We have reached the final week of the MLS regular season and there is still a lot to be determined heading in to each game’s final game. The New England Revolution could still catch the Montreal Impact for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference while three different teams will be looking to hold off the Portland Timbers for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. We made sure to take the potential playoff scenarios in to account when breaking down the best MLS fantasy picks for this weekend’s action. Here is a look at the optimal lineup for Sunday’s DraftKings MLS fantasy leagues.
GK: Jake Gleeson, Portland
Salary: $4,400
Portland is coming off a massive 1-0 win over the Colorado Rapids that pushed them in to a tie with Sporting Kansas City for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference with a chance to finish the job on Sunday. Sporting Kansas City will match up with the San Jose Earthquakes but the real opportunity could come when Real Salt Lake clashes with the Seattle Sounders as those teams sit fourth and fifth in the Western Conference with 46 and 45 points respectively. That means that a Portland win could potentially bump them ahead of either Sporting Kansas City or one of either RSL or Seattle. All the Timbers can do is beat the Vancouver Whitecaps in order to give themselves a chance so look for Gleeson to shut the door as Portland aims to stay alive.
D: Bobby Boswell, DC United
Salary: $3,900
DC United has won four straight in order to move to within three points of Philadelphia for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference but they will need a win and a Union loss to the New York Red Bulls in order to squeeze in. Boswell found the score sheet in last week’s win over New York City FC and we are banking on another strong MLS fantasy performance in a must-win game against Orlando City SC on Sunday.
D: Jonathan Campbell, Chicago
Salary: $3,600
The Fire might not be competing for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference but they upset New England with a 2-1 win last weekend and will look to finish the season on a high note against Toronto FC. Campbell made his impact on the score sheet in last week’s victory and we are hoping he can get at least a point against Toronto on Sunday.
M: Tranquillo Barnetta, Philadelphia
Salary: $9,100
The Union needs just a single point to clinch a playoff spot but it won’t be easy against a Red Bulls team that can score goals in bunches. Philadelphia won’t have a chance without a strong performance from its star midfielder Barnetta so we are willing to spend a little more money to get him in our MLS fantasy lineup.
M: Rob Vincent, DC United
Salary: $4,000
One of the reasons why we are able to spend a little more money on Barnetta is because we will be able to lock in a strong value play in Vincent, who is listed as a midfielder on DraftKings despite lining up as a defender and midfielder for DC United. Vincent had a point in last week’s 3-1 win over NYCFC so we are banking on him doubling down this weekend.
F: Bradley Wright-Phillips, New York Red Bulls
Salary: $12,200
The Red Bulls have already clinched a playoff spot but Wright-Phillips enters the final week of the regular season with an MLS-leading 23 goals, which is one more than David Villa of NYCFC. There is a good chance that Wright-Phillips will want to clinch the goal scoring title on Sunday so we will spend big on the second-highest priced forward on the board in MLS fantasy next to Toronto FC’s Sebastian Giovinco.
F: Fanendo Adi, Portland
Salary: $8,300
It only makes sense to have at least one attacking player from a team in a must-win situation in our lineup for this weekend. Adi ranks sixth in the MLS with 16 goals in 32 appearances this season and the Timbers are relying on him delivering at least one against the Whitecaps on Sunday. He’s a good option in MLS fantasy.
FLEX: Jack Jewsbury, Portland
Salary: $4,500
With exactly $4.5K left on the board to address our final FLEX position, it only makes sense that we maximize the money available to us with the best option available for that price tag. Jewsbury has had a solid season as one of Portland’s best defenders and the upside is certainly there relying on him to deliver a strong performance in a must-win situation against Vancouver as the FLEX play in our DraftKings MLS fantasy lineup for Sunday.
