MLS Fantasy Soccer moves quickly from the smallest of double gameweeks to an absolute monster. Gameweek 9 sees 25 teams with two fixtures while Colorado Rapids and Inter Miami play only once.

Goalkeeper

Must Have

At just $4.0m, Brandon Austin (Orlando City) should continue to cover for Pedro Gallese in the first match of the week against San Jose Earthquakes. Start him on your bench.

Strongly Consider

If Austin doesn’t work out, Joe Willis (Nashville SC) and Stefan Cleveland (Seattle Sounders) are relatively inexpensive options for the keeperoo. And both have two home fixtures.

If money is no object then Brad Stuver (Austin FC) continues to be a points magnet, managing 28 in his last three games.

Think About

Bobby Shuttleworth (Chicago Fire) is only $5.5m and has two home games, though the focus should be on the first of those fixtures when the Fire play FC Cincinnati.

Defenders

Strongly Consider

With six clean sheets in eight games and home games against Real Salt Lake and Vancouver Whitecaps, Seattle Sounders coverage seems an obvious choice. In each of his last two games, Yeimar Gomez Andrade (Seattle Sounders) has managed 11 points.

Anton Tinnerholm (NYCFC) also has two home games, and it would be reasonable to expect at least one big return should he play against Atlanta United and DC United.

Think About

Other potential defensive targets are Kai Wagner and Jakob Glesnes (both Philadelphia Union) as well as some Nashville SC coverage.

Midfield

Must Have

Carles Gil (New England Revolution) is averaging more than 10 points per game and reached double figures again at the weekend.

Strongly Consider

It looks like a strong week for midfielders with Jamiro Monteiro (Philadelphia Union), Joao Paulo (Seattle Sounders) and Eduard Atuesta (LAFC) all capable of big scores in good fixtures.

Think About

Nani (Orlando City) returned to action with a goal and could do the same against San Jose and Inter Miami.

Also returning to action was Alejandro Pozuelo (Toronto FC) who came up with 12 points. However, a visit to Nashville is a tough start so the only concern is possible rotation for a potentially great fixture against FC Cincinnati.

Randall Leal (Nashville SC) has kept his best performances for home games and has already managed scores of 15 and 11 in 2021. Playing against Toronto FC and CF Montreal should provide opportunities for more fantasy points.

Forwards

Strongly Consider

Raul Ruidiaz (Seattle Sounders) has five goals in five home games and should provide a decent return in at least one of his two matches.

Think About

Alan Pulido (Sporting Kansas City) has been in fine form recently but with Daniel Salloi and Johnny Russell also finding the net he may face competition for a start and for fantasy points.

He ended up with a score of -1 last week and is without a goal in four games but Valentin Castellanos (NYCFC) shouldn’t be ruled out.

Beware

LAFC still aren’t clicking yet but Carlos Vela and/or Diego Rossi are going to come up with a big score at some point.