Matchups to target is 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. With the first international break of the season upon us, multiple teams will be missing key players and it’ll be important that you take those absences into account when building your team this week. With that being said, let’s get into some of the key matchups to target in round five:

FC Cincinnati vs Atlanta United (Sat, 2:30pm ET)

Atlanta United will be one of many shorthanded teams on Saturday, missing key players: Miguel Almiron, Bartosz Slisz, and four first-team center backs (Gregersen, Abram, Cobb, Morales). They also have Mateusz Klich and Ronald Hernandez struggling for fitness. Losing that much of your depth is never ideal, especially for a defense already ranking bottom-10 in xGa through four rounds. With a bottom-10 defense (by xGA) of their own, Cincy can’t afford to be missing so much of their defense either–potentially being without center backs Miles Robinson, Matt Miazga, Gilberto Flores and Teenage Hadebe. This matchup has the potential to explode with offense, but Cincinnati should have the firepower to get it done at home and deliver solid fantasy returns. 

PLAYER TARGETS:

• Evander (MID, CIN)
• Luca Orellano (DEF, CIN)
• Emmanuel Latte Lath (FWD, ATL)
• Saba Lobjanidze (MID, ATL)

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

Orlando City hosts DC United on Saturday in what could be an end-to-end matchup. Both teams will be missing key defensive players—Orlando’s goalkeeper Pedro Gallese and DC United’s starting center back Kye Rowles. With both attacks at full strength and neither defense looking particularly convincing this season, this game should be wide open. If things play out as expected, there will be plenty of fantasy points up for grabs. 

PLAYER TARGETS:

• Martin Ojeda (MID, ORL)
• Marco Pasalic (MID, ORL)
• Luis Muriel (FWD, ORL)
• Christian Benteke (FWD, DC)

Nashville SC vs CF Montreal (Sat, 8:30pm ET)

Montreal continue their six-game road trip to open up the season with a visit to Nashville, and considering their current form and absences, their wait for a first win in 2025 looks set to continue. Nashville’s attack passed the eye test last weekend, with a dominant 3-1 victory at Philly, led by Hany Mukhtar and his league-leading 6.5 SCA/90. With Montreal missing their best center back, Joel Waterman, and being held scoreless the last three matches, I see both Nashville’s attack AND defense with a high ceiling for fantasy points. 

PLAYER TARGETS:

• Hany Mukhtar (MID, NSH)
• Sam Surridge (FWD, NSH)
• Joe Willis (GK, NSH)
• Walker Zimmerman (DEF, NSH)

Colorado Rapids vs Portland Timbers (Sat, 9:30pm ET)

Zack Steffen was Colorado’s savior last week, recording ten saves in a 2-1 win at San Jose. But with their number-one shot-stopper on international duty, 18-year-old Adam Beaudry is set to make his MLS debut. It’s almost always a tough spot for a young keeper’s first start, which is why I’m expecting goals on both sides. On the other hand, Portland’s defense has been up and down thus far, offering a tasty matchup for Colorado’s attackers in what should be an end-to-end game. 

PLAYER TARGETS:

• Djordje Mihailovic (MID, COL)
• Rafael Navarro (FWD, COL)
• David Da Costa (MID, POR)
• Felipe Mora (FWD, POR)

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Contributor: Eli Redpath, @vurkes on Discord