Fantasy: Positional rankings for Week 9 games this weekend

Schuyler Redpath

A full 13 game weekend slate makes up Week 9 of MLS Fantasy, and there are several juicy matchups that are worth keying in on for fantasy points. After seeing one match postponed in Week 8 due to COVID-19 precautions, be sure to keep an eye out for any news that could affect this weekend’s games to ensure you aren’t left with an unwanted DNP in your squad. Let’s take a closer look at the top fantasy players at each position this week.

Goalkeepers

Fantasy: Positional rankings for Week 9 games this weekend - https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/images/DSCsave.jpg?0fMfRM..nuJHv3BEyMu3LgpznRPK7SDL

Minnesota United goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair has a home matchup against low-scoring FC Cincinnati | USA Today Sports

Minnesota United
goalkeeper
Dayne St. Clair
has kept a clean sheet in two of his three home appearances and he’s in a good spot to turn in another shutout at Allianz Field on Saturday. Up next is an
FC Cincinnati
side that has been held scoreless in two straight and six of their last eight games. For fantasy purposes it makes perfect sense to continue to exploit their floundering attack until things turn around.

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent	Price
1	Dayne St. Clair	MIN	vs. CIN	$8.5
2	Matt Turner	NE	vs. NSH	$9.1
3	Stefan Frei	SEA	vs. VAN	$7.6
4	Pedro Gallese	ORL	vs. RBNY	$8.1
5	Sean Johnson	NYC	vs. MIA	$11.4

Value Goalkeepers

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent	Price
1	Bill Hamid	DC	vs. ATL	$5.3
2	Steve Clark	POR	vs. COL	$5.8
3	Quentin Westberg	TOR	vs. PHI	$5.1

Defenders

Kelvin Leerdam has put up seven or more fantasy points in four of his last five outings, and he ranks fourth among all defenders in total points. It’s a steep price to pay for a defender, but facing a Whitecaps side that has been outscored 7-0 over their last two matches, the opportunity is there for the Dutchman to rack up big points across the board.

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent	Price
1	Kelvin Leerdam	SEA	vs. VAN	$10.5
2	Reto Ziegler	DAL	vs. CLB	$11.7
3	Romain Metanire	MIN	vs. CIN	$7.0
4	Anton Tinnerholm	NYC	vs. MIA	$10.0
5	Ronald Matarrita	NYC	at MIA	$9.7
6	Richie Laryea	TOR	vs. PHI	$8.2
7	Brandon Bye	NE	vs. NSH	$7.7
8	Yeimar Gomez Andrade	SEA	vs. VAN	$10.3
9	Chase Gasper	MIN	vs. CIN	$6.1
10	Maynor Figueroa	HOU	vs. SKC	$10.2

Value Defenders

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent	Price
1	Bakaye Dibassy	MIN	vs. CIN	$5.8
2	Brad Smith	SEA	vs. VAN	$4.5
3	Justin Morrow	TOR	vs. PHI	$5.0

Midfielders

Fantasy: Positional rankings for Week 9 games this weekend - https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/images/LodeiroDribbling.jpg?zzsNBLdEPQJr8XgJEOItBi5rG_cWSRUw

Seattle Sounders star Nicolas Lodeiro has a tasty matchup to extend his recent strong run of form against the Vancouver Whitecaps | USA Today Sports

Seattle midfielder
Nico Lodeiro
is in a fine run of form with seven or more points in all but one of eight appearances this season. He delivered another fine assist in Week 8 and gets an attractive matchup in Week 9 against Vancouver. The Uruguayan should have little trouble unlocking a Whitecaps side that he already torched for a goal and an assist earlier this season at the MLS is Back Tournament.

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent	Price
1	Nicolas Lodeiro	SEA	vs. VAN	$14.7
2	Alejandro Pozuelo	TOR	vs. PHI	$15.5
3	Emanuel “Bebelo” Reynoso	MIN	vs. CIN	$8.4
4	Diego Valeri	POR	vs. COL	$11.6
5	Nani	ORL	vs. RBNY	$9.5
6	Albert Rusnak	RSL	vs. LAFC	$9.1
7	Joao Paulo	SEA	vs. VAN	$11.7
8	Lewis Morgan	MIA	vs. NYC	$11.5
9	Darwin Quintero	HOU	vs. SKC	$9.2
10	Jack Price	COL	at POR	$10.6
11	Kaku	RBNY	at ORL	$10.0
12	Johnny Russell	SKC	at HOU	$10.4
13	Lucas Zelarayan	CLB	at DAL	$9.3
14	Alvaro Medran	CHI	at MTL	$11.0
15	Cristian Roldan	SEA	vs. VAN	$7.6
16	Daniel Royer	RBNY	at MIA	$9.7
17	Cristian Espinoza	SJ	vs. LA	$8.1
18	Pablo Piatti	TOR	vs. PHI	$9.8
19	Damir Kreilach	RSL	vs. LAFC	$7.9
20	Robin Lod	MIN	vs. CIN	$9.8

Value Midfielders

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent	Price
1	Jan Gregus	MIN	vs. CIN	$7.5
2	Lee Nguyen	NE	vs. NSH	$5.3
3	Alexandru Mitrita	NYC	at MIA	$6.0

Forwards

Newcomer Gonzalo Higuain came up empty handed in his MLS debut, but it wasn’t for a lack of chances considering he hit the post with a bicycle kick and then skied a penalty kick in a tough matchup at Philadelphia. He finished with five shots and drew four fouls, and after seeing Inter Miami send in an eye-popping 36 crosses, it’s clear that they’re going to look to feed the big man early and often. He faces a stout defense in New York City FC in Week 9, but given his track record it would be no surprise to see the world-class striker open his MLS account in his home debut.

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent	Price
1	Gonzalo Higuain	MIA	vs. NYC	$9.5
2	Raul Ruidiaz	SEA	vs. VAN	$13.3
3	Gustavo Bou	NE	vs. NSH	$9.9
4	Diego Rossi	LAFC	at RSL	$8.6
5	Jordan Morris	SEA	vs. VAN	$12.7
6	Robert Beric	CHI	at MTL	$10.4
7	Cristian Pavon	LA	at SJ	$10.4
8	Kacper Przybylko	PHI	at TOR	$13.0
9	Franco Jara	DAL	vs. CLB	$9.0
10	Brian Rodriguez	LAFC	at RSL	$8.2