MLS Fantasy Rankings: Week 9

MLS Fantasy Rankings: Week 9

This article is part of our MLS Fantasy Rankings series.

GAMES (EDT)

For detailed stats and odds, check out the

MLS Fantasy: Week 9 Cheat Sheet

Forwards

RankPlayerTeamMatchupPriceNotes
1Raul RuidiazSEASEA v. VAN13.3Ruidiaz leads the league in expected goals, plays on the team that has scored the most goals, and is playing against the team allowing the second most goals. 
2Diego RossiLAFCLAFC at RSL8.6It's been a relatively quiet stretch for Rossi, but Salt Lake shouldn't pose much of a challenge.
3Robert BericCHICHI at MTL10.4With Luis Binks suspended and a good chunk of the rest of the team ailing, Montreal will have a tough time stopping Chicago.
4Jordan MorrisSEASEA v. VAN12.7I like Morris almost as much as Ruidiaz. It's worth noting I don't think I'll double up on Seattle forwards given their appealing options at other positions, too.
5Gonzalo HiguainINTINT v. NYC9.5He's going to be a force. However, he's still getting used to teammates and is playing against a team that has given up just six goals all year. No need to force him into your lineup just because of the star power.
6Cristian PavonLAGLAG at SJ10.4San Jose have given up a laughable five or more goals in 3 of the last 6 matches! That matters much more to me than Galaxy's scoring drought.
7Bradley Wright-PhillipsLAFCLAFC at RSL8.6 
8Gustavo BouNENE v. NSH9.9Nashville are stingy enough defensively that I don't need to go out of my way to roster Bou this week.
9Kei KamaraMINMIN v. FCC5.6I have a weird feeling Cincy play well in this match, but I have to stick with the noggin' - Minnesota should dispatch them without much trouble.
10Brian RodriguezLAFCLAFC at RSL8.2 
11Alan PulidoSKCSKC at HOU9.4Pulido is both returning from injury and on the verge of going to national team camp (maybe). It's hard to forget how brightly his season started, and Houston's bland defense may give him another chance to shine.
12Jozy AltidoreTORTOR v. PHI6.5These next four forwards are usually top choices, but given their tough matchups, I'm not giving them much consideration this week.
13Kacper PrzybylkoPHIPHI at TOR13.0 
14Franco JaraDALDAL v. CLB9.0 
15Gyasi ZardesCLBCLB at DAL10.8 
16ChicharitoLAGLAG at SJ7.2Stoppable force (Chich) vs. Movable Object (SJ Defense).
17Daryl DikeORLORL v. RBNY4.0Tesho may start instead but Dike is the more exciting option.
18Valentin CastellanosNYCNYC at INT4.0Shoots a ton in nearly every match he features in.
19Mauro ManotasHOUHOU v. SKC5.1 
20Ola KamaraDCUDCU v. ATL5.2 

Midfielders

RankPlayerTeamMatchupPriceNotes
1Nicolas LodeiroSEASEA v. VAN14.7The Mr. Consistent to fellow Seattle star Russell Wilson's Mr. Unlimited.
2Alejandro PozueloTORTOR v. PHI15.5I'm a sucker for this Union team, but Pozuelo will be tough to leave out.
3Emanuel ReynosoMINMIN v. FCC8.4 
4Johnny RussellNYCNYC at INT10.4Russell-Lundkvist is one of the least fair matchups of the season.
5Joao PauloSEASEA v. VAN11.7You can pay $3.0 more for penalty kick duties, but otherwise both Lodeiro and Paulo are bonus point fiends. I think I'll only have room for one Seattle mid.
6Lucas ZelarayanCLBCLB at DAL9.3 
7Carlos Darwin QuinteroHOUHOU v. SKC9.2 
8NaniORLORL v. RBNY9.5 
9Sebastian LletgetLAGLAG at SJ9.2Galaxy have been shut out in three straight games, but San Jose is the best possible get right matchup.
10Pedro SantosCLBCLB at DAL10.2 
11Rodolfo PizarroINTINT v. NYC8.4If we like Higuain, we have to like Pizarro at least a little bit.
12Cristian RoldanSEASEA v. VAN7.6 
13Jan GregusMINMIN v. FCC7.5 
14Mark-Anthony KayeLAFCLAFC at RSL9.5 
15Alvaro MedranCHICHI at MTL11.0I also like Gaston Gimenez and think having two Chicago players is a pretty good idea this week.
16Alexandru MitritaNYCNYC at INT6.0 
17Fabian HerbersCHICHI at MTL10.1After being one of the first players Wicky calls off the field for most of the year, Herbers has strung together two really impressive near-90 minute performances.
18Chris MuellerORLORL v. RBNY8.9 
19KakuRBNYRBNY at ORL10.0As usual, Kaku/Royer/etc all pretty even.
20Pablo PiattiTORTOR v. PHI9.8 

