Welcome back to “The Kick-Off”! The top professional soccer leagues in the world are officially over or are ending this weekend and it leaves the MLS in its wake. The MLS articles will debut at the halfway mark of the season, which has been filled with a few surprises.
The top favorite this weekend is D.C. United - 200 versus Inter Miami CF +550. I will guide you through this six-match slate starting at 7:30 PM EST.
If you have any questions on today's slate, bankroll management, GPP strategy, Cash game strategy, or anything else, don’t hesitate to email me at [email protected], via Twitter @df_solutions, or in our Discord chat rooms.
MLS DFS Goalies
Greg Ranjitsingh - DK $4.7K
Opponent - St. Louis City SC
After a dreadful away match to Orlando last weekend – a 4-0 loss – many will be off Toronto completely. However, they have a plus matchup against St. Louis at home this weekend. The visitors are 1-0-3 in their last four away fixtures and have been outscored 3 to 7 in that timeframe. Furthermore, despite Toronto’s poor record, 1-3-1 in their last five home fixtures, they have only conceded three goals during that time. As a less-expensive goalie on the slate, it will be hard passing up on Ranjitsingh who will start once again with Sean Johnson still away at the Gold Cup.
Others To Consider (Cash/GPP): Schulte (DK $5.7K), Coronel (DK $5.5K)
MLS DFS Forwards
Dominique Badji - DK $5.7K
Opponent - Charlotte FC
There are not many options at forward this weekend and despite the injury concerns we will be looking at Dominique Badji of FC Cincinnati. The striker has seen a resurgence in his career since he became a starter and he has carried a bulk of the weight with teammate Brandon Vazquez out with the United States Men's National Team for the Gold Cup. In the three matches that Vazquez has been out, Badji has 3 goals, 7 shots, 2 created chances and 2 crosses. Cincinnati is traveling to Charlotte, however, the hosts are coming off of a midweek match and they have one draw and four losses in their last five home fixtures. This is an ideal spot for another big game from Badji
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Ramirez (DK $7.1K), Martinez (DK $7K)
MLS DFS Midfielders
Lucas Zelarayan - DK $10.2K
Opponent - New York City FC
Zelarayan is every manager’s dream and he will have yet another chance to dazzle against NYFC this weekend. In his last five appearances, he has 1 goal, 1 assist, 12 shots, 17 created chances, 21 crosses, 15 corners, 4 tackles, and 3 interceptions. The visitors are not bad by any means when analyzing their defense, but they have gotten rather unlucky at times and they sit just outside the bottom ten in Big Chances Created Against Per 90 – 1.33. With very few options at midfield besides Zelarayan and Lucho Acosta of FC Cincinnati, both midfielders will be seeing north of 40 percent ownership in ‘CASH’ contests.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Acosta (DK $9.6K), Amaya (DK $4.9K)
MLS DFS Defenders
Santiago Arias - DK $4.2K
Opponent - Charlotte FC
Arias at times can be a boom-or-bust option at defense with very few peripherals, but able to produce points with his attacks down the flank. Throughout his last five fixtures, he has 1 goal, 1 assist, 4 shots, 2 created chances, 3 crosses, 2 tackles, 4 interceptions, and 3 clearances. Charlotte FC is in the bottom five in Goals Against Per 90 – 1.65, Big Chances Created Against Per 90 – 1.8, and In-the-Box Goals Against Per 90 – 1.4. This bodes well for Arias who likes to swing crosses in from the left flank in hopes of the ball bouncing the right way in the box. With very limited options at defense this weekend, Arias possesses one of the higher ceilings on the slate.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Marshall-Rutty (DK $5K), Degenenk (DK $3K)
Corner Takers
- Charlotte FC: Vargas/Westwood
- FC Cincinnati: Barreal/Acosta
- Columbus Crew: Zelaryan/Matan
- New York City FC: Pellegrini/Pereira
- D.C. United: Klich
- Inter Miami CF: Taylor
- CF Montreal: Choiniere/Duke
- Atlanta United: Almada/Lennon
- New York Red Bulls: Amaya/Edelman
- New England Revolutions: Bou
- Toronto FC: Insigne
- St. Louis City SC: Lowen/Vassilev
Thanks for reading The Kick-Off. Good luck in all of your contests today!