Welcome to the first all-in-one fantasy and gaming advice roundup column. Below you’ll find MLS Fantasy positional rankings as well as MLS Squad Pick and MLS Parlay Predictor recommendations.
The opening round of MLS Fantasy had its share of intrigue. We saw some of the usual fantasy contributors like Sebastián Driussi and Dániel Gazdag turn in strong showings, and we also got a glimpse at the potential of newcomers like Eduard Löwen and Sergii Kryvtsov as they posted double-digit point hauls. With the 2023 MLS Fantasy season in full swing, let’s take a deeper dive into the top plays and values at each position.
Get more advice on the _MLS Fantasy Insider Round 2 preview_ podcast
Teams on a BYE: MIN
Goalkeepers
John McCarthy and LAFC open their 2023 campaign against a Portland Timbers side that struggled on the attacking end despite a 1-0 win in their season opener. The Timbers managed just seven shots (four on goal) and also saw attacker Yimmi Chara exit the match early with a hamstring injury. LAFC have kept a clean sheet in four of five home openers, which bodes well for the defending MLS Cup winners who bring a bolstered backline to their March 4 season debut (4:30 pm ET | MLS Season Pass, FOX).
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
1. John McCarthy | LAFC | vs. POR | $6.0 |
2. Djordje Petrovic | NE | vs. HOU | $7.0 |
3. Brad Stuver | ATX | vs. MTL | $6.7 |
4. Stefan Frei | SEA | vs. RSL | $6.9 |
5. Eloy Room | CLB | vs. DC | $6.5 |
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
1. Jeff Gal* | CHI | vs. NYC | $5.0 |
2. Daniel | SJ | vs. VAN | $5.5 |
3. Jonathan Sirois | MTL | at ATX | $4.0 |
Defenders
Henry Kessler was a Matchday 1 hero, turning up with a late winner and helping the New England Revolution secure a clean sheet in their 1-0 win at Charlotte. The Revs center back was a threat on set pieces with three shots, and he picked up three bonus points for his efforts on the defensive end. He’ll look to build on the strong start in a favorable home opener versus Houston Dynamo FC in Round 2 .
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
1. Henry Kessler | NE | vs. HOU | $6.5 |
2. Brooks Lennon | ATL | vs. TOR | $6.7 |
3. Diego Palacios | LAFC | vs. POR | $6.0 |
4. Leo Vaisanen | ATX | vs. MTL | $6.5 |
5. Kai Wagner | PHI | at MIA | $7.5 |
6. John Tolkin | RBNY | vs. NSH | $6.8 |
7. Julian Gressel | VAN | at SJ | $7.7 |
8. Brandon Bye | NE | vs. HOU | $6.5 |
9. Andrew Gutman | ATL | vs. TOR | $6.3 |
10. Alex Roldan | SEA | vs. RSL | $6.5 |
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
1. Jackson Ragen | SEA | vs. RSL | $5.5 |
2. Kipp Keller | ATX | vs. MTL | $4.9 |
3. John Nelson | STL | vs. CLT | $5.1 |
Midfielders
Carles Gil wasted no time reminding us he’s fully capable of racking up fantasy points, even without a goal or an assist. The star midfielder finished with seven points in Round 1 through a combination of bonus points in passes, crosses and big chances created. Look for Gil to be heavily involved again in a favorable home matchup with Houston.
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
1. Carles Gil | NE | vs. HOU | $9.7 |
2. Sebastian Driussi | ATX | vs. MRL | $9.3 |
3. Thiago Almada | ATL | vs. TOR | $9.5 |
4. Lucas Zelarayan | CLB | vs. DC | $9.2 |
5. Daniel Gazdag | PHI | at MIA | $9.5 |
6. Riqui Puig | LA | at DAL | $9.5 |
7. Hany Mukhtar | NSH | at RBNY | $9.9 |
8. Xherdan Shaqiri | CHI | vs. NYC | $8.5 |
9. Nicolas Lodeiro | SEA | vs. RSL | $8.5 |
10. Cristian Espinoza | SJ | vs. CLB | $8.5 |
11. Diego Fagundez | ATX | vs. RSL | $8.5 |
12. Evander | POR | at LAFC | $8.8 |
13. Luciano Acosta | CIN | at ORL | $8.8 |
14. Lewis Morgan | RBNY | vs. NSH | $8.0 |
15. Erik Thommy | SKC | at COL | $8.2 |
16. Jamiro Monteiro | SJ | vs. VAN | $8.3 |
17. Facundo Torres | ORL | vs. CIN | $8.9 |
18. Jose Cifuentes | LAFC | vs. POR | $8.0 |
19. Eduard Lowen | STL | vs. CLT | $7.0 |
20. Ryan Gauld | VAN | at SJ | $8.8 |
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
1. Jared Stroud | STL | vs. CLT | $5.0 |
2. Damian Rivera | NE | vs. HOU | $4.2 |
3. Noel Buck | NE | vs. HOU | $4.3 |
Forwards
Luiz Araújo had a Round 1 to forget, scoring just 1 point despite having multiple chances to make his mark on the scoresheet. He fired off seven shots, second of all MLS players in Matchday 1, behind teammate Thiago Almada (8). After a strong preseason showing, and with newcomer Giorgos Giakoumakis still getting integrated, look for Araújo to continue being a focal point of Atlanta United’s attack against a Toronto FC unit that conceded three times to D.C. United in their season opener.
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
1. Luiz Araújo | ATL | vs. TOR | $8.7 |
2. Dénis Bouanga | LAFC | vs. POR | $8.0 |
3. Cucho Hernández | CLB | vs. DC | $8.7 |
4. Federico Bernardeschi | TOR | at ATL | $9.9 |
5. Julián Carranza | PHI | at MIA | $9.0 |
6. Jesús Ferreira | DAL | vs. LA | $8.4 |
7. Carlos Vela | LAFC | vs. POR | $9.0 |
8. Jeremy Ebobisse | SJ | vs. VAN | $8.8 |
9. Gyasi Zardes | ATX | vs. MTL | $7.7 |
10. Jordan Morris | SEA | vs. RSL | $8.4 |
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
1. Heber | SEA | vs. RSL | $7.5 |
2. Kwadwo Opoku | LAFC | vs. POR | $7.0 |
3. Cade Cowell | SJ | vs. VAN | $6.8 |
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
1. Carles Gil | NE | vs. HOU | $9.7 |
2. Sebastian Driussi | ATX | vs. MTL | $9.3 |
3. Luiz Araújo | ATL | vs. TOR | $8.7 |
Playing MLS Squad Pick is quick and easy. Pick 5 players for your squad. If they all score in the same Round, you win!
Expert advice: Jeremy Ebobisse opened his 2023 scoring account in Round 1, and he’s in a good spot to keep the momentum rolling at home against Vancouver (March 4, 10:30 pm ET | MLS Season Pass).
Elsewhere, I’m looking at go-to goalscorers who still need to get off the mark, and have good matchups in Round 2. Luiz Araújo came up empty-handed despite firing off 7 shots in Round 1. Until strike partner Giorgos Giakoumakis gets rolling, Araújo should continue to see multiple goal-scoring chances come his way.
Check out my squad for Round 2:
Playing MLS Parlay Predictor is simple. Pick the results of all 6 games correctly in a single matchday to win!
Expert advice: LAFC and Columbus Crew are the two biggest home favorites in Round 2. With both clubs looking for their first win of 2023, I’m banking on them to kickstart my parlay with two correct results.
Check out my predictions for Round 2:
