Another massive double-game week takes center stage in Round 18. This also marks the final chance to qualify through Period 3 of the MLS Fantasy Champions League, and with yours truly just two points back of punching a ticket, I’m ready to assemble a squad full of DGW artillery.
With the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup looming, there are several MLS stars that will be away on international duty. Be sure to monitor starting lineups on Wednesday to avoid any potential risks as players return and depart throughout the week.
Get more advice on the _MLS Fantasy Insider Round 18 preview_ podcast
Teams not on a DGW: CLB, DAL, DC, MIA, MIN, NE
Goalkeepers
John McCarthy accumulated seven points as the only DGW goalkeeper last round, and with a pair of home games, he’s back at the top of the GK heap in Round 18. The LAFC shot-stopper reeled off a season-high six saves in Saturday’s 2-1 win at Sporting KC, and with both Seattle and Vancouver missing some key players he’ll look to add another tally to his clean sheet total.
Player | Team | Opponent | Price | |
1. John McCarthy | LAFC |
| $7.6 | |
2. Brad Stuver | ATX | vs. DAL, vs. HOU | $7.0 | |
3. Carlos Coronel | NYRB |
| $6.9 | |
4. Marko Ilić | COL | vs. VAN, vs. LA | $6.8 | |
5. David Bingham | POR |
| $7.4 |
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Joe Bendik | PHI | at ORL, vs. MIA | $4.4 |
2. Kendall McIntosh | SKC | at LA, vs. CHI | $4.2 |
3. Kristijan Kahlina | CLT | at RBNY, vs. MTL | $5.6 |
Defenders
Álvaro Barreal continues to shine as the highest-scoring defender in MLS Fantasy. He has two goals and five assists on the season, ranking fifth overall in fantasy with 132 points. The Argentine is arguably the top two-way threat in the game, and with two chances to earn both attacking and defensive points, he’ll be hard to exclude this week despite the lofty price tag.
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Álvaro Barreal | CIN | vs. TOR, at DC | $12.0 |
2. Rodrigues | SJ | at HOU, vs. STL | $9.8 |
3. Kai Wagner | PHI | at ORL, vs. MIA | $10.6 |
4. Brooks Lennon | ATL | vs. NYC, at RBNY | $10.7 |
5. Diego Palacios | LAFC | vs. SEA, vs. VAN | $8.9 |
6. Jon Gallagher | ATX | vs. DAL, vs. HOU | $7.2 |
7. Giorgio Chiellini | LAFC | vs. SEA, vs. VAN | $7.6 |
8. Andrew Gutman | ATL | vs. NYC, at RBNY | $8.8 |
9. Ryan Hollingshead | LAFC | vs. SEA, vs. VAN | $6.9 |
10. Erik Sviatchenko | HOU | vs. SJ, at ATX | $7.6 |
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Tanner Beason | SJ | at HOU, vs. STL | $4.1 |
2. Caleb Wiley | ATL | vs. NYC, at RBNY | $4.6 |
3. Eric Miller | POR | vs. CHI, vs. NYC | $5.8 |
Midfielders
Sebastián Driussi has scored a goal in three of his last four appearances, and he recently went the full 90 minutes for the first time since returning from an injury that sidelined him for the month of May. Austin FC will look to right the ship at home this week against Texas counterparts FC Dallas and Houston Dynamo – two matchups in which Driussi should see plenty of opportunities to continue to impact the scoresheet.
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Sebastián Driussi | ATX | vs. DAL, vs. HOU | $9.0 |
2. Cristian Espinoza | SJ | at HOU, vs. STL | $11.8 |
3. Evander | POR | vs. CHI, vs. NYC | $6.9 |
4. Hany Mukhtar | NSH | at MTL, at CLB | $14.7 |
5. Thiago Almada | ATL | vs. NYC, at RBNY | $13.8 |
6. Luciano Acosta | CIN | vs. TOR, at DC | $11.9 |
7. Héctor Herrera | HOU | vs. SJ, at ATL | $11.0 |
8. Riqui Puig | LA | vs. SKC, at COL | $9.1 |
9. Lorenzo Insigne | TOR | at CIN, at NE | $10.4 |
10. Erik Thommy | SKC | at LA, vs. CHI | $9.0 |
11. Pablo Ruiz | RSL | at STL, vs. MIN | $9.6 |
12. Gastón Brugman | LA | vs. SKC, at COL | $9.5 |
13. Ryan Gauld | VAN | at COL, at LAFC | $9.7 |
14. Albert Rusnák | SEA | at LAFC, vs. ORL | $9.0 |
15. Indiana Vassilev | STL | vs. RSL, at SJ | $8.6 |
16. João Paulo | SEA | at LAFC, vs. ORL | $8.9 |
17. Connor Ronan | COL | vs. VAN, vs. LA | $9.4 |
18. Carles Gil | NE | vs. TOR | $12.5 |
19. Obinna Nwobodo | CIN | vs. TOR, at DC | $8.5 |
20. Mateusz Bogusz | LAFC | vs. SEA, vs. VAN | $7.0 |
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Diego Fagúndez | ATX | vs. DAL, vs. HOU | $5.0 |
2. Damir Kreilach | RSL | at STL, vs. MIN | $5.1 |
3. Bryce Duke | MTL | vs. NSH, at CLT | $5.6 |
Forwards
Dénis Bouanga was away on international duty for LAFC’s Round 17 DGW, and after logging 74 minutes in Gabon’s African Cup of Nations loss on Sunday, he could slot right back into LAFC’s lineup on Wednesday. Despite no goals in his last three appearances, he’s been knocking at the door with 15 shots across his last three starts. Look for Bouanga when LAFC’s lineup is announced on Wednesday as he’ll look to get back among the goals and close the gap in the MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi race.
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Dénis Bouanga | LAFC | vs. SEA, vs. VAN | $11.2 |
2. Carlos Vela | LAFC | vs. SEA, vs. VAN | $8.7 |
3. Julián Carranza | PHI | at ORL, vs. MIA | $11.5 |
4. Jeremy Ebobisse | SJ | at HOU, vs. STL | $8.5 |
5. Alan Pulido | SKC | at LA, vs. CHI | $7.9 |
6. Mikael Uhre | PHI | at ORL, vs. MIA | $8.2 |
7. Dániel Sallói | SKC | at LA, vs. CHI | $7.7 |
8. Nicholas Gioacchini | STL | vs. RSL, at SJ | $8.2 |
9. Raúl Ruidíaz | SEA | at LAFC, vs. ORL | $7.7 |
10. Franck Boli | POR | vs. CHI, vs. NYC | $6.8 |
1. Dante Vanzeir | RBNY | vs. CLT, vs. ATL | $4.8 |
2. Gyasi Zardes | ATX | vs. DAL, vs. HOU | $6.0 |
3. Dominique Badji | CIN | vs. TOR, at DC | $5.8 |
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Sebastián Driussi | ATX | vs. DAL, vs. HOU | $9.0 |
2. Dénis Bouanga | LAFC | vs. SEA, vs. VAN | $11.2 |
3. Cristian Espinoza | SJ | at HOU, vs. STL | $11.8 |
MLS Squad Pick
Playing MLS Squad Pick is quick and easy. Pick 5 players for your squad. If they all score in the same matchday, you could win a $160 MLSstore.com gift card!
Don’t forget, each round you play gives you one (1) entry into the end-of-season Grand Prize drawing for $10,000!
Expert advice: We came close once again in Round 19, hitting 3 of 5 goalscorers with Cucho Hernández and Christian Benteke failing to score despite logging a combined 10 shots.
It’s back to the drawing board for Round 20, and I’m switching it up this week with some under-the-radar picks. Dante Vanzeir gives us exposure to the New York Red Bulls' attack against a Charlotte FC defense that has shipped seven goals over their last two games. With João Klauss and Eduard Löwen sidelined, Nicholas Gioacchini has picked up the scoring slack in St. Louis. Sebastián Driussi scored and went the full 90 in his last outing, and he’ll be champing at the bit to keep it rolling against FC Dallas. Without being 100% certain that Dénis Bouanga starts on Wednesday, I’m giving the nod to Carlos Vela, who continues to turn up with goals and is LAFC’s preferred spot-kick taker. Lastly, we’re giving Franck Boli a shot as he’s tied with Evander on four goals to lead Portland, and I like their matchup at home versus Chicago.
Check out my squad for Round 20:
MLS Parlay Predictor
Playing MLS Parlay Predictor is simple. Pick the results of all 6 games correctly in a single matchday, and you could win a 2023 MLS Season Pass full-season subscription on Apple TV!
Each round you predict gives you one (1) entry into the end-of-season Grand Prize drawing for $10,000!
Expert advice:
- Atlanta United are unbeaten in six straight matches (2W-0L-4D), while New York City FC are in the midst of a nine-match winless run (0W-5L-4D). Additionally, NYCFC are unbeaten in seven straight meetings with Atlanta United (4W-0L-3D)
- FC Dallas are undefeated in six all-time meetings with Austin (4W-0L-2D), including a 1-0 away win on May 13.
- The Earthquakes are unbeaten in five straight games (2W-0L-3D), but the Dynamo have won each of the last six meetings between the sides in Houston.
- The Whitecaps are winless in 15 straight away matches (D7 L8), including losing the last three in a row away from home.
- Sporting Kansas City are unbeaten in five straight meetings with the Galaxy (3W-0L-2D), although they have won just one of their last 18 away matches in all competitions (1W-9L-8D).
- The Timbers have never lost against the Fire (5W-0L-5D). Chicago have just one win in 20 all-time away matches against Cascadia sides in all competitions (1W-15L-4D).
Check out my predictions for Round 20:
