MLS Fantasy Boss A Fantasy MLS Community
With last season’s change in scoring categories having a major impact on the scoring potential of defenders, it was difficult to pinpoint the best defenders to choose each week. Typically, the key is finding defenders who can generate bonus points. Full-backs and wing-backs are typically the top producers of points due to their attacking potential in this current scoring system. Targeting teams who can generate clean sheets also provides your best shot at choosing a defender who will score well. Similar to goalkeepers, paying close attention to kickoff times is essential to using a switcheroo (if you’re unfamiliar, see the Fantasy Boss’ explanation here), which is a great way to utilize your bench defenders to chase clean sheets. Let’s jump into my top 10 Defenders entering the 2025 MLS season.
Numbers 10 – 6
10. Chidozie Awaziem
One of the main contributors to FC Cincinnati succeeding defensively last season was the addition of center back Chidozie Awaziem. His influence on the field was not only on the defensive side, but also the attacking side. In just 6 regular season starts for Cincinnati, Awaziem contributed 2 assists. For a center back that is surprising! 2025 is approaching and Awaziem is now with the Colorado Rapids. Here, he is partnered with Andreas Maxso, and has two USMNT wing-backs in Sam Vines and Reggie Cannon on his line as well. Additionally, with Zack Steffen behind him, I am getting flashbacks to the 2016 Rapids squad that allowed only 32 goals in 34 matches. This is a very strong defensive team to fear in the regular season.
9. Dagur Thorhallsson
Dagur Dan himself falls into the number 9 spot for me. Although Orlando allowed 50 goals during the regular season, Thorhallsson still finished among the top 25 defenders in fantasy. His presence on the right side of the field is extremely dangerous and teams need to keep an extra eye out for him. Additionally, with Cartagena out for the season (ACL tear), Thorhallsson might slot into midfield as a #6. If this is the case, he will have more opportunities at getting forward and providing assists during the season. Look for Orlando to capitalize and improve next season.
8. Walker Zimmerman
Just as Ashley pointed out in her Top 10 GK article, 2024 was a season to forget for Nashville SC. They have been known for having a very solid defensive structure ever since joining the league in 2018. With Zimmerman looking healthier this season, and an upgraded Nshville midfield, I fully expect Zimmerman to be in the conversation for top defender if he stays healthy.
7. Rudy Camacho
There isn’t too much to say about how impressive of a change Rudy Camacho has had on his transfer from Montreal to Columbus last season. Camacho was the enforcer for Columbus’s impressive run in multiple competitions last season, including a Leagues Cup trophy and 2nd place in CONCACAF Champions Cup. Teams don’t get that far just from an attacking force, they need a very strong defensive structure. Camacho is the guy who is helping lead Columbus to these standings and likely will do it again in the 2025 season.
6. Adilson Malanda
Rounding out the bottom 5 is Adilson Malanda. Although he finished in the top 5 fantasy defenders last season, Malanda lands at 6th for me due to improvements among other teams. Charlotte had the 2nd best goals against in 2024, only behind Seattle. That is a very impressive stat compared to how Charlotte performed in previous seasons. Malanda and his center back partner, Andrew Privett, played a massive part in that improvement. If Malanda and Charlotte can continue their strong defensive presence, I believe that he will once again be a top defender pick in fantasy this season.
Numbers 5 – 1
5. Maya Yoshida
Although LA Galaxy allowed 50 goals last season, Yoshida still was the 3rd best defender in fantasy in 2024. Why? Well, that would be because LA Galaxy is a possession team and due to that, Yoshida only had 2 games all season where he did not get a passing bonus point. On top of that, the Galaxy had 7 clean sheets and Yoshida had 2 goals. However, most of all, Yoshida only received 2 cards all season, both being yellow. Avoiding these negative points put Yoshida among the top defenders last season. His presence on the field for the Galaxy will be important, as the team will be missing Riqui Puig for most of the season.
4. Brooks Lennon
Some of you may be asking why I am ranking Brooks Lennon so high in the rankings. To me the answer is quite simple–Miguel Almiron and Aleksei Miranchuk. Lennon is going to have free range up the right side of the field due to teams needing to cover the other star players in Atlanta. Almiron and Miranchuk can absolutely tear apart defenses on their own. Now when you add in a top quality wing-back who can send in exquisite crosses like Brooks Lennon, that is a recipe for success. I would not at all be surprised if Atlanta is among the top 3 teams in the East in 2025 due to their explosive attack. Their defense still needs some help, but when you have a player like Lennon who can get an assist or key pass at any moment, the fantasy points add up fast.
3. Jackson Ragen
The 26 year old Seattle homegrown came into the 2024 season with a mission in mind, to be the Defender of the Year. Although he fell short, he still was a top 3 nominee. Ragen is a very strong presence on the defensive side of the ball, and contributes goals and assists, of which he had 4 contributions last season. Seattle has only gotten stronger defensively and that means that a player like Ragen will receive more and more clean sheet bonuses. All of this doesn’t even mention the fact that Ragen finished as the NUMBER ONE fantasy defender last season.
2. Jordi Alba
Who else but the all-time great Spanish left-back as number two in the fantasy defender standings. Alba showed his importance to Inter Miami last season and it only is going to improve this season. Although Alba finished in 6th among fantasy defenders last season, he did that with 8-9 fewer starts than the others. How? His 4 goals and 10 assists is how. Alba is working alongside his old Barcelona teammates, Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi, some of the best scorers of all time. Alba can just put in any sort of ball for a striker to put laces on and it will be in the back of the net. If Miami can figure out their defensive side of things, Alba would easily be the top defender in fantasy. However, as it stands right now, there is only one defender who is better in fantasy than Jordi.
- Kai Wagner
The top defender spot goes to Kai Wagner. Kai has been among the top 5 defenders in FMLS since joining Philadelphia in 2019. He has an absolutely exquisite cross from corner kicks, a dangerous through ball, and knows how to get up the wing in live play. The thing that ties everything together, though, is that the Union defense has been amazing over the last 5 years. The center back pairing of Elliott and Glesnes with Wagner on the left and Andre Blake behind them has produced some of the best defensive seasons that MLS has ever seen. With their first poor defensive season since 2019, the Union released Elliott and now have Ian Glavinovich from Newell’s Old Boys. This hopefully will be a revival for the Union who have another strong defensive season in 2025.
Honorable mentions:
-
- Aaron Long/Nkoski Tafari: I can see LAFC being a very strong defensive team this season. My only concern is the potential rotation among defenders, hence not placing any of them on the main top 10 defenders.
- Ranko Veselinovic: If Vancouver can figure out how to maintain their defensive structure with a new coach, Veselinovic will continue to be a top defender in fantasy.
- Thiago Martins: NYCFC’s main center back, Martins, has been a defender who has consistently generated bonus points. These always bump him up in the fantasy rankings. Keep an eye out for his bonus point generation this season.
- Luca Orellano: I feel the need to include Orellano in this list on the off-chance that he is listed as a defender in the game–he played wing-back for much of last season. Orellano is easily a top three defender on this list if he is listed as a defender instead of a midfielder.
Contributor: Tyler Norman, @Ranchinator on Discord
