MLS Fantasy Rankings: Week 29

MLS Fantasy Rankings: Week 29

This article is part of our MLS Fantasy Rankings series.

The rankings below are based on Major League Soccer's official fantasy game and cover all games in Week 29. While they can be used for DFS purposes, they are done with a focus on the league's season-long game.

If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below, or hit up JD on Twitter @dfsMLS.

Forwards

RankPlayerMatchupPriceNotes
1Josef MartinezATL at FCC, v. SJ13.914-game goal-scoring streak? Yep.
2Raul RuidiazSEA v. DAL, at DC11.911 goals in 16 starts but still underrated as a whole by MLS fans and fantasy managers.
3Brian FernandezPOR v. NYRB, v. MIN9.5Similar scoring clip to Ruidiaz, just overcoming a stomach virus, and now Portland need points. Even if he has spurned you in recent weeks, holding a grudge may only hurt your team this week.
4Jordan MorrisSEA v. DAL, at DC10.0JoMo is playing well and a fine alternative to Ruidiaz. I think that many people will prefer Morris outright, which doesn't really make opting for him a great way to gain ground.
5Zdenek OndrasekDAL at SEA, v. NYC6.5Packs the scoring punch of the top three and allows you to save some salary. Dallas also are desperate to push into the playoffs. Unfortunately, these are two tough fixtures.
6Carlos VelaLAFC v. TOR15.5Toronto plays in the Canadian Championship (leg 1) midweek while LAFC get to rest and formulate a plan to dismantle them.
7Zlatan IbrahimovicLA v. MTL12.8Montreal also play in the Canadian Championship midweek. The Galaxy aren't really one for well-oiled plans and executing them, but Zlatan & Co. are feeling their oats lately.
8Bradley Wright-PhillipsNYRB at POR, v. PHI5.6BWP is finally back in the swing of things and looking for his first goal. Only the most desperate of fantasy managers should look to him as a differential though (and I would stack other NYRB attackers with him, if so).
9Jeremy EbobissePOR v. NYRB, v. MIN5.6Always a chance he doesn't start both, but I think he will and could be a sneaky alternative to Fernandez.
10Jesus FerreiraDAL at SEA, v. NYC7.1Yellow card warning?
11Gustavo BouNE v. RSL10.7 
12Kekuta MannehFCC v. ATL, v. CHI5.3 
13Diego RossiLAFC v. TOR9.3 
14Dominique BadjiDAL at SEA, v. NYC5.8Yellow card warning?
15Nemanja NikolicCHI at FCC7.8 
16Mauro ManotasHOU v. ORL9.6 
17Hector VillalbaATL at FCC, v. SJ6.8If he starts Wednesday night, I would be intrigued enough to consider him just below the Ondrasek/BWP range of differentials. Chances seem slim for him to start both, though.
18Kacper PrzybylkoPHI at NYRB9.6 
19Wayne RooneyDC v. SEA9.2 
20Kei KamaraCOL at SKC7.2 

Midfielders

RankPlayerMatchupPriceNotes
1Diego ValeriPOR v. NYRB, v. MIN13.5Portland need points. Portland want home field advantage. Valeri usually comes through.
2Nicolas LodeiroSEA v. DAL, at DC12.8Lodeiro is a volatile bonus point earner, but I think these two matchups bode well for his numbers all around.
3Pity MartinezATL at FCC, v. SJ9.4Pity has rounded in to a very good contributor of late. The shots are there, but the goals haven't quite followed yet.
4Julian GresselATL at FCC, v. SJ9.6 
5Daniel RoyerNYRB at POR, v. PHI8.7Royer loses out to Gressel for #4 just because of the tougher fixtures. He's still a quality option this week.
6Cristian RoldanSEA v. DAL, at DC10.0Roldan has been on fire, but VRod's potential return could keep him grounded in the defensive midfield just a little more.
7Michael BarriosDAL at SEA, v. NYC10.5Dangerous both on the dribble and at creating chances for others, Barrios could come in handy this week. Dallas are barely outside of the playoffs and can't afford to come away with less than four points this week.
8KakuNYRB at POR, v. PHI8.8Good player, but for fantasy he is far more risk than reward. He hasn't produced a single double-digit fantasy match this year, but has served up a healthy number of duds.
9Sebastian BlancoPOR v. NYRB, v. MIN9.7Just back from an injury. I'd love to trust him, but think I'll use my Portland spots a safer way.
10Emmanuel LedesmaFCC v. ATL, v. CHI8.7One yellow away from suspension, I believe. Two home games, one hard and one easier makes him mildly appealing though.
11Marc RzatkowskiNYRB at POR, v. PHI7.6 
12Paxton PomykalDAL at SEA, v. NYC7.2No guarantee he starts both, unfortunately.
13Diego CharaPOR v. NYRB, v. MIN8.95+ points in each of the last 7 games. Strictly based on averages and projections he should be higher in the rankings, but the lack of attacking upside at a time when everyone is chasing high returns factors in, too.
14Darlington NagbeATL at FCC, v. SJ8.4 
15Josh SimsNYRB at POR, v. PHI6.7Currently one of the bench options I am most considering. Have to see if he's in the lineup on Wednesday.
16Allan CruzFCC v. ATL, v. CHI7.9Yellow card warning?
17Frankie AmayaFCC v. ATL, v. CHI4.8Could be the key to unlocking some salary. Should be good for 7-9 points.
18Bryan AcostaDAL at SEA, v. NYC7.0 
19Cristian PavonLA v. MTL10.7Squeezing some LA/LAFC guys in at the end since they have good matchups and could certainly outscore many of these DGW players.
20Latif BlessingLAFC v. TOR9.4 

