Over $10,000 in cash prizes is up for grabs on DraftKings this weekend, so let’s take a look at my top MLS plays to help you take down your contests. You can play for FREE or pony up 25 cents to enter the $100 Quarter Arcade, where the winner will turn a quarter into 20 bucks!
Be sure to familiarize yourself with the DraftKings scoring format, which also awards points for Crosses, Shots and Fouls Drawn.
Goalkeepers
Home Field Advantage: Sporting Kansas City are unbeaten at home this season, thanks in part to the play of goalkeeper Tim Melia ($5,000). With DraftKings awarding goalkeepers 5 points for a win, I like my chances with Melia - who has won 10 of SKC’s last 11 games at home.
Return of the Wall: Nick Rimando ($4,500) looks set to return to MLS action after missing some time with a knee injury. A home game against a struggling Portland Timbers attack looks enticing for the all-time MLS shutout record holder.
Defenders
High-Upside: The DraftKings scoring format suits Chris Tierney ($6,000) well. The versatile left back has the ability to contribute across the board. Tierney has an assist in consecutive games, and is a good source of crossing points from a defender.
Sleeper: With usual left back Kemar Lawrence reportedly nursing a hamstring injury, and center back Damien Perrinelle suspended, the New York Red Bulls have some voids to fill along their backline. I expect Anthony Wallace ($4,300) will step in at left back, where he’s looked lively in limited action this season. Wallace scored a goal in his lone start at Red Bull Arena and is averaging over seven fantasy points per game when he’s in action. On the opposite side of the field, Connor Lade ($4,200) posted 13.5 DraftKings points behind seven crosses and a clean sheet in his last outing. While I’m not banking on the Red Bulls keeping Sebastian Giovinco off the scoresheet, I like the upside both outside backs bring to the table.
Midfielders
Nguyenning:Lee Nguyen ($8,600) looks to finally be firing on all cylinders after a slow start to 2015. He has a goal in three straight games and is picking up fantasy points across multiple categories.
The Assistant:Cristian Maidana ($8,200) continues to be a consistent source of fantasy points in the midfield. The DraftKings scoring system favors Maidana’s cross-heavy game, awarding one point for each cross into the box. The Argentine has six assists in his last six games, and he looked sharp against the Chicago Fire in midweek US Open Cup action.
Forwards
The Atomic Ant: The MVP-frontrunner has been fantasy gold in 2015. Sebastian Giovinco ($13,500) is averaging 20 DraftKings points per game and leads the league in both shots and shots on goal. He had a quiet showing in his last game, by his standards, just topping double-digits with an assist. Look for Giovinco to bounce back with a big effort on Saturday against a makeshift New York Red Bulls backline.
You down with SKC? The Sporting Kansas City attack was clicking in their 3-1 US Open Cup semifinal victory over Real Salt Lake on Wednesday. While Dom Dwyer ($9,000) didn’t find the back of the net, he was hounding the goal all night and looks hungry for a goal heading into the weekend. Dwyer has four or more shots in his last four MLS games, connecting for two goals. His strike partner Krisztian Nemeth ($8,200) scored midweek and now has a goal in consecutive games.
Who are you building your DraftKings team around? Are there any “must-plays” this weekend? Let us know in the comments below.
