Round 23 of MLS Fantasy kicked off on Wednesday with the postponed LAFC vs. Colorado Rapids match. The change in schedule meant LAFC were the only team that plays twice this round, so if you rolled with Dénis Bouanga, Carlos Vela or Ryan Hollingshead, you are already sitting pretty after their 4-0 thrashing of Colorado on Wednesday night.
There are several single-game players that could make a big fantasy impact this round, so let’s dive back in and look at the best of the rest to help your squad make some moves this weekend.
Get more advice on the _MLS Fantasy Insider Round 23 preview_ podcast
Goalkeepers
Patrick Schulte made three saves and kept a clean sheet in Sunday’s 3-0 win over FC Cincinnati, and he’ll have a good chance to make it two in a row against Toronto FC. The Reds have scored just 20 goals in 25 games played this season, an Eastern Conference worst in the goal-scoring department.
Player | Team | Opponent | Price | |
1. Patrick Schulte | CLB |
| $7.6 | |
2. Roman Celentano | CIN |
| $7.4 | |
3. Maarten Paes | DAL | vs. ATX | $7.5 | |
4. Brad Guzan | ATL | vs. NSH | $7.6 | |
5. Zac MacMath | RSL | vs. HOU | $8.6 |
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Aljaz Ivacic | POR | vs. VAN | $6.0 |
2. Jonathan Bond | LA | vs. CHI | $6.6 |
3. Drake Callender | MIA | at RBNY | $5.9 |
Defenders
Julian Gressel was an attacking sparkplug in his Columbus debut, registering eight crosses and creating two chances to go along with a clean sheet on the defensive end. With Lucas Zelarayán out of the equation, look for Gressel to continue deputizing on set pieces – making him a strong two-way threat to pile up points across the board.
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Julian Gressel | CLB | vs. TOR | $9.7 |
2. Brooks Lennon | ATL | vs. NSH | $11.9 |
3. Álvaro Barreal | CIN | vs. NYC | $10.5 |
4. John Tolkin | RBNY | vs. MIA | $9.6 |
5. Kai Wagner | PHI | at DC | $10.3 |
6. Steven Moreira | CLB | vs. TOR | $8.7 |
7. Jordi Alba | MIA | at RBNY | $9.5 |
8. Pedro Santos | DC | vs. PHI | $9.0 |
9. Malte Amundsen | CLB | vs. TOR | $8.4 |
10. Justen Glad | RSL | vs. HOU | $10.0 |
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Griffin Dorsey | HOU | at RSL | $5.2 |
2. Luis Abram | ATL | vs. NSH | $5.6 |
3. Kamal Miller | MIA | at RBNY | $4.2 |
Midfielders
Round 23 could see the introduction of several newcomers to MLS that could make a big impact down the stretch, including the potential regular-season debut of Lionel Messi. He’s been automatic since making his first appearance for Inter Miami, netting 10 goals and adding six assists along the way en route to lifting the Leagues Cup trophy, as well as leading Miami to the US Open Cup final.
There’s some rotational concern with Miami’s congested schedule over the last month, but as good as he’s been – if he’s in the starting lineup, I’ll be finding a way to squeeze out $15 million to ensure the GOAT is in my squad for his MLS debut.
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Lionel Messi | MIA | at RBNY | $15.0 |
2. Emanuel Reynoso | MIN | vs. SEA | $10.1 |
3. Riqui Puig | LA | vs. CHI | $10.1 |
4. Carles Gil | NE | at MTL | $13.4 |
5. Luciano Acosta | CIN | vs. NYC | $14.0 |
6. Thiago Almada | ATL | vs. NSH | $13.3 |
7. Cristian Espinoza | SJ | at SKC | $12.9 |
8. Hany Mukhtar | NSH | at ATL | $13.2 |
9. Héctor Herrera | HOU | at RSL | $11.0 |
10. Eduard Löwen | STL | at ORL | $11.6 |
11. Sebastián Driussi | ATX | at DAL | $9.8 |
12. Lorenzo Insigne | TOR | at CLB | $9.8 |
13. Facundo Torres | ORL | vs. STL | $10.5 |
14. Evander | POR | vs. VAN | $9.3 |
15. Santiago Rodríguez | NYC | at CIN | $10.1 |
16. Ryan Gauld | VAN | at POR | $12.1 |
17. Dániel Gazdag | PHI | at DC | $10.7 |
18. Aidan Morris | CLB | vs. TOR | $10.0 |
19. Erik Thommy | SKC | vs. SJ | $7.9 |
20. Xherdan Shaqiri | CHI | at LA | $8.5 |
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Robert Taylor | MIA | at RBNY | $6.0 |
2. Ryan Raposo | HOU | at RSL | $5.9 |
3. Sebastian Lletget | DAL | vs. ATX | $5.3 |
Forwards
Cucho Hernández fired off six shots (five on goal) and converted from the spot in last week’s win over FC Cincinnati. Look for the Colombian striker to continue to be a menace around the goal in a favorable home tilt with Toronto.
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Cucho Hernández | CLB | vs. TOR | $11.3 |
2. Giorgos Giakoumakis | ATL | vs. NSH | $8.7 |
3. Jefferson Savarino | RSL | vs. HOU | $10.1 |
4. Teemu Pukki | MIN | vs. SEA | $8.9 |
5. Jesús Ferreira | DAL | vs. ATX | $9.0 |
6. Cristian Arango | RSL | vs. HOU | $9.0 |
7. Bongi Hlongwane | MIN | vs. SEA | $8.6 |
8. Aaron Boupendza | CIN | vs. NYC | $9.0 |
9. Alan Pulido | SKC | vs. SJ | $9.1 |
10. Brandon Vazquez | CIN | vs. NYC | $6.9 |
1. Kwadwo Opoku | MTL | vs. NE | $5.3 |
2. Elias Manoel | RBNY | vs. MIA | $5.1 |
3. Sam Adeniran | STL | at ORL | $5.6 |
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Lionel Messi | MIA | at RBNY | $15.0 |
2. Cucho Hernández | CLB | vs. TOR | $11.3 |
3. Julian Gressel | CLB | vs. TOR | $9.7 |
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
- Giorgos Giakoumakis bagged a brace in Sunday’s road win over Seattle, heading home two goals to lift Atlanta to a big road win. The target man will continue to see more set-piece opportunities come his way in Saturday’s Eastern Conference clash with Nashville.
- Lionel Messi has scored 10 goals in eight appearances since making his Inter Miami debut. There’s some rotational risk with this pick, but even in limited minutes, Messi comes with high goal-scoring upside.
- Cristian Arango was brought in over the summer to score goals, and he’s already shown glimpses of how dangerous he can be for RSL. Expect a big bounce-back effort after Houston booted Real Salt Lake in the US Open Cup semifinal on Wednesday.
- Teemu Pukki hasn’t scored in two regular-season games after opening his MLS account in his first start for Minnesota. With Bongi Hlongwane dealing with some knee soreness, Pukki could shoulder more of the scoring load at home against Seattle on Sunday.
Check out my squad for Round 27:
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:
- Both meetings between D.C. United and Philadelphia in 2023 have ended in scoreless draws. Philadelphia won both meetings with D.C. last season, outscoring them 13-0 in the two games.
- New York Red Bulls have won three straight home matches in all competitions, while Inter Miami are unbeaten in a club-record eight straight matches (5W-0L-3D) following the arrival of Lionel Messi.
- Orlando City are unbeaten in nine straight home matches (5W-0L-4D) in all competitions and have won their last two matches against expansion teams.
Check out my predictions for Round 28:
