MLS Fantasy Rankings: Week 30

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Published on September 25, 2019

The rankings below are based on Major League Soccer's official fantasy game and cover all games in Week 30. While they can be used for DFS purposes, they are done with a focus on the league's season-long game.

If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below, or hit up JD on Twitter @dfsMLS.

Forwards
Rank	Player	Matchup	Price	Notes
1	Carlos Vela	LAFC v. HOU, at MIN	15.7	Vela playing center forward? Risk of LAFC resting Vela since they have already clinched Supporters Shield? Both are risks, but it's also always a giant risk to not use Vela in fantasy.
2	Zlatan Ibrahimovic	LA at RSL, v. VAN	13.3	If Zlatan doesn't start Wednesday, we have plenty of later matches to adjust. Once the Galaxy are comfortably in the playoffs it's fair to question how motivated he will be in the final matches of the season.
3	Brian Fernandez	POR v. NE, at SKC	9.1	Have I led you astray about a half dozen times with Fernandez this Fall season? My team has felt the pain too, keeping me at about #30 OVR compared to probably pushing the Top 10. I'm not keeping the faith just to be stubborn - Fernandez has been close and is the calibre of player that should come up large in these upcoming matches. After experiencing some dizziness last match, it's worth monitoring whether he is fit to play both this week or not.
4	Carlos Darwin Quintero	MIN v. SKC, v. LAFC	9.0	Quintero has been picking up his play and two home games make him an appealing option for those who have been burned by Fernandez too many times.
5	Diego Rossi	LAFC v. HOU, at MIN	8.9
6	Brian Rodriguez	LAFC v. HOU, at MIN	7.3	Rodriguez from your fantasy bench is a good way to save some cash while still allowing for plenty of upside and limiting your risk.
7	Valentin Castellanos	NYC v. ATL, at NE	6.9
8	Gustavo Bou	NE at POR, v. NYC	10.3	Bou played half of the last match but is still managing an injury and Bruce Arena has promised some rotation of these last three matches.
9	Alexandru Mitrita	NYC v. ATL, at NE	9.1	This would make for another great bench gamble, but if you are right in the thick of a tight race in the standings, I think it would be a gamble to put him right into your lineup.
10	Kacper Przybylko	PHI at SJ, at CLB	9.9
11	Mason Toye	MIN v. SKC, v. LAFC	5.4	Vela + Zlatan owners should strongly consider Toye or Ebobisse as salary relief options.
12	Jeremy Ebobisse	POR v. NE, at SKC	5.6	It doesn't really work like this, but Ebobisse owes Portland a goal after last match. If Fernandez has some health concerns and sits a match, Ebobisse jumps up the rankings a handful of spots.
13	Mauro Manotas	HOU at LAFC, at RSL	10.1
14	Heber Araujo dos Santos	NYC v. ATL, at NE	10.3	Heber appears set to return on Wednesday, but I can't be certain he will play both matches (especially if they win Wednesday) so he's ranked down here.
15	Sam Johnson	RSL v. LA, v. HOU	5.8	Another sneaky third forward for your bench. RSL will want to get him going as they head into the playoffs.
16	Alberth Elis	HOU at LAFC, at RSL	8.1
17	Christian Ramirez	HOU at LAFC, at RSL	7.5
18	Hector Villalba	ATL at NYC, at MTL	6.4	Should/could be in for Josef up top in the first match and even 30 minutes in the second would put him in play as a semi-appealing differential.
19	Zdenek Ondrasek	DAL at COL	7.0	The only single game week forward I've ranked, but it doesn't mean I would strongly consider using him.
20	Corey Baird	RSL v. LA, v. HOU	4.9

