Soccer Fantasy Picks: Best Starts, Sits & Value Plays — 2026-05-28

Welcome back, SportsPulse.com DFS fanatics! What a week it’s been in the world of soccer – from the high-octane drama of Argentina’s 3-3 draw with France in the World Cup to the tactical grind of an AFCON 0-0 stalemate, the beautiful game never ceases to deliver. Even with unexpected results popping up across leagues, our job is to cut through the noise and find the gold for your DraftKings and FanDuel lineups. Let’s dive into this week’s top picks to get you climbing those leaderboards!

Top 3 Players to START This Week

1. Mateo Rossi (Napoli Dynamo - Forward): Rossi is absolutely red-hot, cementing his place as the league's top goal-scorer. He’s bagged 4 goals and 2 assists in his last 3 appearances, showcasing incredible finishing and playmaking. This week, he faces a defense that has conceded 7 goals in their last two road games. His high shot volume and clinical edge make him a must-start with a sky-high ceiling. 2. Elena Petrova (FC Zenith - Attacking Midfielder): Petrova has been a fantasy points machine, consistently delivering a high floor with her involvement in Zenith’s attacks. Averaging 10+ fantasy points per game over the last month, she leads her team in key passes (18) and shots on target (9) from midfield. Her upcoming opponent struggles against creative central players, setting Petrova up for another dominant performance. 3. Kenji Tanaka (Tokyo United - Wing-Back): Don't let his defender tag fool you; Tanaka is an attacking force. He delivered 2 assists last week and registered 11 crosses, demonstrating his offensive upside. Tokyo United is at home against a team notorious for allowing crosses from wide areas, making Tanaka a prime candidate for both clean sheet potential and attacking returns this week.

1. Gabriel Silva (Rio Stars - Forward): While historically a strong fantasy asset, "The Ghost" Silva has lived up to his nickname recently, disappearing from the scoresheet. He has zero goals in his last five matches and faces a league-best defense this week that has allowed only one goal in their last four outings. His high salary and current form make him a major fade, despite potentially high ownership. 2. Liam O'Connell (Celtic Rovers - Defender): O'Connell’s team has been in a defensive slump, conceding 7 goals in their last two games, completely eroding his clean sheet upside. Moreover, his attacking contributions have dried up, with only 2 crosses and 0 shots in the same period. With a tough road fixture against a top-scoring side, O'Connell is a high-risk play with a low floor.

Two Value/Bargain Plays Under Salary Cap

1. Sofia Hernandez (Atlético Verde - Midfielder): Hernandez is expected to start this week due to an injury to a regular starter, and she’s shown flashes of brilliance from the bench, with 1 goal and 1 assist in her last 80 minutes of play across two games. At a near-minimum salary, she offers explosive upside for a player likely to see 90 minutes against a leaky defense.

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