MLS Fantasy Round 9 positional rankings and Pick’em advice

MLS Fantasy is heating up! With less than 25 points separating the overall leader and fifth place, it’s time to get locked in on a full slate of Major League Soccer coming in hot for Round 9.

Multiple rivalries could produce fireworks this weekend, with the Cali Clásico capping the round off on Sunday (8:15 pm ET | Apple TV - Free, FS1; FOX Deportes; TSN 3). Let’s hone in on the top plays and values to help your squad make some moves in the fantasy standings.

Teams on BYE: PHI

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Goalkeepers

After a slow start to the 2024 campaign, Stefan Frei and Seattle Sounders FC have bounced back with a clean sheet in back-to-back matches. Up next is a stiff challenge from Cascadia rivals Vancouver Whitecaps FC, who are unbeaten on the road and currently sit second in the Western Conference.

I expect the Sounders to carry over their momentum from the last two weeks as they continue working their way up from the bottom of the standings.

KEEPEROO: Another Keeperoo scenario presents itself in Round 9. With Seattle playing in one of the last matches on Saturday, I recommend having Matt Freese on your bench to see if he can keep it clean against a depleted D.C. United side. If NYCFC notch a shutout earlier in the day, plug Holden Trent (PHI) in as your starting GK so that Freese and his clean sheet points will auto-sub in. If Freese concedes, move Stefan Frei into the starting spot to get another stab at a clean sheet.

Defenders

Julian Gressel is tied for second in MLS with five assists on the campaign. However, his fantasy output doesn’t reflect his strong start with secondary assists being removed from fantasy scoring this season.

He’s been a frustrating fantasy play, but there's no denying his upside in Miami’s attack, playing with Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez. In a good home matchup with Nashville, I’m deploying Gressel as a defender and hoping the stars align with a monster point haul through both attacking and defensive points.

Midfielders

It’s pick your poison with LA Galaxy attackers this weekend. They’ll look to pounce on a San Jose Earthquakes defense that has given up the most goals in MLS (20) by a wide margin. Joseph Paintsil has injected new life in the Galaxy attack, coming away with a goal and an assist in Vancouver last weekend for a 12-point haul to earn a spot on the Dream Team. Look for more of the same in his first Cali Clásico on Sunday.

Forwards

Lionel Messi has an eye-popping 12.6 points per round over six appearances this season. I’m banking on the GOAT to find the net again on Saturday against the struggling New England Revolution.

Pick 1: Inter Miami vs. Nashville SC
Who is going to score first in the second half?

Inter Miami – Miami’s attacking exploits were on full display at Arrowhead Stadium, and I expect them to carry that momentum over to Saturday’s home clash with Nashville. They could see some resistance from a typically defense-minded NSC side in the first half, but with Messi healthy and the Herons' attack at full strength, it’s just a matter of time before they break through.

Pick 3: Colorado Rapids vs. FC Dallas
Will both teams score?

No – The Rapids will look to run their unbeaten streak to four against an FC Dallas side whose attack has disappeared of late. Dallas have scored just one goal across the last 270 minutes, having been shut out in two consecutive outings.