A massive double-game week starts with 13 matches scheduled for Wednesday, giving fantasy managers a ripe opportunity to rack up some huge point hauls. Round 24 marks the final week of Fantasy Champions League qualifiers, and with multiple teams playing twice there are sure to be some big moves on the leaderboards. Let’s get right into it and look at the top plays and values to target this week.
Get more advice on the _MLS Fantasy Insider Round 24 preview_ podcast
Goalkeepers
With home-field advantage being a real factor in MLS, I’m targeting three goalkeepers that could play both matches at home. Luis Barraza and Daniel are solid options that won’t break the bank, and with Djordje Petrovic off to Chelsea, Earl Edwards Jr. is a good bargain bin grab to free up funds elsewhere.
Player | Team | Opponent | Price | |
1. Luis Barraza | NYC |
| $6.5 | |
2. Daniel | SJ |
| $6.5 | |
3. Roman Bürki | STL | vs. DAL, at SKC | $9.9 | |
4. Andre Blake | PHI | at TOR, vs. RBNY | $7.7 | |
5. Jonathan Bond | LA | at SJ, vs. HOU | $7.0 |
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Earl Edwards Jr | NE | vs. RBNY, vs. ATX | $5.1 |
2. Yohei Takaoka | VAN | at CHI, at NYC | $5.6 |
3. Gavin Beavers | RSL | at POR, vs. COL | $4.0 |
Defenders
Kai Wagner whipped in 10 crosses and created four chances in last weekend’s dismantling of D.C. United, and he continues to be one of the top crossers in the league despite having just two assists to his name this season. Philadelphia have a pair of favorable Eastern Conference clashes at Toronto on Wednesday before hosting the New York Red Bulls on Saturday.
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Kai Wagner | PHI | at TOR, vs. RBNY | $10.2 |
2. Rodrigues | SJ | vs. LA, vs. MIN | $10.4 |
3. Brooks Lennon | ATL | vs. CIN, at DAL | $12.4 |
4. Thiago Martins | NYC | vs. MTL, vs. VAN | $7.6 |
5. Julian Gressel | CLB | at HOU, at MTL | $10.2 |
6. Álvaro Barreal | CIN | at ATL, vs. ORL | $10.1 |
7. DeJuan Jones | NE | vs. RBNY, vs. ATX | $9.6 |
8. John Tolkin | RBNY | at NE, at PHI | $10.1 |
9. Yeimar | SEA | at ATX, vs. POR | $11.2 |
10. Jakob Glesnes | PHI | at TOR, vs. RBNY | $8.9 |
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Noah Allen | MIA | vs. NSH, at LAFC | $5.0 |
2. Brad Smith | HOU | vs. CLB, at LA | $4.3 |
3. Raheem Edwards | LA | at SJ, vs. HOU | $5.9 |
Midfielders
Lionel Messi is set to make his first MLS regular season start against Nashville on Wednesday, and with two matches incoming this week the GOAT is a fade-at-your-own-risk player. He’s scored or assisted in all nine appearances since joining Inter Miami, and we can expect the Messi show to roll on with the Herons making a last-ditch Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs push.
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Lionel Messi | MIA | vs. NSH, at LAFC | $14.6 |
2. Carles Gil | NE | vs. RBNY, vs. ATX | $13.5 |
3. Cristian Espinoza | SJ | vs. LA, vs. MIN | $12.8 |
4. Thiago Almada | ATL | vs. CIN, at DAL | $13.8 |
5. Riqui Puig | LA | at SJ, vs. HOU | $10.6 |
6. Emanuel Reynoso | MIN | vs. COL, at SJ | $10.5 |
7. Luciano Acosta | CIN | at ATL, vs. ORL | $14.4 |
8. Hany Mukhtar | NSH | at MIA, vs. CLT | $12.7 |
9. Eduard Löwen | STL | vs. DAL, at SKC | $12.1 |
10. Ryan Gauld | VAN | at CHI, at NYC | $12.6 |
11. Héctor Herrera | HOU | vs. CLB, at LA | $10.8 |
12. Maxi Moralez | NYC | vs. MTL, vs. VAN | $8.3 |
13. Dániel Gazdag | PHI | at TOR, vs. RBNY | $11.2 |
14. Sebastián Driussi | ATX | vs. SEA, at NE | $9.9 |
15. Diego Rossi | CLB | at HOU, at MTL | $9.0 |
16. Mathieu Choinière | MTL | at NYC, vs. CLB | $9.0 |
17. Facundo Torres | ORL | at CLT, at CIN | $11.0 |
18. Evander | POR | vs. RSL, at SEA | $9.2 |
19. Nicolas Lodeiro | SEA | at ATX, vs. POR | $8.8 |
20. Xherdan Shaqiri | CHI | vs. VAN. at DC | $8.2 |
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Paul Arriola | DAL | at STL, vs. ATL | $5.2 |
2. Jan Gregus | MIN | vs. COL, at SJ | $4.9 |
3. Jack McGlynn | PHI | at TOR, vs. RBNY | $5.7 |
Forwards
Cucho Hernández rattled off an eye-popping 12 shots in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Toronto, finishing with six fantasy points despite being unable to find the back of the net. He continues to be a menace around the goal, and even though Columbus are on the road for both matches, I fully expect Cucho to persist in his attacking efforts.
