Fantasy: Week 2 positional rankings

Schuyler Redpath

Week 1 of MLS Fantasy provided a snapshot of the fantasy potential that new players in MLS have, and how familiar faces fit in with their new clubs or coaches. It’s a small sample size, but it gives us something to go off of heading into Week 2. Let’s take a closer look at my top players at each position to help your team gain some ground this week.

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Goalkeepers

Fantasy: Week 2 positional rankings - https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/images/Brad%20Guzan%20-%20Atlanta%20United%20-%20Celebrating%20a%20goal%20-%20MLS%20Cup%202018.jpg

Brad Guzan | USA Today Sports Images

Brad Guzan had a season opener to forget, but he’s in a strong bounce back spot at home Sunday (5 pm ET | ESPN, TSN4) against an FC Cincinnati squad that managed a league-worst seven shots in their inaugural game.

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent	Price
1	Brad Guzan	ATL	vs. CIN	$5.9
2	Stefan Frei	SEA	vs. COL	$6.0
3	Tim Melia	SKC	vs. PHI	$6.0
4	Nick Rimando	RSL	vs. VAN	$5.5
5	Sean Johnson	NYC	vs. DC	$6.0
6	David Ousted	CHI	vs. ORL	$4.9
7	Joe Willis	HOU	vs. MTL	$5.1
8	Tyler Miller	LAFC	vs. POR	$5.6
9	Jesse Gonzalez	DAL	vs. LA	$5.6
10	Daniel Vega	SJ	vs. MIN	$4.0

Defenders

Graham Zusi led all defenders in total fantasy points last season, and it wasn’t really even close. He offers arguably the most attacking upside of any defender in the game, and any time we can get a defender that gives us consistent fantasy points on both ends of the field — sign me up. If he avoids the Concacaf Champions League roster rotation landmines, Zusi is my top defender Sunday (3 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US, DAZN in Canada) against a Union side that Toronto FC exploited in Week 1.

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent	Price
1	Graham Zusi	SKC	vs. PHI	$6.8
2	Leandro Gonzalez Pirez	ATL	vs. CIN	$6.4
3	Walker Zimmerman	LAFC	vs. POR	$7.0
4	Michael Parkhurst	ATL	vs. CIN	$5.6
5	Miles Robinson	ATL	vs. CIN	$5.1
6	Mikey Ambrose	ATL	vs. CIN	$4.6
7	Matt Besler	SKC	vs. PHI	$6.9
8	Edgar Castillo	NE	vs. CLB	$5.7
9	Kelvin Leerdam	SEA	vs. COL	$5.5
10	Anton Tinnerholm	NYC	vs. DC	$6.4
11	Chad Marshall	SEA	vs. COL	$6.0
12	Brad Smith	SEA	vs. COL	$5.3
13	Kim Kee-hee	SEA	vs. COL	$5.4
14	Ryan Hollingshead	DAL	vs. LA	$4.8
15	Matt Hedges	DAL	vs. LA	$6.5
16	Reto Ziegler	DAL	vs. LA	$5.7
17	Harrison Afful	CLB	at NE	$6.7
18	Brooks Lennon	RSL	vs. VAN	$5.5
19	Reggie Cannon	DAL	vs. LA	$5.6
20	Larrys Mabiala	POR	at LAFC	$6.9

Midfielders

Nicolas Lodeiro served up a quick reminder of why he’s regarded as the top fantasy midfielder in the game, dishing out two assists en route to a 14-point effort in Week 1. Up next is a visit Saturday (10 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US, DAZN in Canada) from a Colorado Rapids unit that allowed three goals via 24 shots and 41 crosses on opening day.

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent	Price
1	Nicolas Lodeiro	SEA	vs. COL	$11.5
2	Pity Martinez	ATL	vs. CIN	$10.1
3	Ezequiel Barco	ATL	vs. CIN	$7.7
4	Albert Rusnak	RSL	vs. VAN	$10.5
5	Maxi Moralez	NYC	vs. DC	$10.6
6	Ignacio Piatti	MTL	at HOU	$11.3
7	Diego Valeri	POR	at LAFC	$11.0
8	Victor Rodriguez	SEA	vs. COL	$8.5
9	Johnny Russell	SKC	vs. PHI	$9.1
10	Luciano Acosta	DC	at NYC	$11.0
11	Damir Kreilach	RSL	vs. VAN	$8.3
12	Carles Gil	NE	vs. CLB	$9.4
13	Jefferson Savarino	RSL	vs. VAN	$8.8
14	Saphir Taider	MTL	at HOU	$11.0
15	Marco Fabian	PHI	at SKC	$9.4
16	Vako	SJ	vs. MIN	$8.8
17	Sebastian Blanco	POR	at LAFC	$10.5
18	Federico Higuain	CLB	at NE	$9.1
19	Nani	ORL	at CHI	$9.4
20	Djordje Mihailovic	CHI	vs. ORL	$7.7
21	Michael Barrios	DAL	vs. LA	$7.9
22	Felipe Gutierrez	SKC	vs. PHI	$8.4
23	Aleksandar Katai	CHI	vs. ORL	$8.4
24	Przemyslaw Frankowski	CHI	vs. ORL	$8.2
25	Magnus Eriksson	SJ	vs. MIN	$7.4
26	Santiago Mosquera	DAL	vs. LA	$7.4
27	Lee Nguyen	LAFC	vs. POR	$8.1
28	Yordy Reyna	VAN	at RSL	$9.1
29	Ilie Sanchez	SKC	vs. PHI	$8.2
30	Brek Shea	ATL	vs. CIN	$4.9

Forwards

Fantasy: Week 2 positional rankings - https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/images/Josef%20Martinez%20on%20ball%20vs.%20DC.jpg

Josef Martinez | USA Today Sports Images

Josef Martinez fired blanks in Week 1, but a visit from FC Cincy presents a good opportunity for last season’s Golden Boot presented by Audi winner to kickstart his 2019 campaign. As is the case with all players taking part in Concacaf Champions League, there’s reason for hesitation with roster rotation looming. If Martinez is included in the starting lineup, he’s in a prime spot against an Orange and Blue defense that conceded a league-high four goals on opening weekend.

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent	Price
1	Josef Martinez	ATL	vs. CIN	$10.6
2	Carlos Vela	LAFC	vs. POR	$10.8
3	Raul Ruidiaz	SEA	vs. COL	$10.6
4	Zlatan Ibrahimovic	LA	at DAL	$11.2
5	Alexandru Mitrita	NYC	vs. DC	$10.4
6	Darwin Quintero	MIN	at SJ	$11.5
7	Wayne Rooney	DC	at NYC	$10.9
8	Mauro Manotas	HOU	vs. MTL	$9.7
9	Hector Villalba	ATL	vs. CIN	$8.1
10	Adama Diomande	LAFC	vs. POR	$9.6
11	Krisztian Nemeth	SKC	vs. PHI	$7.2
12	Jordan Morris	SEA	vs. COL	$8.5
13	Alberth Elis	HOU	vs. MTL	$9.1
14	Diego Rossi	LAFC	vs. POR	$9.7
15	Dominique Badji	DAL	vs. LA	$7.1
16	Nemanja Nikolic	CHI	vs. ORL	$9.0
17	Chris Wondolowski	SJ	vs. MIN	$6.8
18	Cristian Espinoza	SJ	vs. MIN	$8.3
19	Daniel Salloi	SKC	vs. PHI	$8.1
20	Sam Johnson	RSL	vs. VAN	$7.6