backs and he knows how to rack up CBIs while putting himself into scoring positions.
Differential: Seattle have not had a lot of recent defensive success, but if you are trying to find the ideal differential play, then Brad Evans ($7.7, owned by 4.1% of players) should be on your short list. We all know he was a great CBI machine at the start of the season but his real value now comes from playing out of position in midfield, which provides him a chance for both defensive and offensive points.
Midfielders
National Star: One of the biggest questions this round is how many managers will fill the Sebastian Giovinco-shaped hole his injury status has caused. Fortunately Jurgen Klinsmann did us a big favor this weekend by allowing Michael Bradley ($10.5) to stay with Toronto. With his current run of form, he’s the ideal replacement if you want to take advantage of Seattle’s struggling defense.
Assist Machine: With so many players absent, Columbus will rely more than ever on Ethan Finlay ($9.3) for his creative spark. Some may wonder how Finlay will sync up without Kamara, but he’s proved he can score on his own in the past and you may like his chances against a Dallas team that tends to struggle on the road.
Long Shot: If you are looking for a way to differentiate your roster, consider picking up Michael Barrios (DAL $7.9), who is Dallas' most in-form player but owned by just 0.8% of managers. Dallas are missing several key offensive players, but even on a good day, Columbus have the worst home defenses in the league. This gives Barrios a chance to add to his growing goal and assist total.
Forwards
Old Reliable: If you are looking for a differential forward pick for this weekend, then consider Federico Higuain ($10.6, owned by 6.3% of players). He hasn't been racking up bonus points like in past seasons, but he’s still scoring and is the ideal target with Kamara away representing his country.
Big Money: Much of Seattle’s recent poor form can be attributed to the lack of key players like Obafemi Martins ($11.8). Fortunately he’s now available for the Sounders again and he’s racked up three goals in three games. With Toronto having one of the worst road defenses in the league, this total looks set to rise.
Double Trouble: If you are struggling to decide which San Jose forward to get for this round, then I may not be much help. Both Chris Wondolowski ($11.0) and Quincy Amarikwa ($6.8) have pros and cons that make them attractive options, so it really just comes down to which price will best fit your team. Of course, you could always get both.
These are the players I think will help get you through this big bye round. Who do you like who’s not on the list? Post your thoughts in the comments below and don’t forget to stop by MLS Fantasy Boss for all of our latest charts, articles, and live chat. Good luck!
