Fantasy: Week 18 positional rankings

Schuyler Redpath

The new MLS Fantasy season is in full swing, with a pivotal 14-team double-game week on deck for Week 18. With several key players returning from international duty, be sure to monitor starting lineups on Wednesday, as there’s always a chance international players are given an extended rest. Let’s take a look at the top players at each position, with a focus on players who could accumulate points in two games this week.

Sign up for the new MLS Fantasy Manager newsletter.
Start playing!

Goalkeepers

Fantasy: Week 18 positional rankings - https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/styles/image_default/s3/images/Pablo%20Sisniega.jpg

Pablo Sisniega keeps track of the ball against the San Jose Earthquakes | USA Today Sports IMages

Pablo Sisniega had a forgettable debut at Colorado last week, but with Tyler Miller still on international duty, he’ll have two chances to bounce back in Week 18. Up first is a road game against a battered Sporting Kansas City attack before hosting a Vancouver Whitecaps side that was shutout in their last road game.

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent	Price
1	Pablo Sisniega	LAFC	at SKC, vs. VAN	$4.1
2	Brad Stuver	NYC	vs. SEA, vs. POR	$4.4
3	Nick Rimando	RSL	vs. CLB, at SJ	$5.7
4	Joe Willis	HOU	vs. RBNY, at CIN	$5.5
5	Tim Melia	SKC	vs. LAFC, vs. CHI	$6.8
6	Vito Mannone	MIN	vs. SJ, at MTL	$5.6
7	Brad Guzan	ATL	at CHI, vs. RBNY	$5.6
8	Andre Blake	PHI	at ORL, vs. ORL	$5.5
9	Brian Rowe	ORL	vs. PHI, at PHI	$5.5
10	Jon Kempin	CLB	at RSL, vs. SEA	$4.4

Defenders

Fantasy: Week 18 positional rankings - https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/styles/image_default/s3/images/AntonTinnerholm.jpg

Anton Tinnerholm dribbles upfield | USA Today Sports IMages

Anton Tinnerholm fired off four shots last week, and his ability to get involved going forward gives the Swedish defender a high ceiling in Week 18.

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent	Price
1	Anton Tinnerholm	NYC	vs. SEA, vs. POR	$6.3
2	Ike Opara	MIN	vs. SJ, at MTL	$7.0
3	Tommy Thompson	SJ	at MIN, vs. RSL	$6.0
4	Steven Beitashour	LAFC	at SKC, vs. VAN	$6.3
5	Maxime Chanot	NYC	vs. SEA, vs. POR	$6.8
6	Leandro Gonzalez Pirez	ATL	at CHI, vs. RBNY	$7.4
7	Florian Jungwirth	SJ	at MIN, vs. RSL	$6.5
8	Jack Elliott	PHI	at ORL, vs. ORL	$6.6
9	Ronald Matarrita	NYC	vs. SEA, vs. POR	$5.5
10	Auston Trusty	PHI	at ORL, vs. ORL	$6.0
11	Franco Escobar	ATL	at CHI, vs. RBNY	$6.4
12	Matt Besler	SKC	vs. LAFC, vs. CHI	$6.5
13	Eddie Segura	LAFC	at SKC, vs. VAN	$6.1
14	Miles Robinson	ATL	at CHI, vs RBNY	$6.5
15	Hassani Dotson	MIN	vs. SJ, at MTL	$5.0
16	Ben Sweat	NYC	vs. SEA, vs. POR	$5.2
17	Nicolas Hasler	SKC	vs. LAFC, vs. CHI	$4.0
18	Ruan	ORL	vs. PHI, at PHI	$5.8
19	Kai Wagner	PHI	at ORL, vs. ORL	$5.6
20	Joevin Jones	SEA	at NYC, at CLB	$6.5

Midfielders

Fantasy: Week 18 positional rankings - https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/styles/image_default/s3/images/maxi.jpg

Maxi Moralez has been pulling all the strings for NYCFC | USA Today Sports IMages

Maxi Moralez followed up a 19-point Week 15 outing with an eye-popping 23-point performance in New York City’s Week 17 win over Philadelphia. The Argentine also has seven or more points in each of his last five appearances. Look for the Moralez to continue to pull the strings with a pair of home games on deck this week.

