MLS Fantasy Boss: Should you load up on New York City FC for DGW? Or plan ahead for Round 9?

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The first double game week of the fantasy season is now behind us, and it was a trial by fire. There were double red cards, unfortunate injuries, Vancouver failing to pick up a shutout and Colorado scoring four goals against Dallas … are you kidding me!?


It would be easy to just throw your towel over your head and pretend nobody can see you, but that’s not going to help you win your fantasy league.


Instead, here are some players who can help fill the gaps that Round 6 left in your roster:


Goalkeepers


  • DGW Pick: The dream setup for any DGW is two home games and reasonable rest in between. This round, NYCFC will enjoy that advantage, and that makes Josh Saunders (NYC $5.6m) my top goalkeeper pick.
  • Stay the Course: If you don't plan on getting a DGW goalkeeper, then I see no reason to make any changes. Many teams have tough matches this round, so it's better to focus your moves to replace injured or suspended players.


Defenders


With Sporting Kansas City's Ike Opara out for the season, many managers will need to find a replacement. These picks satisfy that need, save you some cash and have DGWs over the next few rounds.


  • DGW Pick: If you are looking for a cheap CB swap, then Jason Hernandez (NYC $6.6m) is a great option. Not only does he have a DGW this round, but he's also in the top 10 of CBI-producing defenders, and that gives him big bonus-point potential.

  • Clean Sheet
    : There are only two teams who have not allowed a goal at home this season: Toronto (0 home games) and the New York Red Bulls (1 home game). Still, I'm recommending
    Damien Perrinelle
    (NY $6.7m) again. He's owned by less than 2 percent of managers in the game, has excellent CB production and has a DGW in Round 9.
  • Differential: If you're a little behind in your league and are up for a risk, I suggest you consider Drew Moor (COL $7.0m). Now that he's returned from knee surgery, Moor will be key to maintaining the Rapids' impressive defensive record as their schedule gets tougher, and he has a track record of staying in the lineup.

  • Midfielders


    Whether you agreed with the call or not, Pedro Morales (VAN $11.0m) will not be available for Round 7, and I see no reason to keep him on your team. So who are some good replacements?


  • DGW Pick: After a slow start to the season, Sebastien Le Toux (PHI $8.9m) has finally started to find some form, just in time for Philly's first double game week. He may not play all 180 minutes, but if Fernando Aristeguieta needs more time to recover, Le Toux is likely to move up top again.
  • MLS Fantasy Boss: Should you load up on New York City FC for DGW? Or plan ahead for Round 9? -

    Mr. Consistency:
    It's hard to find a fantasy player who can consistently return a good score without goals or assists, but they do exist.
    Stefan Ishizaki
    (LA $8.0m) has proven to be one of those players by averaging almost five points per game. And with Kansas City shuffling their back line, Ishizaki may be able to add another assist this weekend.

  • Long shot: After a couple of weeks of threatening to score, Dillon Powers (COL $7.6m) finally did against Dallas, producing a goal and an assist. Is this a sign of Colorado becoming a giant-killer? I don't know, but Powers will remain a go-to player for the Rapids' offense.

  • Forwards

    MLS Fantasy Boss: Should you load up on New York City FC for DGW? Or plan ahead for Round 9? -

    DGW Pick
    : The best part about two teams playing each other in consecutive rounds is that we already know what to expect. In this case, we know
    David Villa
    (NYC $10.3m) can score against Philadelphia, and I think we will see another one on Thursday night. I don't know if he will be a 180-minute player, but I think he's worth the risk.

  • The Exploiter: Any time a team is forced to replace a key defender, their chance for a shutout decreases, especially when their opponent is Robbie Keane (LA $11.1m), who has scored two goals in four games. Keane missed Sunday due to a groin strain, but he's back training, and that gives me confidence that he'll start in Round 7.

  • Did the results from last week change your mind about any of the DGW players for Round 7, or are you only going to focus on the next DGW in Round 9?
    Share your thoughts in the comments below or stop by MLS Fantasy Boss to chat with other managers and check out my other fantasy resources before you finalize your trades. Good luck!