The MLS season continues with four games on the board for Saturday night and when it comes to the DraftKings MLS competition, it represents an excellent opportunity to make some money. The limited schedule allows us to hone in on a single game in order to find the best value plays on the board while saving the necessary salary to be able to invest with the best superstars available.
Here is a look at the optimal lineup for Saturday’s DraftKings MLS Daily Fantasy Leagues.
GK: Josh Saunders, New York City FC
Salary: $4,900
The best matchup on the board as far as we are concerned is New York City FC at home to the Montreal Impact. And that’s not because of where they are in the standings but because of how we feel each team will play in this matchup and how their position in the standings impacts their player values. NYCFC has underachieved to this point in the year but they have been a much better team at home than on the road. Now they get the opportunity to earn an important win at home against a Montreal team that has overachieved in recent weeks but has struggled on the road. We love investing in Saunders as a capable goalkeeper available at an excellent price.
D: Chris Wingert, New York City FC
Salary: $3,500
The fact that only one NYCFC defender is priced at higher than $3,500 is a reflection of where these teams are in the standings and that represents an opportunity for us to take advantage. We’ll lock two of them in at a discount price. Wingert has been solid for New York this season and should do well against the Impact on Saturday.
D: Jason Hernandez, New York City FC
Salary: $3,200
Hernandez is another decent option on the NYCFC back line and more important than his production so far this season is the fact that he is available at just $3.2K.
M: Ethan Finlay, Columbus
Salary: $7,300
While we saved some money at the GK and D spots, we don’t have to break the bank at the midfield position with a pair of strong plays available at reasonable prices. Finlay has been among the top MLS midfielders in fantasy points per game and a date with the LA Galaxy means he will be relied on for a big performance.
M: Ned Grabavoy, New York City FC
Salary: $5,000
It didn’t take long for us to go back to the NYCFC midfield but with Grabavoy locked in to a starting role at just $5K for what we feel is a favorable matchup against Montreal at home, it only makes sense that we take him in this spot.
F: David Villa, New York City FC
Salary: $10,800
With the money saved elsewhere, we can spend big on the top two forwards on the board. It really wouldn’t matter if Villa played for any other team because he is still one of the most talented players in the MLS and an elite goal scorer, which is what we care about this week. We are clearly all in on NYCFC this weekend and if they are going to win then Villa will have to produce up front as their leading goal scorer.
F: Clint Dempsey, Seattle
Salary: $10,100
Another one of the top forwards available is locked in to our lineup here as Dempsey gets the chance to showcase his skill set against FC Dallas. The Sounders are fighting to hold off Sporting Kansas City and the Vancouver Whitecaps at the top of the table and if they are going to win this weekend, they will need their star forward to produce with Dempsey projected to have another big game.
FLEX: Jose Villarreal, LA Galaxy
Salary: $5,200
The Galaxy still have a lot to prove and Villarreal in particular will have to earn his spot up front. That is one reason we like him here. More importantly, Villarreal is the best player on the board that we can still afford at the FLEX spot so we feel comfortable locking him in here.
