A decisive double-game week is here, with just four rounds remaining in the MLS Fantasy season. Rounds 27 and 29 are the last two DGWs of the year, marking the final opportunity to double your scores from players who play twice in each round. Let’s get right back into it and hit on the top players and values to keep your fantasy team climbing up the leaderboards down the stretch.
Teams NOT on a DGW: DC, RBNY, SEA, STL
Get more advice on the *MLS Fantasy Insider Round 27 preview* podcast.
Goalkeepers
Hugo Lloris and LAFC are in a good bounce-back spot after last week’s 4-2 El Tráfico loss. First, he’ll face an Austin FC attack with the worst scoring output in the Western Conference (31 goals in 28 games) before wrapping the week up against an FC Dallas side that he shut out back in Round 15.
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Hugo Lloris | LAFC | vs. ATX, at DAL | $8.5 |
2. Joe Willis | NSH | vs. CHI, vs. CIN | $6.9 |
3. Kristijan Kahlina | CLT | at ORL, vs. NE | $7.8 |
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Tim Melia | SKC | vs. COL, vs. MIN | $5.9 |
Defenders
Kai Wagner is the highest-scoring defender in the DGW player pool (148 points) and despite a paltry two points at Miami last week, he continues to bring big upside with his high usage on set pieces and in open play.
The German winger leads Philadelphia with 10 assists, and he’s hit double-digit fantasy points in all six of Philadelphia’s DGWs this season (15, 19, 10, 10, 20, 11). As juicy as his backend matchup at home against D.C. United is, it’s worth mentioning Wagner is one yellow card away from suspension and could be best suited for a bench role this week.
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Kai Wagner* | PHI | at NYC, vs. DC | $10.7 |
2. Aaron Long | LAFC | vs. ATX, at DAL | $9.3 |
3. Walker Zimmerman | NSH | vs. CHI, vs. CIN | $7.6 |
4. Brooks Lennon* | ATL | vs. MIA, at RBNY | $8.7 |
5. Julian Gressel | MIA | at ATL, at NYC | $8.0 |
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty | MTL | at NE, vs. CHI | $4.0 |
2. Rafael Santos | ORL | vs. CLT, at CLB | $4.8 |
* - indicates player is one caution away from a suspension
Midfielders
Riqui Puig played the catalyst in the LA Galaxy’s 4-2 El Tráfico triumph over LAFC, racking up 20 fantasy points to come away as the highest point scorer of Round 26. Puig is the highest-scoring midfielder in MLS Fantasy, and with DGW hauls of 15, 25, 11, and 22, he should be one of the first players in your lineup with matches against Portland and Vancouver this week.
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Riqui Puig | LA | at POR, vs. VAN | $16.1 |
2. Djordje Mihailovic | COL | at SKC, vs. TOR | $13.8 |
3. Evander* | POR | vs. LA, at RSL | $17.6 |
4. Hany Mukhtar | NSH | vs. CHI, vs. CIN | $12.9 |
5. Carles Gil | NE | vs. MTL, at CLT | $13.9 |
6. Luciano Acosta | CIN | at MIN, at NSH | $15.7 |
7. Mateusz Bogusz | LAFC | vs. ATX, at DAL | $14.0 |
8. Santiago Rodríguez* | NYC | vs. PHI, vs. MIA | $10.2 |
9. Diogo Gonçalves | RSL | vs. DAL, vs. POR | $8.7 |
10. Marco Reus | LA | at POR, vs. VAN | $11.3 |
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Johnny Russell | SKC | vs. COL, vs. MIN | $6.0 |
2. Alex Muyl | NSH | vs. CHI, vs. CIN | $4.8 |
3. Bryce Duke | MTL | at NE, vs. CHI | $5.4 |
* - indicates player is one caution away from a suspension
Forwards
Lionel Messi wasted no time reminding fantasy managers that he’s a must-have player when he’s in the match day squad. The GOAT returned from an extended absence with two goals and an assist in Round 26, and he’s hit 20 fantasy points in the two DGWs that he’s been active in both matches this season. While squad rotation is a valid concern after going 90 minutes on Saturday, 120 minutes from Messi is well worth a roster spot on a vital DGW.
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Lionel Messi | MIA | at ATL, at NYC | $15.5 |
2. Cucho Hernández | CLB | at TOR, vs. OR | $13.2 |
3. Denis Bouanga | LAFC | vs. ATX, at DAL | $15.3 |
4. Gabriel Pec | LA | at POR, vs. VAN | $14.6 |
5. Luis Suárez | MIA | at ATL, at NYC | $14.3 |
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Jonathan Lewis | COL | at SKC, vs. TOR | $4.2 |
2. Sam Surridge | NSH | vs. CHI, vs. CI | $7.6 |
Player | Team | Opponent | Price |
1. Lionel Messi | MIA | at ATL, at NYC | $15.5 |
2, Riqui Puig | LA | at POR, vs. VAN | $16.1 |
3. Djordje Mihailovic | COL | at SKC, vs. TOR | $13.8 |
