The MLS season continues with a full slate of action this weekend, including the highly anticipated showdown between the defending MLS champion LA Galaxy and Eastern Conference-leading New York Red Bulls. Building the optimal lineup for DraftKings fantasy leagues will once again come down to finding the perfect balance between star talent and value on the board. Here is a look at some of the best value plays on the board for this weekend’s MLS fantasy action.
GK: Jaime Penedo, LA Galaxy
Salary: $5,600
Some will shy away from the matchup against the New York Red Bulls but he is undoubtedly one of the best goaltenders in the league and will be leaned on heavily. The Galaxy are looking to find a way to at least earn a point this weekend, so it makes sense to go with Penedo. Penedo has looked outstanding while giving up just a single goal in back-to-back wins over Seattle and Sporting Kansas City, and the Galaxy will be pumped up with an opportunity to prove what they can do against the Red Bulls in New York.
D: Marcel de Jong, Sporting Kansas City
Salary: $3,100
Visiting Houston shouldn’t scare anybody away from the Sporting Kansas City defenders and de Jong is an excellent value play as one of the cheaper options where you know what you will get out of him. There are a couple of options worth considering here but de Jong is a solid bet to fill one of the two spots for defenders while leaving more money to spend elsewhere.
D: Drew Moor, Colorado
Salary: $2,400
In terms of overall value, it’s hard to find a better play than Moor, who has been excellent since he made his debut for Colorado. Moor will register a ton of fantasy points for his defensive play and can also step up as a threat on corner kicks and other set pieces. At $2,400, he is an excellent value play heading in to a home date with FC Dallas.
M: Stefan Ishizaki, LA Galaxy
Salary: $6,900
With Robbie Keane still dealing with a nagging groin injury, the focus of the offense has shifted somewhat with Ishizaki playing a bigger role, swinging balls in to the box for the big man Alan Gordon up front. Even if Keane does play, Ishizaki will play a big role getting balls in to the box and at this price, he makes for a quality value midfield play.
M: Luis Gil, Real Salt Lake
Salary: $5,100
In order to balance the books, it makes sense to go with a player like Gil, who could play an important role if Javier Morales is sidelined. RSL has a tough test against New England on Saturday and with Morales dealing with a nagging groin injury, we could see Gil put up a quality stat line as a strong value play here.
F: Sebastian Giovinco, Toronto
Salary: $7,800
Toronto FC will need its best striker to play at a high level in order to have any shot at emerging with at least a point on Sunday but considering the way that Columbus had their way with Orlando SC last week, Giovinco should have his opportunities to score. The Italian international scored twice and had three shots on goal last week versus FC Dallas and he could be in for another strong performance this weekend.
F: Alan Gordon, LA Galaxy
Salary: $5,300
Whether or not Keane is healthy enough to play in this game will have an effect on whether or not to go with Gordon as a quality striker option. If Keane isn’t able to play, then this will be an excellent value play. Gordon has assumed the role of the Galaxy’s lone striker up front with Keane out and would be an excellent value play if he continued to fill out that role.
FLEX: Lamar Neagle, Seattle
Salary: $4,900
He may be listed as a midfielder on DraftKings but Neagle has played up front for the Sounders in each of their last two games and has played at a very high level, ranking among the top fantasy strikers in each of the last two weeks. Neagle stole the spotlight in last week’s win over the Colorado Rapids when he scored twice including the game-winning goal and considering he has registered five shots on goal in each of his last two games for Seattle, it would seem he should be a lock in your starting lineup against a Portland Timbers team that could still be vulnerable despite last week’s win.
