Fantasy: Positional rankings for Week 5 games this week

Reid Connelly

If you had been hoping that an investment in your defense would bring a high score, then Week 4 of MLS Fantasy was NOT your friend. The goal scoring flood gates opened and we saw multiple games with four or more goals (sometimes for each side!). Week 5 once again presents managers with a quick turnaround, with games starting on Tuesday when Toronto FC host the Montreal Impact (8 pm ET | TSN4, TVAS in Canada; MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US). We also again get the opportunity to take advantage of the new double game week rule in Week 5 so you’ll have the opportunity to put into practice what you learned in Week 3. Here’s a list of some my top fantasy targets.

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Goalkeepers

Toronto FC goalkeeper Quentin Westberg continues to lead the pack thanks to his second clean sheet since the regular season resumed. His early game on Tuesday makes him ideal for a keeperoo and he could double his clean sheet total as the Montreal Impact and Vancouver Whitecaps are the last in the league in generating shots on goal.

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent	Price
1	Quentin Westberg	TOR	vs. MTL, at VAN	$8.2
2	Eloy Room	CLB	vs. PHI, vs. CIN	$8.5
3	Pedro Gallese	ORL	at NSH, vs. ATL	$6.0
4	Andre Blake	PHI	at CLB, at RBNY	$8.9
5	Sean Johnson	NYC	at NE, at DC	$9.1

Value Goalkeepers

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent	Price
1	Marko Maric	HOU	vs. MIN, vs. SKC	$5.5
2	Connor Sparrow	CHI	at CIN, vs. NE	$4.7
3	Joe Willis	NSH	vs. ORL, at MIA	$4.1

Defenders

Fantasy: Positional rankings for Week 5 games this week - https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/images/Mavinga_0.jpg

Toronto FC fullback Chris Mavinga is good value for both his defending and attacking ability| USA Today Sports Images

Toronto FC’s clean sheet success makes all of their defenders top targets for Week 5 and it’s Chris Mavinga’s ability to generate bonus points that earns him my top pick. Over his last two games, Mavinga has generated eight bonus points from his defensive actions and passing. This ability gives him a high point floor and almost guarantees a double-digit score if Toronto comes away with another clean sheet.

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent	Price
1	Chris Mavinga	TOR	vs. MTL, at VAN	$8.4
2	Harrison Afful	CLB	vs. PHI, vs. CIN	$8.5
3	Anton Tinnerholm	NYC	at NE, at DC	$7.2
4	Auro	TOR	vs. MTL, at VAN	$6.7
5	Joao Moutinho	ORL	at NSH, vs. ATL	$8.2
6	Jonathan Mensah	CLB	vs. PHI, vs. CIN	$9.5
7	Jack Elliott	PHI	at CLB, at RBNY	$6.4
8	Alexander Buttner	NE	va. NYC, at CHI	$7.0
9	Kelvin Leerdam	SEA	at RSL, vs. POR	$9.5
10	Eddie Segura	LAFC	vs. SJ, at LAG	$8.5

Value Defenders

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent	Price
1	Dave Romney	NSH	vs. ORL, at MIA	$5.9
2	Maikel van der Werff	CIN	vs. CHI, at CLB	$5.2
3	Patrick Seagrist	RBNY	vs. DC, vs. PHI	$4.2

Midfielders

If you were thinking there was going to be a theme to this week you were tight. Alejandro Pozuelo has continued to be an offensive powerhouse for Toronto FC. He has earned a goal or an assist in almost every regular season match this year, is involved in most set pieces, and is one of the top attacking bonus point generators. This triple threat is exactly what you are looking for when a player faces two teams who are struggling to keep the ball out of the net.

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent	Price
1	Alejandro Pozuelo	TOR	vs. MTL, at VAN	$14.0
2	Nicolas Lodeiro	SEA	at RSL, vs. POR	$12.5
3	Sebastian Blanco	POR	vs. LA, at SEA	$9.1
4	Alexander Ring	NYC	at NE, at DC	$9.4
5	Pity Martinez	ATL	vs. MIA, at ORL	$11.3
6	Lucas Zelarayan	CLB	vs. PHI, vs. CIN	$8.9
7	Diego Valeri	POR	vs. LA, at SEA	$11.5
8	Chris Mueller	ORL	at NSH, vs. ATL	$8.9
9	Jonathan Osorio	TOR	vs. MTL, at VAN	$7.5
10	Latif Blessing	LAFC	vs. SJ, at LA	$9.0
11	Sebastian Lletget	LAG	at POR, vs. LAFC	$8.4
12	Nani	ORL	at NSH, vs. ATL	$9.2
13	Brenden Aaronson	PHI	at CLB, at RBNY	$8.7
14	Darwin Quintero	HOU	vs. MIN, vs. SKC	$8.6
15	Johnny Russell	SKC	vs. DAL, at HOU	$8.2
16	Joao Paulo	SEA	at RSL, vs. POR	$10.3
17	Rodolfo Pizarro	MIA	at ATL, vs NSH	$10.3
18	Damir Kreilach	RSL	vs. SEA, at MIN	$9.7
19	Vako	SJ	at LAFC, vs. COL	$9.8
20	Julian Gressel	DC	at RBNY, vs NYC	$10.4

Value Midfielders

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent	Price
1	Memo Rodríguez	HOU	vs MIN, va SKC	$5.8
2	Omir Fernandez	RBNY	vs. DC, vs. PHI	$5.2
3	Alex Muyl	NSH	vs. ORL, at MIA	$4.1

Forwards

Fantasy: Positional rankings for Week 5 games this week - https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/images/pavon.png

Cristian Pavon has a goal and two assists in the LA Galaxy's last two games.| USA Today Sports Images

With Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez sidelined by a calf injury, the LA Galaxy have had to rely upon designated player Cristian Pavon to pick up the attacking slack and he has come through marvelously assisting both goals in a 2-0 win over LAFC in Week 3 and scoring the tying goal in their eventual 3-2 win over San Jose in Week 4. This week Pavon will face a Portland Timbers team that recently gave up four goals against Real Salt Lake and an El Trafico rematch. Both offer opportunities for more offensive points.

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent	Price
1	Cristian Pavon	LA	at POR, vs. LAFC	$11.6
2	Gustavo Bou	NE	vs. NYC, at CHI	$11.3
3	Raul Ruidiaz	SEA	at RSL, vs. POR	$12.4
4	Diego Rossi	LAFC	vs. SJ, at LA	$9.6
5	Alberth Elis	HOU	vs MIN, vs. SKC	$10.0
6	Heber	NYC	at NE, at DC	$7.3
7	Kacper Przybyłko	PHI	at CLB, at RBNY	$9.0
8	Gyasi Zardes	CLB	vs. PHI, vs. CIN	$8.4
9	Corey Baird	RSL	vs. SEA, at MIN	$7.4
10	Julian Carranza	MIA	at ATL, vs NSH	$10.3