Written By: John Washington
Week 18 Wrap-Up
Lucho Acosta was the most successful and popular captain choice of this double-game week, with 20 points. Austin FC’s Julio Cascante, Nick Lima, and Brad Stuver all scored high enough to be included in the week’s dream team after they held both their opponents scoreless. Alan Pulido was on the scoresheet yet again for Kansas City and his price is now up to $8.4m.
Looking Ahead
This week is back to normal, with every team playing once–outside of Charlotte FC, who have a bye week. Emanuel Reynoso is back in the starting lineup and scoring for Minnesota after his absence and team suspension. And even after a disappointing double game week for Hany Mukhtar in which he had no goal contributions, he remains the most expensive player in MLS Fantasy at $14.4m.
Matchups
- Columbus Crew (home vs. New York Red Bulls)
- Orlando City SC (home vs. Chicago Fire)
- Austin FC (away at Inter Miami)
- St. Louis CITY (home vs. Colorado Rapids)
- San Jose Earthquakes (home vs. Los Angeles Galaxy)
Premium Goalkeepers
Roman Burki had eight saves last week and five fantasy points in a performance that gave San Jose their first home loss all season. Colorado has failed to score in each of their last three games.
- Roman Burki (St. Louis CITY), $8.7m vs. Colorado
- Stefan Frei (Seattle Sounders), $8.9m vs. Houston
- Pedro Gallese (Orlando City SC), $8m vs. Chicago
Budget Goalkeepers
With Dayne St. Clair at the Gold Cup with Canada, Minnesota will look to MLS veteran Clint Irwin to hold them down at the back. The Loons have allowed just six home goals so far this season.
- Clint Irwin (Minnesota United), $5.1m vs. Portland
- Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew), $6.9m vs. New York RB
- Greg Ranjitsingh (Toronto FC), $4.1m vs. Salt Lake
Premium Defenders
Rodrigues was all over the field vs. St. Louis, picking up 19 recovered balls and racking up five bonus points in the process. The Quakes play the Galaxy this week, who are averaging 0.5 goals per game through ten road appearances.
- Rodrigues (San Jose Earthquakes), $9.8m vs. LA Galaxy
- Jackson Ragen (Seattle Sounders), $10.6m vs. Houston
- Robin Jansson (Orlando City), $8.3m vs. Chicago
- Julio Cascante (Austin FC), $8.2m at Miami
- Steven Moreira (Columbus Crew), $8m vs. New York RB
Budget Defenders
Njabulo Blom holds down the midfield for St. Louis but is listed as a defender in fantasy. He should pick up a few bonus points and St. Louis has a decent shot at a clean shot hosting the Rapids this week.
- Njabulo Blom (St. Louis CITY), $6.5m vs. Colorado
- George Campbell (CF Montreal), $6.6m vs. New York City
- Aime Mabika (Toronto FC), $6m vs. Salt Lake
Midfielders
This season, Lucas Zelarayan is averaging a goal contribution every 90 minutes. The Crew are averaging a league-high 2.7 goals per game at home.
- Lucas Zelarayan (Columbus Crew), $13.1m vs. New York RB
- Cristian Espinoza (San Jose Earthquakes), $11.4m vs. LA Galaxy
- Luciano Acosta (FC Cincinnati), $12.4m vs. New England
- Lorenzo Insigne (Toronto FC), $10.9m vs. Salt Lake
- Hany Mukhtar (Nashville SC), $14.4m vs. DC
- Sebastian Driussi (Austin FC), $9.3m at Miami
- Emanuel Reynoso (Minnesota United), $8.1m vs. Portland
Premium Forwards
Cucho Hernandez has scored less than six points just once in his last ten appearances. In that time, he has four goals and seven assists.
- Cucho Hernandez (Columbus Crew), $11.7m vs. New York RB
- Alan Pulido (Sporting Kansas City), $8.4m vs. Vancouver
- Nico Gioacchini (St. Louis CITY), $8.2m vs. Colorado
- Giorgos Giakoumakis (Atlanta United), $9.1m vs. Philadelphia
- Brian White (Vancouver Whitecaps), $7.6m at Kansas City
Budget Forwards
Gyasi Zardes and Austin FC are finally heating up. He has five goals and an assist in his last seven appearances. They face Miami, who are on a seven-game losing streak with 16 goals allowed in that period.
- Gyasi Zardes (Austin FC), $6.5m at Miami
- Duncan McGuire (Orlando City), $6.2m vs. Chicago
- CJ Sapong (Toronto FC), $4.4m vs. Salt Lake
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