The MLS season continues on Saturday but the majority of the games are scheduled for Sunday when 16 teams will be in action. That will mean plenty of options to choose from when it comes to building the optimal lineup for MLS fantasy purposes. We took the time to break down the best combination of star players and strong value plays and we came up with the best possible group for Sunday’s action. Here is a look at the optimal lineup for Sunday’s DraftKings MLS fantasy leagues.
GK: Brian Rowe, LA Galaxy
Salary: $4,100
The Galaxy have strung together four straight wins including three clean sheets to climb to third in the Western Conference standings and there is every reason to expect them to extend their undefeated run to seven games when they visit the Seattle Sounders this weekend. Rowe is available at a very reasonable price in DraftKings tournaments so we have no problem locking him in here. The Galaxy have allowed just 19 goals in 20 games this season, which is the second-fewest in the Western Conference. Only the Colorado Rapids have allowed less goals in 2016.
D: Drew Moor, Toronto FC
Salary: $3,900
Moor has shown flashes of his ability to contribute on the score sheet throughout this MLS season but it’s Toronto FC’s strong defensive play that makes him a strong fit for us this week. TFC has allowed just 23 goals this season for the best mark in the Eastern Conference and we are banking on another strong defensive performance against Columbus on Sunday.
D: A.J. DeLaGarza, LA Galaxy
Salary: $3,700
The potential is there for the Galaxy to shut down the Sounders’ attack and that makes DeLaGarza a very interesting option in DraftKings tournaments. He doesn’t have the highest offensive upside but he is a quality defender that fits perfectly in to our lineup at just $3.7K.
M: Sacha Kljestan, New York Red Bulls
Salary: $8,800
Kljestan was the top midfield performer in MLS fantasy last week when he scored a goal and added two assists in the Red Bulls’ lopsided win over rivals New York City FC. We are banking on another strong performance this week when New York takes on a Chicago side that is buried at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. The Red Bulls 36 goals so far this season lead the Eastern Conference.
M: Marco Delgado, Toronto FC
Salary: $4,400
Delgado contributed to Toronto FC’s big win over DC United with an assist and we will take a chance on him to deliver again this week versus Columbus. Delgado is available at a very reasonable $4.4K and that makes him a strong value pick at the midfield position.
F: Sebastian Giovinco, Toronto FC
Salary: $13,000
Giovinco’s goal drought came to a crashing halt last weekend when he scored a hat trick in Toronto FC’s 4-1 win over DC United. There is no doubt about Giovinco’s upside as one of the most lethal strikers in all of MLS and the strong value options we locked in at the defender and FLEX positions allowed us to be able to spend a little more to afford the highest-priced player on the board for this week.
F: Bradley Wright-Phillips, New York Red Bulls
Salary: $8,300
Wright-Phillips led the way up front for the Red Bulls in their clash with NYCFC as he scored two goals to help them secure an important three points. New York will look to stretch their undefeated run to five games when they take on the lowly Fire on Sunday and we are banking on that Wright-Phillips will deliver again.
FLEX: Ronald Zubar, New York Red Bulls
Salary: $3,500
After locking in Kljestan and Wright-Phillips as obvious picks as the offensive leaders of the Red Bulls, it only makes sense to track back and fill in our final FLEX spot in MLS fantasy with a reasonably priced defender from their roster. Zubar doesn’t offer much in terms of offense but he did have a point in last week’s lopsided win over NYCFC and at $3.5K he is worth taking a chance on here with a potential clean sheet bonus very much in play.