Midfielders
Rank	Player	Matchup	Price	Notes
1	Diego Valeri	POR v. NE, at SKC	13.0	In what could be his final matches with the Timbers, I'm willing to bet Valeri will not allow his team to miss the playoffs.
2	Maximiliano Moralez	NYC v. ATL, at NE	11.8	If his injury still lingers and NYC win on Wednesday, there's a chance he rests on Sunday.
3	Magnus Eriksson	SJ v. PHI, v. SEA	10.8	While he won't be listed below, I think Eriksson is a smart differential pick for captain. The absence of dynamic Cristian Espinoza is a small concern for the entire SJ offense on Wednesday but not enough to outweigh a desperate team with a great coach and two home games.
4	Cristian Pavon	LA at RSL, v. VAN	11.0	Pavon and the Galaxy are peaking at the right time.
5	Albert Rusnak	RSL v. LA, v. HOU	11.0	Rusnak could make a case to be as high as #3 this week. His inconsistency and slightly lower upside to Eriksson and Pavon keep him at #5 though.
6	Pity Martinez	ATL at NYC, at MTL	9.9	Pity has a chance to make a statement in a key Wednesday match without Josef Martinez. He has been playing really well and could be a good non-template pick for your fantasy teams.
7	Carles Gil	NE at POR, v. NYC	13.1	Price and being one yellow away from suspension could keep him off of many teams this week.
8	Eduard Atuesta	LAFC v. HOU, at MIN	10.8	When LAFC were rolling, Atuesta was an elite double game week selection. The primary reason for his slip here is risk of rotation, but also the teams form has factored in slightly.
9	Jan Gregus	MIN v. SKC, v. LAFC	9.9	Gregus is always the guy we wish we had room/budget for. Due to his limited attacking potential he will likely fall into the same category for many this week.
10	Vako	SJ v. PHI, v. SEA	9.4
11	Felipe Gutierrez	SKC at MIN, v. POR	10.9	Guti is so good that even on a downtrodden team with risk of rotation, I think he could be a wise selection.
12	Sebastian Blanco	POR v. NE, at SKC	9.9	Should play closer to 120 minutes than 180 due to fitness concerns as he works his way back from injury. He's so good and Portland are in such a crucial situation that he still makes a good case to be in your lineups.
13	Jonathan dos Santos	LA at RSL, v. VAN	9.0	Like Atuesta and Gregus, he should be higher but there are a lot of good choices this week.
14	Jefferson Savarino	RSL v. LA, v. HOU	10.7	Very boom/bust player that many chasers could look to this week.
15	Jamiro Monteiro	PHI at SJ, at CLB	8.9
16	Latif Blessing	LAFC v. HOU, at MIN	9.1
17	Damir Kreilach	RSL v. LA, v. HOU	8.5	A smart pick for RSL exposure in your 5th midfield spot.
18	Johnny Russell	SKC at MIN, v. POR	9.1
19	Mark-Anthony Kaye	LAFC v. HOU, at MIN	9.2
20	Kevin Molino	MIN v. SKC, v. LAFC	8.1

Defenders
Rank	Player	Matchup	Price	Notes
1	Romain Metanire	MIN v. SKC, v. LAFC	9.2	In 12 home games, Metanire has compiled seven clean sheets, four assists and a goal. I'll take those rates any day.
2	Jorge Moreira	POR v. NE, at SKC	9.7	With 13 key passes and 8 crosses in the past four matches, Moreira should be good for some bonus points and attacking potential during two crucial matches. A clean sheet is certainly in play, too.
3	Ronald Matarrita	NYC v. ATL, at NE	5.8	Matarrita's lower floor / higher ceiling than the corresponding centerbacks is a decision you'll have to reconcile, but with four bonus points of his own last match he certainly can get it done multiple ways.
4	Ike Opara	MIN v. SKC, v. LAFC	8.6	Subbed out at halftime last match with a "stomach bug". He should be good to go, but maybe also worth noting that it's been passing through the rest of the locker room.
5	Florian Jungwirth	SJ v. PHI, v. SEA	7.7	Flo is good for 6 bonus points over the two matches and a clean sheet would put him over the top. San Jose are neck and neck with Portland for the final spot and the veteran defender will make sure to be at his best.
6	Alexander Callens	NYC v. ATL, at NE	7.1
7	Justen Glad	RSL v. LA, v. HOU	9.5	No goals, no assists, and potentiall has to play Zlatan? You can spend allocate your funds better than on Glad's hefty price tag, but he should still have a good week.
8	Maxime Chanot	NYC v. ATL, at NE	6.8
9	Walker Zimmerman	LAFC v. HOU, at MIN	5.7	Zimmerman has been pretty rough lately, but the price is good and I think LAFC could grab a clean sheet this week.
10	Eddie Segura	LAFC v. HOU, at MIN	7.0
11	Aaron Herrera	RSL v. LA, v. HOU	7.8
12	Tommy Thompson	SJ v. PHI, v. SEA	7.2	Could have an increased attacking role if SJ go down in either match. They'll feel like they need all three points in each.
13	Daniel Steres	LA at RSL, v. VAN	5.0
14	Rolf Feltscher	LA at RSL, v. VAN	5.1	Rested after his yellow card suspension and finally made good on that assist potential in the prior match!
15	Larrys Mabiala	POR v. NE, at SKC	8.4
16	Michael Boxall	MIN v. SKC, v. LAFC	8.7	Wilfried Moimbe is a good shout too, but you'd have to be more confident of his guaranteed minutes than I do.
17	Jordan Harvey	LAFC v. HOU, at MIN	6.0
18	Donny Toia	RSL v. LA, v. HOU	7.9
19	Diego Polenta	LA at RSL, v. VAN	6.6
20	Leandro Gonzalez Pirez	ATL at NYC, at MTL	8.9