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent	Price
1	Maxi Moralez	NYC	vs. SEA, vs. POR	$11.5
2	Eduard Atuesta	LAFC	at SKC, vs. VAN	$11.0
3	Nani	ORL	vs. PHI, at PHI	$10.0
4	Nicolas Lodeiro	SEA	at NYC, at CLB	$11.0
5	Latif Blessing	LAFC	at SKC, vs. VAN	$10.0
6	Albert Rusnak	RSL	vs. CLB, at SJ	$10.1
7	Ismael Tajouri-Shradi	NYC	vs. SEA, vs. POR	$7.6
8	Felipe Gutierrez	SKC	vs. LAFC, vs. CHI	$9.8
9	Jamiro Monteiro	PHI	at ORL, vs. ORL	$9.8
10	Mark-Anthony Kaye	LAFC	at SKC, vs. VAN	$10.0
11	Cristian Espinoza	SJ	at MIN, vs. RSL	$8.6
12	Pity Martinez	ATL	at CHI, vs. RBNY	$9.8
13	Aleksandar Katai	CHI	vs. ATL, at SKC	$9.4
14	Magnus Eriksson	SJ	at MIN, vs. RSL	$8.0
15	Vako	SJ	at MIN, vs. RSL	$7.0
16	Nicolas Gaitan	CHI	vs. ATL, at SKC	$9.1
17	Pedro Santos	CLB	at RSL, vs. SEA	$7.8
18	Damir Kreilach	RSL	vs. CLB, at SJ	$7.8
19	Julian Gressel	ATL	at CHI, vs. RBNY	$9.0
20	Kaku	RBNY	at HOU, at ATL	$9.3
21	Alexander Ring	NYC	vs. SEA, vs. POR	$7.9
22	Jan Gregus	MIN	vs. SJ, at MTL	$9.0
23	Daniel Royer	RBNY	at HOU, at ATL	$8.5
24	Przemyslaw Frankowski	CHI	vs. ATL, at SKC	$7.1
25	Haris Medunjanin	PHI	at ORL, vs. ORL	$8.8
26	Victor Rodriguez	SEA	at NYC, at CLB	$8.0
27	Justin Meram	ATL	at CHI, vs. RBNY	$6.0
28	Chris Mueller	ORL	vs. PHI, at PHI	$6.9
29	Gerso Fernandes	SKC	vs. LAFC, vs. CHI	$7.5
30	Daniel Salloi	SKC	vs. LAFC, vs. CHI	$6.2

Forwards

Fantasy: Week 18 positional rankings - https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/styles/image_default/s3/images/vela%20goal.jpg

Carlos Vela enters the weekend with a league-leading 16 goals | USA Today Sports IMages

Carlos Vela was surprisingly shut out at Colorado last week, but the LAFC talisman should have plenty of opportunities to get back on the scoresheet with two games this week. He’s averaging 11 fantasy points per game, providing a relatively safe floor with sky-high upside.

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent	Price
1	Carlos Vela	LAFC	at SKC, vs. VAN	$11.5
2	Darwin Quintero	MIN	vs. SJ, at MTL	$10.5
3	Alexandru Mitrita	NYC	vs. SEA, vs. POR	$8.6
4	Valentin Castellanos	NYC	vs. SEA, vs. POR	$7.5
5	Diego Rossi	LAFC	at SKC, vs. VAN	$10.0
6	Alberth Elis	HOU	vs. RBNY, at CIN	$10.5
7	Josef Martinez	ATL	at CHI, vs. RBNY	$11.0
8	Mauro Manotas	HOU	vs. RBNY, at CIN	$9.0
9	Chris Wondolowski	SJ	at MIN, vs. RSL	$7.6
10	Adama Diomande	LAFC	at SKC, vs. VAN	$8.0
11	Kacper Przybylko	PHI	at ORL, vs. ORL	$7.5
12	Tesho Akindele	ORL	vs. PHI, at PHI	$6.7
13	Sam Johnson	RSL	vs. CLB, at SJ	$7.6
14	CJ Sapong	CHI	vs. ATL, at SKC	$7.1
15	Dom Dwyer	ORL	vs. PHI, at PHI	$8.0
16	Angelo Rodriguez	MIN	vs. SJ, at MTL	$8.5
17	Brian White	RBNY	at HOU, at ATL	$6.4
18	Romell Quioto	HOU	vs. RBNY, at CIN	$7.0
19	Krisztian Nemeth	SKC	vs. LAFC, vs. CHI	$6.9
20	Fafa Picault	PHI	at ORL, vs. ORL	$7.0