We’ve arrived at the first double gameweek of the 2022 MLS Fantasy Soccer season. Six teams (Charlotte FC, FC Cincinnati, Orlando City, Portland Timbers, Real Salt Lake and Sporting Kansas City) play twice but beware of some fantasy favourites missing out due to international duty.

Stats from FBRef

Goalkeeper

Essential: None

Recommended: Alec Kann (FC Cincinnati)

Kann has yet to score more than three fantasy points in a game this season but, for anyone looking for three chances of a clean sheet, he is the ideal starting point. His two games will be completed early, meaning he can be paired with a SGW option in a keeperoo.

Possible: Kristijan Kahlina (Charlotte FC) Tim Melia (Sporting Kansas City) Aljaz Ivacic (Portland Timbers) Eloy Room (Columbus Crew) Earl Edwards Jr. (New England Revolution)

Defenders

Essential: None

Recommended: Andreu Fontas (Sporting Kansas City) Zac McGraw (Portland Timbers) Kai Wagner (Philadelphia Union)

Fontas is perhaps a slight risk, given how Sporting KC have performed on the road. But he offers a high floor and a home game before a trip to low scoring Vancouver.

The Timbers have two home games and McGraw has offered decent bonus point returns in two of his four appearances this season. But, with Larrys Mabiala and Dario Zuparic close to returning, be ready to switch to another Timbers defender

Wagner is a SGW option but one of the most reliable players in the game. He has two clean sheets this season and fantasy scores of 6, 7, 8 and 11.

Possible: Christian Fuchs (Charlotte FC) Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City) Aaron Herrera (Real Salt Lake) Antonio Carlos (Orlando City) Steven Moreira (Columbus Crew) Lucas Estevez (Colorado Rapids)

Midfield

Essential: None

Recommended: Ben Bender (Charlotte FC) Lucho Acosta (FC Cincinnati) Yimmi Chara (Portland Timbers) Carles Gil (New England Revolution)

Bender has one goal, two assists and 19 points from his last two games. But will the likely absence of Karol Swiderski impact on his productivity?

While he can be frustrating for fantasy managers, Acosta has two matches and leads the league in Shot Creating Actions (SCA) with 29.

Last week’s game in Dallas was the first time this season that Chara has failed to provide a goal or an assist.

Gil has a SGW but still has the potential to outscore most other players with a season average of 9.50.

Possible: Remi Walter (Sporting Kansas City) Pablo Ruiz (Real Salt Lake) Alejandro Pozuelo (Toronto FC)

Forwards

Essential: None

Recommended: Brandon Vazquez (FC Cincinnati)

In a week that doesn’t look great for striking options, Vazquez is the stand-out. Two games, both early in the gameweek and coming off scores of 13 and 18 in the past two weeks.

Possible: Jaroslaw Niezgoda (Portland Timbers) Ercan Kara (Orlando City) Gonzalo Higuain (Inter Miami)

Captain

1. Chara
2. Gil
3. Acosta