MLS Fantasy Player Picks, Round 25: Time to Load Up on the Double Gamers

Just a quick note about last week. Each week the most important decision we make is deciding who will be the captain. Ordinarily, the smart thing to do is to select someone with a home game. I chose Giovinco, who delivered only 3 points, and almost amusingly had 6 players with 8 or more fantasy points. The good news is that I still managed to move up 10 spots overall to position 70. It is a good time for me, as my team value is 128, which allows me to, hopefully, select a better quality of player. And the new format was a bit challenging, at the beginning, figuring out how teams might increase in value. Anyway, on to this week's selections.

Round 25 is a double week for four teams: Sporting Kansas City, Columbus Crew SC, New York City FC and San Jose Earthquakes. Kansas City enjoys, by far, the most attractive matchups. The concern, of course, will be selecting the players who have the best opportunity to play both matches. Columbus is coming off of a bye, so one might ordinarily expect them to be less concerned with rotating their squad. Per usual, my suggestion is to choose goalkeepers, designated players and central defenders.

I would also add that Portland Timbers, D.C. United, Toronto FC and maybe even Montreal Impact enjoy attractive single game fixtures this week. The New York Red Bulls and New England Revolution both have byes. Finally, the Chicago Fire, Colorado Rapids, Houston Dynamo and RBNY play twice in Round 26, so don't be too quick to drop players from those teams if you have them.

Goalkeepers

Tim Melia is a great selection this week, if you do not already have him on your squad. He has a great match up at home against San Jose and his second game is at Columbus. He is a sure starter for both matches and has a good defense in front of him. Melia is one of the key picks this week, if you do not already have him.

Steve Clark might be my second choice this week with two home matches and Columbus coming off a bye will be well rested and maybe refocused.

David Bingham collects a lot of bonus points despite San Jose giving up goals. Often, he has single handedly kept them in matches. He will have to do that this weekend for his team against SKC and DC United, both on the road.

Defenders

Kevin Ellis scored a goal last week and should be getting starts in both matches. SKC is hoping to move up in the standings and needs to play their best lineup. His price has jumped since he nailed down a starting position, but remains a bargain at only 6.9. Get him now, if you don't have him.

Angelino would be my second pick, should you need a second defender. He is a new signing, coming on board for week 17, it's hard to imagine him not starting both games. And he is still only 5.0, a great filler.

Amadou Dia is worth considering if you are on a budget. He is priced at only 4.2. Although he has started every match since GW 12, there is a bit of rotation risk.

Eric Gehrig is another consideration as he enjoys a favorable match up at home against Colorado and also has a DGW next week in week 26.

Midfielders

Benny Feilhaber is the obvious choice continuing to dominate the opposition and is enjoying an MVP type season. If he is not already on your squad, this is the week to add him. He is the most consistently scoring of the elite players and is second in MLS fantasy this season with 169 points.

Ethan Finlay of Columbus is enjoying a breakout season. He has two home games and almost certainly will be added to my own roster.

Kwadwo Poku appears to be an outstanding young player for NYCFC, when he gets the opportunity. He has scored 14 and 16 points in various game weeks this season and is worth taking a look at for 6.9.

Tommy McNamara and Tony Tchani are attractive mid priced options at 7.1 and 7.3 respectively. Tchani might be a bit less subject to the rotation risk.

Forwards

Kei Kamara appeared to get back on track for Columbus, delivering 12 points in his most recent outing. He plays the single striker for Columbus and should be rested and ready.

David Villa has certainly stepped up his play for NYCFC. My concern is that his team has not played well in away matches and they have 2 this week. Regardless, he is expected to be a certain starter and should be in the middle of most scoring activity.

Quincy Amarikwa should also be expected to go 180 for San Jose and is a bargain at 7.0 if funds are short. I like his work rate and determination.

Krisztian Nemeth and Dom Dwyer are also worth considering, although they might be more likely to split goalscoring opportunities than some of the selections listed above. Nemeth has been in better form, recently.

Keep in mind that the game week begins Wednesday at 7:30, so make your picks early. It is always fun to get off to a good start on Wednesday night, but typically the second game shows up closer to a bonus than a double score.

For my team, I expect to add Finlay and Kamara for the disappointing Kaka and Cyle Larin.

I expect my lineup to look like this: Melia, Toia, Ellis, Gehrig, Giovinco, Feilhaber, Finlay, McNamara, Keane, Villa and Kamara. I am planning upon giving the armband to Benny.

So what does your team look like? Have we missed anyone worth considering? Who do you like as your captain?
Best wishes, of course, this week!