Matchups are one of the most important factors to consider when crafting your fantasy lineup each week. In MLS, where home field provides a greater advantage than most leagues, players frequently deal with cross-country travel and multiple competitions, which can impact performance. It’s important to consider these factors, as well as performance metrics such as home/away form and player injuries to pinpoint favorable matchups. Each week I’ll focus on a few matchups you should target to help your team collect those precious fantasy points. Here are some to keep an eye on in round three:

DC United vs Sporting Kansas City (Sat, 7:30pm ET)

Neither of these two teams are what I’d consider an attacking juggernaut, but the conditions are right for this to be a solid fantasy matchup for both sides. DC United has grinded out two 2-2 draws so far this season, and are a top-10 xG team but bottom of the league in xGA. Sporting KC have had a bit of a rough start to the season, but now that their CCC run has ended they can focus on the league. This is a nice matchup to get their attack jump-started and this matchup has one of the higher goal totals for the week. 

PLAYER TARGETS:

• Christian Benteke (FWD, DC)
• Aaron Herrera (DEF, DC)
• Manu Garcia (MID, SKC)
• Dejan Joveljic (FWD, SKC)

FC Dallas vs Chicago Fire FC (Sat, 8:30pm ET)

FC Dallas and Chicago Fire rank top five in xG through the first two weeks, while also both being in the bottom half of the league for xG conceded (Chicago ranking dead last). With those stats in mind, this matchup could produce goals. I’m favoring the home side as they’re coming off a very strong attacking performance at Colorado, producing five chances of 0.15xG or higher, not an easy feat when dealing with altitude. However, I expect an end-to-end match, making attackers from both sides viable fantasy options. 

PLAYER TARGETS:

• Lucho Acosta (MID, FCD)
• Petar Musa (FWD, FCD)
• Jonathan Bamba (MID, CHI)
• Hugo Cuypers (FWD, CHI)

Nashville SC vs Portland Timbers (Sat, 8:30pm ET)

The Boys in Gold will be looking to get into the winning column at GEODIS Park on Saturday, and the injury-ridden Portland Timbers offer them a great opportunity to do so. With Patrick Yazbek and Ahmed Qasem hopefully joining the lineup, Nashville has a much more dynamic look compared to the first two weeks. Last time these two faced off it ended with a 4-1 victory in favor of the Timbers, so Nashville will surely be using that result as motivation to make things right at home. Portland is near the bottom in both xG for and against, so I’m liking Nashville’s chances on both ends for fantasy purposes.

PLAYER TARGETS:

• Hany Mukhtar (MID, NSH)
• Walker Zimmerman (DEF, NSH)
• Ahmed Qasem (MID, NSH)
• David Da Costa (MID, POR)

LA Galaxy vs St. Louis City (Sun, 7:00pm ET)

This Sunday Night Soccer matchup between the LA Galaxy and St. Louis City has nearly a 70% chance to go over 2.5 goals according to bet365, the highest of any MLS matchup this weekend. The last two matchups between these sides at Dignity Health Sports Park ended 3-3 and 2-2, respectively, and neither side has been known for defensive prowess the past few seasons. If we get another high scoring, end to end match this weekend, fantasy points should be on the menu.

PLAYER TARGETS:

• Gabriel Pec (FWD, LAG)
• Christian Ramirez (FWD. LAG)
• Marcel Hartel (MID, STL)
• Cedric Teuchert (FWD, STL)

 

Contributor: Eli Redpath, @vurkes on Discord