The MLS Fantasy Soccer 2022 season is already at Gameweek 4. This week sees some hard to call matchups and the Champions League teams returning to domestic competition after midweek second-legs.

Stats from FBRef

Goalkeeper

Essential: None

Recommended: Alec Kann (FC Cincinnati) Brad Guzan (Atlanta United) Dayne St. Clair (Minnesota United)

Kann may not be an obvious choice but at just $4.5m and with a home game against Inter Miami he is worth a shot as part of a keeperoo.

Despite no clean sheets this season, Guzan ended up on six points last week thanks to bonus points for saves. He also faces CF Montreal who will be coming off a Champions League tie.

St. Clair scored 15 points, including a penalty save, as the Loons managed their first clean sheet of the season.

Possible: Earl Edwards Jr (New England Revolution) Maarten Paes (FC Dallas) Zac MacMath (Real Salt Lake)

Defenders

Essential: Brooks Lennon (Atlanta United)

If he plays out of position (in a more advanced role) like last week against Charlotte FC, Lennon looks like a ‘must have’ at only $6.1m.

Recommended: Wyatt Omsberg (Chicago Fire) Justin Glad (Real Salt Lake) Mbacke (LAFC)

Chicago have three straight shut-outs and have a home match against Sporting KC who have lost twice on the road, conceding five goals with an xGA of 4.3. Omsberg has 29 fantasy points from those three games.

Glad is the pick of the RSL defence who have two clean sheets from three games. This weekend they face Nashville SC who have just 8 shots on target from three games.

With a goal and two clean sheets, Mbacke is averaging nearly 8 points per game. LAFC play Vancouver Whitecaps who have one goal from three and the lowest xG (2.1) in the league.

Possible: Nick DePuy (LA Galaxy) Adam Lundkvist (Houston Dynamo) Julio Cascante (Austin FC)

Midfield

Essential: None

Recommended: Xherdan Shaqiri (Chicago Fire) Lucas Zelarayan (Columbus Crew) Sebastian Driussi (Austin FC)

Shaqiri hasn’t yet hit the fantasy heights he is capable of. He is up against Sporting KC who have struggled during their two road games so far.

With scores of 16, 15 and 15, it’s hard to ignore Zelarayan after his start to the season. The only question to ask is if there are better options from the players with home fixtures?

Despite a poor return at Portland last week, Driussi still has 30 points from three games. The hope is that Seattle Sounders rotate heavily after Champions League involvement.

Possible: Lucho Acosta (FC Cincinnati) Kervin Arriaga (Minnesota United) Alan Velasco (FC Dallas) Frankie Amaya (NYRB)

Forwards

Essential: None

Recommended: Brandon Vazquez (FC Cincinnati) Jesus Jimenez (Toronto FC) Chicharito (LA Galaxy)

At $6.6m Vazquez is a nice early forward option for the bench. He returned two goals and 13 points at Orlando last week.

Jimenez has two goals and an assist from three games, returning fantasy scores of 6, 7 and 8…so 9 this week?

Chicharito has two goals and will provide more, even if he is a little light on bonus point production.

Possible: Josef Martinez (Atlanta United) Darwin Qunitero (Houston Dynamo)

Captain

1. Lennon
2. Driussi
3. Shaqiri