MLS Fantasy
Another pivotal double-game week is upon us, with all but seven teams playing twice this round. Squad rotation is inevitable at this point in the season, and it’s well worth monitoring the first batch of starting lineups when they are announced on Wednesday. If we can avoid any rotational whammies, another fantasy point party could be in order. Let’s jump right in and look at the top plays and values at each position.
Teams NOT on a DGW: ATL, LA, NSH, ORL, POR, STL
Teams on a BYE for both matchdays: LAFC
Goalkeepers
Andre Blake has kept a clean sheet in three of his last four MLS home appearances, and with two favorable matchups at Subaru Park, he’s my top goalkeeper option in Round 15. If we don’t want to use one of our three Philadelphia Union roster spots that are allowed, there are multiple GKs that also have two home games this week – including Stefan Frei, who just reeled off his league-leading eighth clean sheet of 2023 last round.
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Andre Blake | PHI | vs. CLT, vs. MTL | $7.6 |
2. Stefan Frei | SEA | vs. SJ, vs. POR | $9.1 |
3. Patrick Schulte | CLB | vs. COL, vs. CLT | $6.9 |
4. Yohei Takaoka | VAN | vs. HOU, vs. SKC | $8.2 |
5. Brad Stuver | ATX | vs. MIN, vs. RSL | $7.8 |
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Kendall McIntosh | SKC | vs. DAL, at VAN | $4.3 |
2. Gavin Beavers | RSL | vs. LA, at ATX | $4.0 |
3. Jimmy Maurer | DAL | at SKC, vs. NSH | $5.2 |
Defenders
Kai Wagner was unable to make an impact on the scoresheet despite taking seven corner kicks and sending in 11 crosses last game. His crossing totals are among the top three in the league behind Cristian Espinoza and Nicolás Lodeiro. That kind of attacking potential makes him a game-changer, and with a pair of enticing home matchups on a double-game week, it would be a risky venture not to include him along your backline.
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Kai Wagner | PHI | vs. CLT, vs. MTL | $9.6 |
2. Julian Gressel | VAN | vs. HOU, vs. SKC | $10.7 |
3. Yeimar Gómez Andrade | SEA | vs. SJ, vs. POR | $10.8 |
4. Álvaro Barreal | CIN | at NYC, vs. CHI | $11.6 |
5. Jack Elliott | PHI | vs. CLT, vs. MTL | $8.2 |
6. John Tolkin | RBNY | at MIA, vs. ORL | $9.3 |
7. Jakob Glesnes | PHI | vs. CLT, vs. MTL | $8.3 |
8. Alex Roldan | SEA | vs. SJ, vs. POR | $9.7 |
9. Franco Negri | MIA | vs. RBNY, vs. DC | $6.4 |
10. Miguel Tapias | MIN | at ATX, vs. TOR | $8.5 |
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Malte Amundsen | CLB | vs. COL, vs. CLT | $5.7 |
2. Adam Lundkvist | ATX | vs. MIN, vs. RSL | $4.1 |
3. Gaoussou Samaké | DC | vs. MTL, at MIA | $5.0 |
Midfielders
Lucas Zelarayán will look to get back on track in Round 15 after failing to score or assist for the first time in four outings. He scored twice in Round 13’s double-game week, notching 16 points in the process. With two juicy home matchups against Colorado and Charlotte, we can expect Zelarayán to see multiple opportunities to flirt with 20 points this round.
