The MLS season continues with a full slate on Saturday as 14 teams will be in action. Building a winning fantasy team is as much about finding the right value plays as it is locking in superstar players and with seven games on the schedule, there is plenty of talent to choose from. Here is a look at our optimal lineup for Saturday’s DraftKings MLS Daily Fantasy Leagues
GK: Chris Konopka, Toronto
Salary: $5,300
The fact that Konopka has been the best goalkeeper in the MLS over the past two weeks will force Toronto FC to stick with him moving forward. That makes him the best bet on the board for fantasy purposes when his team has favorable matchups. Konopka has thrived since taking over for the injured Joe Bendik, which includes 12 saves over his past two games. Konopka stopped all five shots he faced in a 1-0 win over the Timbers last week and it only makes sense to go back to him this Saturday with Toronto set to host a San Jose team that presents another favorable matchup.
D: Taylor Kemp, DC United
Salary: $4,000
Kemp ranks among the top MLS defenders in fantasy points per game and with another chance to start this weekend, it makes sense to go back to him at a relatively decent price. Kemp came off the bench as a substitute in DC United’s last game but he started the previous two and has two assists in their last three games, so he is worth taking a shot on in a favorable matchup against Philadelphia.
D: Marc Burch, Colorado
Salary: $3,300
After two games on the bench, Burch got his opportunity to start for Colorado in their 1-0 win over Vancouver. There is a good chance that they will go back to him for this week’s home game against Portland. Burch is available for just over $3,000, so while he isn’t guaranteed to light it up, it makes a lot of sense to go with him in this spot in order to save some important salary room for other positions.
M: Pedro Morales, Vancouver
Salary: $8,200
Morales wasn’t excellent as a substitute in Vancouver’s 1-0 loss to Colorado but he has ranked among the most productive MLS midfielders in terms of fantasy points per game this season. We will count on him to bounce back in Saturday’s contest against Real Salt Lake. Morales has two goals and four assists in 12 games this season and while a three-game assist streak from earlier in the year seems like a distant memory, the Whitecaps will rely on him for a big performance this weekend.
M: Ignacio Piatti, Montreal
Salary: $7,900
Piatti has burst on to the scene for the Impact over the last two weeks with a goal and two assists in his last two games. He will have every opportunity to add to his total when Montreal visits Chicago on Saturday. The Impact need Piatti to play a starring role in the middle of the field and if he can produce the way he has the past two weeks, he will be a valuable contributor in this spot.
F: Sebastian Giovinco, Toronto
Salary: $10,400
Giovinco has recorded five goals and four assists in 10 games for Toronto this season including one point in each of his last two games. He will have the opportunity to add to his total in a favorable matchup against San Jose. Giovinco is an elite talent that seems to be growing more comfortable in the MLS and considering his average of 4.7 shots on target per game this year, we won’t pass on him in this spot.
F: David Accam, Chicago
Salary: $6,500
Accam has played in just six games for Chicago this season but that includes each of their last four over which he has scored twice already. He’s averaging just over three shots on target per game this season and considering the Fire’s favorable matchup versus a Montreal team that has overachieved over the last two weeks, we will plug him in here as the second forward on our roster.
FLEX: Pedro Ribeiro, Orlando City
Salary: $4,300
With $4.5K left over for the FLEX position, we will go with the best combination of talent and matchup by locking in the Orlando City SC midfielder here. Ribeiro could start against Columbus this weekend and as long as he does, we have no problem using him here in the final spot on our roster. Keep a close eye on whether or not Ribeiro will start for Orlando and if he is not expected, then feel free to substitute in DC United defender Kofi Opare or Montreal defender Laurent Ciman in his place for the FLEX spot.
