Fantasy: Week 21 positional rankings

Reid, Michael, and Blayne are joined by the Live MLSFI audience to review all of the most important takeaways from Round 20 and preview the top options from Round 21.
The NYC-SKC match gets heavy focus as both Michael & Blayne share their takes. But they also make time to mention the impact of the Leagues Cup and Canadian Championship on the available player pool, and some of the under the radar options for the upcoming round.

Week 21 features all 24 teams in action, and with no double-game weeks, the contrasting picks throughout fantasy lineups could create some big movement on the leaderboards. There are several favorable matchups to target, so let’s take a closer look at the top players at each position this week.

Sign up for the new MLS Fantasy Manager newsletter.

Goalkeepers

Fantasy: Week 21 positional rankings - https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/images/Mannone-fist-pump.jpg

Vito Mannone | USA Today Sports Images

Vito Mannone kept a clean sheet and posted 15 points in his last outing at Allianz Field, and he has a good matchup at home this week against a Vancouver Whitecaps side that has scored just two goals across their last five matches.

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent	Price
1	Vito Mannone	MIN	vs. VAN	$6.5
2	Quentin Westberg	TOR	vs. CIN	$6.5
3	Matt Turner	NE	vs. ORL	$5.4
4	Luis Robles	RBNY	vs. CLB	$5.8
5	Daniel Vega	SJ	vs. COL	$6.0
6	Jesse Gonzalez	DAL	vs. RSL	$6.0
7	Tyler Miller	LAFC	vs. ATL	$6.0
8	Sean Johnson	NYC	vs. SKC	$5.9
9	Steve Clark	POR	vs. LA	$6.6
10	Evan Bush	MTL	vs. PHI	$4.7

Defenders

Fantasy: Week 21 positional rankings - https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/images/metanire.jpg

Romain Metanire | USA Today Sports Images

Romain Metanire returned from the Africa Cup of Nations in Week 20, and now he’s back at home where he’s registered a goal or an assist in three straight home appearances. Metanire poses a big threat going forward, and if the stars align, he’s capable of producing a monster fantasy score through a combination of attacking and defensive points.

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent	Price
1	Romain Metanire	MIN	vs. VAN	$7.0
2	Ike Opara	MIN	vs. VAN	$8.4
3	Ronald Matarrita	NYC	vs. SKC	$6.1
4	Auro	TOR	vs. CIN	$6.5
5	Michael Murillo	RBNY	vs. CLB	$6.0
6	Omar Gonzalez	TOR	vs. CIN	$7.5
7	Ryan Hollingshead	DAL	vs. RSL	$8.0
8	Hassani Dotson	MIN	vs. VAN	$5.9
9	Antonio Delamea	NE	vs. ORL	$6.4
10	Larrys Mabiala	POR	vs. LA	$8.4
11	Tommy Thompson	SJ	vs. COL	$6.7
12	Jorge Moreira	POR	vs. LA	$7.4
13	Anton Tinnerholm	NYC	vs. SKC	$7.1
14	Brandon Bye	NE	vs. ORL	$5.8
15	Zakaria Diallo	MTL	vs. PHI	$5.8
16	Florian Jungwirth	SJ	vs. COL	$7.0
17	Reto Ziegler	DAL	vs. RSL	$7.2
18	Justin Morrow	TOR	vs. CIN	$5.7
19	Aaron Long	RBNY	vs. CLB	$7.0
20	Walker Zimmerman	LAFC	vs. ATL	$6.9

Midfielders

Fantasy: Week 21 positional rankings - https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/images/USATSI_12733940.jpg

Alejandro Pozuelo | USA Today Sports Images

Alejandro Pozuelo’s Week 20 DGW was cut short after he exited the first match early with an ankle injury, forcing him to miss Toronto’s last game and putting a questionable tag on him heading into this week. His status is well worth monitoring ahead of Saturday’s juicy matchup at home versus FC Cincinnati, and if he’s back in the starting lineup, the Spaniard is a lock-and-load play against the worst defense in the league.

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent	Price
1	Alejandro Pozuelo	TOR	vs. CIN	$11.4
2	Carles Gil	NE	vs. ORL	$11.8
3	Vako	SJ	vs. COL	$8.2
4	Maxi Moralez	NYC	vs. SKC	$12.1
5	Cristian Espinoza	SJ	vs. COLI	$8.9
6	Diego Valeri	POR	vs. LA	$11.7
7	Nicolas Lodeiro	SEA	at HOU	$12.5
8	Magnus Eriksson	SJ	vs. COL	$9.2
9	Jonathan Osorio	TOR	vs. CIN	$8.8
10	Saphir Taider	MTL	vs. PHI	$9.9
11	Eduard Atuesta	LAFC	vs. ATL	$11.2
12	Nico Gaitan	CHI	vs. DC	$9.7
13	Kaku	RBNY	vs. CLB	$8.5
14	Marco Fabian	PHI	at MTL	$8.9
15	Daniel Royer	RBNY	vs. CLB	$9.1
16	Sebastian Blanco	POR	vs. LA	$10.7
17	Michael Bradley	TOR	vs. CIN	$8.9
18	Jonathan Dos Santos	LA	at POR	$9.9
19	Nani	ORL	at NE	$9.1
20	Cristian Penilla	NE	vs. ORL	$8.4
21	Johnny Russell	SKC	at NYC	$8.2
22	Mark-Anthony Kaye	LAFC	vs. ATL	$10.5
23	Jan Gregus	MIN	vs. VAN	$9.8
24	Michael Barrios	DAL	vs. RSL	$8.5
25	Albert Rusnak	RSL	at DAL	$9.7
26	Luciano Acosta	DC	at CHI	$8.8
27	Pedro Santos	CLB	at RBNY	$8.1
28	Marc Rzatkowski	RBNY	vs. CLB	$6.9
29	Jefferson Savarino	RSL	at DAL	$9.8
30	Haris Medunjanin	PHI	at MTL	$8.9

Forwards

Fantasy: Week 21 positional rankings - https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/images/vela_2.jpg

Carlos Vela | USA Today Sports Images

Carlos Vela continues to post eye-popping numbers, with five goals, two assists and 51 fantasy points over his last three appearances. While Atlanta United may pose a tougher challenge than LAFC’s last three opponents, they have conceded a combined 10 goals over their last three road games.

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent	Price
1	Carlos Vela	LAFC	vs. ATL	$12.5
2	Jozy Altidore	TOR	vs. CIN	$10.5
3	Brian Fernandez	POR	vs. LA	$10.9
4	Darwin Quintero	MIN	vs. VAN	$10.0
5	Gustavo Bou	NE	vs. ORL	$9.8
6	Heber	NYC	vs. SKC	$9.5
7	Zlatan Ibrahimovic	LA	at POR	$10.5
8	Chris Wondolowski	SJ	vs. COL	$7.2
9	Josef Martinez	ATL	at LAFC	$12.5
10	Raul Ruidiaz	SEA	at HOU	$11.2
11	Wayne Rooney	DC	at CHI	$11.1
12	Alberth Elis	HOU	vs. SEA	$10.2
13	Mason Toye	MIN	vs. VAN	$6.5
14	Diego Rossi	LAFC	vs. ATL	$10.7
15	Mauro Manotas	HOU	vs. SEA	$8.7
16	Teal Bunbury	NE	vs. ORL	$8.2
17	Adama Diomande	LAFC	vs. ATL	$9.0
18	Alexandru Mitrita	NYC	vs. SKC	$8.0
19	Valentin Castellanos	NYC	vs. SKC	$7.3
20	CJ Sapong	CHI	vs. DC	$7.3