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Lucas Zelarayán | CLB | vs. COL, vs. CLT | $12.2 |
2. Dániel Gazdag | PHI | vs. CLT, vs. MTL | $12.1 |
3. Héctor Herrera | HOU | at VAN, at STL | $11.2 |
4. Carles Gil | NE | at ATL, at NYC | $11.0 |
5. Cristian Espinoza | SJ | at SEA, at COL | $12.7 |
6. Luciano Acosta | CIN | at NYC, vs. CHI | $10.9 |
7. Nicolas Lodeiro | SEA | vs. SJ, vs. POR | $9.5 |
8. Lorenzo Insigne | TOR | vs. CHI, at MIN | $9.4 |
9. Mateusz Klich | DC | vs. MTL, at MIA | $9.3 |
10. Gabriel Pereira | NYC | vs. CIN, vs. NE | $8.8 |
11. Erik Thommy | SKC | vs. DAL, at VAN | $7.9 |
12. Santiago Rodriguez | NYC | vs. CIN, vs. NE | $8.8 |
13. Ryan Gauld | VAN | vs. HOU, vs. SKC | $8.7 |
14. Connor Ronan | COL | at CLB, vs. SJ | $10.2 |
15. Xherdan Shaqiri | CHI | at TOR, at CIN | $8.3 |
16. Thiago Almada | ATL | vs. NE | $14.1 |
17. Albert Rusnak | SEA | vs. SJ, vs. POR | $8.8 |
18. Pablo Ruiz | RSL | vs. LA, at ATX | $8.1 |
19. Junior Moreno | CIN | at NYC, vs. CHI | $8.4 |
20. Aidan Morris | CLB | vs. COL, vs. CLT | $8.7 |
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Ethan Finlay | ATX | vs. MIN, vs. RSL | $4.4 |
2. Léo Chú | SEA | vs. SJ, vs. POR | $5.5 |
3. Bryan Acosta | COL | at CLB, vs. SJ | $5.7 |
Forwards
Cucho Hernández has scored or assisted in five consecutive games, and he continues to fire shots off at a high clip. He’s rattled off 31 shots over that span, and with just one goal to his name over eight appearances, Cucho looks ready to erupt. Barring squad rotation on Wednesday, don’t hesitate to click the + button next to his name – and if we’re really feeling frisky – Cucho makes for a strong differential captain with teammate Lucas Zelarayán likely to be a popular ©️ pick this week.
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Cucho Hernández | CLB | vs. COL, vs. CLT | $10.3 |
2. Julián Carranza | PHI | vs. CLT, vs. MTL | $10.5 |
3. Mikael Uhre | PHI | vs. CLT, vs. MTL | $8.3 |
4. Jefferson Savarino | RSL | vs. LA, at ATX | $8.5 |
5. Christian Benteke | DC | vs. MTL, at MIA | $9.6 |
6. Jesús Ferreira | DAL | at SKC, vs. NSH | $9.6 |
7. Daniel Salloi | SKC | vs. DAL, at VAN | $7.7 |
8. Federico Bernardeschi | TOR | vs. CHI, at MIN | $8.0 |
9. Leonardo Campana | MIA | vs. RBNY, vs. DC | $8.3 |
10. Brian White | VAN | vs. HOU, vs. SKC | $7.4 |
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Gyasi Zardes | ATX | vs. MIN, vs. RSL | $5.4 |
2. Dante Vanzeir | RBNY | at MIA, vs. ORL | $5.2 |
3. Marinos Tzionis | SKC | vs. DAL, at VAN | $4.1 |
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Lucas Zelarayán | CLB | vs. COL, vs. CLT | $12.2 |
2. Cucho Hernández | CLB | vs. COL, vs. CLT | $10.3 |
3. Dániel Gazdag | PHI | vs. CLT, vs. MTL | $12.1 |
MLS Squad Pick
Playing MLS Squad Pick is quick and easy. Pick five players for your squad. If they all score in the same matchday, you could win a $160 MLSstore.com gift card!
Don’t forget, each round you play gives you one (1) entry into the end-of-season Grand Prize drawing for $10,000!
Expert advice: As noted above, Cucho looks primed for goals after firing off 31 shots over his last five games. Giorgos Giakoumakis will look to get back among the goals after failing to register a single shot in his last outing. Christian Benteke has scored in back-to-back contests, and Lorenzo Insigne is turning it up as he looks to help Toronto FC right the ship. It’s pick your poison with the Philadelphia Union attackers, as any of Julián Carranza, Mikael Uhre, or Dániel Gazdag could make their mark on the scoresheet against Charlotte FC.
Check out my squad for Round 16:
MLS Parlay Predictor
Playing MLS Parlay Predictor is simple. Pick the results of all six games correctly in a single matchday, and you could win a 2023 MLS Season Pass full-season subscription on Apple TV!
Each round you predict gives you one (1) entry into the end-of-season Grand Prize drawing for $10,000!
Expert advice: Atlanta United are unbeaten in three straight, though the visiting Revs present a tough challenge to keep that streak alive. I’m counting on Toronto FC to ride the momentum of their first win in six tries after knocking D.C. United off on Saturday. I’m going against history as there has never been a draw between Inter Miami and the Red Bulls in their six meetings. San Jose have lost only one of their last four MLS matches against Seattle, including going unbeaten in both meetings last season. New York City FC will look to start a new streak after seeing their 10-match home unbeaten run (W8 D2) end with a 3-1 loss to Philadelphia on Saturday. Rounding my predictions off, Vancouver have never lost at home against Houston (W8 D3) and the road team has won just one of the 21 all-time meetings between the sides.
Check out my predictions for Round 16:
