#doublegame

Fantasy: How to take advantage of the final double-game week in Week 34

October 17, 20183:43PM EDT

Reid, Mike, and Blayne are joined by Tim to review the penultimate round of the 2018 Fantasy season. They start the show by giving LAFC the credit they are due before moving into the revised format for round reviews and previews (feedback wanted on the new format). They have a great…

Fantasy: How to take advantage of the final double-game week in Week 34

October 17, 20183:43PM EDT

Reid, Mike, and Blayne are joined by Tim to review the penultimate round of the 2018 Fantasy season. They start the show by giving LAFC the credit they are due before moving into the revised format for round reviews and previews (feedback wanted on the new format). They have a great…

October 17, 20183:43PM EDT

Reid, Mike, and Blayne are joined by Tim to review the penultimate round of the 2018 Fantasy season. They start the show by giving LAFC the credit they are due before moving into the revised format for round reviews and previews (feedback wanted on the new format). They have a great discussion about the value of D.C. United midfielders vs defenders and toss around ideas about how to integrate away players into your lineup…if you dare! It’s the final DGW of the season so be sure to listen before games kickoff on Wednesday at 7:30 pm ET.

Round 33 was short, and a high fantasy score mostly depended on avoiding the Minnesota vs. Colorado trap and picking Carlos Vela as your captain. If you did, I hope you enjoyed your 54 fantasy points! If not, you can make up for those lost points now, as Week 34 is the last double-game week of 2018.

There are a lot of tempting possibilities this week, but a top score will depend on finding a balance between promising double-away and single-game week player. Below are some of my favorite options for Week 34.

Double-Game: D.C, United, Orlando City, Real Salt Lake, Seattle Sounders, Sporting Kansas City, Toronto FC, Vancouver Whitecaps

Bye Teams: None

Keepers

Bill Hamid has two home games this week with D.C. United | USA Today Sports Images

Home Stretch: D.C. United are close to sealing a playoff berth thought impossible a few short months ago. A part of this success is thanks to the return of Bill Hamid ($ 8.4), who has helped D.C. win close games and tripled the number of clean sheets this year. Hamid has a great shot at starting the round off with his 4th shutout of the season as we may see rotation in Toronto’s starting XI on Wednesday night (7:30 pm ET | TSN2 — Full TV & streaming info). 

Road Wall: If you’d rather save your D.C. picks for the field, then consider Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei ($ 7.5). At first glance, a double-road gameweek may seem unfavorable, but the Sounders have the league’s top road defense and have won four of their last five road games. Two clean sheets is not out of the question. The Houston Dynamo will be missing key attacking players Sunday (5 pm ET | TV & streaming info) and Orlando enters Wednesday night (7:30 pm ET | TV & streaming info) in a slump.

Defenders

Graham Zusi is a two-way threat from his outside back position, on a team that plays two games this week | USA Today Sports Images

Double Threat: If you’re looking for a defender who can generate points on both side of the field, start with SKC fullback Graham Zusi ($ 10.5). He’s averaging over seven points per game and has only scored less than four once thanks to his bonus point generation. His first game against a weakened Vancouver side is his best shot for a clean sheet, but he could see more success later if his current form holds against FC Dallas on Sunday (5 pm ET | TV & streaming info).

Value Option: If you can’t afford an expensive defender, then go with D.C. center back Frederic Brillant ($ 6.5). He’s the cheapest option if you want coverage for D.C.’s double-home games and has earned an average of eight points per game since working back into Ben Olsen’s starting XI.

Midfielders

Despite Orlando’s continuing slump, midfield talisman Sacha Kljestan could be a big fantasy producer this week | USA Today Sports Images

Underdog: If you want a differential player with more than one game this week, then consider Orlando playmaker Sacha Kljestan ($ 6.5). Yes the Lions are a longshot, but their final two home games could end in their favor. Seattle may be without key attackers on Wednesday night (7:30 pm ET | TV & streaming info). And Columbus Crew SC is currently experiences its own dip in form entering a Sunday encounter (3 pm ET | TV & streaming info). Kljestan, on the other hand, is a player with a proven history for fantasy point generation and his low price makes him an ideal switcheroo.

Lineup Watch: This is the final week of the season for RSL, and many managers may be hoping that the pressure results in big fantasy scores. However, I am concerned that international call-ups and suspensions will hurt their chances against the New England Revolution on Thursday night (9 pm ET | TV & streaming info) and that on Sunday, Portland will hand out another blowout (5 pm ET | TV & streaming info). If you have more faith, Albert Rusnak ($ 11.8) is your best option for points, but watch for the roster on Thursday and have a backup plan.

Forwards

Target Man: Round 34 offers no shortage of quality forwards, and that means that most managers will likely use all three spots. It’s usually easy to fill the first two spots, so if you’re still looking for that third player, don’t forget about Kei Kamara ($ 11.5), who’s scored a goal or earned an assist in six of his last eight games. With several key players missing for Vancouver, Kamara will be the go-to man for the offense against both Sporting KC on Wednesday (10:00 pm ET | TSN — Full TV & streaming info) and LAFC.

SGW Option: If you’re looking for the ideal single-game week player for your front three, my top pick is LAFC maestro Carlos Vela ($ 13.1). His recent offensive success is likely to continue against Vancouver on Sunday (5:00 pm ET | TSN — Full TV & streaming info), but he earns my top spot mostly due to concerns I have with the other top two options. Sebastian Giovinco ($ 14.4): Will he play? I don’t know. Now that Toronto is out, I could see rotations. Josef Martinez ($ 12.6): A promising game against the Chicago Fire, but he could experience more defensive pressure without Almiron.

WHICH PLAYERS are you considering for Round 34?

FOR MORE fantasy advice, be sure to check out the articles and charts posted at MLSFantasyBoss.com.

Stay Connected: To get all the latest Fantasy news and advice, download the MLS app and sign up for MLS Fantasy notifications. To sign up for notifications, select the main menu, then choose settings. Within the settings menu, select News & Videos notifications and turn on notifications for “Fantasy Soccer.”

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Fantasy: NYCFC's double-game week headlines Week 31 choices

USA Today Sports Images September 26, 201812:37PM EDT

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…

USA Today Sports Images

September 26, 201812:37PM EDT

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

Bye Round: 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 Coin Flip: 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?

FOR MORE fantasy advice, be sure to check out the articles and charts posted at MLSFantasyBoss.com.

Stay Connected: To get all the latest Fantasy news and advice, download the MLS app and sign up for MLS Fantasy notifications. To sign up for notifications, select the main menu, then choose settings. Within the settings menu, select News & Videos notifications and turn on notifications for “Fantasy Soccer.”

Series: 

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Fantasy: Look to double-game weeks from Impact, Fire, and NYCFC

div.video-js { width: 100% !important; height: 0 !important; overflow: hidden; position: relative; padding-top: 56.2%; } July 11, 201810:33AM EDT

Reid and Blayne are joined by special guest Tim Shaw as Mike makes his way back from painting New York Blue. The guys open the show with…

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July 11, 201810:33AM EDT

Reid and Blayne are joined by special guest Tim Shaw as Mike makes his way back from painting New York Blue. The guys open the show with a recap of some of the biggest fantasy moments from Round 19 but soon switch their conversation to several of the new signings who recently became available in the game. They review which double-game week teams are worth getting four player from and they have a spirited discussion about several of the single-game week options. They wrap everything up whit player picks and Lilly’s first captain choice! Check it all out before games stat on Wednesday!

You never know what to expect from a large double-game week and Round 19 was no different. 58 goals, six clean sheets and fantasy scores exceeding 160 points. Yet when we look at the Round 19 dream team many of the top marque players are missing. Things should be a little calmer this week, and the three teams with a double-game should be the foundation for your team. That being said, don’t ignore the single-game teams as several have the chance for a good score. Below is my list of some of the top targets for Round 20.

