Four teams play twice in Round 27 of MLS Fantasy, forcing fantasy managers to decide if it’s worth it to load up on double-game-week players or roll with the tried-and-true point producers. With just three rounds to play, including next week’s colossal DGW, now is the time to get locked in for a final push up the leaderboards. Let’s get right into it and look at the top plays and values at each position.
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Goalkeepers
Andre Blake collected his first clean sheet in eight tries in Saturday’s 0-0 draw with LAFC and he’ll look to carry that momentum into Round 27 with a home game vs. FC Dallas on Wednesday before going on the road to face Columbus over the weekend. If you’re looking to save at the GK position, consider Marko Ilic – who is the only goalkeeper with two home games this week and would allow you to use three Philadelphia field players to maximize point potential.
Player | Team | Opponent | Price | |
1. Andre Blake | PHI |
| $8.0 | |
2. Maarten Paes | DAL |
| $7.0 | |
3. Maxime Crépeau | LAFC | vs. RSL | $6.6 | |
4. Carlos Coronel | RBNY | vs. CHI | $6.8 | |
5. Pedro Gallese | ORL | vs. MTL | $8.2 |
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Marko Ilic | COL | vs. VAN, vs. ATX | $6.2 |
2. Yohei Takaoka | VAN | at COL, vs. DC | $6.0 |
3. Earl Edwards Jr. | NE | vs. CLT | $5.8 |
Defenders
Kai Wagner came away with 11 points in Saturday’s shutout of LAFC, and he stands out as the best defender with two games on the schedule this week. There’s reason for hesitation considering he’s one yellow card away from suspension, but if he can avoid any hiccups on Wednesday, Wagner is the type of player that could return big dividends from point contributions on both ends of the field. He’s averaging over 14 fantasy points per round in six previous DGW’s this season, putting him in captain consideration as a risky differential play.
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Kai Wagner | PHI | vs. DAL, at CLB | $11.7 |
2. Richie Laryea | VAN | at COL, vs. DC | $9.1 |
3. Jack Elliott | PHI | vs. DAL, at CLB | $7.6 |
4. Andreas Maxsø | COL | vs. VAN, vs. ATX | $8.2 |
5. Damion Lowe | PHI | vs. DAL, at CLB | $8.8 |
6. Keegan Rosenberry | COL | vs. VAN, vs. ATX | $7.4 |
7. Ranko Veselinovic | VAN | at COL, vs. DC | $8.4 |
8. John Tolkin | RBNY | vs. CHI | $10.1 |
9. Marco Farfan | DAL | at PHI, at HOU | $6.4 |
10. Álvaro Barreal | CIN | at TOR | $11.3 |
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Nathan Harriel | PHI | vs. DAL, at CLB | $5.9 |
2. Lalas Abubakar | COL | vs. VAN, vs. ATX | $5.8 |
3. Ali Ahmed | VAN | at COL, vs. DC | $5.8 |
Midfielders
Ryan Gauld notched his 10th assist of the campaign in Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Real Salt Lake, marking the first time in his career that he’s hit double-digit goals and assists. With two matches in hand this round, including one at home against a D.C. United side that shipped five goals over the weekend, look for Gauld to continue to play an integral role in Vancouver’s attack down the stretch.
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Ryan Gauld | VAN | at COL, vs. DC | $13.7 |
2. Dániel Gazdag | PHI | vs. DAL, at CLB | $11.6 |
3. Connor Ronan | COL | vs. VAN, vs. ATX | $9.7 |
4. Alan Velasco | DAL | at PHI, at HOU | $7.1 |
5. Carles Gil | NE | vs. CLT | $14.2 |
6. Paul Arriola | DAL | at PHI, at HOU | $6.7 |
7. Emanuel Reynoso | MIN | vs. SJ | $10.7 |
8. Hany Mukhtar | NSH | vs. SEA | $12.9 |
9. Luciano Acosta | CIN | at TOR | $14.7 |
10. Riqui Puig | LA | vs. POR | $12.0 |
11. Héctor Herrera | HOU | vs.DAL | $11.5 |
12. Eduard Löwen | STL | vs. SKC | $11.1 |
13. Cristian Espinoza | SJ | at MIN | $13.1 |
14. Facundo Torres | ORL | vs. MTL | $11.3 |
15. Tomás Chancalay | NE | vs. CLT | $8.8 |
16. Frankie Amaya | RBNY | vs. CHI | $8.2 |
17. Facundo Farías | MIA | vs. NYC | $8.4 |
18. Sebastián Driussi | ATX | at COL | $10.2 |
19. Diego Rossi | CLB | vs. PHI | $9.8 |
20. Diego Fagundez | LA | vs. POR | $7.9 |
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Cole Bassett | COL | vs. VAN, vs. ATX | $5.8 |
2. Jesús Bueno | PHI | vs. DAL, at CLB | $4.2 |
3. Paxton Pomykal | DAL | at PHI, at HOU | $5.3 |
Forwards
Jesús Ferreira has made his mark on the scoresheet in three of his last four appearances, planting him high on the radar with two bites at the apple this round. FC Dallas play both matches on the road, and while Philadelphia present a stiff test, Ferreira should see plenty of chances at Houston over the weekend as they may exhaust everything they have in Wednesday’s US Open Cup Final.
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Jesús Ferreira | DAL | at PHI, at HOU | $9.3 |
2. Diego Rubio | COL | vs. VAN, vs. ATX | $8.5 |
3. Brian White | VAN | at COL, vs. DC | $10.3 |
4. Mikael Uhre | PHI | vs. DAL, at CLB | $7.1 |
5. Jader Obrian | DAL | at PHI, at HOU | $6.1 |
6. Dénis Bouanga | LAFC | vs. RSL | $11.8 |
7. Cucho Hernández | CLB | vs. PHI | $12.5 |
8. Teemu Pukki | MIN | vs. SJ | $9.8 |
9. Carlos Vela | LAFC | vs. RSL | $10.6 |
10. Aaron Boupendza | CIN | at TOR | $9.2 |
1. Calvin Harris | COL | vs. VAN, vs. ATX | $5.0 |
2. Giacomo Vrioni | NE | vs. CLT | $6.0 |
3. Talles Magno | NYC | at MIA | $4.3 |
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Ryan Gauld | VAN | at COL, vs. DC | $13.7 |
2. Kai Wagner | PHI | vs. DAL, at CLB | $11.7 |
3. Dániel Gazdag | PHI | vs. DAL, at CLB | $11.6 |
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
- Hany Mukhtar has two goals and two assists over his last three appearances, and he’s currently tied atop the Golden Boot presented by Audi leaderboard with 15 goals on the season. Look for the reigning league Landon Donovan MLS MVP to continue to be a big threat around the goal at home against Seattle.
- Brian White has emerged as Vancouver’s primary scoring threat, and, with 12 goals, he’s on the brink of a career-best season. He’s in prime position to find the net again in a cushy home matchup against a D.C. United defense that conceded five goals last weekend.
- Carles Gil has found his goalscoring form, bagging twice across New England’s last three games. A home match against Charlotte FC presents a good opportunity for Gil to keep it rolling as the Revs jockey for Audi MLS Cup Playoffs positioning down the stretch.
- Teemu Pukki has scored a goal in four of his last five appearances, firing off four shots in three straight. With Minnesota United currently just two points back of the last playoff spot in the Western Conference, we can expect Pukki to continue to lead the line as the Loons make a postseason push.
- Dénis Bouanga is one goal back in the Golden Boot standings, and he’s the type of striker that rack up goals in a hurry. He was rested ahead of Wednesday’s Campeones Cup and only played one half in Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Philadelphia, but I fully expect him to be back among the goal scorers at home against Real Salt Lake on Sunday.
Check out my squad for Round 34:
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:
- NYCFC are unbeaten in five straight matches (3W-0L-2D) and have won seven of eight all-time meetings with Inter Miami, with just one loss.
- After dropping the inaugural encounter with Charlotte FC in 2022, the Revs have won three straight, including the 2023 season opener.
- FC Dallas have a slight edge in the history of the Texas Derby with the Houston Dynamo (14W-13L-8D).
- St. Louis CITY SC and Sporting KC have split the two matches played this season, with the home team winning each time.
- The Portland Timbers have won four straight MLS matches and are unbeaten in their last three contests with LA Galaxy (1W-0L-2D).
- LAFC have won seven straight games against Real Salt Lake in MLS regular season play.
Check out my predictions for Round 34:
