Your Matchday 5 fantasy and gaming advice roundup is here! Check out MLS Fantasy positional rankings as well as MLS Squad Pick and MLS Parlay Predictor recommendations below.
MLS Fantasy
The first FIFA international window of 2023 is upon us, giving MLS Fantasy managers an added challenge in Round 5. Be sure to get familiar with who’s in and who’s out to avoid any lineup whammies to your squad. Let’s dive right in and look at the top plays and values at each position.
Get more advice on the _MLS Fantasy Insider Round 5 preview_ podcast
Teams on a BYE: MTL
Goalkeepers
Brad Stuver has kept a clean sheet in each of his last two home appearances (including Concacaf Champions League). Hosting a Colorado Rapids attack that hasn't scored in three of four matches this season, Stuver is in a good spot to run his streak to three consecutive shutouts at Q2 Stadium.
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
1. Brad Stuver | ATX | vs. COL | $7.3 |
2. John McCarthy | LAFC | vs. DAL | $7.1 |
3. Joe Willis | NSH | vs. CIN | $8.5 |
4. Zac MacMath | RSL | vs. STL | $6.5 |
5. Drake Callender | MIA | vs. CHI | $7.9 |
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
1. Joe Bendik | PHI | vs. ORL | $4.6 |
2. Clint Irwin | MIN | vs. VAN | $5.0 |
3. George Marks | CLT | vs. RBNY | $5.2 |
Defenders
Kai Wagner is off to a slow start in 2023 after a breakout campaign last season saw him deliver 15 assists. He ranks second in the league in crosses (36) but has yet to make an impact on the scoresheet. Look for the attack-minded defender to break through in Saturday’s clash with an Orlando City SC side coming off a 2-1 loss to Charlotte FC.
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
1. Kai Wagner | PHI | vs. ORL | $7.9 |
2. Jon Gallagher | ATX | vs. COL | $7.3 |
3. Walker Zimmerman | NSH | vs. CIN | $8.5 |
4. Julian Gressel | VAN | at MIN | $9.2 |
5. Sergi Palencia | LAFC | vs. DAL | $6.0 |
6. Brooks Lennon | ATL | at CLB | $7.7 |
7. Brandon Bye | NE | at DC | $8.0 |
8. Justen Glad | RSL | vs. STL | $7.5 |
9. Graham Zusi | SKC | vs. SEA | $7.5 |
10. John Tolkin | RBNY | at CLT | $8.1 |
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
1. Caleb Wiley | ATL | at CLB | $5.5 |
2. Bill Tuiloma | CLT | vs. RBNY | $5.0 |
3. Steve Birnbaum | DC | vs. NE | $5.3 |
Midfielders
Sebastián Driussi has gone three MLS matches without a goal or an assist, setting the stage for a breakout performance against a Colorado Rapids side that has been outscored 5-0 in two road losses this season. With Austin FC leaning on the Argentine for attacking production, it’s only a matter of time before Driussi gets back to the form that saw him turn in a 25-goal, seven-assist 2022 campaign.
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
1. Sebastián Driussi | ATX | vs. COL | $9.0 |
2. Hany Mukhtar | NSH | vs. CIN | $9.5 |
3. Cristian Espinoza | SJ | vs. TOR | $10.0 |
4. Héctor Herrera | HOU | vs. NYC | $9.0 |
5. Carles Gil | NE | at DC | $9.5 |
6. Erik Thommy | SKC | vs. SEA | $8.1 |
7. Santiago Rodriguez | NYC | at HOU | $8.6 |
8. Mateusz Klich | DC | vs. NE | $9.0 |
9. Riqui Puig | LA | at POR | $8.8 |
10. Luciano Acosta | CIN | at NSH | $8.8 |
11. Alan Velasco | DAL | at LAFC | $9.2 |
12. Damir Kreilach | RSL | vs. STL | $8.1 |
13. Ryan Gauld | VAN | at MIN | $8.2 |
14. Nicolas Lodeiro | SEA | at SKC | $8.2 |
15. Eduard Löwen | STL | at RSL | $8.5 |
16. Jean Mota | MIA | vs. CHI | $7.9 |
17. Eryk Williamson | POR | vs. LA | $7.8 |
18. Timothy Tillman | LAFC | vs. DAL | $7.7 |
19. Gabriel Pereira | NYC | at HOU | $8.2 |
20. Rodolfo Pizarro | MIA | vs. CHI | $7.4 |
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
1. Martin Ojeda | ORL | at PHI | $6.0 |
2. Leon Flach | PHI | vs. ORL | $6.3 |
3. Indiana Vassilev | STL | at RSL | $6.0 |
Forwards
While Carlos Vela is a far cry from the fantasy monster he once was, the former Landon Donovan MLS MVP continues to play an integral role in LAFC's attack. With Dénis Bouanga away on international duty, look for Vela to pick up the slack at home, where LAFC have scored seven goals in two games.
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
1. Carlos Vela | LAFC | vs. DAL | $9.2 |
2. Federico Bernardeschi | TOR | at SJ | $10.2 |
3. Jeremy Ebobisse | SJ | vs. TOR | $9.3 |
4. Jefferson Savarino | RSL | vs. STL | $8.0 |
5. Mikael Uhre | PHI | vs. ORL | $7.7 |
6. Willy Agada | SKC | vs. SEA | $7.4 |
7. Kwadwo Opoku | LAFC | vs. DAL | $7.7 |
8. Jesus Ferreira | DAL | at LAFC | $9.5 |
9. Luiz Araujo | ATL | at CLB | $9.0 |
10. Enzo Copetti | CLT | vs. RBNY | $8.0 |
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
1. Cade Cowell | SJ | vs. TOR | $5.8 |
2. Maxi Urruti | ATX | vs. COL | $6.0 |
3. Amine Bassi | HOU | vs. NYC | $5.8 |
1. Sebastian Driussi | ATX | vs. COL | $9.0 |
2. Hany Mukhtar | NSH | vs. CIN | $9.5 |
3. Carlos Vela | LAFC | vs. DAL | $9.2 |
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:
Be mindful of international absences to avoid any potential landmines. This round we’re banking on the big names to lead the way at home. Willy Agada is knocking at the door with five shots in back-to-back outings, and 2022 MLS MVP Hany Mukhtar will look to open his 2023 account against an FC Cincinnati side that conceded three goals to Chicago Fire FC last round.
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:
Home dominance continued in Round 4, with the hosts winning four of the six matches in Parlay Predictor. With no obvious mismatches on the Round 5 slate, I’m counting on the home sides to continue to roll. Be sure to check out the “Stats” section for each matchup to learn more about that matchup and pick up useful bits of information to influence your predictions.
Check out my predictions for Round 5:
