This article is part of our DraftKings Fantasy Soccer series.
For the first time in recent memory, we have an MLS slate kicking off with four matches in the earliest time slot. Fans of EPL DFS will appreciate that, rather than the day-long slog that MLS sometimes brings. The trade-off is that the day's best match, Portland hosting Los Angeles, isn't included on Saturday slates. FC Dallas visiting the Colorado Rapids will have to suffice, as the Western Conference's top two teams jockey for position.MATCHES (EDT)
7:30 p.m: Toronto FC v. D.C. United
7:30 p.m: New England Revolution v. Chicago Fire
7:30 p.m: Columbus Crew v. Orlando City
7:30 p.m: Montreal Impact v. Philadelphia Union
9:00 p.m: Colorado Rapids v. FC Dallas
9:30 p.m: Houston Dynamo v. Vancouver Whitecaps
ODDS REPORT
EXPECTED CORNER TAKERS
Toronto FC: Sebastian Giovinco
D.C. United: Lloyd Sam, Taylor Kemp
New England Revolution: Chris Tierney, Lee Nguyen
Chicago Fire: John Goossens
Columbus Crew: Mohammed Saeid
Orlando City: Kaka, Luke Boden
Montreal Impact: Ambroise Oyongo, Harry Shipp
Philadelphia Union: Tranquillo Barnetta
Colorado Rapids: Shkelzen Gashi
FC Dallas: Mauro Diaz
Houston Dynamo: Boniek Garcia
Vancouver Whitecaps: Christian Bolanos
PLAYER RECOMMENDATIONS
GOALKEEPER
Tim Howard, COL v. FCD ($4,600): I dismissed Howard earlier in the week when my colleague Schuyler Redpath mentioned him on the RotoWire Soccer Podcast. FC Dallas is a really good team. After review, I've warmed up to the play. Dallas played a tough midweek U.S. Open Cup match, besting Houston thanks to a late goal. Many of their best players went the full 90 minutes and forward Maxi Urruti left with an injury that leaves him questionable for this match. It would also be uncharacteristic for Mauro Diaz to play 90 minutes three times in eight days. That leaves me feeling pretty good about a Colorado defense who are one of the best units in the league. The other five home teams are bigger favorites but many also have more questionable back lines. I view Howard as the best goalkeeper value out of the home options.
Bill Hamid, DCU at TOR ($3,600): There's an enormous gap in the level of respect we tend to give Toronto's attack when selecting a keeper because of Sebastian Giovinco, but the reality of the situation is that TFC have scored more than one goal in an MLS match just twice since the calendar turned to May. Ironically, they lost both of those matches. Their attack hasn't been something to fear in quite a while and even fantasy players who lock Giovinco into their lineups every week should probably be considering the opposing keeper when they come at a big discount. This week, that's the case with Hamid. After a few down matches, it's easy to forget that he rattled off three clean sheets in four matches upon returning from an injury earlier this summer. After a zero-save, minus-two point performance, it's also easy to forget that he was racking up at least four saves per match for a considerable number of games. If you're not a home-goalkeeper-only stickler, Hamid makes for an incredibly palatable choice this weekend.
DEFENDER
Ambroise Oyongo, MTL v. PHI ($5,300): If Oyongo continues to take corner kicks, he should be the first defender we look to most weeks. If he doesn't, he's still an excellent choice. With the skill set of a winger, and Montreal's attacking unit keeping opposing team's on their heels, Oyongo usually gets his fair share of action in the final third. His opponent, Philadelphia Union, haven't shown a large aptitude defensively of late either. Outside of a pair of clean sheets against D.C. United (do those even count anymore?), the Union haven't blanked an opponent since April 23. It's also worth noting that Philadelphia aren't a very good team at defending set pieces or balls in the air, and Didier Drogba should be getting himself on the end of whatever services Oyongo can muster. There are a handful of appealing expensive defenders this week, particularly Kellyn Acosta if Mauro Diaz does not start, but Oyongo currently tops my shopping list.
Steven Beitashour, TOR v. DCU ($4,000): While clean sheet bonuses are pretty minuscule in the grand scheme of things, I do tend to use them as tie-breakers when looking at the lower end of the defender spectrum. When a team hosts D.C. United, their clean sheet odds tend to be pretty good. This just helps Beitashour, who was already a solid value at just $4,000. He's crossed the ball at least four times in six straight starts, and while he isn't a flashy attacking fullback, he rarely lays an egg for fantasy owners. Toronto FC have something to prove after failing to defeat a nine-man San Jose Earthquakes last weekend, and I think the back line in particular has a good day.
