Fantasy MLS: Wednesday Cheat Sheet

MATCHES (EDT)

7:30 p.m: Orlando City v. Toronto FC
7:30 p.m: Columbus Crew v. Philadelphia Union
7:30 p.m: Montreal Impact v. D.C. United
8:30 p.m: Chicago Fire v. Los Angeles Galaxy
9:00 p.m: Houston Dynamo v. Seattle Sounders
10:30 p.m: San Jose Earthquakes v. New England Revolution

ODDS REPORT

EXPECTED CORNER TAKERS

Orlando City: Kaka
Toronto FC: Sebastian Giovinco
Columbus Crew: Federico Higuain
Philadelphia Union: Tranquillo Barnetta
Montreal Impact: Ambroise Oyongo, Marco Donadel, Hernan Bernardello
D.C. United: Lloyd Sam
Chicago Fire: John Goossens
Los Angeles Galaxy: Steven Gerrard
Houston Dynamo: Cristian Maidana
Seattle Sounders: Andreas Ivanschitz
San Jose Earthquakes: Anibal Godoy
New England Revolution: Chris Tierney

PLAYER RECOMMENDATIONS

GOALKEEPER

Bill Hamid, DCU at MTL: D.C. United haven't exactly been a great defensive team of late, and their last four games have been at home, but they'll now travel to face an Impact attack that has mustered three goals in their last four games, including a 1-1 draw with D.C. on July 31. With Didier Drogba and Ignacio Piatti likely to be peppering shots at goal, Hamid could show once again why he's one of the best keepers in Major League Soccer. Making matters even better, Drogba and Piatti both went 90 minutes on Saturday, with the former not exactly a spring chicken for the quick turnaround.

DEFENDER

Matt Polster, CHI v. LAG: Polster usually lines up as a defensive midfielder, and while that doesn't usually equate to a ton of fantasy points, it's always nice when he's classified as a defender on fantasy sites. Polster has been much more active across the stat sheet of late, scoring 13 and 18 fantasy points on DraftKings in his last two games, respectively. His ceiling isn't terribly high, and a clean sheet is pretty unlikely, but if he keeps moving up in the attack, he could certainly produce against a Galaxy side that traveled across the country to play NYC FC just four days before this game.

Darrius Barnes, NER at SJE: Barnes could get the start in place of the suspended London Woodberry, and while he's capable of racking up tackles and interceptions, this is really more of a salary savings than anything else.

MIDFIELDER

Nicolas Lodeiro, SEA at HOU: Another slate of games, another price that's simply too low for Lodeiro, who had 55 fantasy points on DraftKings in his last two games combined. His price has risen from $5,000 to $6,900 and yet it's still a steal. He has eight shots (three on target), 15 crosses and eight fouls drawn over this run, not to mention a goal and two assists. The matchup isn't ideal against a Dynamo side that hasn't given up more than one goal since June, but the upside is way too high to ignore.

Anibal Godoy, SJE v. NER: Godoy has taken over corner duties for the Earthquakes, helping him send in 12 crosses in the last two games. He's also taken multiple shots in four of his last five games while also winning 12 tackles over that span. It's not often you look to the Earthquakes for attacking options, but home against the Revolution seems like the ideal time to do so.

Alberto Quintero, SJE v. NER: I know, I know, you're sitting there thinking "this guy is really going to recommend two players from the Earthquakes?" I get it. And while the Earthquakes have scored just twice in their last two games, Godoy and Quintero have combined for 38 fantasy points and neither has scored a goal. Meanwhile, the Revolution have allowed 13 goals in their last four MLS matches (including six in their last two, which came at home), giving extra confidence that the Earthquakes could break their somewhat muted goal spell.

FORWARD

Chris Wondolowski, SJE v. NER: I'm trying to take this Earthquakes thing way too far, aren't I?

Sebastian Giovinco, TOR at ORL: Giovinco has eight goals on 30 shots (13 on target) and three assists in his last fives games, and he now faces off against an Orlando City defense that allowed multiple goals in five of six games before a 0-0 draw this past weekend at Colorado. If there is a price to fade him, it's higher than $14,500.

Cubo Torres, HOU v. SEA: There's no doubt that if JD Bazzo wrote this piece, Torres would be in this spot. Mauro Manotas has been starting of late, and Will Bruin came on for him in the Dynamo's last match, but Torres had just returned from the Olympics and so it wasn't overly surprising to see him sitting. However, it's time to unleash the beast, which comes at a perfect time for fantasy players, as the Sounders come in having allowed at least one goal in seven straight games, including 11 in their last four road matches in all competitions.