Major League Soccer will return with a full slate of games for Saturday as 16 teams will take to the pitch. We broke down the rosters for each of those teams to build the perfect MLS fantasy roster comprised of star talent and strong value options. Here is a look at the optimal lineup for Saturday’s DraftKings MLS Fantasy Leagues.
GK: Zac MacMath, Colorado
Salary: $5,700
The Rapids haven’t lost a game since April 9th, including a run of three wins and two draws in which they have conceded just two goals. Colorado will have an excellent opportunity to add to its Eastern Conference point total versus Chicago on Saturday and there is a good chance MacMath will be the top goalkeeper option on the board in MLS fantasy DraftKings tournaments. The Rapids have allowed just 10 goals this season, which is by far the fewest in the MLS. The next-best team has allowed 14 goals and no other team in the Western Conference has allowed less than 15.
D: Axel Sjoberg, Colorado
Salary: $3,800
The Fire are coming off a win and a draw but they have an MLS-low 11 points in big part because they have the fewest goals in the MLS with just 10. Colorado will have an excellent opportunity to completely shut down the Chicago attack and that makes Sjoberg an excellent pick as a value play for in MLS fantasy.
D: Bobby Boswell, DC United
Salary: $3,800
DC United has split its last four games but will have an excellent opportunity to get back in the win column against a Houston side that currently sits at the bottom of the Western Conference standings. DC United has allowed just 16 goals through its first 14 games of the season so Boswell should be a strong value option with the potential for him to benefit from a clean sheet result.
M: Luciano Acosta, DC United
Salary: $6,600
Acosta is expected to play versus Houston and that should result in him being a strong option versus the Dynamo. He currently leads DC United with three assists this season and should have plenty of opportunities to create chances for his strikers in a very favorable matchup versus Houston.
M: Marco Delgado, Toronto FC
Salary: $4,900
The fact that we want to be able to rely on three strikers up front means that Delgado is more of a strong value option as a FLEX play but based on our lineup he will slide in to this second midfield spot. Delgado has registered a goal and an assist through nine games but he is a creative playmaker that offers perhaps the best potential of the players we can afford at under $5K.
F: David Villa, New York City FC
Salary: $11,100
Plugging in Delgado in our midfield leaves us with around $25K to invest in three forwards up front including our pick for the best on the board in Villa. The MLS goal scoring leader is up to 10 markers on the season and there is no doubt he will be motivated to put on a show while his Spanish countrymen continue their tournament overseas at Euro 2016. New York City has scored 22 goals in 15 games this season. Those 22 goals are the third-most in the Eastern Conference.
F: Luis Solignac, Colorado
Salary: $6,200
Our final pick from Colorado leads the club in goals with three in 11 starts this season. Solignac should have plenty of opportunities to add to his goal total versus the Fire and he is available at a very reasonable price at just $6.2K.
FLEX: Joao Plata, Real Salt Lake
Salary: $7,900
Plata ranks second in the MLS behind only Sasha Kljestan with six assists so far this season and we are banking on that he will continue to produce when Real Salt Lake takes on Portland on Saturday. RSL has won two of its last three but will need a strong performance from Plata in order to come out on top against a Timbers’ side that has looked good over the course of a three-game undefeated streak. Real Salt Lake enters the week in third place behind Colorado and FC Dallas.