Reid and Michael are joined by special Patreon guest Kyle Frankiewich to review all the biggest surprises and most important takeaways from Round 29 of the MLS Fantasy Season.
Seattle and Portland dominate the Live Chat group when asked about their most surprising moments, but the guys also take some time to focus on the number of clean sheets and the strong performance by New York Red Bulls players. Reid gives a quick overview of the the DGW teams and provides a FiveThirtyEight-powered update about whoās left in the playoff picture during the Housekeeping section before turning it over to Kyle, who shares with everyone why he is a Patreon supporter and what it means to be a part of the MLS Fantasy community. They wrap up with a discussion of player options and there is a difference in opinion as to which forwards are needed for this final DGW.
The finish line is in sight with just two weeks of MLS Fantasy to go. Week 30 brings us the final double-game week of the season, and itās a big one! There are 12 teams playing twice, giving us one last chance to load up on players who could turn up with a big point haul over two games. Letās take a deeper dive and get dialed in on this weekās positional rankings.
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Goalkeepers
Nick Rimando is heading into a double game week and has kept clean sheets in three of his last four home games | USA Today Sports Images
With Real Salt Lake looking to punch their ticket to the Audi 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs this week, Nick Rimando is in a good spot with two home games in Week 30. The veteran goalkeeper holds the No. 1 spot in nearly all of MLSās all-time goalkeeping records, and heās kept a clean sheet in three of his last four games at Rio Tinto Stadium.
Rank |
Player |
Team |
Opponent |
Price |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Nick Rimando |
RSL |
vs. LA, vs. HOU |
$8.8 |
2 |
Vito Mannone |
MIN |
vs. SKC, vs. LAFC |
$8.8 |
3 |
Daniel Vega |
SJ |
vs. PHI, vs. SEA |
$6.1 |
4 |
Tyler Miller |
LAFC |
vs. HOU, at MIN |
$7.0 |
5 |
David Bingham |
LA |
at RSL, vs. VAN |
$6.8 |
6 |
Matt Turner |
NE |
at POR, vs. NYC |
$7.1 |
7 |
Tim Melia |
SKC |
at MIN, vs. POR |
$7.0 |
8 |
Sean Johnson |
NYC |
vs. ATL, at NE |
$7.5 |
9 |
Steve Clark |
POR |
vs. NE, at SKC |
$8.4 |
10 |
Brad Guzan |
ATL |
at NYC, at MTL |
$7.8 |
Defenders
Romain Metanire leads all defenders in crosses and chances created | USA Today Sports Images
Romain Metanire has seven assists on the season, and he leads all defenders in crosses and chances created. With two vital home games this week, heās primed for another strong fantasy showing on both ends of the pitch.
Rank |
Player |
Team |
Opponent |
Price |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Romain Metanire |
MIN |
vs. SKC, vs. LAFC |
$9.2 |
2 |
Jorge Moreira |
POR |
vs. NE, at SKC |
$9.7 |
3 |
Ike Opara |
MIN |
vs. SKC, vs. LAFC |
$8.6 |
4 |
Florian Jungwirth |
SJ |
vs. PHI, vs. SEA |
$7.7 |
5 |
Ronald Matarrita |
NYC |
vs. ATL, at NE |
$5.8 |
6 |
Michael Boxall |
MIN |
vs. SKC, vs. LAFC |
$8.7 |
7 |
Justen Glad |
RSL |
vs. LA, vs. HOU |
$9.5 |
8 |
Walker Zimmerman |
LAFC |
vs. HOU, at MIN |
$5.7 |
9 |
Aaron Herrera |
RSL |
vs. LA, vs. HOU |
$7.8 |
10 |
Eddie Segura |
LAFC |
vs. HOU, at MIN |
$7.0 |
11 |
Donny Toia |
RSL |
vs. LA, vs. HOU |
$7.9 |
12 |
Larrys Mabiala |
POR |
vs. NE, at SKC |
$8.4 |
13 |
Daniel Steres |
LA |
at RSL, vs. VAN |
$5.0 |
14 |
Guram Kashia |
SJ |
vs. PHI, vs. SEA |
$5.0 |
15 |
Rolf Feltscher |
LA |
at RSL, vs. VAN |
$5.1 |
16 |
Steven Beitashour |
LAFC |
vs. HOU, at MIN |
$5.6 |
17 |
Leandro Gonzalez Pirez |
ATL |
at NYC, at MTL |
$5.2 |
18 |
Diego Polenta |
LA |
at RSL, vs. VAN |
$6.6 |
19 |
Andrew Farrell |
NE |
at POR, vs. NYC |
$6.9 |
20 |
Graham Zusi |
SKC |
at MIN, vs. POR |
$7.2 |
Midfielders
Maxi Moralez is one away from the third 20-assist season in MLS history | USA Today Sports Images
Maxi Moralez notched his league-leading 19th assist of the season last week, and his 7.77 fantasy points per game average is the highest among all midfielders in the game. Thereās no reason to think he slows down this week with New York City FC looking to lock up the No. 1 playoff seed in the Eastern Conference.
