This article is part of our DraftKings Fantasy Soccer series.
Two options are available on Sunday for those looking to enter some MLS contests, though neither include the earliest match in which Portland visit Kansas City. While the earlier slate has the appeal of including three extra games to pick from, the later slate looks like it will have larger prize pools in play. Few implications come from the midweek All-Star activities in terms of our potential player pool for this slate, with Liam Ridgewell and David Villa being notable absences in earlier matches. Also of note, Seattle will be playing their first ever MLS match without Sigi Schmid as head coach and Orlando City will be helmed by new manager Jason Kreis for the first time.MATCHES (EDT)
4:00 p.m: Los Angeles Galaxy at Seattle Sounders
6:00 p.m: Vancouver Whitecaps at FC Dallas
6:30 p.m: Montreal Impact at D.C. United
7:00 p.m: New York Red Bulls at Chicago Fire
7:00 p.m: Real Salt Lake at Philadelphia Union
7:30 p.m: New England Revolution at Orlando City SC
7:30 p.m: Columbus Crew at Toronto FC
9:00 p.m: San Jose Earthquakes at Houston Dynamo
ODDS REPORT
CORNER TAKERS
Los Angeles Galaxy: Steven Gerrard
Seattle Sounders: Andreas Ivanschitz
Vancouver Whitecaps: Christian Bolanos
FC Dallas: Mauro Diaz
Montreal Impact: Ambroise Oyongo
D.C. United: Lloyd Sam, Luciano Acosta
New York Red Bulls: Sacha Kljestan
Chicago Fire: John Goossens
Real Salt Lake: Joao Plata, Javier Morales
New England Revolution: Chris Tierney, Lee Nguyen
Orlando City: Kaka
Columbus Crew: Mohammed Saeid
Toronto FC: Sebastian Giovinco
San Jose Earthquakes: Matias Perez Garcia, Anibal Godoy
Houston Dynamo: Boniek Garcia, Alex, Cristian Maidana
PLAYER RECOMMENDATIONS
GOALKEEPER
Chris Seitz, FCD v. VAN ($5,300): While both Andre Blake and Luis Robles make tempting top-tier keeper plays this week, I prefer Seitz and FC Dallas, who are the largest favorites on the slate. The Whitecaps were held scoreless in Houston last weekend and are still trying to figure out what to do at the forward spot after Fabian Espindola rejected them. Aside from the debacle in Seattle, when Dallas fielded a severely undermanned side, Seitz has allowed just one goal in his previous four starts. It's a very safe play, but given Dallas' strong defense, Seitz's ceiling may be capped in terms of save points.
Brian Rowe, LAG at SEA ($4,100): Rowe could really be here every week. Los Angeles are typically known for their star attacking players, but Bruce Arena knows how to coach a defense and more often than not the Galaxy have one of the best in Major League Soccer. This year is no different. Only the Galaxy and Rapids have held opponents to less than one goal per game. Like Seitz, Rowe has allowed just one goal in his past four starts and only two in his previous six. If you're a home keeper stickler, it might be time to throw your stupid rules out the window with Rowe visiting a Seattle team that's lost in the wilderness offensively.
DEFENDER
Brek Shea, ORL v. NER ($5,900): I promise I'm not trying to sabotage your fantasy teams by recommending Shea. He has a lot going for him: a new coach who plans to move him back to the offensive wing permanently, a returning Kaka, and a home fixture against the Revolution. Orlando should have some motivation in this one as well, not just because of a new manager, but also because beating New England would put the two teams in a tie for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. It's do or die time for Shea, who hasn't had a truly lousy fantasy score since before high schools let out for the summer, but he also hasn't had a true standout performance in even longer. The price is high but I think Shea's floor is deceptively good this week, and if a few things roll the right way for Orlando's most frustrating player, he could reward the few who place their faith in him with a big score.
Ryan Hollingshead, FCD v. VAN ($4,500): Speaking of defenders who may be playing on the attacking wing, Hollingshead is always a candidate to fill a spot out wide in Dallas. He did so last week as Fabian Castillo sat out in anticipation of a Turkish transfer, and he could do so again this week. Long term, I doubt Hollingshead is the ideal candidate for that spot, but manager Oscar Pareja seems to implicitly trust the player and his unwavering effort. Fortunately, Dallas is the second match of the slate, so we'll know how Dallas lines up early enough to adjust accordingly. Hollingshead was able to find three shooting opportunities on the road in Colorado last week, which bodes well for his outlook at home against a lesser Whitecaps side.
