MLS Targets Saturday, June 20th
This week we have a full slate of games with six games on Saturday over on DraftKings and Mondogoal. The matchups are intriguing and there are many top plays that are going to cost too much, so this week we might want to save salary on goalkeeper and defense with an eye on spending up at forward and midfield. Lineups lock at 3PM CST, which puts all the more pressure on us to get our teams in early this Saturday. So without any further delays, let’s get to the top picks!
Goalkeepers
With six matches today, three teams are heavy favorites, with Toronto, LA Galaxy and Portland holding significant edges in Vegas over their opponents. Of those teams, Chris Konopka (TOR, $5,000) is probably in the most attractive position. He is facing a New York City FC team that sees a significant drop off in their performance on the road from at home, with only four points in their last six away matches. NYFC also struggles with getting shots off on the road, with only 9.4 shots per game, that is a 4 spg drop off from their overall average. The only thing that makes me hesitant to roster Konopka in this matchup is David Villa and his incredible ability to score goals, however, of his five goals on the season so far, Villa only has one on the road (off 3.5 spg) compared to 3 at home (off 5 spg). Konopka will be my main keeper in most of my lineups today.
If you’re not willing to go with Konopka, take a look at Jaime Penedo (LAG, $5,500), or Adam Kwarasey (POR, $5,200) if you’re looking for other favorites to target. If you’re thinking of trying to save some salary then take a look at Tally Hall (ORL, $4,000), or maybe even David Bingham (SJ, $3,700) and try to take advantage of Seattle missing Dempsey (suspension) and Martins (Injury).
Defenders
Justin Morrow, Toronto $4,300 – Toronto is in a good spot in this matchup to determine the pace and the tempo of this matchup. New York tends to play a bit more conservative while on the road and closes down the passing lanes down the middle. Moreover, looking at the Toronto numbers, they tend to cross more while in their home stadium (as a team 20 crosses per game at home, vs 13 per game on the road), this will lead to some more attacking by their full backs. Morrow and Ashtone Morgan (TOR, $3,300) are both excellent options. Morrow has more consistency which is why he’s being listed here, but I will have a healthy dose of both of them in my rosters.
Alvas Powell, Portland $4,500 – Portland is a dynamic team that spends a lot of time in the opponents defensive half. In their last matchup against New England, Powell managed only 2 fantasy points off the 1GA bonus, which will turn off plenty of people from rostering him. However, looking at his activity, you’ll see that he actually had close to 6-7 crosses from open play that were unsuccessful (not counted by MLS or DK), therefore, if he managed to connect on at least 3-4 of these crosses and if he gets a shot or two in the flow of the match, then he’s put himself in a position to be a double-digit scorer for the weekend.
Other Defenders I Like: Luke Boden (ORL, $3,700), Jeb Brovsky (NYFC, $4,400), Tyrone Mears (SEA, $5,700), Brek Shea (ORL, $5,600), Omar Gonzalez (LAG, $4,800)
Midfielders
Pedro Morales, Vancouver $8,200 – As the fourth highest midfielder on the slate, Morales should be on everybody’s radar. He makes for one of the most consistent players on a Vancouver team that is up and down over its last six weeks. If Morales gets the start this week then he should be a guaranteed double digit outing and he has the upside of 20 points if he manages to get a goal or get on the front end of a key pass leading to a goal.
Marco Pappa, Seattle $7,600 – Without Dempsey and Obafemi Martins, the Sounders will need some help up front. The burden of attack will fall on the midfielders and whoever starts in place of the two forwards. Along with Lamar Neagle (SEA, $7,100) and Andy Rose (SEA, $4,700), Pappa makes a great play and after returning from international duty, he should be fired up to help Seattle take on this matchup and return to winning ways after losing in the Open Cup to Portland in the midweek.
Other Midfielders I Like: Lamar Neagle (SEA, $7,100), Ignacio Piatti (MON, $8,200), Felipe Martins (NYRB, $6,400), Michael Bradley (TOR, $6,300), Jorge Villafana (POR, $4,900)
Forwards
Bradley Wright-Phillips, NYRB $9,300 – There are several ways you can go this week with your top forward option, chief among those is BWP, but I wouldn’t fault you for wanting to take any of the other top options we have on tap today (more on them later). The Red Bulls are playing at home against a Vancouver squad that is an underdog on the road. In their most recent away matches, the Whitecaps have been very conservative on the road and have held the matches to a single goal either way. With BWP playing so well at home (4.7 shots per game, 4 goals and 2 assists this season) I will send him in a team or two with the hope that he comes through and manages to break down the Vancouver defenses.
Sebastian Giovinco, Toronto $10,400 – Arguably the hottest attacker in MLS these days, Giovinco has double-digit fantasy points in each of his last 10 games including several games with 20 or more points. If you can fit him in, you are almost guaranteed a good performance. To add to it, his opponent NYCFC allow the third most shots per game while on the road (15.7 shots per game) and we know that Giovinco loves to fire at every opportunity. Even if he doesn’t manage to score, he’ll be getting you double-digit fantasy points.
Robbie Keane, LA Galaxy $9,200 – He’s back and he’s ready to play a full 90. Or at least we hope he is. Keane might be one of the best strikers in MLS and when he’s priced so low compared to his talent you need to take advantage of that. He is coming off a hat-trick in the MLS Cup this past week, and in this matchup with Philadelphia, he is poised to score a goal or at least threaten. Roster him with confidence and know that you’re getting a slight discount.
Other Forwards to consider: David Villa (NYC, $10,700), Chris Wondolowski (SJ, $10,000), Octavio Rivero (VAN, $8,900), Jack McInerney (MON, $7,000), Jozy Altidore (TOR, $8,400), Gyasi Zardes (LAG, $8,000), Fenando Adi (POR, $7,700)
With that, we have reached the end of our picks for the day, if you have any thoughts, suggestions or criticisms, I’d love to hear them in the comments. Good Luck!