MLS Fantasy Week 18 positional rankings and gaming advice

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.

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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

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

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

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

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

Value midfielders

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

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. 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!

Play Squad Pick

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

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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).