Goalkeepers
Rank	Player	Matchup	Price	Notes
1	Sean Johnson	NYC v. ATL, at NE	7.5	Atlanta will be without Josef Martinez and New England have cooled off considerably. For their part, NYC are likely without Tinnerholm and Parks. The only worry here is that NYC clinch the #1 seed in the East prior to Sunday and for some reason choose to rotate Johnson.
2	Nick Rimando	RSL v. LA, v. HOU	8.8	If Zlatan doesn't suit up at altitude then Rimando would be #1.
3	Vito Mannone	MIN v. SKC, v. LAFC	8.8	Minnesota and Mannone have shown plenty of quality at home and I certainly could make a case for him at #1. However, LAFC will pose a tall task and SKC have been scoring at a healthy clip on the road despite their poor results.
4	Tyler Miller	LAFC v. HOU, at MIN	7.0	Home to Houston is about as easy as a fixture can get and LAFC will be keen to put Minnesota back in their place after the Loons went to LAFC and won 2-0 a few games back. Sisniega looms as a chance to jeopardize Miller's dual starts.
5	Daniel Vega	SJ v. PHI, v. SEA	6.1	Two good opponents, though Philly could choose to rest some players. The Quakes have only allowed three goals in their last six home matches, making Vega a very good play (these are close and crowded rankings!).
6	Steve Clark	POR v. NE, at SKC	8.4	I really don't think it'd be shocking for Portland to grab two clean sheets this week.
7	David Bingham	LA at RSL, v. VAN	6.8	Like Clark, Bingham is still very much in play despite the lower ranking.
8	Andre Blake	PHI at SJ, at CLB	5.9	The final three here are a sizeable jump below the top 7 in my opinion.
9	Brad Guzan	ATL at NYC, at MTL	7.8
10	Matt Turner	NE at POR, v. NYC	7.1

Value Rankings
(forwards and midfielders under $7.5, defenders under $6.0; not ranked above)
Rank	Player	Matchup	Price	Notes
1	Sebastian Lletget	LA at RSL, v. VAN	7.3
2	Steven Beitashour	LAFC v. HOU, at MIN	5.6	Beitashour was justifiably subbed out at halftime last match after looking exploitable. That makes me question his potential for 180 minutes this week.
3	Carlos Uriel Antuna	LA at RSL, v. VAN	6.3
4	Eric Miller	NYC v. ATL, at NE	4.0
5	Gerso Fernandes	SKC at MIN, v. POR	7.0	Anton Tinnerholm's concussion may create an opportunity for Miller to start twice.
6	Billel Tuiloma	POR v. NE, at SKC	5.2
7	Nick Lima	SJ v. PHI, v. SEA	4.7	If Tuiloma supplants Dielna for Wednesday's match, I'd be pretty confident in him starting both games.
8	Emerson Hyndman	ATL at NYC, at MTL	5.2
9	Erik Hurtado	SKC at MIN, v. POR	5.2
10	Teal Bunbury	NE at POR, v. NYC	5.6

Captain Rankings
Rank	Player	Matchup	Price	Notes
1	Diego Valeri	POR v. NE, at SKC	13.0	My Timbers bias is showing. But I'm not bamboozling you here; Valeri has a better chance to start both game in my opinion and he also has more to play for.
2	Carlos Vela	LAFC v. HOU, at MIN	15.7	That some people are considering not rostering Vela at all this week semi-justifies his rare appearance below #1 in the captain's rankings.
3	Zlatan Ibrahimovic	LA at RSL, v. VAN	13.3	If he truly wants to chase the Golden Boot, he will need a big two games. It's tough to gauge but I think he'll be the most captained player among the sharp fantasy owners this week (assuming he starts Wednesday).
4	Maximiliano Moralez	NYC v. ATL, at NE	11.8	Heber's return should boost NYCFC even further. Maxi sits a tier below the favorite captains due to limited goalscoring upside and a chance at sitting on Sunday.
5	Carlos Darwin Quintero	MIN v. SKC, v. LAFC	9.0	Safer than Fernandez and playing for a new contract and home field advantage. Some of the midfielders are close, but if you're going for it all in your league Darwin may be the better gamble.