MLS Fantasy Boss: New England Revolution, Sporting Kansas City provide solid picks for Round 12

Reid Connelly

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MLS Injury Report
MLS Disciplinary Report
BYES IN ROUND 12: None
UPCOMING DOUBLE GAME WEEKS: NE, SKC (Rd 12); COL, DC, LA, POR, RSL, SEA (Rd 13)
Bonus Points: How much are double game week players actually earning?
Fantasy Doctor: Analyzing the all-important second game of double game weeks

Until last week, I thought the only thing in this life that nobody could expect was the Spanish Inquisition, but then we saw Orlando City stomp the LA Galaxy 4-0.

Four to ZERO!

Seriously, I had to pinch myself to make sure I was not dreaming. Big congrats to everyone to took the risk and brought in Orlando players last week. I just hope you have a plan to rotate them out before Round 13.

There are only two teams – Sporting Kansas City and the New England Revolution – with a Double Game Week in Round 12, and I think it’s best to resist the urge to load up on these players. Similar past weeks have burnt many fantasy managers – I think any trades are best spent to complete your final preparations for the DGW-heavy Rounds 13 and 14.

Goalkeepers

If you’re thinking about making a ‘keeper switch, then I strongly suggest you reconsider. There are just no Round 12 keepers who stand out far enough above the others to make them trade-worthy. Just play who you have.

Defenders

DGW Pick
: As much as I love outside back
London Woodberry
, the New England player I feel most confident to play 180 minutes this week is center back
Andrew Farrell
($8.1m). He should generate good CBI (Clearances, Blocks and Interceptions) numbers against SKC on Wednesday, and D.C.’s subpar away scoring record gives hope for a shutout on the weekend as well.

MLS Fantasy Boss: New England Revolution, Sporting Kansas City provide solid picks for Round 12 -

Returning Star: After missing the last two games, Zach Loyd (FC Dallas $7.7m) is fit and likely to return for this round. This is bad news for Montreal, who I expect to struggle against Dallas’ first choice center-back pairing. After Round 12, Dallas’ schedule gets tougher, but Loyd’s bonus point generation ability could earn your team some value leading into the Round 15 wildcard.

Value Pick: With Matt Miazga away on international duty, the Red Bulls have been relying on Karl Ouimette ($5.1m) to help hold their defensive line. He’s been generating respectable CBI numbers, but his price is what’s most appealing. A great pick if you are trying to move cash around.

Midfielders

Must Have
: If you’ve even been casually keeping up with MLS Fantasy this season, then you should know that Sporting KC’s
Benny Feilhaber
($9.7m) has been on fire. He may seem like an obvious pick, but there are plenty of managers out there who still don’t own him. Considering Graham Zusi’s injury and Feilhaber’s past form, I’d be surprised if he did not score this round.

DGW: If you are looking for a New England midfielder, then you have a lot of options. Before Round 11, the easy pick was Scott Caldwell, but with Jermaine Jones back in midfield, Caldwell’s attacking runs will be limited. This makes Kelyn Rowe ($8.6m) one of my top picks again. Even with reduced playing time, he still found the back of the net and, with a DGW, he’s likely to see at least 120 minutes this round.

Home Form: Columbus may be struggling on the road as of late, but they have one of the best home records in the league right now. That’s good news for Ethan Finlay ($8.3m) owners, with Crew SC set to play four of their next six matches at the friendly confines of MAPFRE Stadium.

Forwards

DGW Differential
: If you want to take a gamble on the Sporting Kansas City DGW this round, then grab
Dom Dwyer
($10.6m). He has two challenging games this round, but after earning a goal or an assist in three of his last four, his form could reward managers with similar returns.

Long Term Pick: With Fabián Espíndola hampered by injury concerns, many managers will be looking for a long-term forward replacement. So why not spring for the highest scoring striker in the game, Kei Kamara (CLB $8.8m)? Not only is he very affordable, but you can also expect your team value to grow over the coming weeks due to his nice schedule.

Big Money: If you want to find the forward with the best chance to score, then go with New York. The Red Bulls host Philly this round, and the Union have allowed the most away goals (15) so far this season. They should provide Bradley Wright-Phillips (NY $11.3m) with plenty of opportunities to try to repeat his two-goal performance from Round 10.

What are your plans for dealing with Round 12? Do you plan to make two trades or are you going to hold one over for Round 13?
Share your thoughts in the comments below or stop by MLS Fantasy Boss to chat with other managers and check out the other fantasy resources and tips before you finalize your trades. Good Luck!

Reid Connelly -

@MLSFantasyBoss

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