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In the wake of the recent announcement of an exclusive daily fantasy partnership between Major League Soccer (MLS) and Draftkings, RotoBaller will kick off (pun intended) its coverage of Daily Fantasy MLS with the rankings of the highest value picks at each position.
Editor's Note: If you haven't played Daily Fantasy MLS / Soccer games, check out our partner DraftKings. They're hosting a one-day Fantasy MLS league this weekend.
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DFS Soccer Goalkeepers for DraftKings
David Ousted, Vancouver Whitecaps ($4,300)
Valued at $4,300, Ousted is a relatively inexpensive option at goalkeeper. Despite being priced lower than 13 other goalkeepers, he averages more fantasy points per game (9.0) than all but three of them. He is almost a lock to provide fantasy points through either a clean sheet (+5 points) or by conceding only one goal (+2 points), averaging 0.32 clean sheets per 90 minutes along with one goal given up per 90 minutes on the season. Additionally, in Vancouver’s last ten games, Ousted has given up more than one goal only twice, another indicator of the high probability of an outing with a clean sheet or only one goal conceded.
Ousted provides a value of $477.77 per fantasy point, which will definitely give MLS DFS players the most bang for their buck at the goalkeeper position. The fact that he is facing the Seattle Sounders and their relatively weak offense is just icing on the cake. Ousted is an extremely high-value, low-cost play, and if you are squeezed for cap room, he is almost a no-brainer at goalkeeper.
Tim Melia, Sporting KC ($5,300)
Despite being the 2nd highest priced goalkeeper on the market, Tim Melia is high-value play. He averages 10.5 fantasy points per game (FPPG) and 0.73 goals conceded per 90 minutes. His tremendous output of 2.88 saves per goal (compared to David Ousted’s 2.09 saves per goal) coupled with 0.55 clean sheets per 90 minutes places him firmly in the upper echelon of high-value plays. He provides a value of $504.76 per fantasy point, and he is one of those rare players who is simultaneously a safe play and a high-value play in daily fantasy contests.
Andrew Dykstra, DC United ($5,200)
If Tim Melia is out of your price range and you are skittish about the potential production of David Ousted, then Andrew Dykstra of DC United is your guy. Despite having no clean sheets on the season, Dykstra has posted an average of 10.3 FPPG, largely due to his 3.32 saves per 90 minutes. Dykstra stays busy in goal, which can be a boon to the amount of save opportunities he faces, but also detract from his daily fantasy value. The large amount of shots he faces can translate into more goals for the opposition.
In seven games this season, Dykstra has conceded more than one goal three times, which is not a particularly stellar statistic considering the emphasis Draftkings scoring places on clean sheets and one goal games. He concedes 1.51 goals per 90 minutes, which is more than double Melia’s 0.73 goals conceded per 90 minutes. Despite that sobering statistic, Dykstra provides a value of $505.83 per fantasy point, which is almost identical to the dollar/fantasy point value of Tim Melia.
DFS Soccer Defenders for DraftKings
Taylor Kemp, DC United ($4,600)
While not the most well-known of MLS defenders, Taylor Kemp is a highly valuable option at the defender position for Draftkings daily contests.
While the DC United defender does not take many shots (0.14 per 90 minutes), which count as one point in Draftkings, he does have 1.18 key passes per 90 minutes (an indicator of crosses, which count for one point).
He has an unusually high assist rate for a defender, at 0.28 assists per 90 minutes, which is an underrated statistic for a defender, as assists count for six points in Draftkings. With a value of $621.62 per fantasy point (he averages 7.4 FPPG), Taylor Kemp packs the most fantasy points into the smallest amount of salary in this week’s Draftkings MLS contests in the defender position.
