MLS Fantasy top picks for Round 29

With the final set of MLS fixtures approaching we take a look at the top picks for Round 29. Twitter 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 top picks for Round 29 can be extremely useful to MLS Fantasy 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 29

And just like that, the final round of the 2023 MLS Fantasy season is upon us. It seems fitting that Round 29 should be another double gameweek, with Charlotte FC and playoff-less Inter Miami facing each other home and away in the space of three days.

Top picks – Facundo Torres, Orlando City – Midfielder, $11.7m

Orlando City have amassed 2.3 points per match following the Leagues Cup break. This is a record that has propelled them to second in the Eastern Conference. Facundo Torres has played an integral role in their recent purple (ahem) patch. He has scored an impressive seven goals in ten games since Leagues Cup. Torres faces a shambolic Toronto side that are rock-bottom of MLS.

My only concern with Torres would be rotation with Orlando already guaranteed a top four seeding in the East. He should be one of the first names in your team if he starts though!

Luciano Acosta, FC Cincinnati – Midfielder, $14.9m

I’m fast running out of superlatives to describe Lucho Acosta’s performances this year. The diminutive Argentine has led FC Cincinnati to their first Supporters’ Shield, racking up a ‘double-double’ of goals (sixteen) and assists (thirteen) in the process.

Acosta started from the bench in Cincinnati’s last home game against New York Red Bulls and it showed, as they laboured to only their fifth defeat of the season. Head Coach Pat Noonan has stated he doesn’t want to rest too many of his players as Cincinnati head into the playoffs. I expect Acosta to start against Atlanta United and close out what has been an impressively consistent season.

Karol Świderski, Charlotte FC – Forward, $9.4m

With Inter Miami officially out of playoff contention following their 1-0 defeat to FC Cincinnati last Saturday, there are question marks over how much Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba et al. will feature in their final two fixtures (if at all). Charlotte, on the other hand, are only one win from the playoff line and have everything to play for.

For the record, I would recommend loading up on Charlotte assets for their double gameweek. However, if I could only take one player, it would be Karol Świderski. Świderski is the man most likely to make things happen for Christian Lattanzio’s men. The Polish international forward boasts decent stats, is on penalties and has scored five goals in his last five matches, including three in Round 28.

Differential – Duncan McGuire, Orlando City – Forward, $7.3m

Duncan McGuire has flown under the radar in his breakout season. He recorded eleven goals in only seventeen MLS starts, including three in his last four games. Like Torres, he may be at risk of rotation given Orlando have nothing left to play for in the regular season. However, with Inter Miami also likely to rotate and a lack of standout forward options in the other Round 29 games, McGuire could be a calculated punt.