Rank |
Player |
Team |
Opponent |
Price |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Maxi Moralez |
NYC |
vs. ATL, at NE |
$11.8 |
2 |
Diego Valeri |
POR |
vs. NE, at SKC |
$13.0 |
3 |
Albert Rusnak |
RSL |
vs. LA, vs. HOU |
$11.0 |
4 |
Magnus Eriksson |
SJ |
vs. PHI, vs. SEA |
$10.8 |
5 |
Carles Gil |
NE |
at POR, vs. NYC |
$13.1 |
6 |
Cristian Pavon |
LA |
at RSL, vs. VAN |
$11.0 |
7 |
Vako |
SJ |
vs. PHI, vs. SEA |
$9.4 |
8 |
Jefferson Savarino |
RSL |
vs. LA, vs. HOU |
$10.7 |
9 |
Jan Gregus |
MIN |
vs. SKC, vs. LAFC |
$9.9 |
10 |
Eduard Atuesta |
LAFC |
vs. HOU, at MIN |
$10.8 |
11 |
Jonathan dos Santos |
LA |
at RSL, vs. VAN |
$9.0 |
12 |
Sebastian Blanco |
POR |
vs. NE, at SKC |
$9.9 |
13 |
Damir Kreilach |
RSL |
vs. LA, vs. HOU |
$8.5 |
14 |
Pity Martinez |
ATL |
at NYC, at MTL |
$9.9 |
15 |
Latif Blessing |
LAFC |
vs. HOU, at MIN |
$9.1 |
16 |
Jamiro Monteiro |
PHI |
at SJ, at CLB |
$8.9 |
17 |
Kevin Molino |
MIN |
vs. SKC, vs. LAFC |
$8.1 |
18 |
Haris Medunjanin |
PHI |
at SJ, at CLB |
$9.6 |
19 |
Diego Chara |
POR |
vs. NE, at SKC |
$9.0 |
20 |
Uriel Antuna |
LA |
at RSL, vs. VAN |
$6.3 |
21 |
Ismael Tajouri-Shradi |
NYC |
vs. ATL, at NE |
$6.5 |
22 |
Sebastian Lletget |
LA |
at RSL, vs. VAN |
$7.3 |
23 |
Julian Gressel |
ATL |
at NYC, at MTL |
$9.2 |
24 |
Gerso Fernandes |
SKC |
at MIN, vs. POR |
$7.0 |
25 |
Osvaldo Alonso |
MIN |
vs. SKC, vs. LAFC |
$7.5 |
26 |
Joe Corona |
LA |
at RSL, vs. VAN |
$7.7 |
27 |
Alexander Ring |
NYC |
vs. ATL, at NE |
$8.3 |
28 |
Darlington Nagbe |
ATL |
at NYC, at MTL |
$8.7 |
29 |
Jackson Yueill |
SJ |
vs. PHI, vs. SEA |
$8.6 |
30 |
Cristhian Paredes |
POR |
vs. NE, at SKC |
$6.6 |
Forwards
Carlos Vela still leads MLS, now with 29 goals, and is within two of Josef Martinez's single-season MLS record. | USA Today Sports Images
Carlos Vela picked up right where he left after missing Weeks 26 and 27, scoring goals in back-to-back games and making it 10 of his last 11 appearances with a goal or more. His $15.7 million salary is a tough pill to swallow, but one that would well worth it if he continues to post eye-popping numbers on a double-game week.
Rank |
Player |
Team |
Opponent |
Price |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Carlos Vela |
LAFC |
vs. HOU, at MIN |
$15.7 |
2 |
Zlatan Ibrahimovic |
LA |
at RSL, vs. VAN |
$13.3 |
3 |
Gustavo Bou |
NE |
at POR, vs. NYC |
$10.3 |
4 |
Darwin Quintero |
MIN |
vs. SKC, vs. LAFC |
$9.0 |
5 |
Brian Fernandez |
POR |
vs. NE, at SKC |
$9.1 |
6 |
Diego Rossi |
LAFC |
vs. HOU, at MIN |
$8.9 |
7 |
Brian Rodriguez |
LAFC |
vs. NE, at SKC |
$9.0 |
8 |
Valentin Castellanos |
NYC |
vs. ATL, at NE |
$6.9 |
9 |
Kacper Przybylko |
PHI |
at SJ, at CLB |
$9.9 |
10 |
Mauro Manotas |
HOU |
at LAFC, at RSL |
$10.1 |
11 |
Alexandru Mitrita |
NYC |
vs. ATL, at NE |
$9.1 |
12 |
Alberth Elis |
HOU |
at LAFC, at RSL |
$8.1 |
13 |
Mason Toye |
MIN |
vs. SKC, vs. LAFC |
$5.4 |
14 |
Christian Ramirez |
HOU |
at LAFC, at RSL |
$7.5 |
15 |
Sam Johnson |
RSL |
vs. LA, vs. HOU |
$5.8 |
16 |
Jeremy Ebobisse |
POR |
vs. NE, at SKC |
$5.6 |
17 |
Corey Baird |
RSL |
vs. LA, vs. HOU |
$4.9 |
18 |
Teal Bunbury |
NE |
at POR, vs. NYC |
$5.6 |
19 |
Danny Hoesen |
SJ |
vs. PHI, vs. SEA |
$4.5 |
20 |
Krisztian Nemeth |
SKC |
at MIN, vs. POR |
$5.0 |