Your Matchday 8 fantasy and gaming advice roundup is here! Check out MLS Fantasy positional rankings as well as MLS Squad Pick and MLS Parlay Predictor recommendations below.
MLS Fantasy
With injuries and suspensions starting to take a toll, it’s important to know who’s out and how individual matchups are affected from week to week. Round 8 is loaded with unpredictable matchups, so let’s get right into it to identify the top plays and values at each position.
Get more advice on the _MLS Fantasy Insider Round 8 preview_ podcast
Teams on a BYE: MIA
Goalkeepers
FC Dallas' Maarten Paes registered his first clean sheet of 2023 in last week’s 1-0 win at Inter Miami CF. With a lack of standout mismatches, let’s see if Dallas and Paes can build off their first shutout at home against a Real Salt Lake side that's been all over the place this season. After winning their first road match on opening weekend, RSL have lost their last two road games by a combined score of 6-0.
If you’re short on funds, take a look at Carlos Coronel. He regularly flirts with a clean sheet and faces a weakened Houston Dynamo FC attack with Héctor Herrera suspended.
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
1. Maarten Paes | DAL | vs. RSL | $7.4 |
2. John McCarthy | LAFC | at LA | $8.1 |
3. Brad Stuver | ATX | vs. VAN | $6.9 |
4. Dayne St. Clair | MIN | vs. ORL | $7.4 |
5. Roman Celentano | CIN | at STL | $8.9 |
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
1. Carlos Coronel | RBNY | vs. HOU | $5.7 |
2. Luis Barraza | NYC | vs. NSH | $5.2 |
3. Patrick Schulte | CLB | vs. NE | $5.3 |
Defenders
Julian Gressel’s status as a defender in MLS Fantasy makes him a top option each matchday regardless of the matchup. He’s up to one goal and four assists in seven games, and, up against an Austin FC side that continues to give up big chances, we can expect Gressel to see more opportunities come his way on Saturday.
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
1. Julian Gressel | VAN | at ATX | $10.2 |
2. Álvaro Barreal | CIN | at STL | $10.2 |
3. Diego Palacios | LAFC | at LA | $8.1 |
4. Alex Roldán | SEA | at POR | $8.8 |
5. Jon Gallagher | ATX | vs. VAN | $8.3 |
6. Rodrigues | SJ | vs. SKC | $8.6 |
7. Richie Laryea | TOR | vs. ATL | $7.7 |
8. Steven Moreira | CLB | vs. NE | $8.5 |
9. Brooks Lennon | ATL | at TOR | $8.8 |
10. Walker Zimmerman | NSH | at NYC | $9.7 |
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
1. Adam Lundkvist | ATX | vs. VAN | $4.0 |
2. Lukas MacNaughton | TOR | vs. ATL | $4.3 |
3. Ali Ahmed | VAN | at ATX | $4.7 |
Midfielders
Cristian Espinoza has been on fire in 2023. He’s scored three goals across his last two outings, and he’s averaging over nine fantasy points per game. At home against a Sporting KC side that currently sits at the bottom of the Western Conference, look for Espinoza to continue to fuel the San Jose attack.
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
1. Cristian Espinoza | SJ | vs. SKC | $11.5 |
2. Lucas Zelarayán | CLB | vs. NE | $11.2 |
3. Thiago Almada | ATL | at TOR | $12.0 |
4. Carles Gil | NE | at CLB | $10.1 |
5. Sebastián Driussi | ATX | vs. VAN | $8.9 |
6. Nicolás Lodeiro | SEA | at POR | $9.3 |
7. Hany Mukhtar | NSH | at NYC | $10.4 |
8. Riqui Puig | LA | vs. LAFC | $8.3 |
9. Evander | POR | vs. SEA | $8.2 |
10. Santiago Rodríguez | NYC | vs. NSH | $8.0 |
11. Dániel Gazdag | PHI | at CHI | $9.9 |
12. Erik Thommy | SKC | at SJ | $7.8 |
13. Jonathan Osorio | TOR | vs. ATL | $8.6 |
14. Timothy Tillman | LAFC | at LA | $8.6 |
15. Eduard Löwen | STL | vs. CIN | $8.8 |
16. Jamiro Monteiro | SJ | vs. SKC | $7.9 |
17. Aidan Morris | CLB | vs. NE | $9.0 |
18. Paul Arriola | DAL | vs. RSL | $6.8 |
19. Mark-Anthony Kaye | TOR | vs. ATL | $8.9 |
20. Martín Ojeda | ORL | at MIN | $7.0 |
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
1. Kellyn Acosta | LAFC | at LA | $6.6 |
2. Maren Haile-Selassie | CHI | vs. PHI | $5.0 |
3. Bryce Duke | MTL | vs. DC | $5.8 |
Forwards
LAFC's Dénis Bouanga is scoring goals for fun. He’s coming off a Matchday 7 hat trick with some world-class goals worthy of MLS Fantasy bonus points if that were a thing. Given his current run of form, it would be no surprise to see him do it again in the next chapter of El Trafico on Sunday.
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
1. Dénis Bouanga | LAFC | at LA | $9.9 |
2. Federico Bernardeschi | TOR | vs. ATL | $10.0 |
3. Carlos Vela | LAFC | at LA | $8.8 |
4. Jesus Ferreira | DAL | vs. RSL | $9.4 |
5. João Klauss | STL | vs. CIN | $10.3 |
6. Jordan Morris | SEA | at POR | $10.6 |
7. Jeremy Ebobisse | SJ | vs. SKC | $8.2 |
8. Karol Swiderski | CLT | vs. COL | $8.1 |
9. Kwadwo Opoku | LAFC | at LA | $6.8 |
10. Brandon Vazquez | CIN | at STL | $7.9 |
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
1. Kei Kamara | CHI | vs. PHI | $6.3 |
2. Cade Cowell | SJ | vs. SKC | $5.5 |
3. Maxi Urruti | ATX | vs. VAN | $5.6 |
1. Cristian Espinoza | SJ | vs. SKC | $11.5 |
2. Dénis Bouanga | LAFC | at LA | $9.9 |
3. Federico Bernardeschi | TOR | vs. ATL | $10.0 |
Playing MLS Squad Pick is quick and easy. Pick six players for your squad. If they all score in the same matchday, you could win a $160 MLSstore.com gift card!
Don’t forget, each round you play gives you one (1) entry into the end-of-season Grand Prize drawing for $10,000!
Expert advice:
Bouanga and Espinoza have been scorching hot to start 2023, and I’m counting on them to keep it rolling with good individual matchups in Round 8. Sebastián Driussi hasn't scored in bulk like he did last season, but a home matchup against a road-weary Vancouver team could be just what he needs to get back in gear. As is the theme with most of my entries, selecting preferred penalty kick takers is a big part of the Squad Pick process.
Check out my squad for Round 8:
Playing MLS Parlay Predictor is simple. Pick the results of all six games correctly in a single matchday, and you could win a 2023 MLS Season Pass full-season subscription on Apple TV!
Each round you predict gives you one (1) entry into the end-of-season Grand Prize drawing for $10,000!
Expert advice:
For the first time this season, it wouldn't be a surprise to see multiple road teams come away with a win in Round 8. FC Cincinnati, Seattle Sounders FC and LAFC all look like the better teams on paper, although Cincy may be missing Luciano Acosta and Brenner. The other three matchups are coin flips in my opinion... so obviously all three will likely have a lopsided result.
Check out my predictions for Round 8:
