Reid keeps it simple this week and is joined by co-hosts Mike and Blayne to go over all of the important results from Round 30 and preview the most promising games from Round 31. They keep things moving at a steady pace but Reid takes a moment during the NYCFC preview to pause and breakdown how to use Johnson in a Keeperoo in Round 31. They wrap everything up with a shout out to the top scores from the MLSFI Hosts league and their plugz. It’s a quick show but covers everything you need to know before Round 31 games start on Wednesday.
If you had a Round 30 fantasy team that was heavy on Cascadia players, you likely had a frustrating round. Heck, you were likely frustrated with many of your double-game week players as low scores seemed to be the norm for most. You can shed your DGW woes this week; it’ll be easy to include single-game week players as only two teams have a double-game on their schedule. Below are some of my favorite players to help you diversify your lineup for Round 31.
Double-Game Teams: Chicago Fire, New York City FC
ByeRound: Orlando
Goalkeepers
Sean Johnson could generate significant bonus points during NYC's double-game week | USA Today Sports Images
DGW Pick: New York City FC has been in a bit of a rough patch lately earning only three points over their last six games. Even with this run of bad luck, Sean Johnson ($6.3) still stands out as one of the top ‘keeper options this week thanks to his ability to generate bonus points. I’d expect him to easily earn 6-8 points from this, and he could see another clean sheet as Chicago (7 pm ET | Full TV & streaming info) offers the best shot at a shutout.
Keeperoo Option: If you’re looking for the ideal keeperoo transfer this week, you’ll have to be ready to spend big because Sporting Kansas City’s Tim Melia ($9.8) could help salvage your round. He currently leads the league with 12 clean sheets and he’s earned five of those over his last eight games. It’s true that Real Salt Lake (5:00 pm ET | FS1 — Full TV & streaming info) has shown an offensive spark recently, but they have not been consistent on the road.
Defenders
DGW CoinFlip: With both DGW teams having questionable recent defensive records, it’s reasonable to look to other positions for your coverage this week. If you do want a defender, I recommend looking at the budget options that Chicago offers like Johan Kappelhof ($5.5). He has a good record of bonus point generation over the season and is the target on the occasional set play. However, start him on your bench until you see the result of the LAFC (3:30 pm ET | Univision, Twitter — Full TV & streaming info) game.
Play the Odds: If you want to pick up a home defender who is facing the worst road offense, consider Seattle’s Kim Kee-Hee ($8.5). He’s slightly cheaper and has a higher points per game average than Chad Marshall ($9.3) and could be the safer starter as Marshall may or may not be back from injury. Kee-Hee may not have much to worry about this weekend as Colorado (4 pm ET | TV & streaming info) has only scored three goals over their last six games.
Midfielders
Continue to count on Romain Alessandrini and the Galaxy attack | USA Today Sports Images
Change Up: The LA Galaxy are basically the glass cannon of MLS. They have a high powered offense but have been found lacking on defense for most of the season. Romain Alessandrini ($11.7) tends to be at the heart of this offense and that makes him a top SGW player this week. His chance for production is improved by Vancouver’s (10 pm ET | TSN — Full TV & streaming info) equally poor defense that has only kept two clean sheets all season.
Playoff Battle: D.C. United and Montreal (7 pm ET | Full TV & streaming info) have a lot to play for on Saturday, as they are battling each other for the final playoff spot in the East. With so much on the line a lot will be asked from their marque players, and I expect Luciano Acosta ($11.5) to rise to the task. He’s scored three goals and earned three assists over his last four games and has the advantage coming off a week’s worth of rest.
Forwards
Lineup Watch: Most managers are likely to have four NYCFC players on their team this week, but keep an eye on the starting lineups today if you want a forward. David Villa ($9.5) has a mixed record for going 180 minutes this season and could get some rest with a playoff spot all but clinched. This could mean more playing time for Jo Inge Berget ($6.2), especially against Minnesota (8 pm ET | TV & streaming info).
Differential Pick: The final of the U.S. Open Cup is Wednesday night and it’s safe to say that both teams will field their best lineups. This could mean tired legs come the weekend, so consider San Jose’s Chris Wondolowski ($6.2) if you’re willing to roll the dice. Wondo is closing in on the all-time scoring record and will be a primary target for all of his teammates as they try to take apart the Houston (8:30 pm ET | TV & streaming info) defense.
WHICH PLAYERS are you considering for Round 31?
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