Fantasy: Week 30 positional rankings

Schuyler Redpath

Reid and Michael are joined by special Patreon guest Kyle Frankiewich to review all the biggest surprises and most important takeaways from Round 29 of the MLS Fantasy Season.
Seattle and Portland dominate the Live Chat group when asked about their most surprising moments, but the guys also take some time to focus on the number of clean sheets and the strong performance by New York Red Bulls players. Reid gives a quick overview of the the DGW teams and provides a FiveThirtyEight-powered update about who’s left in the playoff picture during the Housekeeping section before turning it over to Kyle, who shares with everyone why he is a Patreon supporter and what it means to be a part of the MLS Fantasy community. They wrap up with a discussion of player options and there is a difference in opinion as to which forwards are needed for this final DGW.

The finish line is in sight with just two weeks of MLS Fantasy to go. Week 30 brings us the final double-game week of the season, and it’s a big one! There are 12 teams playing twice, giving us one last chance to load up on players who could turn up with a big point haul over two games. Let’s take a deeper dive and get dialed in on this week’s positional rankings.

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Goalkeepers

Fantasy: Week 30 positional rankings - https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/images/Nick%20Rimando_0.jpg

Nick Rimando is heading into a double game week and has kept clean sheets in three of his last four home games | USA Today Sports Images

With Real Salt Lake looking to punch their ticket to the Audi 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs this week, Nick Rimando is in a good spot with two home games in Week 30. The veteran goalkeeper holds the No. 1 spot in nearly all of MLS’s all-time goalkeeping records, and he’s kept a clean sheet in three of his last four games at Rio Tinto Stadium.

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent	Price
1	Nick Rimando	RSL	vs. LA, vs. HOU	$8.8
2	Vito Mannone	MIN	vs. SKC, vs. LAFC	$8.8
3	Daniel Vega	SJ	vs. PHI, vs. SEA	$6.1
4	Tyler Miller	LAFC	vs. HOU, at MIN	$7.0
5	David Bingham	LA	at RSL, vs. VAN	$6.8
6	Matt Turner	NE	at POR, vs. NYC	$7.1
7	Tim Melia	SKC	at MIN, vs. POR	$7.0
8	Sean Johnson	NYC	vs. ATL, at NE	$7.5
9	Steve Clark	POR	vs. NE, at SKC	$8.4
10	Brad Guzan	ATL	at NYC, at MTL	$7.8

Defenders

Fantasy: Week 30 positional rankings - https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/images/USATSI_12664921.jpg

Romain Metanire leads all defenders in crosses and chances created | USA Today Sports Images

Romain Metanire has seven assists on the season, and he leads all defenders in crosses and chances created. With two vital home games this week, he’s primed for another strong fantasy showing on both ends of the pitch.

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent	Price
1	Romain Metanire	MIN	vs. SKC, vs. LAFC	$9.2
2	Jorge Moreira	POR	vs. NE, at SKC	$9.7
3	Ike Opara	MIN	vs. SKC, vs. LAFC	$8.6
4	Florian Jungwirth	SJ	vs. PHI, vs. SEA	$7.7
5	Ronald Matarrita	NYC	vs. ATL, at NE	$5.8
6	Michael Boxall	MIN	vs. SKC, vs. LAFC	$8.7
7	Justen Glad	RSL	vs. LA, vs. HOU	$9.5
8	Walker Zimmerman	LAFC	vs. HOU, at MIN	$5.7
9	Aaron Herrera	RSL	vs. LA, vs. HOU	$7.8
10	Eddie Segura	LAFC	vs. HOU, at MIN	$7.0
11	Donny Toia	RSL	vs. LA, vs. HOU	$7.9
12	Larrys Mabiala	POR	vs. NE, at SKC	$8.4
13	Daniel Steres	LA	at RSL, vs. VAN	$5.0
14	Guram Kashia	SJ	vs. PHI, vs. SEA	$5.0
15	Rolf Feltscher	LA	at RSL, vs. VAN	$5.1
16	Steven Beitashour	LAFC	vs. HOU, at MIN	$5.6
17	Leandro Gonzalez Pirez	ATL	at NYC, at MTL	$5.2
18	Diego Polenta	LA	at RSL, vs. VAN	$6.6
19	Andrew Farrell	NE	at POR, vs. NYC	$6.9
20	Graham Zusi	SKC	at MIN, vs. POR	$7.2

Midfielders

Fantasy: Week 30 positional rankings - https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/images/USATSI_13028709.jpg

Maxi Moralez is one away from the third 20-assist season in MLS history | USA Today Sports Images

Maxi Moralez notched his league-leading 19th assist of the season last week, and his 7.77 fantasy points per game average is the highest among all midfielders in the game. There’s no reason to think he slows down this week with New York City FC looking to lock up the No. 1 playoff seed in the Eastern Conference.