Defenders

RankPlayerMatchupPriceNotes
1Leandro Gonzalez PirezATL at FCC, v. SJ8.6The Walking Yellow Card takes top spot thanks to high clean sheet potential this week.
2Jorge MoreiraPOR v. NYRB, v. MIN9.5Best attacking potential of any defender this week. Portland will have to break down a tough Red Bulls and Minnesota side, and Moreira will push upfield to help.
3Miles RobinsonATL at FCC, v. SJ9.3Atlanta will be keen to erase back to back games with three goals allowed. Especially Robinson after his ugly own-goal last week.
4Reto ZieglerDAL at SEA, v. NYC9.1Takes penalties.
5Ryan HollingsheadDAL at SEA, v. NYC10.0More goalscoring upside than Moreira, less in most other areas.
6Franco EscobarATL at FCC, v. SJ6.7Grabbed a whopping six bonus points last week, but he usually isn't at the level of LGP or Robinson.
7Brad SmithSEA v. DAL, at DC5.9Bit of a reach for offensive output, but I don't hate the play.
8Claude DielnaPOR v. NYRB, v. MIN7.2Portland's centerback pairing is very turbulent right now, with some players just becoming available. Mabiala will step right back in when ready and then I think Dielna has earned at least one of the starts this week. Tuiloma likely plays a role too.
9Aaron LongNYRB at POR, v. PHI7.2Fixtures are tough, but Long is usually good for 2-3 bonus points.
10Jorge VillafanaPOR v. NYRB, v. MIN7.9I love that both games are at home, but am admittedly nervous that Portland are going to be vulnerable on the counter against these two teams. We don't have any elite clean sheet options on this slate of games, though.
11Michael Amir MurilloNYRB at POR, v. PHI5.9 
12Kelvin LeerdamSEA v. DAL, at DC4.6 
13Matt HedgesDAL at SEA, v. NYC7.5 
14Reggie CannonDAL at SEA, v. NYC5.6Yellow card warning?
15Kim Kee-HeeSEA v. DAL, at DC5.6 
16Greg GarzaFCC v. ATL, v. CHI5.3FCC has a chance to keep a clean sheet against Chicago, and their fullbacks have some decent attacking potential.
17Kemar LawrenceNYRB at POR, v. PHI5.2 
18Tim ParkerNYRB at POR, v. PHI5.2 
19Xavier ArreagaSEA v. DAL, at DC5.0 
20Andrew GutmanFCC v. ATL, v. CHI4.0FCC has a chance to keep a clean sheet against Chicago, and their fullbacks have some decent attacking potential.

Goalkeepers

RankPlayerMatchupPriceNotes
1Brad GuzanATL at FCC, v. SJ8.3Concern level is only at like 3 out of 10 after recent bad outings for Atlanta's defense.
2Steve ClarkPOR v. NYRB, v. MIN7.9Another strong play, near Guzan's level.
3Jesse GonzalezDAL at SEA, v. NYC5.9Neck and neck between Gonzalez and Frei. 
4Stefan FreiSEA v. DAL, at DC6.4 
5Luis RoblesNYRB at POR, v. PHI6.0 
6Przemyslaw TytonFCC v. ATL, v. CHI5.3I think many will have him first in their switcheroo, but I'd almost rather just go with single gamers Room/Willis or something like that if trying to save cash. There's pretty much no chance Atlanta doesn't score.
7Tyler MillerLAFC v. TOR7.4 
8David BinghamLA v. MTL7.0 
9Kenneth KronholmCHI at FCC7.9 
10Eloy RoomCLB at VAN4.9 

Value Rankings

(forwards and midfielders under $7.5, defenders under $6.0; not ranked above)

RankPlayerMatchupPriceNotes
1Joseph-Claude GyauFCC v. ATL, v. CHI4.9Higher ceiling, lower floor than Amaya.
2Cristhian ParedesPOR v. NYRB, v. MIN6.6 
3Cristian Casseres Jr.NYRB at POR, v. PHI6.1 
4Eric RemediATL at FCC, v. SJ5.1Yellow card warning?
5Rashawn DallyFCC v. ATL, v. CHI4.0 
6Billel TuilomaPOR v. NYRB, v. MIN5.6If he starts Wednesday, he could be the best avenue into the Portland defense, but you're taking a chance on him also starting over the weekend.
7Rece BuckmasterNYRB at POR, v. PHI4.0 
8Justin MeramATL at FCC, v. SJ6.4 
9Joevin JonesSEA v. DAL, at DC4.7A Wednesday start would put him into my top 20 with ease.
10Victor RodriguezSEA v. DAL, at DC7.1A Wednesday start would put him into my top 20 with ease.

Captain Rankings

RankPlayerMatchupPriceNotes
1Diego ValeriPOR v. NYRB, v. MIN13.5Two tough teams, but Portland are motivated and should roll this week.
2Josef MartinezATL at FCC, v. SJ13.9Great case for #1, but tough to knock off an elite midfielder playing twice at home.
3Nicolas LodeiroSEA v. DAL, at DC12.8 
4Raul RuidiazSEA v. DAL, at DC11.9I'm ranking Ruidiaz higher, but if you're chasing, I almost prefer Fernandez as the differential (C).
5Brian FernandezPOR v. NYRB, v. MIN9.5I'm ranking Ruidiaz higher, but if you're chasing, I almost prefer Fernandez as the differential (C).

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
JD Bazzo
JD is a former RotoWire contributor. He was a finalist for the 2017 FSWA Soccer Writer of the Year award. JD had been writing for RotoWire since 2015. He is a proud Pittsburgh native, purveyor of fantasy sports, and likely the first Penn State Basketball fan you've ever met.
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