Fantasy: Week 31 positional rankings

Schuyler Redpath

Reid keeps it simple this week and is joined by co-hosts Mike and Blayne to go over all of the important results from Round 30 and preview the most promising games from Round 31. They keep things moving at a steady pace but Reid takes a moment during the NYCFC preview to pause and breakdown how to use Johnson in a Keeperoo in Round 31. They wrap everything up with a shout out to the top scores from the MLSFI Hosts league and their plugz. It’s a quick show but covers everything you need to know before Round 31 games start on Wednesday.

New York City FC and Chicago Fire are the only teams that play twice in Week 31, with NYCFC boasting the more favorable schedule of the two. There are several players with just one game that have enticing matchups and strong fantasy appeal this week too, so let’s take a closer look at this week’s MLS Fantasy positional rankings.

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Goalkeepers

Sean Johnson hasn’t kept a clean sheet since Week 22, but he’s in a good spot to get back on track with two favorable games in Week 31.

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent	Price
1	Sean Johnson	NYC	vs. CHI, at MIN	$6.3
2	Stefan Frei	SEA	vs. COL	$8.5
3	Zack Steffen	CLB	vs. PHI	$7.0
4	Tim Melia	SKC	vs. RSL	$9.8
5	Alex Bono	TOR	vs. NE	$5.9
6	Steve Clark	POR	vs. DAL	$5.9
7	Bill Hamid	DC	vs. MTL	$7.9
8	Joe Willis	HOU	vs. SJ	$6.6
9	David Bingham	LA	vs. VAN	$4.8
10	Richard Sanchez	CHI	at NYC, vs. LAFC	$5.4

Defenders

Fantasy: Week 31 positional rankings - https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/images/AntonTinnerholm.jpg

NYCFC defender Anton Tinnerholm is a quality option with two games this week. | USA Today Sports Images

Anton Tinnerholm scored just six points in New York City’s last double-game week, but his 24-point haul in their Week 20 DGW is a good indicator of the fantasy upside he brings to the table. Matchups against Chicago Wednesday (7 pm ET | TV & streaming info) and Minnesota Saturday (8 pm ET | TV & streaming info) present a good opportunity for Tinnerholm to generate both attacking and defensive points this week.

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent	Price
1	Anton Tinnerholm	NYC	vs. CHI, at MIN	$6.8
2	Ronald Matarrita	NYC	vs. CHI, at MIN	$4.2
3	Maxime Chanot	NYC	vs. CHI, at MIN	$7.8
4	Ben Sweat	NYC	vs. CHI, at MIN	$4.9
5	Graham Zusi	SKC	vs. RSL	$11.3
6	Harrison Afful	CLB	vs. PHI	$9.5
7	Chad Marshall	SEA	vs. COL	$9.3
8	Ike Opara	SKC	vs. RSL	$10.5
9	Kim Kee-Hee	SEA	vs. COL	$8.5
10	Matt Besler	SKC	vs. RSL	$11.0
11	Johan Kappelhof	CHI	at NYC, vs. LAFC	$5.5
12	Jonathan Mensah	CLB	vs. PHI	$9.0
13	Kelvin Leerdam	SEA	vs. COL	$6.5
14	Milton Valenzuela	CLB	vs. PHI	$8.0
15	Nouhou Tolo	SEA	vs. COL	$6.2
16	Alejandro Fuenmayor	HOU	vs. SJ	$6.4
17	Sebastien Ibeagha	NYC	vs. CHI, at MIN	$5.8
18	Alvas Powell	POR	vs. DAL	$5.7
19	Justin Morrow	TOR	vs. NE	$6.8
20	Roman Torres	SEA	vs. COL	$4.0

Midfielders

Maxi Moralez didn’t score or assist in NYCFC’s Week 28 DGW, but still came away with 12 fantasy points, highlighting his ability to pile up points regardless of if he makes his mark on the score sheet. He’s the second highest scoring midfielder in MLS Fantasy and with a pair of enticing matchups, Moralez should be one of the first players in your lineup this week.

