Several key players return from international duty ahead of a big Round 26 of MLS Fantasy. A full 14-game slate features some juicy games to target for fantasy points – including a couple of heavy hitters in the Hell is Real derby and El Tráfico. With just five weeks left in the fantasy season, let’s get locked in on the top plays and values to help your team make some moves down the stretch.
Goalkeepers
Yohei Takaoka has kept back-to-back clean sheets, and up next he faces a San Jose Earthquakes side that he already shut out back in Round 3. With the Whitecaps close to clinching an Audi MLS Cup Playoffs spot, they’re heavy favorites to pick up all three points at home against the worst team in the league.
Keeperoo advice: With Takoaka playing in one of the last matches of the night on Saturday, consider having either Pedro Gallese, Brad Guzan, or Drake Callender on your bench for an extra chance at collecting clean sheet points. If your early GK posts a shutout, swap Takaoka for an FC Dallas (BYE) GK and watch your clean sheet points autosub in.
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Yohei Takaoka | VAN | vs. SJ | $6.3 |
2. Pedro Gallese | ORL | vs. NE | $7.1 |
3. Brad Guzan | ATL | vs. NSH | $6.9 |
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Alex Bono | DC | vs. NYC | $4.0 |
Defenders
Jordi Alba has a goal, an assist, and a clean sheet across his last three appearances – highlighting the impact the Barcelona legend continues to have. Both Alba and Julian Gressel provide a big attacking spark as defender-eligible fantasy players, combining for five goals and 20 assists across the 2024 campaign. Expect both to be involved at home against Philadelphia as Inter Miami inch closer to the Supporters’ Shield.
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Jordi Alba | MIA | vs. PHI | $11.2 |
2. Brooks Lennon | ATL | vs. NSH | $8.5 |
3. Jackson Ragen | SEA | vs. SKC | $10.7 |
4. Ranko Veselinovic | VAN | vs. SJ | $8.5 |
5. Julian Gressel | MIA | vs. PHI | $8.4 |
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Rafael Santos | ORL | vs. NSH | $4.3 |
2. Alvas Powell | CIN | vs. CLB | $4.0 |
Midfielders
Ryan Gauld has earned double-digit fantasy points in two of his last three starts, and he’s in a good position to do it again versus a San Jose side that have conceded a league-high 63 goals this season. With the Whitecaps jockeying for playoff positioning – and San Jose on the brink of elimination – look for the “Scottish Messi” to have multiple chances to impact the scoresheet.
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Ryan Gauld | VAN | vs. SJ | $13.7 |
2. Riqui Puig | LA | vs. LAFC | $15.6 |
3. Luciano Acosta | CIN | vs. CLB | $16.0 |
4. Evander | POR | at COL | $17.2 |
5. Mateusz Bogusz | LAFC | at LA | $13.8 |
6. Albert Rusnák | SEA | vs. SKC | $13.5 |
7. Marco Reus | LA | vs. LAFC | $10.8 |
8. Marcel Hartel | STL | vs. MIN | $10.8 |
9. Djordje Mihailovic | COL | vs. POR | $13.3 |
10. Facundo Torres | ORL | vs. NE | $9.9 |
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Ali Ahmed | VAN | vs. SJ | $6.1 |
2. Derrick Etienne Jr. | TOR | vs. ATX | $6.1 |
3. Cristian Roldan | SEA | vs. SKC | $6.8 |
Forwards
Cucho Hernández returns from international duty, and the stage is set for the Crew’s leading scorer to be a difference-maker in the next chapter of the Hell is Real derby on Saturday. Injuries and suspensions have decimated FC Cincinnati’s defensive unit, and with Columbus looking to bounce back from last week’s dismal loss to Seattle, we can expect Cucho to be firing on all cylinders.
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Cucho Hernández | CLB | at CIN | $13.6 |
2. Denis Bouanga | LAFC | at LA | $16.6 |
3. Luis Suárez | MIA | vs. PHI | $13.8 |
4. Gabriel Pec | LA | vs. LAFC | $14.7 |
5. Christian Benteke | DC | vs. NYC | $12.3 |
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Paul Rothrock | SEA | vs. SKC | $4.2 |
2. Jonathan Lewis | COL | vs. POR | $5.0 |
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Ryan Gauld | VAN | vs. SJ | $13.7 |
2. Riqui Puig | LA | vs. LAFC | $15.6 |
3. Cucho Hernández | CLB | at CIN | $13.6 |
MLS Pick’em Round 26
Playing MLS Pick’em is simple. Pick the correct answer to all the questions in a round, and you could win two tickets to a 2024 MLS regular-season match!
Pick’em advice:
- Pick 1: Will there be over 2.5 goals? Houston Dynamo vs. Real Salt Lake
No – Houston have been a defensive juggernaut of late, conceding once over their last three games and shutting out a high-octane LAFC attack in consecutive matches. With RSL's star striker Chicho Arango nursing a hamstring injury, I could see the Dynamo grinding out another defense-driven result here.
- Pick 3: Will both teams score? Colorado Rapids vs. Portland Timbers
