Fantasy Soccer Advice

MLS Fantasy Week 18 positional rankings and gaming advice

Fantasy 6.20.23

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, Iā€™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, heā€™s back at the top of the GK heap in Round 18. The LAFC shot-stopper reeled off a season-high six saves in Saturdayā€™s 2-1 win at Sporting KC, and with both Seattle and Vancouver missing some key players heā€™ll look to add another tally to his clean sheet total.

Player
Team
Opponent
Price
1. John McCarthy 
LAFC

vs. SEA, vs. VAN

$7.6
2. Brad Stuver
ATX
vs. DAL, vs. HOU
$7.0
3. Carlos Coronel
NYRB

vs. CLT, vs. ATL

$6.9
4. Marko Ilić
COL
vs. VAN, vs. LA
$6.8
5. David Bingham
POR

vs. CHI, vs. NYC

$7.4
Value Goalkeepers
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

Ɓlvaro 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, heā€™ll be hard to exclude this week despite the lofty price tag.

Player
Team
Opponent
Price
1. Ɓlvaro 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


Value Defenders
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

SebastiĆ”n 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 ā€“ two matchups in which Driussi should see plenty of opportunities to continue to impact the scoresheet.

Player
Team
Opponent
Price
1. SebastiƔn 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. HĆ©ctor 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. GastĆ³n Brugman
LA
vs. SKC, at COL
$9.5
13. Ryan Gauld
VAN
at COL, at LAFC
$9.7
14. Albert RusnƔk
SEA
at LAFC, vs. ORL
$9.0
15. Indiana Vassilev
STL
vs. RSL, at SJ
$8.6
16. JoĆ£o 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
Value midfielders
Player
Team
Opponent
Price
1. Diego FagĆŗndez
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

DĆ©nis Bouanga was away on international duty for LAFCā€™s Round 17 DGW, and after logging 74 minutes in Gabonā€™s African Cup of Nations loss on Sunday, he could slot right back into LAFCā€™s lineup on Wednesday. Despite no goals in his last three appearances, heā€™s been knocking at the door with 15 shots across his last three starts. Look for Bouanga when LAFCā€™s lineup is announced on Wednesday as heā€™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. DĆ©nis Bouanga
LAFC
vs. SEA, vs. VAN
$11.2
2. Carlos Vela
LAFC
vs. SEA, vs. VAN
$8.7
3. JuliƔn 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. DĆ”niel SallĆ³i
SKC
at LA, vs. CHI
$7.7
8. Nicholas Gioacchini
STL
vs. RSL, at SJ
$8.2
9. RaĆŗl RuidĆ­az
SEA
at LAFC, vs. ORL
$7.7
10. Franck Boli
POR
vs. CHI, vs. NYC
$6.8
Value forwards
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
Captain
Player
Team
Opponent
Price
1. SebastiƔn Driussi
ATX
vs. DAL, vs. HOU
$9.0
2. DĆ©nis 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!

Donā€™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 HernƔndez and Christian Benteke failing to score despite logging a combined 10 shots.

Itā€™s back to the drawing board for Round 20, and Iā€™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 JoĆ£o Klauss and Eduard Lƶwen sidelined, Nicholas Gioacchini has picked up the scoring slack in St. Louis. SebastiĆ”n Driussi scored and went the full 90 in his last outing, and heā€™ll be champing at the bit to keep it rolling against FC Dallas. Without being 100% certain that DĆ©nis Bouanga starts on Wednesday, Iā€™m giving the nod to Carlos Vela, who continues to turn up with goals and is LAFCā€™s preferred spot-kick taker. Lastly, weā€™re giving Franck Boli a shot as heā€™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 Squad Pick - My Squad (21)

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:

MLS Parlay Predictor - My Predictions (20)