MLS Fantasy Rankings: Week 2

MLS Fantasy Rankings: Week 2

This article is part of our MLS Fantasy Rankings series.

The rankings below are based on Major League Soccer's official fantasy game and cover all games in Week 2. While they can be used for DFS purposes, they are done with a focus on the league's season-long game.

If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below, or hit up JD on Twitter @dfsMLS.

For detailed stats and odds, check out the MLS Fantasy: Week 2 Cheat Sheet, which is available to all RotoWire subscribers. Not a member yet? Try us for 10 days free, no credit card required, by clicking here.

MATCHES (ET)

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

FORWARDS
RankPlayerMatchupPriceNotes
1Carlos VelaLAFC v. POR10.8In week 1, Vela was near the top of the league in shots (5), crosses (9), fouls drawn (5), successful dribbles (7), and touches in the opponents' box (9). And he did it all against a good SKC side. That level of activity won't often result in JUST 4 points.
2Alexandru MitritaNYC v. DC10.4The Pigeons are lacking a veritable central attacking option, and the chemistry between Mitrita and his teammates needs some work, but NYC's big offseason signing looks like a true game changer. With four shots attempted from outside the box, Mitrita should stay aggressive no matter what's going on around him.
3Raul RuidiazSEA v. COL10.6Jordan Morris will be more popular after his two-goal return to action, but Ruidiaz will remain Seattle's premier scoring option.
4Josef MartinezATL v. FCC10.6After a dismal CCL match in Monterrey, Atlanta may as well take some frustrations out against Cincy. Rotation is a concern though, so be prepared to pivot to Vela in the last match of the week if Josef rests.
5Carlos Darwin QuinteroMIN at SJ11.5San Jose defenders might have to visit the world's longest outdoor bar at Avaya Stadium to drown their sorrows after Quintero has his way with them.
6Wayne RooneyDC at NYC10.9A fine play, but you have better ways to splash your cash this week.
7Zlatan IbrahimovicLA at DAL11.2Given the Galaxy's struggles against a poor Fire defense last week, Dallas have a reasonable chance to stymie Zlatan and friends.
8Adama DiomandeLAFC v. POR9.6Christian Ramirez could hold onto the starting job, but Dio made one heck of a claim with his last minute stunner. Ramirez would slot in ~5 spots lower if he starts instead.
9Dominique BadjiDAL v. LA7.1Many viewed Dallas' opener as a disappointment, but I think there was a lot to like. Badji remains an intriguing forward option at a great cost.
10Nemanja NikolicCHI v. ORL9.0Sapong started and was gifted a "gimme" last week, but Nikolic had been away for the birth of his child. If you want to bet on the newborn narrative, here's your chance. If you want to bet on Orlando's defense still being pretty bad, here's your chance.
11Jordan MorrisSEA v. COL8.5Seattle won't see many matches against such a disorganized defense as in FC Cincinnatti's debut, but Morris showed some growth after a long injury absence and will be in the fantasy mix frequently.
12Diego RossiLAFC v. POR9.7The goal was nice but his output was otherwise similarly quiet to last season. I really want to see more involvement before I drop $9.7 on a player.
13Maximiliano UrrutiMTL at HOU9.2Remi Garde heaped praise on Urruti after the opener. It's looking more and more like Montreal could be a great fit.
14Cristian PenillaNE v. CLB9.2A bit quiet on the road in week one but should find some more room to operate at home against an adjusting Columbus side.
15Mauro ManotasHOU v. MTL9.7Will be a mainstay in the top-10 most weeks, but having played CCL on Wednesday with another crucial match next week, I'm not certain he'll start or play enough minutes.
16Chris WondolowskiSJ v. MIN6.8Minnesota gave up two set piece headed goals last week. Wondo is pretty good at those. He'll also likely take any penalties, which late career Ike Opara always feels close to conceding.
17Dom DwyerORL at CHI8.9Assuming health and fitness, Dwyer will enjoy one of his better road fixtures of the season against a Chicago team needing half of a back line.
18Alberth ElisHOU v. MTL9.1Was close to an assist last week if Boniek Garcia could stay onside, but he also has CCL concerns. Montreal are as comfortable without the ball as Houston, so the counter may not be as susceptible as the Dynamo's dynamo would like.
19Gyasi ZardesCLB at NE9.2Maybe the Revs get a clean sheet, but I'm certainly not going to be the one to bet on it. Gyasi's first game under Caleb Porter showed encouraging signs.
20Fredy MonteroVAN at RSL8.8Fredy's involvement was encouraging. I think he can improve upon his last stint with Vancouver, even being two years further from his prime.
MIDFIELDERS
RankPlayerMatchupPriceNotes
1Nicolas LodeiroSEA v. COL11.5The price change algorithm is surely going to begin pulling strongly downward for Lodeiro, but he should keep it at bay one more week thanks to the week 1 total. The only reason you fade Lodeiro this week would be because you like other Seattle options nearly as much and want to save some cash for other players.
2Albert RusnakRSL v. VAN10.5Rusnak had a hand in almost everything good RSL did in week one. They should roll at home against a Whitecaps side that needs a few more weeks to gel.
3Maximiliano MoralezNYC v. DC10.6Umm please don't play him as a false 9 ever again, Dome.
4Pity MartinezATL v. FCC10.1Pity took a knock during the second half of the CCL match, so we'll be monitoring as the week progresses. If he plays, Cincy probably can't contain him.
5VakoSJ v. MIN8.8Almeyda should be a boon for Vako's game and fantasy output, but it will take more time to fully grasp the Quakes than most other MLS teams this year.
6Victor RodriguezSEA v. COL8.5VRod looked every bit as good as Lodeiro and Jordan Morris in week 1. His strong chance of a price rise is encouraging, too.
7Luciano AcostaDC at NYC11.0Even without the gifted goal from Brad Guzan last week, Lucho would have had a promising outing. 
8Aleksandar KataiCHI v. ORL8.4Orlando's defense is pretty green and Brian Rowe is one of the league's worst starting keepers.
9Ignacio PiattiMTL at HOU11.3Houston hung with Tigres for most of the CCL match this week. If they rest their starters, as they should, then Piatti could have a field day.
10Djordje MihailovicCHI v. ORL7.7Don't want to catch the falling knife here with the price drop, but the matchup is favorable.
11Michael BarriosDAL v. LA7.9Galaxy's Jorgen Skjelvik wasn't all that great of a centerback, so yes please let's isolate him at left back against Barrios!
12Carles GilNE v. CLB9.4Knowing when to play Gil is going to be tough, but given Friedel's demands on both sides of the ball, his bonus point totals at home should be strong.
13Lee NguyenLAFC v. POR8.1Disappointing first match after a preseason pulling the strings. We'll have to continue monitoring how Nguyen fits into this multifaceted LAFC offense.
14NaniORL at CHI9.4High quality effort in his brief appearance. If he's fit enough to start the match, Chicago are going to have problems.
15Marco FabianPHI at SKC9.4Fabian was a focal point of the Union in week one, but will have a tough first road test against a Sporting side that rested some players in CCL leg one.
16Magnus ErikssonSJ v. MIN7.4Reaped the benefits of a more central attacking position in the opener. He's on some set pieces as well, which Minnesota did not defend well last week or last year.
17Sebastian BlancoPOR at LAFC10.5Given the price and matchup, I don't expect Blanco to get much use in serious fantasy lineups this week. 
18Ezequiel BarcoATL v. FCC7.7A good week will stop the price bleeding and probably boost him back up a bit. He'll have every opportunity against a reeling FCC.
19Saphir TaiderMTL at HOU11.0Remained involved in set pieces, led Montreal attackers in touches by 15, and tallied four chances created. Too expensive, but would be a good pick if Houston rested starters.
20Diego ValeriPOR at LAFC11.0Enormous week 1 stats thanks to playing up a man in a blizzard against a "meh" Rapids group. Don't expect that this week in LA.
DEFENDERS
RankPlayerMatchupPriceNotes
1Kim Kee-HeeSEA v. COL5.4Thanks to a 3-player per team max, you may not even be able to fit a Seattle defender in your lineup. If you can, Kee-Hee should spend all match clearing crosses away from Kei Kamara.
2Brad SmithSEA v. COL5.3Assuming Smith continues to start over Nouhou Tolo, his playmaking upside makes him quite appealing.
3Graham ZusiSKC v. PHI6.8Based on Peter Vermes' non-rotation in week one, and rotation for leg one of CCL this week, it looks like the Supporters Shield is a high priority. Zusi should get the start in a pretty good matchup against Philly this weekend.
4Kelvin LeerdamSEA v. COL5.5Got into just the right spot for his opportunistic week one goal, but I still lean Smith given that he's cheaper and likely to contribute assists and crosses a bit more consistently.
5Leandro Gonzalez PirezATL v. FCC6.4Unless you're banking on Bertone striking another heat-seeker into the bottom left corner, Atlanta have a really good chance at a clean sheet.
6Reggie CannonDAL v. LA5.6Based on the Galaxy's struggles and Dallas' possession with purpose last week, Cannon should see a healthy amount of opportunity in the attacking third.
7Miles RobinsonATL v. FCC5.1Few reasons to spend up for LGP when you can just take Robinson.
8Chad MarshallSEA v. COL6.0He's a set piece threat, but less likely for bonus points in this match than the other Sounders defenders already mentioned. He's also more expensive than the rest of them.
9Michael ParkhurstATL v. FCC5.6A pure clean sheet play.
10Matt BeslerSKC v. PHI6.9Depending on Fontas' injury, Besler may continue to be pressed into action for both MLS and CCL matches, without reprieve.
