This article is part of our DraftKings Fantasy Soccer series.
MATCHES (EDT)
7:00 p.m: Atlanta United v. Los Angeles Galaxy
7:30 p.m: Toronto FC v. Montreal Impact
PLAYER RECOMMENDATIONS
GOALKEEPER
Brad Guzan, ATL v. LA ($5,500): Atlanta is the chalk play of the slate for various reasons: they are on a surge and in the middle of a six-game home stand at the new Mercedes Benz Stadium. Atlanta is quickly emerging as a premier soccer culture, with over 70,000 people in attendance at the last game against Orlando City. Not to mention, the Los Angeles backline is decimated and the attack is very incomplete with no true striker.
DEFENDER
Nicolas Hasler, TOR v. MTL ($5,100): If he gets the nod, Hasler is a solid value play Wednesday. He is an excellent attacking defender, and as a wingback he is allowed to get involved in the attack. Steven Beitashour may return to the lineup after suffering from a lacerated pancreas, which held him out for a couple months. If he Beitashour starts, he also is a good look after putting up a stellar performance in his first start since the injury.
Chris Duvall, MTL at TOR ($3,600): Montreal players come at a discount due to the tough matchup against Toronto. Montreal loves to make these games high-scoring affairs, and a couple of goals from the Impact would likely produce enough points to allow many Montreal players to hit value. The discount is understandable, but the lack of Sebastian Giovinco and Jozy Altidore should be key factors in the outcome of the match. Duvall is underpriced and very capable of far exceeding value.
Daniel Lovitz, MTL at TOR ($3,400): Lovitz is a fullback to pair with Duvall if you want to go with the Montreal discount at defense. He is an attacking-minded defender, who, like Duvall, is underpriced, so he makes for a great bargain play.
MIDFIELDER
Miguel Almiron, ATL v. LA ($9,400): Almiron is the star of the show in Atlanta, and the Galaxy are very vulnerable at the moment. If Almiron is in the lineup, it will be hard to fade him.
Victor Vazquez, TOR v. MTL ($8,200): Vazquez plays a similar role for Toronto as Almiron does in Atlanta. He is an elite playmaker and likely to be the reason why Toronto scores. With no Giovinco or Altidore in the lineup, Vazquez gets an increase in his ceiling as the taker of penalties and all set pieces.
Blerim Dzemaili, MTL at TOR ($7,800): Dzemaili is another player who stands out from the Montreal discount. He saw Toronto a few weeks ago, but all of Toronto's goals were scored by the forwards who will miss Wednesday's game, so things should be much different this time around.
FORWARD
Josef Martinez, ATL v. LA ($9,500): Martinez is one of the finest strikers in the league, and an absolute lock if he is in the lineup.
Tosaint Ricketts, TOR v. MTL ($6,400): Ricketts is playing for Giovinco and Altidore, and he has thrived in this role as the temporary fill-in in the past. He bagged a brace against the Galaxy last game, and he is likely to continue his scoring run as the starter of the top team in the league until the big guns return.
Gyasi Zardes, LA at ATL ($4,700): The match against Toronto was a wash, but Zardes scored a goal in each of the two games prior to that match. He got a tap-in for the first of the two goals, which is sometimes what a goalscorer needs to get going. He was on a terrible run of form prior to the goals, but perhaps more goals are ahead of him to finish the season.
