MLS Fantasy Week 23 Positional Rankings

Schuyler Redpath

We’re coming down the stretch with just five weeks left in the MLS Fantasy season, and Week 23 presents a great opportunity to make some serious moves up the leaderboards.

All but two teams (CLB, NE) play twice this round, so if we can avoid any rotation landmines, fantasy managers can maximize point potential by loading up on players who could play twice.

With a full slate kicking the round off Wednesday, let’s get right into the top plays and values at each position.

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Teams NOT on a DGW: CLB, NE

Goalkeepers

Brad Guzan has kept a clean sheet in two of his last three home appearances, and he’s in a good spot to keep it going during Week 23. His best shot at another shutout comes on Wednesday against an Inter Miami side that has been outscored 9-1 across their last two outings. With Atlanta playing in the first game of the round, he’s a viable “keeperoo” option if we want to maximize clean sheet opportunities.

Player	Team	Opponent	Price
1. Brad Guzan	ATL	vs. MIA, at MTL	$8.6
2. Joe Willis	NSH	vs. ORL, at NYC	$9.4
3. Stefan Frei	SEA	at SJ, vs. COL	$8.4
4. Bill Hamid	DC	vs. MIN, at ORL	$6.8
5. Steve Clark	POR	at LAFC, vs. MIA	$7.0

Value Goalkeepers

Value Goalkeepers
Player	Team	Opponent	Price
1. Alex Bono	TOR	vs. CIN, vs. CH	$6.0
2. Brad Stuver	ATX	at COL, vs. RS	$5.9
3. Tomas Romero	LAFC	vs. POR, at LA	$4.9

Defenders

Brooks Lennon has averaged more than eight fantasy points per game across Atlanta’s last five matches at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, putting him in prime position at home against an Inter Miami side that has conceded nine goals and scored just once over their last two games. In addition to potential clean sheet points, Lennon packs the attacking punch that could produce the perfect storm of both clean sheet and attacking points.

Player	Team	Opponent	Price
1. Brooks Lennon	ATL	vs. MIA, at MTL	$8.6
2. Walker Zimmerman	NSH	vs. ORL, at NYC	$9.3
3. Andreu Fontas	SKC	at DAL, vs. HOU	$11.0
4. Kai Wagner	PHI	at RBNY, vs. CLB	$9.7
5. Nouhou	SEA	at SJ, vs. COL	$8.1
6. Claudio Bravo	POR	at LAFC, vs. MIA	$7.9
7. Nathan	SJ	vs. SEA, at VAN	$8.8
8. Julian Aruajo	LA	at RSL, vs. LAFC	$8.1
9. John Tolkin	RBNY	vs. PHI, at CIN	$7.5
10. Lucas Esteves	COL	vs. ATX, at SEA	$8.2

Value Defenders

Value Defenders
Player	Team	Opponent	Price
1. Richie Laryea	TOR	vs. CIN, vs. CHI	$6.4
2. Donovan Pines	DC	vs. MIN, at ORL	$5.1
3. Kemar Lawrence	TOR	vs. CIN, vs. CHI	$4.0

Midfielders

It's worth noting right off the top that Hany Mukhtar’s status is up in the air after missing the last game with an apparent ankle injury. As the highest-scoring DGW player, Mukhtar’s status is well worth monitoring ahead of Wednesday’s home game against Orlando City. His returns at home are as good as it gets, averaging nearly 13 points per game over his last six contests at Nissan Stadium.

If Mukhtar doesn’t start the first game, Ezequiel Barco becomes the top midfielder with a pair of good matchups, including a juicy home game against an Inter Miami side that has shipped nine goals in two games.

Player	Team	Opponent	Price
1. Hany Mukhtar	NSH	vs. ORL, at NYC	$13.0
2. Ezequiel Barco	ATL	vs. MIA, at MTL	$10.2
3. Djordje Mihailovic	MTL	vs. NE, vs. ATL	$11.0
4. Ryan Gauld	VAN	at HOU, vs. SJ	$9.9
5. Marcelino Moreno	ATL	vs. MIA, at MTL	$11.5
6. Sebastian Blanco	POR	at LAFC, vs. MIA	$8.3
7. Albert Rusnak	RSL	vs. LA, at ATX	$11.1
8. Jack Price	COL	vs. ATX, at SEA	$10.1
9. Emanuel Reynoso	MIN	at DC, at DAL	$11.5
10. Luiz Araujo	ATL	vs. MIA, at MTL	$8.5
11. Chofis	SJ	vs. SEA, at VAN	$8.7
12. Julian Gressel	DC	vs. MIN, at ORL	$10.2
13. Yimmi Chara	POR	at LAFC, vs. MIA	$8.5
14. Luciano Acosta	CIN	at TOR, vs. RBNY	$9.8
15. Carles Gil	NE	at MTL	$11.1
16. Maxi Moralez	NYC	at CHI, vs. NSH	$9.2
17. Nani	ORL	at NSH, vs. DC	$8.2
18. Fafa Picault	HOU	vs. VAN, at SKC	$9.3
19. Eduard Atuesta	LAFC	vs. POR, at LA	$9.3
20. Damir Kreilach	RSL	vs. LA, at ATX	$9.1

Value Midfieldes

Value Midfieldes
Player	Team	Opponent	Price
1, Yeferson Soteldo	TOR	vs. CIN, vs. CHI	$7.2
2. Omir Fernandez	RBNY	vs. PHI, at CIN	$4.0
3. Edison Flores	DC	vs. MIN, at ORL	$7.0

Forwards

With two bites at the apple in Week 23, LAFC’s Cristian Arango is in a good spot to get back on the scoresheet after his five-game goalscoring spree came to an end in Sunday’s 2-0 loss at San Jose.

He’ll look to help LAFC get back on track at home against Portland on Wednesday before featuring in an El Trafico (Sunday, 8:00 pm ET | ESPN, ESPN Deportes) that often produces plenty of fantasy fireworks.

Player	Team	Opponent	Price
1. Cristian Arango	LAFC	vs. POR, at LA	$10.1
2. Chicharito	LA	at RSL, vs. LAFC	$9.2
3. Raul Ruidiaz	SEA	at SJ, vs. COL	$7.5
4. Romell Quioto	MTL	vs. NE, vs. ATL	$8.6
5. Johnny Russell	SKC	at DAL, vs. HOU	$9.5
6. Felipe Mora	POR	at LAFC, vs. MIA	$9.4
7. Jesus Ferreira	DAL	vs. SKC, vs. MIN	$9.9
8. Ola Kamara	DC	vs. MIN, at ORL	$10.5
9. Daniel Salloi	SKC	at DAL, vs. HOU	$8.5
10. Sebastian Driussi	ATX	at COL, vs. RSL	$9.7