Teams on a Bye: None

Double-game week: New York City FC, Montreal Impact, Chicago Fire

Keepers

Brad Guzan makes a good single-game option this week | USA Today Sports Images

DGW Option: There is as argument that could be made in favor of each double-game week keeper in Round 20. In the end, It’s Sean Johnson’s ($ 8.5) double home game that makes me think he has the edge. The first game against Montreal on Wednesday (7 pm ET | TVAS — Full TV & streaming info) looks to be the toughest, but NYCFC have only conceded two goals over their last five home games, so I think Johnson is good for at least one clean sheet.

Keeperoo Option: If one of the DGW keepers does not return the score you hope, then consider Atlanta’s Brad Guzan ($ 7.9). He’s earned three clean sheets over his last five games, but Guzan’s real selling point is Seattle’s (Sunday, 2 pm ET | FOX — Full TV & streaming info) anemic offense which has only scored 15 goals total.

Defenders

Attack Minded: A chance for a clean sheet and goals makes for a great fantasy player and NYCFC’s Anton Tinnerholm ($ 8.0) will have plenty of opportunities for both. He’s scored two goals and earned two assists over his last five games and averaged almost two key passes per game. He’ll be a key player to help break down defenses this week especially against a Columbus (Saturday, 7 pm ET | TV & streaming info) team that has been stingy on the road.

Late Switch: If you want to add a SGW defender who has a chance for a high score, consider Laurent Ciman ($ 10.3). LAFC has one of the top home defenses in the league and they will face a Portland (6 pm ET | ESPN — Full TV & streaming info) team on Sunday that has been productive on the road. When combined, you have a scenario that allows strong center backs, like Ciman, to earn a lot of bonus fantasy points.

Midfielders

Aleksandar Katai has been hot for the Fire of late | USA Today Sports Images

Boys in Blue: Montreal has turned their season around over the last few weeks, winning five of their last six games. Ignacio Piatti’s ($ 12.1) offensive production and Saphir Taider’s ($ 11.3) steady stream of points have made then the big fantasy winners, and this makes midfield the best place if you want multiple Impact players. The DGW favors the more defensive of the two, so I recommend starting Taider and putting Piatti on your bench until you see his score after their game against San Jose (7:30 pm ET | TVAS — Full TV & streaming info) on Saturday.

Boys in Red: If you’re not convinced the Impact success train will continue, Chicago also offers an offensive and defensive midfield pairing. Aleksandar Katai’s ($ 11.0) offensive prowess should help start the Fire on the right foot when they face a Philadelphia (8:30 pm ET | TV & streaming info) team on Wednesday that has been leaky on the road and Dax McCarty’s ($ 8.4) strong defensive presence should help weather the Dallas (8 pm ET | TV & streaming info) offense on Saturday. Both have the potential for a great DGW score.

Forwards

Darwin Quintero can evolve your fantasy lineup | USA Today Sports Images

Lineup Watch: The big question this week is “Will David Villa start”? Personally, I think he’s likely to miss out on the first game and that could mean two games for Jonathan Lewis ($ 4.0). He’s been a late game sub for the last five games, but provided the assist in the 1-0 victory over the Red Bulls last week. However, the real reason to look to Lewis is that he may be the only forward option with all others questionable due to injury concerns.

Differential: If you’re looking for a true differential player to help make up points before the end of the Spring Fantasy season, then consider Minnesota’s Darwin Quintero ($ 8.7). He’s been generating two to three shots per game over his last seven games, and came away with three goals last week. He has a good shot to score again in Round 20 as Real Salt Lake (Saturday, 8 pm ET |TV & streaming info) tend to be an open goal on the road.

WHICH PLAYERS are you considering for Round 20?

FOR MORE fantasy advice, be sure to check out the articles and charts posted at MLSFantasyBoss.com.

Stay Connected: To get all the latest Fantasy news and advice, download the MLS app and sign up for MLS Fantasy notifications. To sign up for notifications, select the main menu, then choose settings. Within the settings menu, select News & Videos notifications and turn on notifications for “Fantasy Soccer.”

Series: 

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Stay connected: Get access to breaking news, videos, and analysis from North America’s best soccer reporters via “This Week in MLS” newsletter or using our FREE mobile app.

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