MLS Fantasy Round 22 Top Picks

With the new set of Major League Soccer fixtures approaching we take a look at the MLS Fantasy Round 22 top picks. X is full of some of the best fantasy managers in the world. Because of that we bring in expert @dmpwright to reel off some of the best options for the big round ahead.

Looking at the MLS Fantasy Round 22 top picks can be extremely useful to managers. Focusing on some of the best assets for the new week could help with some of the most important decisions in the game like transfers and captaincy.

Round 22

Round 22 is the last big double gameweek before MLS goes on hiatus for 5+ weeks for Leagues Cup. DC United and Portland play once on Wednesday and Saturday night, respectively, and are the single gameweek teams to target for potential scrub candidates this week.

Top targets- Julian Gressel and Jordi Alba, Inter Miami – Defenders, $8.7m and $10.0m, respectively

You’ll know by now that I’m not a fan of the Inter Miami defence (they’re among the worst in the league for xGA). So, I’m not expecting much in the way of clean sheets with these picks. In fact, clean sheets seem to be harder to come by and predict across the league, so maybe it’s time to target attacking defenders even more – which brings me onto the Inter Miami fullbacks.

In the absence of Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez, Julian Gressel has re‑established himself as a viable Fantasy asset thanks to his advanced position. This has resulted in one goal and consecutive assists in his last four games (and multiple attacking bonus points to boot). With the Copa America now over, Gressel is likely to be shifted back once Messi et al. return to the starting XI. However, he should be safe in his advanced role for at least this double gameweek, with Messi departing the Copa America final early due to an ankle injury and Suarez’s involvement still questionable following his international exertions.

If not, Jordi Alba may be a safer if more boom/bust play. With two home games against obliging defences, I can see the former Spanish international adding to his tally of two goals and three assists in his last six matches. Equally, I could see a double punt on both Gressel and Alba working out this week!

Ryan Gauld, Vancouver Whitecaps – Midfielder, $13.9m

It wouldn’t be right to call this a breakout season for Ryan Gauld. At 28-years of age, the Scottish midfielder is in his prime and has been a focal point for the Vancouver Whitecaps for several seasons. However, it feels like he’s found greater consistency this year compared with previous seasons, having already recorded nine goals and eight assists so far this term, including no fewer than eight double-digit Fantasy hauls.

With two home games against Sporting Kansas City and Houston, who have the joint eighth worst away xGA (1.75 per game), respectively, expect a big haul from Gauld.

Cucho Hernández, Columbus Crew – Forward, $13.3m

The Columbus Crew are arguably the most in-form team in MLS at the moment. Despite losing midfield fulcrum Aidan Morris this summer, the Crew continue to steamroller teams, with Cucho Hernández at the heart of everything.

The Colombian forward notched yet another goal in the Crew’s mauling of LAFC, increasing his tally for the season to twelve and extending his streak of games with a goal or assist to seven (up to eight goals and five assists in that time)! With games against Charlotte and Atlanta, expect Cucho to be in the mix for captaincy once again this week.

Differential – Brian White, Vancouver Whitecaps – Forward, $10.1m

I’ve only got him listed him as a differential as I’m expecting the likes of Denis Bouanga, Cucho Hernández, Gabriel Pec and maybe even Chicho Arango or Diego Rossi to be more popular, but Brian White is rounding into form nicely ahead of the Leagues Cup break.

Following his brace against St Louis last Saturday, White now has seven goals in his last four starts and, like Gauld, has the benefit of two winnable home games this week that could see him add to his recent goal tally. White is one yellow card from suspension though, so consider running him from the bench if you take him.