MLS Fantasy Player Picks, Round 24: Time to start planning for upcoming doubles and byes

Well, just to briefly touch base on last week. If you managed to get Sebasian Giovinco as your captain, you were graced with a whopping 56 points. Also, the word came in early (or perhaps too late for some) that Kaka was going to miss the trip to Montreal. A number of folks decided to switch him out for Benny Feilhaber or just transfer Feilhaber in. Either way, he was an excellent selection and will be among the selections for this week.

So anyway, let's take a look at what we have approaching. Although Colorado Rapids, Orlando City and even the faltering Seattle Sounders have good matchups, I suggest the more compelling scenario might be to consider the Double game week for Sporting Kansas City, San Jose Earthquakes, New York Red Bulls and Columbus Crew in week 25 and even starting to think about Game Week 27 where ten teams will have byes (and the pickings may be slim). And in week 28, everyone gets to start their team over with a Wild Card. Again, keep in mind that Montreal Impact and Columbus Crew have byes this week.

With that in mind, here are the player selections for the week:

Goalkeepers

Tim Melia, Since emerging as the starter for Sporting Kansas City back in week 10 Melia has chalked up 70 fantasy points, an average of 5 a game. He has a decent match up at home to Vancouver, who has struggled a bit on the road, along with the aforementioned DGW, coming up. He is a great choice as a season keeper.

David Bingham would be my second choice this week. He is at home, vs the goal challenged Colorado Rapids and also has a DGW, albeit a difficult one, the following period.

David Ousted is also worth a shout, but I might offer he has some very challenging fixtures approaching.

Defenders

Kevin Ellis will probably be added to my team this week. He has emerged as a solid central defender for Kansas City and is still reasonably priced at 6.5.

Matt Miazga is a good selection, should you already have him on your squad. I would not burn a transfer on him, however, as he has byes in GWs 25 and 27. Still a bargain at 5.9. With the byes approaching, beware of loading up on RBNY players this week.

Angelino, the recent addition for NYCFC is a bargain at 5.0 facing DC United on their home field of a bowling alley at Yankee Stadium. And they have a DGW in week 25.

Tyrone Mears of Seattle has 3 home games in his next four including match-ups against Orlando, Portland and Toronto, each who have struggled on the road, this year.

Midfielders

Benny Feilhaber is at home against Vancouver. Grab him and keep him through Kansas City's DGW coming up. He has been an MLS MVP candidate from the be beginning ofthe season. A potential season keeper following his by in week 27.

Sebastian Giovinco had a marvelous week as mentioned earlier and although has a tough match up against RBNY, he has some great fixtures on through. Get him, if you do not have him. The other MVP candidate.

Fatai Alashe is a guaranteed starter for San Jose and a bargain at 4.6. He will play 3 matches in the next two weeks.

Kaka did not play well, nor Orlando as a team last week. Orlando has some attractive fixtures heading forward as they fight to get into the playoffs.

Forwards

Krisztian Nemeth is worth considering as a forward option. He has the 3 games in two weeks for SKC (notice a pattern, here?)

Cyle Larin is still a bargain at 6.0, although, like the rest of the Orlando team, he underperformed last week.  Keep him, if you have him.

Bradley Wright-Phillips is a keeper, if you already have him, though he may be a bit pricy at retail.

Giovani Dos Santos scored in his debut with the Los Angeles Galaxy. He is one to keep an eye on.

Don't forget that the deadline this week is on Thursday night at 7:00 EST, so remember to set your teams!

I'm probably going to make my transfers late. At this point, I expect to add Kevin Ellis and Benny Feilhaber for Laurent Ciman and Ignacio Piatti.

My lineup should look like this: Melia, Miazga, Ellis, Gehrig, Giovinco, Feilhaber, Kaka, Keane, Villa and Larin. I am leaning toward giving the armband to Benny.

So, anyway, enough from me. Who do you like and who do you particularly like as Captain?