MLS Fantasy is back with a bang!
The opening round gives us a double-game week right out of the gate, with both Inter Miami CF and Real Salt Lake playing twice. Players with two matches in one round will get credit for their combined score over both games, giving them added value with two opportunities to rack up fantasy points.
Round 1 starts on Wednesday with Miami hosting Salt Lake (8 pm ET | MLS Season Pass), so let’s dive right in and look at the top options in each position to get your team off to a hot start.
Teams on a DGW: MIA, RSL
Teams on BYE: VAN
Goalkeepers
Drake Callender and Zac MacMath are the only goalkeepers with the potential to play twice this week, planting them both at the top of the rankings with two chances to collect a clean sheet. If you want to load up on Miami and RSL field players for the DGW (you only get three players max per club each round), look at Philadelphia’s Andre Blake playing at home against a retooled Chicago Fire FC attack.
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
1. Drake Callender | MIA | vs. RSL, at LA | $6.5 |
2. Zac MacMath | RSL | at MIA, at STL | $6.0 |
3. Andre Blake | PHI | vs. CHI | $6.5 |
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
1. Alex Bono | DC | vs. NE | $5.5 |
Defenders
Julian Gressel could turn out to be a cheat code in MLS Fantasy based on where he’s deployed for Miami. He saw time at both wingback and higher up the field as a midfielder in preseason – and playing alongside two of the most lethal goalscorers in the world, he’s sure to rack up points at both ends of the pitch this season.
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
1. Julian Gressel | MIA | vs. RSL, at LA | $7.5 |
2. Jordi Alba | MIA | vs. RSL, at LA | $6.5 |
3. Justen Glad | RSL | at MIA, at STL | $6.0 |
4. Kai Wagner | PHI | vs. CHI | $7.5 |
5. DeAndre Yedlin | MIA | vs. RSL, at LA | $6.0 |
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
1. Marco Farfan | DAL | vs. SJ | $5.5 |
2. Jake Davis | SKC | at HOU | $5.0 |
Midfielders
Pablo Ruiz is back in action after missing the second half of the 2023 season with a knee injury. He’s been firing on all cylinders in preseason, and with two bites at piling up points, I expect him to be heavily involved in the Real Salt Lake attack this week.
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
1. Pablo Ruiz | RSL | at MIA, at STL | $7.5 |
2. Diego Luna | RSL | at MIA, at STL | $7.0 |
3. Luciano Acosta | CIN | vs. TOR | $9.0 |
4. Hany Mukhtar | NSH | vs. RBNY | $8.5 |
5. Carles Gil | NE | at DC | $9.0 |
6. Thiago Almada | ATL | at CLB | $9.0 |
7. Sergio Busquets | MIA | vs. RSL, at LA | $8.0 |
8. Dániel Gazdag | PHI | vs. CHI | $8.0 |
9. Riqui Puig | LA | vs. MIA | $8.5 |
10. Facundo Torres | ORL | vs. MTL | $8.0 |
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Diego Gómez | MIA | vs. RSL, at LA | $5.5 |
2. Esmir Bajraktarevic | NE | at DC | $5.0 |
3. Mathieu Choiniere | MTL | at ORL | $5.5 |
Forwards
If the public overreaction to preseason results is any indication, both Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez could go somewhat overlooked in Round 1 of MLS Fantasy. Even in limited minutes across two games, both attackers have the potential to pile up big points – making it well worth the risk as an early play to set your team up for the top prize.
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
1. Lionel Messi | MIA | vs. RSL, at LA | $10.0 |
2. Luis Suárez | MIA | vs. RSL, at LA | $9.0 |
3. Cristian Arango | RSL | at MIA, at STL | $8.5 |
4. Cucho Hernández | CLB | vs. ATL | $9.0 |
5. Aaron Boupendza | CIN | vs. TOR | $8.0 |
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Anderson Julio | RSL | at MIA, at STL | $7.0 |
2. Dante Sealy | DAL | vs. SJ | $4.5 |
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Lionel Messi | MIA | vs. RSL, at LA | $10.0 |
2. Luis Suárez | MIA | vs. RSL, at LA | $9.0 |
3. Julian Gressel | MIA | vs. RSL, at LA | $7.5 |