Chris Tierney, New England Revolution, ($5,800)
Chris Tierney is the most expensive defender, and in spite of his high price, he still generates tremendous value. Tierney attempts 0.94 shots and completes 1.67 key passes per 90 minutes, both stellar numbers for a defender. He averages 8.5 FPPG, and provides $682.35 per fantasy point. While his dollar per fantasy point value is not close to Taylor Kemp’s number in that category, Tierney’s status as a consistent fantasy producer warrants him a spot near the top of this list.
Chris Duvall, New York Red Bulls, ($5,000)
Chris Duvall is not usually considered to be a stat-sheet stuffer, yet he provides very high value in Draftkings daily fantasy contests. He draws a laudable 1.19 fouls per 90 minutes (0.75 points in Draftkings), but other than that, his statistics in any other category that Draftkings tallies do not stand out. In spite of his seeming mediocrity, Duvall provides an extremely high value of $694.44 per fantasy point (he averages 7.2 FPPG), which rivals Chris Tierney’s value as one of the most valuable defenders in Draftkings.
Waylon Francis, Columbus Crew, ($4,500)
Francis, a defender for the Columbus Crew, is not even on most MLS DFS player’s radars. Despite the lack of name recognition, Francis is a low-price, high-value option at defender. He averages 0.28 assists and 0.74 fouls drawn per 90 minutes, but like his fellow defender Chris Duvall, his other statistics do not stand out. He averages a seemingly lackluster 6.3 FPPG, yet provides a value of $714.29 per fantasy point, giving players much bang for their buck if they choose to select him.
Tyrone Mears, Seattle Sounders, ($5,600)
Tyrone Mears is the second most expensive defender on the market, and his statistics, when compared to the fellow defenders listed above, are subpar. He generates 0.20 shots, 0.10 assists, and 0.53 key passes per 90 minutes, all statistics that leave much to be desired. Somehow, he still manages to produce 7.7 FPPG for a value of $727.27 per fantasy point, so he is a viable high-value option at the defender position.
DFS Soccer Midfielders for DraftKings
Sebastian Lletget, LA Galaxy, ($5,900)
Sebastian Lletget, despite only averaging 62 minutes a game, makes his presence known both in the game and on the stat sheet. He attempts 2.27 shots per 90 minutes with 67% accuracy, which may not seem impressive, but when compared to the statistics of Orlando City’s Kaká (2.37 shots per 90 minutes with 56% accuracy), they are downright astounding. He scores 0.81 goals per 90 minutes played, and while his assist and cross numbers are not satisfactory, his goal and shot output cement his status as a high-value play. He provides a value of $614.58 per fantasy point (he averages 9.6 FPPG), which is far and away the highest value of any midfielder who consistently plays every game for more than 45 minutes.
Javier Morales, Real Salt Lake, ($8,900)
Whereas Sebastian Lletget excels more in the shots and goals categories, Javier Morales of Real Salt Lake is a force to be reckoned with in the crosses, assists, and, and fouls drawn categories. He attempts 3.75 key passes and has 0.44 assists per 90 minutes to go along with 2.64 fouls drawn per 90 minutes. He averages 1.98 shots per 90 minutes with 60% accuracy, so when he does shoot, it is more likely than not that the shot is on goal, meaning he has earned another fantasy point. He is a safe play and provides a value of $706.34 (he averages 12.6 FPPG) per fantasy point. Morales is sure to get shot and assist opportunities against DC United in his upcoming matchup.
Benny Feilhaber, Sporting KC, ($9,300)
Feilhaber is the second-most-expensive midfielder on the market, but he is also a player of high value. He is a stat compiler—meaning that he does not excel in one fantasy statistical category, rather he is solid and above average in all of them. He attempts 1.65 shots with 48% accuracy per 90 minutes to go along 0.38 assists and 1.92 key passes per 90 minutes. He averages 12.7 FPPG and provides a value of $732.28 per fantasy point.
Cristian Maidana, Philadelphia Union, ($7,900)
Maidana is an under-the-radar high-value fantasy option, who, like Benny Feilhaber, is a statistical compiler. He attempts 1.40 shots per 90 minutes with 47% accuracy to go along with 0.38 assists and 3.12 key passes per 90 minutes. He is a relatively low cost, high value play at the midfielder position, who provides $774.51 per fantasy point (he averages 10.2 FPPG).
Marco Delgado, Toronto FC, ($5,100)
Of all the high-value options presented at midfielder, Marco Delgado presents the highest risk. He has an extremely low price tag which helps in part to mitigate his lack production when compared to his fellow high value counterparts (7.3 FPPG). He shoots 1.39 shots per 90 minutes with 50% accuracy, and averages a lowly 1.22 key passes per 90 minutes. He provides a value of $698.63 per fantasy point. If you are short on cap space but want to pack in a high value player, then Marco Delgado is your man. Otherwise, proceed with caution—there is a reason why he is priced so low.
DFS Soccer Forwards for DraftKings
Obafemi Martins, Seattle Sounders, ($9,300)
Now that Martins' Draftkings stock has come back to Earth (he was $10,900 a few weeks ago), he is now an extremely high value and affordable option at the forward position. He shoots 2.03 shots per 90 minutes with a stellar 63% accuracy rate to go along with 2.42 fouls drawn per 90 minutes. His assist and cross numbers are average at 0.19 and 0.77 per 90 minutes, respectively, but at 15.0 FPPG, he still produces enough to get the job done. He provides a value of $620.00 per fantasy point, which for a forward in Draftkings is an exceptionally high value.
Kei Kamara, Columbus Blue, ($10,900)
Kamara accumulates fantasy points through sheer bulk—he attempts 4.59 shots per 90 minutes with a respectable 49% accuracy rate. He scores 0.72 goals, has 0.19 assists, and draws 1.53 fouls per 90 minutes. His through-the-roof shot rate is what sets him apart from other forwards, and with a value of $664.40 per fantasy point, he is a safe, high-value option at forward.
Robbie Keane, LA Galaxy, ($10,600)
It’s hard to find a more well-rounded forward than Robbie Keane in the MLS. With 3.20 shots on 66% accuracy per 90 minutes, 0.76 goals scored, 0.34 assists, and 1.51 fouls drawn per 90 minutes, Keane stuffs the stat sheet with regularity. While it is important to note that he is facing the staunch Colorado Rapids defense (only 19 goals allowed all season), he should be able to accumulate fantasy points nonetheless. He averages 15.3 FPPG to provide a value of $692.81 per fantasy point.
Sébastian Le Toux, Philadelphia Union, ($5,200)
Le Toux is a shockingly inexpensive forward who has a high value for his price. He averages 7.5 FPPG, but despite his seemingly meager output, provides a value of $693.34 per fantasy point. He produces 1.36 key passes as well as 1.53 shots per 90 minutes on 55% accuracy. He is a risk—but one well worth taking if you need an inexpensive high value option at forward.
CJ Sapong, Philadelphia Union, ($6,900)
Sapong, like his fellow Philadelphia attacker Le Toux, is surprisingly inexpensive for the output he produces. He averages 9.7 FPPG and provides a value of $711.34 per fantasy point. He attempts 2.57 shots per 90 minutes with 52% accuracy and draws an incredible 2.49 penalties per 90 minutes. If you are looking for a safer high value option than Sébastian Le Toux, than CJ Sapong is your man.
Honorable Mention: Sebastian Giovinco, Toronto FC, ($12,400)
Giovinco averages an astounding 19.7 FPPG to provide a value of $629.44 per fantasy point. He has 0.48 assists per 90 minutes to go along with 0.69 goals per 90 minutes, and if he were not fighting a heel injury that kept him out of the MLS All-Star game, then he would be an extremely high value option at forward. Essentially, if you choose him, you are paying for the production of two high quality forwards at a far lower price tag than the combined salary of those two forwards. However, because of his injury, proceed cautiously. He is listed as questionable for Saturday’s game at New England.
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