The end of gameweek 18 will mean we have completed two-thirds of the MLS Fantasy Soccer season for 2021. It’s also the start of the final Champions League qualifying period.

There are twelve fixtures with San Jose Earthquakes on a bye week.

Goalkeeper

Think About

Eloy Room (Columbus Crew) and Mason Stadjuhar (Orlando City) play at home in the early games, but both teams have struggled for clean sheets recently. If you put one on the bench have a strong second choice.

Other options for this week are Carlos Coronel (New York Red Bulls), Tim Melia (Sporting Kansas City) and Stefan Cleveland (Seattle Sounders)

Defenders

Strongly Consider

Brooks Lennon (Atlanta United) has four clean sheets and four assists this season and is up against Nashville SC who have only two goals in their last four road games.

With 30 points, including two goals from his last three appearances Antonio Carlos (Orlando City) is another good option from the early games.

Think About

The New York Red Bulls pair, Kyle Duncan and Andrew Guttman, have a home game against Chicago Fire and look like one of the better clean sheet chances this week.

Others to think about include Andreu Fontas (Sporting Kansas City) or some Seattle Sounders coverage.

Avoid

Austin FC have conceded in each of their last seven homes games and are up against FC Dallas, who scored in each of their last three away trips.

Midfield

Strongly Consider

Ezequiel Barco and Marcelino Moreno have been at the heart of Atlanta United’s recent recovery. In the past four games Barco has 43 points while Moreno has 39 points.

His recent output has been steady rather than spectacular, so Lucas Zelarayan (Columbus Crew) is worth a punt from the bench.

Think About

A home game against Inter Miami should mean more points for Nani (Orlando City), though it’s been a couple of weeks since he completed 90 minutes and there may be some doubts about his fitness.

Rayan Raveloson (LA Galaxy) has five goals in his opening ten games in MLS. Can he do it again, against LAFC in El Trafico?

Ryan Gauld has made an impressive start to his time at Vancouver Whitecaps. He has one goal and one assist from four appearances from the bench. This week he has a home game against Real Salt Lake.

Other possibilities this week include Julian Gressel (DC United) and Joao Paulo or Nicolas Lodeiro from Seattle Sounders.

Forwards

Strongly Consider

With five goals in his last six starts Daniel Salloi (Sporting Kansas City) continues to be an obvious choice.

Seattle Sounders will like their chances at home to Portland Timbers and Raul Ruidiaz has three goals in his last three games.

Think About

Other striking options include Josef Martinez (Atlanta United), Diego Rossi (LAFC) and Ola Kamara (DC United).