This article is part of our DraftKings Fantasy Soccer series.
Lineup No. 1: Putting All of Our Eggs (and One Burrito) into One Basket
Last week's slate was a strange one for daily MLS. Many people found success despite not having a single goal scorer in their lineup. Of the popular choices, only Clint Dempsey truly came through. This week feels like it could be similarly strange. With a lack of truly appealing top midfield options, Sebastian Giovinco becomes all the more tempting. Let's see what a lineup might look like if we grab one elite option at each position.
First, we'll dig into the Giovinco selection. Major credit to DraftKings as they've priced the MLS phenomenon nearly perfectly all season long, including $9,700 this week. He's been hovering right around a price that makes us question whether or not we need to roster him each week. After four game weeks, I feel like some daily players are mistakenly overlooking him because of his high price and a few performances that haven't produced the returns they hoped. That means the time is ripe to roster him. The Atomic Ant is still averaging over 20 points per outing this season and while the New England Revolution have owned Toronto FC in recent memory, their defense is nothing to be scared of. Additionally, Jozy Altidore should be set to start once more after fully recovering from injury. Toronto feel hard done by recent refereeing decisions, particularly last week in Colorado, and I think they take some frustration out on New England in this fixture. Don't be scared to pay up for Giovinco!
I'm also keen to bring Federico Higuain and Chris Tierney into our lineup. Higuain has been scoring over 16 fantasy points per game this year despite recording just one goal and one assist. He's orchestrating his team's attack as well as anybody in the league and Columbus look more dangerous each week. I like Mauro Diaz as well, if he returns from the undisclosed leg injury that kept him out last week, but Higuain is a safer play that can still carry our team. Tierney is the gold standard of fantasy defenders, and he is priced like it at $5,500, which is $900 more than the next option. He has 40 crosses through four matches thanks to a long leash from manager Jay Heaps. My RotoWire colleague Schuyler Redpath made a great point this week when he said that we'd be considering a midfielder priced at $5,500 with Tierney's stats. Put in that perspective, it makes sense to spend it on a defensive slot and get a cheap midfielder rather than a cheap defender.
By this point, it's obvious that we'll have to be extremely frugal in filling out the rest of our lineup. I think this is a good week to do so, though. With Felipe Martins out in New York, we'll hopefully be able to roster promising youngster Sean Davis ($2,600). Similarly for Vancouver, Nicolas Mezquida ($2,900) should assume the playmaking role vacated by an injured Pedro Morales (groin). While neither of their matchups are ideal, they aren't terrible either. We're just looking for these guys to approach double-digit points and make value for their bargain prices.
Additionally, some value will be had in the Sporting Kansas City lineup. With Soni Mustivar out, Jordi Quintilla ($3,100) could earn another start. Brad Davis will also be out after suffering a concussion, and Connor Hallisey ($2,800) has a chance to fill in there. Chances are good we'll be able to roster one of the two, and I'm tentatively budgeting for the higher price option.
With the extreme values off of the board, we have some breathing room. I'm looking to Burrito Martinez for some attacking upside in Real Salt Lake's home match against the Colorado Rapids. He's averaging 12 points per game without a goal but continues to look dangerous every time the ball comes to his feet. Colorado should help him make value simply via fouls drawn. On the other side of the fixture, I've selected Dillon Powers ($4,300). While I wish we had a bit more salary to upgrade Powers, his talent far exceeds his price. While Real Salt Lake gutted out an impressive and shocking victory last weekend, I still think they're a vulnerable side defensively. Powers could certainly prove that to be true.
For our final three spots in the back, I like the prices on Ambroise Oyongo and Connor Lade. Both are at home and both can get forward for crosses. Oyongo, in particular, has the potential to be an attacking force. He'll have to respect Ethan Finlay's speed on the wing, but he also can take advantage of Finlay's lackluster defending. In goal, David Ousted ($3,700) travels to D.C. United to face the league's most snooze-worthy attack. The Whitecaps held the Los Angeles Galaxy to zero goals last weekend despite playing a man down for much of the match. They could play two men down against D.C. United and still look capable, so I'm liking their chances of a clean sheet this weekend.
While this lineup may not be the most practical, it's a great exercise in pushing the limits of the salary cap. With so many players this season giving us disappointing returns, perhaps it's worth it to go with the best possible options that we know will produce, and then fill in from there.
Devil's Advocate: Sure, all of these value plays are great, but do we have enough difference makers in this lineup? Even our mid-level players in Burrito and Powers are not the greatest scoring threats. Tierney could be a luxury that we can't afford given our lack of punch in the midfield.
Why We'll Win: How many other people will be fitting in Giovinco and Tierney? Few. The two are by far the two best options at their respective positions, which means that all we need is a couple of our sleeper picks to go above and beyond their projected returns. This lineup is more realistic and dangerous than you may have initially thought.
Lineup No. 2: Four Forwards
Rarely do I consider playing four forwards in one lineup, but as mentioned earlier, this week's midfield options aren't jumping off the screen. Additionally, three of these choices are capable of accumulating points more like a midfielder because of peripheral stats, and not just via goals and shots.
Graham Zusi ($6,100) let down a lot of owners last week as Kansas City were stunned at home by Real Salt Lake. However, with Brad Davis out this weekend, Zusi is set to pick up the bulk of corner kick duties once more. His safe floor returns, and he still carries considerable upside with the New York Red Bulls severely depleted along the back line. Dom Dwyer is also a viable option, with higher goal upside, but costs $800 more.
Joao Plata ($5,600) is having a breakout season, and the table is set for him to be an All-Star this year. His slick dribbling, untrackable speed and playmaking chops all bring together the other attacking pieces in Real Salt Lake's attack. Colorado may be a good defensive team, but they don't match up athletically with Plata and could exposed in a big way in this heated rivalry match.
Our two other attackers, Jozy Altidore and Michael Barrios both appear to be good plays this weekend at $5,000, but for different reasons. Barrios broke out two matches ago with a brace, and he benefits when playing an opponent that isn't a major threat on the wing. He should have the freedom to go towards goal this week when Dallas host San Jose, and he could have the great Mauro Diaz alongside him in the lineup. Altidore also looks set to return and represents a much greater gamble than Barrios. We're relying on Altidore scoring a goal, an event that looks quite possible given his recent form when not injured. He can be immensely disappointing, but in his second MLS season playing alongside Giovinco, I think he makes sure we don't forget about him. If Jozy scores one goal, he's a decent bet for a second, which is exactly the kind of upside we want at $5,000 in tournament play.
In the midfield, I strongly considered playing Diaz if he returned from injury. However, Sacha Kljestan for $7,200 looks to be a strong differential. Kljestan continues to get into good positions but has struggled to finish, along with the rest of the Red Bulls squad. With Felipe out, Kljestan could dominate set pieces in a home match that the Red Bulls will desperately want to win. Personnel-wise, this team is not much different than the one that won the Supporters Shield last season, and I don't think they continue to look as poor as they have in 2016.
Two Whitecaps complete our midfield: Nicolas Mezquida ($2,900) and Cristian Bolanos ($5,000). Pedro Morales' absence will require both players, along with Cristian Techera ($5,700) to assume more of the playmaking responsibilities. Bolanos' crosses give him a great floor, while Mezquida's value in the No. 10 role makes him a great option to save some salary. Even by MLS regular-season standards, D.C. United lack the appetite to take hold of a match, so I'm not concerned about the Whitecaps long voyage to RFK Stadium.
Nick Rimando will strap on the goalkeeping gloves for our lineup. He's returning from injury and is behind a back line that could give up some shots, but I think that makes his ceiling all the higher. Rimando can steal a match, and he shouldn't have much trouble at home to Colorado. I think his upside is as great as any keeper this weekend.
Our defensive trio will be Real Salt Lake's Jordan Allen ($3,200), Colorado's Eric Miller ($3,100), and New York's Connor Lade ($3,100). While many think Javier Morales could return and bump Jordan Allen from RSL's midfield, I don't think they'll risk him in a match they should handle fairly easily. Allen hasn't exactly impressed while filling in for Morales, but I'm sticking with him purely due to the upside of starting an attacking midfielder in one of my defender spots. Miller would be priced far higher if he weren't a member of the Rapids and can earn points in many ways. Lade should start at fullback for the Red Bulls this weekend with Chris Duvall ($3,200) starting at center back. Defensively, this doesn't appeal to Red Bulls fans, but for fantasy purposes, Lade should have a decent floor. None of these defensive picks will carry us to glory, but we'll take what they give us and let our attackers carry the squad.
Devil's Advocate: This lineup might be more dangerous if we turned Jozy and Barrios into one elite midfielder and one more value play. Kljestan is a risk we may not need to take with Higuain being cheaper and Diaz just $200 more. Have we seen enough from Zusi to warrant $6,100?
Why We'll Win: Our forwards carry a ton of potential, with each having a case to score a goal. At the same time, they're safe. Zusi, Plata and Barrios all pick up points in a variety of ways and shouldn't tank our lineup even if they're held off the scoresheet. Kljestan is poised to reward our differential pick as well. If Giovinco and Diaz go quiet this week, we'll find plenty of joy with this group.
