Major League Soccer returns with a full slate of games this weekend including five matchups on the schedule for Saturday. That might very well be the perfect number when it comes to playing in MLS fantasy tournaments as we build a winning roster around the best possible combination of star talent and strong sleeper options. Here is a look at the optimal lineup for Saturday’s DraftKings MLS Fantasy Leagues.
GK: Evan Bush, Montreal
Salary: $3,300
The Impact are coming off back-to-back draws and haven’t won any of their last three games but there is reason to believe they will finally break through this weekend. Montreal still owns the best record in the MLS Eastern Conference and they are set to play a Columbus side that has just two wins so far this season. Bush has been solid in goal for the Impact and the favorable matchup combined with a very reasonable price tag makes him a strong pick for Saturday’s MLS fantasy contests.
D: Nune Coelho, Sporting KC
Salary: $3,900
Sporting KC is another team with a very favorable matchup despite being on the road this week as they are set to clash with a Houston side that is buried at the bottom of the MLS standings through eight games. The Dynamo have scored 14 goals but they are just 1-5-2 through their first eight contests so it makes sense to roll with at least a couple of strong value options from Sporting KC.
D: Matt Besler, Sporting KC
Salary: $3,300
Besler fits in to the same category as Coelho only he is available at $600 less. There is a very good chance this club finds a way to close the door on Houston’s offense and that means the clean sheet bonus could be in play with these selections.
D: Ike Opara, Sporting KC
Salary: $2,900
Opara is our third and final defender pick from Sporting KC and while we listed our selections in order of price tag the reality is that he might be the best bet of the group at under $3K. Opara doesn’t have much offensive upside but he should play the full 90 minutes against the Dynamo and that makes him a strong pick in this spot for MLS fantasy.
M: Ignacio Piatti, Montreal
Salary: $6,200
It didn’t take long for us to turn back to the Impact’s favorable matchup versus Columbus with a good change that Piatti delivers a strong fantasy score. Piatti already has four goals and an assist with 17 shots through the first nine games of the season and we expect him to continue to produce on Saturday.
M: Mauro Rosales, FC Dallas
Salary: $3,900
Rosales has been limited to a single goal through his first seven appearances but he has created plenty of opportunities as a substitute for FC Dallas in two of their last three games and we expect him to continue to create chances versus Toronto. His price tag combined with the fact that he could see more minutes versus TFC means we will take a chance on him here.
M: Patrice Bernier, Montreal
Salary: $2,600
Bernier has yet to register a point for the Impact but he started their last two games against New York City FC and Colorado and is expected to be in the starting XI on Saturday against Columbus. It’s only a matter of time before Bernier breaks through and we don’t mind having him in this spot as we continue to stack Montreal players for Saturday’s favorable matchup for MLS fantasy.
F: Didier Drogba, Montreal
Salary: $7,400
After a slow start to the season Drogba has registered a point in each of his last two games to give him three points through his first five appearances for Montreal. Drogba is still an elite finisher that should have plenty of opportunities on the road against the Crew so look for him to deliver as our top forward selection this weekend.
F: Fanendo Adi, Portland
Salary: $6,900
It’s somewhat surprising to see Adi at the top of the MLS as the current goal scoring leader but it’s impossible to argue against his production as he is up to seven goals already. Adi should have plenty of opportunities to add to his total against the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday and after saving big at the defender positions we can spend a little more to make sure we have a very strong 1-2 tandem at forward.
FLEX: Dominic Dwyer, Sporting KC
Salary: $6,600
Dwyer has been held to four goals through his first 10 games but it certainly hasn’t been for a lack of trying as he already has 30 shots on goal this season. Dwyer will have plenty of opportunities to contribute versus Houston on the weekend and we are banking on that this will be the game where he finally breaks through with his best production of the season.
FLEX: Wandrille Lefevre, Montreal
Salary: $2,500
Lefevre has started the last two games for Montreal and while the offensive upside isn’t really there he is likely to play the full 90 minutes for the Impact again this weekend. That should be enough to make him a strong value option at the back of our lineup with the potential for a clean sheet bonus giving him the highest upside of the players that we can still afford. Sporting KC and Montreal are two strong stack options so don’t shy away from loading up on players from those two teams for Saturday’s DraftKings contests.
