Fantasy Soccer Advice

MLS Fantasy Round 22 positional rankings & Pick’em advice

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A crucial Round 22 of MLS Fantasy starts on Wednesday, giving fantasy managers a golden opportunity to double dip on points before a month-long hiatus to recharge their fantasy batteries. Including Round 22, there are only three DGWs left across the final nine rounds of the season, so it’s time to get locked in and make a big push before the break.

Teams NOT on a DGW: DC, POR

Goalkeepers

Carlos Coronel has conceded just one goal over his last three outings, collecting two clean sheets in the process. He’s one of multiple goalkeepers with two home games, and with the Red Bulls playing in one of the first games of the round on Wednesday, we can utilize the “Keeperoo” strategy here if need be.

Player
Team
Opponent 
Price

1. Carlos Coronel

RBNY

vs. MTL, vs. CIN

$7.4

2. Andre Blake
PHI
vs. NE, vs. NSH
$6.2
3. Yohei Takaoka

VAN

vs. SKC, vs. HOU

$6.0
Value Goalkeepers
Player
Team
Opponent
Price
1. Tim Melia
SKC
at VAN, vs. STL
$4.5

Defenders

Julian Gressel has scored a goal or assisted in six straight games, shouldering some of the attacking load while Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez were away on international duty. Suárez's return this week gives Gressel and Inter Miami more attacking firepower to work with, and they have a pair of super juicy home matchups vs. Toronto FC and Chicago to help right the ship after the FC Cincinnati drubbing.

Player
Team
Opponent
Price
1. Julian Gressel
MIA
vs. TOR, vs. CHI
 $8.7
2. Kai Wagner
PHI
vs. NE, vs. NSH
$10.3
3. Jordi Alba 
MIA
vs. TOR, vs. CHI
$10.0
4. Miki Yamane
LA
vs. COL, vs. POR

$9.1

5. Cameron Harper
RBNY
vs. MTL, vs. CIN
$7.4
Value Defenders
Player
Team
Opponent
Price

1. Damion Lowe

PHI

vs. NE, vs. NSH
$4.5
2. Alex Roldan
SEA

vs. STL, vs. LAFC

$5.3

Midfielders

Ryan Gauld has dished out five assists across his last three appearances, topping double-digit fantasy points in back-to-back rounds. Up next, he faces a Sporting KC side that he bagged a brace against in Round 15 before wrapping the round with another home game against a Houston Dynamo side that has conceded multiple goals in four of its last five on the road.

Player
Team
Opponent
Price
1. Ryan Gauld
VAN

vs. SKC, vs. HOU

$13.9
2. Riqui Puig*
LA

vs. COL, vs. POR

$14.6
3. Luciano Acosta*
CIN

vs. CHI, at RBNY

$16.8
4. Mateusz Bogusz
LAFC
vs. RSL, at SEA
$13.7

5. Robin Lod

MIN
vs. DC, vs. SJ
$10.3
6. Lewis Morgan
RBNY

vs. MTL, vs. CIN

$10.5
7. Albert Rusnák
SEA

vs. STL vs. LAFC

$12.0
8. Dániel Gazdag

PHI

vs. NE, vs. NSH
$10.9
9. Facundo Torres
ORL

at NSH, vs. NYC

$10.1
10. Hany Mukhtar
NSH

vs. ORL, at PHI

$11.6

* - Player is one yellow card away from suspension

Value Midfielders
Player
Team
Opponent
Price
1. Connor Ronan
COL
at LA, vs. RSL
$5.9
2. Esmir Bajraktarevic
NE
at PHI, vs. DAL
$6.9

3. Diego Fagúndez

LA
vs. COL, vs. POR
$7.0

Forwards

Cucho Hernández is in top form with eight goals and seven assists over his last seven appearances. Strike partners Diego Rossi and Christian Ramírez have been posting big numbers over that stretch as well and also warrant serious consideration on a double game week. With the Columbus Crew firing on all cylinders, it’s pick your poison in the attack this round.

Player
Team
Opponent
Price
1. Cucho Hernández
CLB
vs. CLT, at ATL
$13.3
2. Denis Bouanga
LAFC
vs. RSL, at SEA
$17.2

3. Gabriel Pec

LA
vs. COL, vs. POR
$13.2
4. Brian White*
VAN
vs. SKC, vs. HOU
$10.1
5. Luis Suárez
MIA
vs. TOR, vs. CHI
$13.3
Value Forwards
Player
Team
Opponent
Price

1. Tai Baribo

PHI

vs. NE, vs. NSH

$5.9
2. Logan Farrington
DAL
vs. ATX, at NE
$4.6
Captain
Player
Team
Opponent
Price

1. Cucho Hernández

CLB

vs. CLT, at ATL

$13.3

2. Ryan Gauld

VAN
vs. SKC, vs. HOU
$13.9
3. Denis Bouanga
LAFC
vs. RSL, at SEA
$17.2

MLS Pick’em Round 21

Playing MLS Pick’em is simple.

Pick’em advice:

  • Pick 3: Will both teams score? Seattle Sounders vs. LAFC

Yes – Both teams have ample firepower to turn this one into a barnburner. Going into Wednesday, the Sounders have scored in 10 straight contests while LAFC haven’t been shut out in 18 consecutive games. I’m banking on both teams to score (BTTS) in Seattle.

  • Pick 4: Who is going to win? LA Galaxy vs. Portland Timbers

Draw – The Galaxy have lost just once at home this season, and some would consider that a neutral game in their July 4 loss to LAFC at the Rose Bowl. Meanwhile, Portland have struggled on the road but are in fine form of late, reeling off five wins in their last six games. With both teams evenly matched, I’ll take my chances on this one ending in a draw.