Sheanon Williams, HOU v. SJE ($3,800): The Dyamo have the best clean sheet odds this week, with San Jose visiting the Lone Star State. Ironically, the Earthquakes basically do have just one star, Chris Wondolowski. Many people will want to use Joe Willis ($4,400) in goal, but I'm never all that confident in Houston keeping a clean sheet let alone with their recent injuries at center back. I am willing to invest in their defenders though, especially when they're playing like Williams did last match. The former Philadelphia Union fullback sent in seven crosses and took two shots against Vancouver and looks to be taking full advantage of his opportunity with DaMarcus Beasley injured. Jalil Anibaba is a player I occasionally recommend as well at Houston's fullback spot, but note that he is likely to move to the center of the defense this week with Raul Rodriguez and Agus both injured.
MIDFIELDER
Sacha Kljestan, NYR at CHI ($8,800): Both Kaka and Mauro Diaz will be on plenty of fantasy rosters this weekend, but the top-tier midfielders on the road intrigue me more. Giovani dos Santos has all of the tools to devastate Seattle, but he's an up-and-down daily fantasy performer. Kljestan, visiting Chicago, has also been up and down this season, but when the Red Bulls are playing their best soccer, he rarely disappoints. They've looked good lately, and Kljestan's fantasy scores have followed with three goals and two assists in his prior two matches. Even playing on the road, Kljestan's ceiling is only bested by Ignacio Piatti of the midfielders available for selection. He's my top midfield choice, but only the fifth priciest; that's a tough bargain to pass up!
Kevin Molino, ORL v. NER ($6,400): Molino has been sneaky productive this season, with seven goals (T-14th) and seven assists (T-5th) just one season after suffering a torn ACL. While he has had to do a portion of that without key Orlando teammates, the band is largely back together this week against New England. Molino should be eager to impress new manager Jason Kreis, and he's always doing his best to make his pseudo-big brother Kaka proud of him. Many daily fantasy players skip right past this weird price range of midfielders, opting for a stars and scrubs strategy, but if you can fit Molino into your midfield he has the potential to be an outstanding differential.
Patrick Mullins, DCU v. MTL ($3,600): There's a high likelihood that Mullins is ready to start at striker for D.C. United after being traded from NYC FC earlier this month. If he does, he'll make for an excellent value in the flex spot, particularly for those planning a lineup with two star forwards. While Mullins won't have the high floor of a top midfielder, he's a willing shooter and savvy target who finds plenty of pockets in which to make dangerous attacking runs. Mullins feels like the type of player who can thrive in front of Lloyd Sam and Luciano Acosta, and D.C. United will likely need a few goals to keep pace with visitors Didier Drogba and Ignacio Piatti. Much like Michael de Leeuw last week, if Mullins busts, there's a good chance we used the savings to get a star player elsewhere and will be just fine. If Mullins makes a mark in his first match with a new club, we'll be set up even better!
FORWARD
Robbie Keane, LAG at SEA ($10,300): After Sebastian Giovinco, I expect Didier Drogba will be the overwhelming favorite forward in fantasy lineups. He's even cheaper than Keane, and he just scored a hat trick. Slow your roll, though, fantasy players, and your short-term memories. Very few players get into the sheer number of scoring positions that Keane does each and every match. While his athleticism is waning, he still makes better and more effective runs than arguably any other player in the league. Against the rival Sounders, Los Angeles will look to bury a team going through some significant turbulence. Seattle's defensive rock, Osvaldo Alonso will miss the match, too. Sure, Drogba puts up some huge scores, but he also has extremely quiet matches that simply aren't in Keane's nature. You can go with the passionate Irishman, or you can go with the guy who gets more pumped up to play Petr Cech in the All-Star Game than I've ever seen him get for a regular season MLS match.
C.J. Sapong, PHI v. RSL ($7,000): In the past six matches, the Union are scoring two goals per game. They are the second-largest favorite on this slate, but 12 forwards are priced higher than Sapong. Real Salt Lake have been punching above their weight defensively, and a long road to the east coast could be a moment where they show their true colors. Philadelphia, for all of their defensive woes, are a dangerous attacking team. Tranquillo Barnetta, in particular, eschews defensive responsibility to overcommit in the attack. This is a good thing for Sapong who is the focal point of many talented pieces, including Barnetta, Roland Alberg and Chris Pontius. Not many are talking about the streaky forward, but at a $1,400 discount to Ola Kamara and $1,100 to also-goal-dependent Cyle Larin, I truly feel Sapong is an alternative that should be considered this weekend.
Jordan Hamilton, TOR v. CLB ($4,200): If you can't fit a $13,000 Giovinco into your lineup, consider his teammate Hamilton. The promising young forward is averaging double-digit fantasy points over his previous six matches, despite costing less than nearly any other starting forward. While Giovinco still takes matters into his own hands more often than not, chemistry is undeniably building between he and Hamilton. The young Canadian prospect has had six straight matches with a shot on target and could find more space as Giovinco's dismantling of D.C. United last week warrants even more attention from defenders than usual. It's highly unlikely that Hamilton will be winning you a tournament single-handedly, but he can capably supplement a star-studded cast of other players. If you're going to throw a dart at the forward spot, it may as well be a cheap one.