11Reto ZieglerDAL v. LA5.7Ziegler and Hedges completed more passes than anyone outside of Anibal Godoy in week one. Those two potential bonus points shouldn't be scoffed at!
12MarceloCHI v. ORL5.3I don't believe in the Chicago defense (until some of these rumored signings come through), but I also don't truly buy the Orlando attack on the road quite yet. 
13Harrison AffulCLB at NE6.7If you thought Berhalter wanted Afful to push up the pitch, wait until I tell you about this Caleb Porter dude...
14Matt HedgesDAL v. LA6.5Ziegler, but $0.8 more expensive and without the chance of taking a penalty kick.
15Walker ZimmermanLAFC v. POR7.0Zimmerman is a set piece target and will always have a clean sheet opportunity on one of the league's best teams.
16Leonardo JaraDC at NYC6.5Really encouraging debut for DC United. Could quicklty prove to be one of the league's most aggressively offensive fullbacks.
17Steven BeitashourLAFC v. POR6.1Squeaked into the defender rankings, but the price is a little high for what he'll offer this week.
18Nick LimaSJ v. MIN5.3Both Lima and Lopez on the opposite side will have strong offensive potential all season.
19Edgar CastilloNE v. CLB5.7Castillo and Penilla make for a dangerous left flank in New England.
20Ryan HollingsheadDAL v. LA4.8A great value for a switcheroo bench option.
GOALKEEPERS
RankPlayerMatchupPriceNotes
1Stefan FreiSEA v. COL6.0No surprises here.
2Brad GuzanATL v. FCC5.9Guzan could use a bounce back game after a few rough matches. An expansion dud could be just what the doctor ordered.
3Tim MeliaSKC v. PHI6.0A favorite to lead the league in clean sheets this year, Melia has a decent chance when SKC host the Union.
4David OustedCHI v. ORL4.9After three tough seasons following his Goalkeeper of the Year runner-up in 2015, Outsted played well in week one. His price combined with the earliest kickoff of the weekend make him appealing in some switcheroo scenarios.
5Tyler MillerLAFC v. POR5.6Reasonable matchup, reasonable price.
6Nick RimandoRSL v. VAN5.5I think Vancouver have more pop than most are giving them credit for.
7Joe WillisHOU v. MTL5.1This looks like it could be a career year for Willis and Montreal are a team relatively content to sit back and defend on the road.
8Jesse GonzalezDAL v. LA5.6With Alessandrini ailing, Dallas just need to focus on stopping one gargantuan legendary Swede.
9Sean JohnsonNYC v. DC6.0Wishful thinking and a lack of other appealing matchups equal Sean Johnson at home sneaking into the top 10.
10Zack SteffenCLB at NE6.2The Revs can go scoreless any given week and Columbus have a group that is familiar with playing together, which can mean a decent amount early in the year.
VALUE RANKINGS
(forwards and midfielders under $7.5, defenders under $6.0; not ranked above)
RankPlayerMatchupPriceNotes
1Chris MuellerORL at CHI7.0I suspect he won't dominate set pieces when Nani gets into action, but he was extremely impressive last week.
2Santiago MosqueraDAL v. LA7.4Disappointing first performance, but I still think there's some potential here.
3Gerso FernandesSKC v. PHI6.7One of the best fantasy bargains at this price, but buyers beware of another price drop.
4Paxton PomykalDAL v. LA5.7May be given a shot to make his mark in the Dallas attack and given the early kickoff, he's a good bench option.
5Krisztian NemethSKC v. PHI7.2Probably will be pulled off early due to CCL, but he's a good bet for a goal.
6Jordan HarveyLAFC v. POR5.3Dio's wingman last week is certainly worth a look at this price.
7Miguel IbarraMIN at SJ7.5A relatively quiet but strong week 1. Now provides us with cheap exposure to a San Jose I think we should be targetting every week until proven otherwise.
8Corey BairdRSL v. VAN6.9He will be a popular third forward and for good reason.
9George BelloATL v. FCC4.5Atlanta desperately need some wingbacks to get healthy. Brek Shea and a wrong-sided Mikey Ambrose are honestly USL level at this point.
CAPTAIN RANKINGS
RankPlayerMatchupPriceNotes
1Nicolas LodeiroSEA v. COL11.5If it ain't broke...
2Carlos VelaLAFC v. POR10.8Portland are just good enough to give me pause from ranking Vela #1.
3Alexandru MitritaNYC v. DC10.4I don't blame you if you need him to prove it for a week or two first, but I'm sold on Mitrita.
4Raul RuidiazSEA v. COL10.6Slightly less of a focal point than #5 Josef Martinez, but doesn't have CCL or a new coach doing weird stuff.
5Josef MartinezATL v. FCC10.6More upside than Ruidiaz and with a better matchup, but I can't get over how disjointed Atlanta look sometimes. Even if Atlanta boss MLS from mid-April onward, we may never get 2018 Josef back under "Frank de Boer-ing".

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
JD Bazzo
JD is a former RotoWire contributor. He was a finalist for the 2017 FSWA Soccer Writer of the Year award. JD had been writing for RotoWire since 2015. He is a proud Pittsburgh native, purveyor of fantasy sports, and likely the first Penn State Basketball fan you've ever met.
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