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Cucho Hernández | CLB | at HOU, at MTL | $11.0 |
2. Cristian Arango | RSL | at POR, vs. COL | $10.3 |
3. Giorgos Giakoumakis | ATL | vs. CIN, at DAL | $9.2 |
4. Jefferson Savarino | RSL | at POR, vs. COL | $10.3 |
5. Julián Carranza | PHI | at TOR, vs. RBNY | $9.6 |
6. Diego Costa | RSL | at SJ, vs. HOU | $8.5 |
7. Brian White | VAN | at CHI, at NYC | $9.6 |
8. Josef Martínez | ATL | vs. NSH, at LAFC | $6.8 |
9. Jeremy Ebobisse | SJ | vs. LA, vs. MIN | $7.3 |
10. Teemu Pukki | MIN | vs. COL, at SJ | $8.4 |
1. Leonardo Campana | MIA | vs. NSH, at LAFC | $6.1 |
2. Kwadwo Opoku | MTL | at NYC, vs. CLB | $5.5 |
3. Cade Cowell | SJ | vs. LA, vs. MIN | $4.9 |
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Lionel Messi | MIA | vs. NSH, at LAFC | $14.6 |
2. Carles Gil | NE | vs. RBNY, vs. ATX | $13.5 |
3. Cucho Hernandez | CLB | at HOU, at MTL | $11.0 |
MLS Squad Pick
Playing MLS Squad Pick is quick and easy. Pick 5 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
- Lionel Messi has scored in eight of nine appearances for Inter Miami, and with his first MLS start incoming, he should see multiple opportunities to repeat his Leagues Cup goal versus Nashville on Wednesday.
- Sebastián Driussi continues to serve as Austin FC’s primary threat going forward, and with ATX clinging to the last playoff spot in the Western Conference, they’ll look to their talisman to carry the goalscoring load down the stretch.
- Giorgos Giakoumakis has scored two goals on eight shots (six on target) to go along with an assist across his last two outings, proving his worth as Atlanta United’s marquee No. 9 since joining the club from Celtic.
- Karol Swiderski leads Charlotte FC with seven goals on the season, and if they are to make a playoff push they’ll need the Polish international to continue to find ways to score. They’ll be looking for a big result at home against Orlando on Wednesday, and I expect Swiderski to be involved.
- Riqui Puig has been on fire of late, notching three goals and adding four assists across his last five appearances. Look for him to show out again in the California Clásico as the Galaxy clash with intrastate rival San Jose Earthquakes.
Check out my squad for Round 29:
MLS Parlay Predictor
Playing MLS Parlay Predictor is simple. Pick the results of all 6 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 have lost just one of their 10 all-time matches against FC Cincinnati (5W-1L-4D).
- Inter Miami CF are unbeaten in nine straight matches in all competitions (6W-0L-3D), the longest run in club history. Nashville have lost six of their last seven regular-season matches, including a club-record four in a row.
- Austin FC have lost four straight matches in all competitions, while Seattle have won just two of their last 13 matches in all competitions (2W-6L-5D).
- Minnesota United have lost just three of their last 20 regular-season home matches dating back to July 2022. The Rapids have won just one of their last 16 matches in all competitions (1W-11L-4D).
- Portland have lost four straight matches in all competitions, with three of those defeats coming at home, while Real Salt Lake have lost four of their last five in all competitions – including the last three in a row.
- The Galaxy are unbeaten in their last three road matches against the Earthquakes (2W-0L-1D), and the have lost just one of their last nine regular-season matches (4W-1L-4D).
Check out my predictions for Round 29:
