Fantasy MLS: Sunday Cheat Sheet

MATCHES (EDT)

1:00 p.m: New York Red Bulls v. New York City FC
3:00 p.m: Sporting KC v. Seattle Sounders

Yay, another two-game slate!

ODDS REPORT

EXPECTED CORNER TAKERS

New York Red Bulls: Sacha Kljestan
New York City FC: Andrea Pirlo
Sporting KC: Graham Zusi
Seattle Sounders: Andreas Ivanschitz, Erik Friberg

PLAYER RECOMMENDATIONS

GOALKEEPER

Stefan Frei, SEA at SKC: If paying up for one of the home keepers isn't in your budget, Frei provides a decent shot at making some saves against a Sporting KC side that haven't scored in back-to-back matches. The return of Graham Zusi could shake things up, but there seems like a lesser chance of Frei getting lit up as much as NYC FC's Josh Saunders going up against the Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena.

DEFENDER

Ethan White, NYC at NYR: With Ronald Matarrita battling an ankle sprain, White could get another start for NYC FC, providing fantasy owners with some solid salary savings. He doesn't have nearly the upside as Matarrita, who is a do-it-all fullback, but he can still win a decent number of tackles and intercept some passes as they try to slow down a Red Bulls side hungry to avenge their 2-0 loss to NYC FC only a few weeks ago.

Joevin Jones, SEA at SKC: Jones has admittedly been pretty hit-or-miss lately, but he still gets forward a decent amount and will face off against an SKC side with fullbacks who could get caught up field, giving him plenty of space to work on the counter. Unfortunately, the Sounders are incredibly slow all around, so crosses into the box to no one in particular may be all we get from Jones.

Damien Perrinelle, NYRB v. NYC: Perrinelle got the start last weekend in place of the injured Gideon Baah (leg), and he could provide a decent bit of salary savings against a NYC FC side that's beaten the Red Bulls just once in two seasons. Perrinelle's upside isn't great, but he is capable of winning a few tackles and picking up a number of interceptions.

MIDFIELDER

Sacha Kljestan, NYR v. NYC: Kljestan is coming off his best fantasy performance of the season, a two-goal, seven-cross outing against the then-first-place Philadelphia Union. Up next is the Hudson River (or is it New York City?) Derby, where Kljestan has thrived in the past. Yes, NYC FC won the last meeting (their first in the rivalry), but Kljestan still finished with 10 crosses and two shots. With the Red Bulls looking for revenge, Kljestan will be the main cog in their attack.

Jimmy Medranda, SKC v. SEA: Medranda has had back-to-back down games, and yet he's still scored 20 fantasy points over that span. He takes shots, he crosses, he wins tackles and he intercepts passes; his floor is solid, and while he doesn't have two-goal upside, getting a nice foundation of points is a great lineup-building block.

Jack Harrison, NYC at NYRB: Harrison's fantasy upside is fairly goal dependent, but when he can do things like this...

...it's worth taking a chance, especially since he's so much cheaper than teammate Frank Lampard, who has five goals and an assist in his last six games but is just as goal dependent to make value.

FORWARD

David Villa, NYC at NYRB: Villa is in play any time he's on the slate, though it's worth noting he's only taken three shots in his last two games (one found the back of the net last weekend at Montreal). He came into the weekend leading Major League Soccer in goals, and he scored (on eight shots) the last time these two teams met.

Graham Zusi, SKC v. SEA: Zusi is expected to return from his hamstring injury and figures to be on all set pieces for an SKC side that has been shut out in back-to-back matches. Because he can provide fantasy points in a number of ways, he's not nearly as goal-dependent as more expensive forwards like Bradley Wright-Phillips and Dom Dwyer.