Fantasy: Positional rankings for Week 9 games this weekend

A full 13 game weekend slate makes up Week 9 of MLS Fantasy, and there are several juicy matchups that are worth keying in on for fantasy points. After seeing one match postponed in Week 8 due to COVID-19 precautions, be sure to keep an eye out for any news that could affect this weekend’s games to ensure you aren’t left with an unwanted DNP in your squad. Let’s take a closer look at the top fantasy players at each position this week.

Goalkeepers

Minnesota United goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair has a home matchup against low-scoring FC Cincinnati | USA Today Sports

Minnesota United
goalkeeper
Dayne St. Clair
has kept a clean sheet in two of his three home appearances and he’s in a good spot to turn in another shutout at Allianz Field on Saturday. Up next is an
FC Cincinnati
side that has been held scoreless in two straight and six of their last eight games. For fantasy purposes it makes perfect sense to continue to exploit their floundering attack until things turn around.
Rank
Player
Team
Opponent
Price
1 Dayne St. ClairMINvs. CIN$8.52 Matt TurnerNEvs. NSH$9.13 Stefan FreiSEAvs. VAN$7.64 Pedro GalleseORLvs. RBNY$8.15 Sean JohnsonNYCvs. MIA$11.4

Value Goalkeepers

Rank
Player
Team
Opponent
Price
1 Bill HamidDCvs. ATL$5.32Steve ClarkPORvs. COL$5.83Quentin WestbergTORvs. PHI$5.1

Defenders

Kelvin Leerdam has put up seven or more fantasy points in four of his last five outings, and he ranks fourth among all defenders in total points. It’s a steep price to pay for a defender, but facing a Whitecaps side that has been outscored 7-0 over their last two matches, the opportunity is there for the Dutchman to rack up big points across the board.

Rank
Player
Team
Opponent
Price
1Kelvin LeerdamSEAvs. VAN$10.52Reto ZieglerDALvs. CLB$11.73Romain MetanireMINvs. CIN$7.04Anton TinnerholmNYCvs. MIA$10.05Ronald MatarritaNYCat MIA$9.76Richie LaryeaTORvs. PHI$8.27Brandon ByeNEvs. NSH$7.78Yeimar Gomez AndradeSEAvs. VAN$10.39Chase GasperMINvs. CIN$6.110Maynor FigueroaHOUvs. SKC$10.2

Value Defenders

Rank
Player
Team
Opponent
Price
1 Bakaye DibassyMINvs. CIN$5.82Brad SmithSEAvs. VAN$4.53Justin MorrowTORvs. PHI$5.0

Midfielders

Seattle Sounders star Nicolas Lodeiro has a tasty matchup to extend his recent strong run of form against the Vancouver Whitecaps | USA Today Sports

Seattle midfielder
Nico Lodeiro
is in a fine run of form with seven or more points in all but one of eight appearances this season. He delivered another fine assist in Week 8 and gets an attractive matchup in Week 9 against Vancouver. The Uruguayan should have little trouble unlocking a Whitecaps side that he already torched for a goal and an assist earlier this season at the MLS is Back Tournament.


Rank
Player
Team
Opponent
Price
1Nicolas LodeiroSEAvs. VAN$14.72Alejandro PozueloTORvs. PHI$15.53Emanuel “Bebelo” ReynosoMINvs. CIN$8.44Diego ValeriPORvs. COL$11.65NaniORLvs. RBNY$9.56Albert RusnakRSLvs. LAFC$9.17Joao PauloSEAvs. VAN$11.78Lewis MorganMIAvs. NYC$11.59Darwin QuinteroHOUvs. SKC$9.210Jack PriceCOLat POR$10.611KakuRBNYat ORL$10.012Johnny RussellSKCat HOU$10.413Lucas ZelarayanCLBat DAL$9.314Alvaro MedranCHIat MTL$11.015Cristian RoldanSEAvs. VAN$7.616Daniel RoyerRBNYat MIA$9.717Cristian EspinozaSJvs. LA$8.118Pablo PiattiTORvs. PHI$9.819Damir KreilachRSLvs. LAFC$7.920Robin LodMINvs. CIN$9.8

Value Midfielders

Rank
Player
Team
Opponent
Price
1 Jan GregusMINvs. CIN$7.52Lee NguyenNEvs. NSH$5.33Alexandru MitritaNYCat MIA$6.0

Forwards

Newcomer Gonzalo Higuain came up empty handed in his MLS debut, but it wasn’t for a lack of chances considering he hit the post with a bicycle kick and then skied a penalty kick in a tough matchup at Philadelphia. He finished with five shots and drew four fouls, and after seeing Inter Miami send in an eye-popping 36 crosses, it’s clear that they’re going to look to feed the big man early and often. He faces a stout defense in New York City FC in Week 9, but given his track record it would be no surprise to see the world-class striker open his MLS account in his home debut.

Rank
Player
Team
Opponent
Price
1Gonzalo HiguainMIAvs. NYC$9.52Raul RuidiazSEAvs. VAN$13.33Gustavo BouNEvs. NSH$9.94Diego RossiLAFCat RSL$8.65Jordan MorrisSEAvs. VAN$12.76Robert BericCHIat MTL$10.47Cristian PavonLAat SJ$10.48Kacper PrzybylkoPHIat TOR$13.09Franco JaraDALvs. CLB$9.010Brian RodriguezLAFCat RSL$8.2

Value Forwards

Rank
Player
Team
Opponent
Price
1 ChicharitoLAat SJ$7.22Kei KamaraMINvs. CIN$5.63Jozy AltidoreTORvs. PHI$6.5

Captain

Rank
Player
Team
Opponent
Price
1 Nicolas LodeiroSEAvs. VAN$14.72Alejandro PozueloTORvs. PHI$15.53Gonzalo HiguainMIAvs. NYC$9.5