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent	Price
1	Maxi Moralez	NYC	vs. ATL, at NE	$11.8
2	Diego Valeri	POR	vs. NE, at SKC	$13.0
3	Albert Rusnak	RSL	vs. LA, vs. HOU	$11.0
4	Magnus Eriksson	SJ	vs. PHI, vs. SEA	$10.8
5	Carles Gil	NE	at POR, vs. NYC	$13.1
6	Cristian Pavon	LA	at RSL, vs. VAN	$11.0
7	Vako	SJ	vs. PHI, vs. SEA	$9.4
8	Jefferson Savarino	RSL	vs. LA, vs. HOU	$10.7
9	Jan Gregus	MIN	vs. SKC, vs. LAFC	$9.9
10	Eduard Atuesta	LAFC	vs. HOU, at MIN	$10.8
11	Jonathan dos Santos	LA	at RSL, vs. VAN	$9.0
12	Sebastian Blanco	POR	vs. NE, at SKC	$9.9
13	Damir Kreilach	RSL	vs. LA, vs. HOU	$8.5
14	Pity Martinez	ATL	at NYC, at MTL	$9.9
15	Latif Blessing	LAFC	vs. HOU, at MIN	$9.1
16	Jamiro Monteiro	PHI	at SJ, at CLB	$8.9
17	Kevin Molino	MIN	vs. SKC, vs. LAFC	$8.1
18	Haris Medunjanin	PHI	at SJ, at CLB	$9.6
19	Diego Chara	POR	vs. NE, at SKC	$9.0
20	Uriel Antuna	LA	at RSL, vs. VAN	$6.3
21	Ismael Tajouri-Shradi	NYC	vs. ATL, at NE	$6.5
22	Sebastian Lletget	LA	at RSL, vs. VAN	$7.3
23	Julian Gressel	ATL	at NYC, at MTL	$9.2
24	Gerso Fernandes	SKC	at MIN, vs. POR	$7.0
25	Osvaldo Alonso	MIN	vs. SKC, vs. LAFC	$7.5
26	Joe Corona	LA	at RSL, vs. VAN	$7.7
27	Alexander Ring	NYC	vs. ATL, at NE	$8.3
28	Darlington Nagbe	ATL	at NYC, at MTL	$8.7
29	Jackson Yueill	SJ	vs. PHI, vs. SEA	$8.6
30	Cristhian Paredes	POR	vs. NE, at SKC	$6.6

Forwards

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Carlos Vela still leads MLS, now with 29 goals, and is within two of Josef Martinez's single-season MLS record. | USA Today Sports Images

Carlos Vela picked up right where he left after missing Weeks 26 and 27, scoring goals in back-to-back games and making it 10 of his last 11 appearances with a goal or more. His $15.7 million salary is a tough pill to swallow, but one that would well worth it if he continues to post eye-popping numbers on a double-game week.

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent	Price
1	Carlos Vela	LAFC	vs. HOU, at MIN	$15.7
2	Zlatan Ibrahimovic	LA	at RSL, vs. VAN	$13.3
3	Gustavo Bou	NE	at POR, vs. NYC	$10.3
4	Darwin Quintero	MIN	vs. SKC, vs. LAFC	$9.0
5	Brian Fernandez	POR	vs. NE, at SKC	$9.1
6	Diego Rossi	LAFC	vs. HOU, at MIN	$8.9
7	Brian Rodriguez	LAFC	vs. NE, at SKC	$9.0
8	Valentin Castellanos	NYC	vs. ATL, at NE	$6.9
9	Kacper Przybylko	PHI	at SJ, at CLB	$9.9
10	Mauro Manotas	HOU	at LAFC, at RSL	$10.1
11	Alexandru Mitrita	NYC	vs. ATL, at NE	$9.1
12	Alberth Elis	HOU	at LAFC, at RSL	$8.1
13	Mason Toye	MIN	vs. SKC, vs. LAFC	$5.4
14	Christian Ramirez	HOU	at LAFC, at RSL	$7.5
15	Sam Johnson	RSL	vs. LA, vs. HOU	$5.8
16	Jeremy Ebobisse	POR	vs. NE, at SKC	$5.6
17	Corey Baird	RSL	vs. LA, vs. HOU	$4.9
18	Teal Bunbury	NE	at POR, vs. NYC	$5.6
19	Danny Hoesen	SJ	vs. PHI, vs. SEA	$4.5
20	Krisztian Nemeth	SKC	at MIN, vs. POR	$5.0