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent	Price
1	Maxi Moralez	NYC	vs. CHI, at MIN	$10.3
2	Ismael Tajouri-Shradi	NYC	vs. CHI, at MIN	$9.5
3	Valentin Castellanos	NYC	vs. CHI, at MIN	$5.5
4	Aleksandar Katai	CHI	at NYC, vs. LAFC	$7.0
5	Alexander Ring	NYC	vs. CHI, at MIN	$6.5
6	Bastian Schweinsteiger	CHI	at NYC, vs. LAFC	$8.2
7	Ebenezer Ofori	NYC	vs. CHI, at MIN	$5.8
8	Dax McCarty	CHI	at NYC, vs. LAFC	$7.4
9	Nicolas Lodeiro	SEA	vs. COL	$13.8
10	Miguel Almiron	ATL	at RBNY	$12.0
11	Romain Alessandrini	LA	vs. VAN	$11.7
12	Djordje Mihailovic	CHI	at NYC, vs. LAFC	$6.2
13	Ignacio Piatti	MTL	at DC	$10.8
14	Diego Valeri	POR	vs. DAL	$11.0
15	Luciano Acosta	DC	vs. MTL	$11.5
16	Federico Higuain	CLB	vs. PHI	$7.0
17	Yamil Asad	DC	vs. MTL	$9.2
18	Victor Vazquez	TOR	vs. NE	$8.4
19	Jonathan Osorio	TOR	vs. NE	$11.8
20	Johnny Russell	SKC	vs. RSL	$8.5
21	Kaku	RBNY	vs. ATL	$7.8
22	Felipe Gutierrez	SKC	vs. RSL	$8.3
23	Saphir Taider	MTL	at DC	$11.0
24	Eloi Amagat	NYC	vs. CHI, at MIN	$5.0
25	Julian Gressel	ATL	at RBNY	$10.9
26	Tomas Martinez	HOU	vs. SJ	$8.5
27	Borek Dockal	PHI	at CLB	$11.1
28	Albert Rusnak	RSL	at SKC	$11.8
29	Lee Nguyen	LAFC	at CHI	$9.5
30	Michael Barrios	DAL	at POR	$10.5

Forwards

Fantasy: Week 31 positional rankings - https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/images/VillaRBNY.jpg

NYCFC forward David Villa couid have a big week with games against Chicago and Minnesota on tap. | USA Today Sports Images

David Villa has topped double digit fantasy points in both DGW’s that he’s featured in this season, and he’s in prime position to deliver another strong score with two favorable games against Chicago and Minnesota. Just be mindful of potential roster rotation on Minnesota’s turf field this weekend.

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent	Price
1	David Villa	NYC	vs. CHI, at MIN	$9.5
2	Jo Inge Berget	NYC	vs. CHI, at MIN	$6.2
3	Nemanja Nikolic	CHI	at NYC, vs. LAFC	$10.3
4	Sebastian Giovinco	TOR	vs. NE	$13.5
5	Zlatan Ibrahimovic	LA	vs. VAN	$13.1
6	Wayne Rooney	DC	vs. MTL	$11.8
7	Raul Ruidiaz	SEA	vs. COL	$9.7
8	Carlos Vela	LAFC	at CHI	$11.6
9	Josef Martinez	ATL	at RBNY	$13.6
10	Darwin Quintero	MIN	vs. NYC	$13.5
11	Alberth Elis	HOU	vs. SJ	$8.7
12	Mauro Manotas	HOU	vs. SJ	$8.4
13	Gyasi Zardes	CLB	vs. PHI	$7.6
14	Ola Kamara	LA	vs. VAN	$8.5
15	Romell Quioto	HOU	vs. SJ	$6.0
16	Maximiliano Urruti	DAL	at POR	$8.3
17	Kei Kamara	VAN	at LA	$10.8
18	Gerso Fernandes	SKC	vs. RSL	$8.4
19	Michael de Leeuw	CHI	at NYC, vs. LAFC	$7.0
20	Cristian Penilla	NE	at TOR	$7.3

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Schuyler Redpath -

@DraftKicks

Fantasy Soccer Advice