Eric Miller, COL v. FCD ($3,700): Miller actually reminds me a lot of Beitashour. He's tidy defensively and capable getting forward. He's been playing some center back, but looks to be back to his natural position on the outside lately and will hope to return from red card suspension to defeat FC Dallas. While I think the promising prospect hasn't fully shown us what he's capable of this season, Miller's upside isn't nearly as high as some of the pricier options. Unfortunately, there doesn't appear to be much in the bargain bin defensively this week. I'm budgeting for Miller in some lineups and hoping that a cheaper fullback option pops up as lineups are released.
MIDFIELDER
Ignacio Piatti, MTL v. PHI ($8,100): Even if they were the same price, I'd prefer Piatti to Mauro Diaz this week. That we can get him for $1,900 less is just icing on the cake! The attacking midfielder is second in the league in goals, just two behind David Villa despite having half as many shots on target and nearly a third as many attempted shots. The knock on Piatti has long been that he isn't as imposing when Drogba plays, and it's also worth mentioning that he isn't a lock to take any set pieces or corners (though he's pretty good at them). I don't think the presence of Drogba should affect Piatti in this one, and would be shocked if the Union could handle either of these players, let alone both. Returning from a disciplinary suspension, I'm trusting a well-rested Piatti to carry my fantasy midfield this week.
John Goossens, CHI at NER ($5,500): Even though Chicago played a midweek U.S. Open Cup match, and are on the road in this one, I'm surprised at how little the odds are expecting them to score. New England have been dreadful defensively, and Chicago have looked increasingly dangerous since Michael de Leeuw entered the fold. Goossens didn't play in the 3-0 victory midweek over Ronaldo's Fort Lauderdale Strikers, due to an international player limit in the U.S. Open Cup, which means he should enter this match with fresh legs. Both David Accam and de Leeuw offer great attacking options for Goossens to thread the ball to, but he's also a scoring threat himself. Even better, Goossens appears to be on set pieces for the Fire. I understand any hesitation in buying into the Fire attack, but Goossens really stands out this week in the middle-tier of midfield pricing.
Nicolas Mezquida, VAN at HOU ($4,400): When I briefly mentioned Mezquida on last week's podcast, I never imagined he would have had quite as good of a game as he did. With a goal and seven shots attempted against a surprisingly competitive Orlando City side, Mezquida played a game that we hadn't yet seen before in his young MLS career. Should he continue this run of good form, he could make for a great Lloyd Sam ($4,200 at Toronto) alternative. Houston have only allowed one goal in three MLS matches and also nearly shut out FC Dallas in the U.S. Open cup midweek, but I'm still not confident in their back line. Vancouver have the tools to get a result in Houston, and Mezquida has quietly been pulling the strings as their unheralded No. 10.
FORWARD
Kei Kamara, NER v. CHI ($9,800):Sebastian Giovinco is yet again a good choice, at a high price, but I can't write him up every week. If we look at the next group of forwards, Kei, Didier Drogba, David Accam and Cyle Larin, I think the Revolution player has the most upside of the bunch. He appears to get more comfortable in New England each match, and the motivation is still there to prove Columbus wrong and maintain his claim as one of the league's top strikers. While he's getting into good positions and creating good chances, the goals haven't quite been falling like they were when he kept pace with Giovinco last season. Kamara can have some quiet matches in the stat sheet, but he's capable of so much more than we've seen this year, and I like his chances against a tired and poor Chicago Fire team who are likely looking ahead to their Open Cup semifinal much more than this match.
Ola Kamara, CLB v. ORL ($7,700): If you need to play Giovinco, this Kamara is easier to fit into your lineups than the one above. Conveniently, he's also the one on a hotter goal scoring streak with nine goals in eight games. Ola has a great matchup against an Orlando City side between coaches, and Columbus are projected to score the most goals on the slate. The Lions' defensive midfield, once viewed as a strength, has not been playing well and the defense from the wingers has proven inconsistent. This bodes well for Ola's support system in the likes of Justin Meram, Ethan Finlay, Mohammed Saeid and perhaps a healing Federico Higuain. While I hesitate to fully buy into another Kamara who is goal-dependent, he's worth getting some exposure to, particularly in this appealing of a matchup.
Masato Kudo, VAN at HOU ($4,500): There's some competition for the cheap attacking pick this week, with Michael de Leeuw still only costing $3,000 and Jordan Hamilton ($3,900) having a decent home fixture. Alongside those former picks of ours though, Kudo deserves a mention. I'm not the biggest fan of his game, and think Vancouver need a conventional No. 9 to really seal a spot as one of the league's most dangerous teams, but for now Kudo is just about the only option they have. Blas Perez is nursing a hamstring injury and Erik Hurtado is far from an ideal forward option, which leaves Kudo atop a talented midfield of Christian Bolanos, Cristian Techera, Nicolas Mezquida and Pedro Morales. Kudo may not be the most imposing forward in the league, but he should find a handful of good opportunities against a below average Houston defense, and for $4,500 we can't ask for much more than that.