Defenders

RankPlayerTeamMatchupPriceNotes
1Kelvin LeerdamSEASEA v. VAN10.5 
2Nouhou ToloSEASEA v. VAN4.2Nouhou is the presumed starter despite a knock and Brad Smith's recent signing. Smith is in the same price range and would be an even better option.
3Romain MetanireMINMIN v. FCC7.0 
4Anton TinnerholmNYCNYC at INT10.0I usually prefer Tinnerholm to Matarrita by a little bit, but even more this week considering Mata will have to deal with Lewis Morgan on his side.
5Richie LaryeaTORTOR v. PHI8.2 
6Chase GasperMINMIN v. FCC6.1My only issue with using Gasper is that about a third of his games feel like he's on the verge of a red card. Good on him for tiptoeing the line, I guess.
7Brandon ByeNENE v. NSH7.7Revs defenders could be ranked even higher, due to Nashville's banged up and already poor to begin with attack. New England isn't ideally built to defend a counterattack, though, which makes me the tiniest bit nervous. 
8Ronald MatarritaNYCNYC at INT9.7 
9Yeimar Gomez SEASEA v. VAN10.3 
10Frederick Henry KesslerNENE v. NSH7.0Can't count on Kessler's aerial prowess with Walker Zimmerman owning the center of the box on set pieces.
11Reto ZieglerDALDAL v. CLB11.7Yeah he's on penalties and some set pieces, but there are so many chances at a clean sheet this week that I can't justify playing him against such a good team.
12Michael BoxallMINMIN v. FCC7.4 
13Jonathan BornsteinCHICHI at MTL4.5Between Bornstein and Sekulic, I don't think paying up for Calvo is necessary.
14Harrison AffulCLBCLB at DAL9.8 
15Jonathan MensahCLBCLB at DAL10.8 
16Boris SekulicCHICHI at MTL5.8 
17Milton ValenzuelaCLBCLB at DAL9.6 
18Walker ZimmermanNSHNSH at NE9.1 
19Diego PalaciosLAFCLAFC at RSL5.2LAFC defense make a good backup option if your bench defenders falter and/or if you want to shift your Seattle allotment to attackers.
20Eddie SeguraLAFCLAFC at RSL7.0 

Goalkeepers

RankPlayerTeamMatchupPriceNotes
1Stefan FreiSEASEA v. VAN7.6For my money, Frei remains the best keeper in the league and Seattle are the only Western Conference team giving up no more than a goal per game on average. He's cheaper than many on this list, too!
2Dayne St. ClairMINMIN v. FCC8.5Cincy have played six games in September. Their xG (expected goals) have been under 0.5 in half of them!
3Matt TurnerNENE v. NSH9.1The final in a clear top tier of three.
4Eloy RoomCLBCLB at DAL9.2Yes, Dallas are first in the West. They've also been held scoreless in two straight.
5Pedro GalleseORLORL v. RBNY8.1Orlando are in the midst of an impressive run of play, but Red Bulls have scored four in each of their past two matches, making me just nervous enough to not put Gallese in that top tier this week.
6Bill HamidDCUDCU v. ATL5.3Cheap and in an early game, so he'll be a popular bench keeper.
7Pablo SisniegaLAFCLAFC at RSL5.3 
8Sean JohnsonNYCNYC at INT11.4 
9David BinghamLAGLAG at SJ8.9 
10Brad GuzanATLATL at DCU7.5Given my ranking (or lackthereof) of DC United forwards and mids, Guzan becomes a "Wait...maybe that's not the worst idea" play.

Value Rankings

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

RankPlayerTeamMatchupPriceNotes
1Ismael Tajouri-ShradiNYCNYC at INT5.6Seriously underpriced given his increased role in a Heber-less attack.
2Eduard AtuestaLAFCLAFC at RSL6.9I know he's still working his way back to full form, but we'd have jumped at the chance to use Atuesta this cheaply last year.
3Adam BuksaNENE v. NSH4.8Nashville's cautious defensive style make me think Buksa will start and be a target in the box all game long.
4Ben SweatINTINT v. NYC5.6It'll be a shame if Miami turn into a team that just launches crosses into Higuain, but Sweat would become an even better fantasy option. 
5Tom BarlowRBNYRBNY at ORL4.0 
6Yordy ReynaDCUDCU v. ATL4.0There's an outside chance that DC surprise us and they play early making for a good switcheroo structure to use a 4.0 Reyna.
7Julian GresselDCUDCU v. ATL7.2Revenge!
8Memo RodriguezHOUHOU v. SKC7.4 
9Bakaye DibassyMINMIN v. FCC5.8Dibassy and Teran (Chicago) are two centerbacks I'm not positive will start but are great prices in great matchups.
10Lee NguyenNENE v. NSH5.3 

Captain Rankings

RankPlayerTeamMatchupPriceNotes
1Nicolas LodeiroSEASEA v. VAN14.7If you're holding a top-100 champions league spot, I don't know how you stray from Nico.
2Alejandro PozueloTORTOR v. PHI15.5Unlikely to appeal to most as a captain choice, but have to stick with my ranking!
3Emanuel ReynosoMINMIN v. FCC8.4Honestly can't decide if Cincy's bunker will hurt or benefit Reynoso given the current state of Minnesota's attack. I do know Reynoso is really really good, though.
4Raul RuidiazSEASEA v. VAN13.3I have a tough time picking Ruidiaz over the safety of Lodeiro.
5Diego RossiLAFCLAFC at RSL8.6Russell, Beric, and JoMo and Pavon all are tempting choices, too. It's a good week for captain diversity.

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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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