Sorare Football Picks for GW97 Aug 4-7: MLS

Iloski is red hot right now, ripping off seven goals in his five appearances in the last 5 game weeks (1.40 goals per match), and that scoring burst makes him a clear high-upside start at Subaru Park against an Atlanta backline that has been porous this season. He is a Starter and regular in the Starting XI, with five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 15 appearances in the last 15 game weeks, averaging about 86 minutes a match while totaling nine goals and roughly 10.2 expected goals on the campaign, so his ceiling is backed by quality chances rather than pure variance. That combination gives managers a strong upside play for a home fixture, though model confidence is medium and Atlanta can threat in transition, so treat him as a boom-or-bust asset with a

Paxten Aaronson is riding the role rather than the hype, creating chances at a high rate and showing up consistently for a Rapids team that leans on him to make things happen. He is a STARTER in the Rapids Starting XI and averaging 90 minutes per game, with four goals and four assists so far this season, and his chance-creation (26 chances, five big chances) makes him a clear play against an Austin side that concedes more than two goals per match. His last five form (0.20 goals and 0.60 assists per match) points to a hot streak as Colorado hosts Austin at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on August 1, and his season xG profile underlines that the shots are of decent quality. Expect a high floor because he is nailed into the lineup, but the ceiling is tied to service from teammates like Rafael Navarro and how Colorado exploits Austin’s porous defense, so treat him as a strong start with a solid probability of returning attacking returns rather than a slam-dunk for big upside.

Holse arrives with real finishing and chance-creation chops from Europe, having delivered eight goals and three assists in last season's Süper Lig while ranking among his Samsunspor teammates for chances created, which makes him a sensible scoring threat against a Real Salt Lake defense that concedes about two goals per away match this year. You have him as a starter and averaging 90 minutes with five appearances in the last five game weeks, and that steady availability plus a Sorare Edge projection of 77.7 (model confidence medium) gives him a comfortably high floor for minutes and a ceiling centered on shots and expected-goals rather than purely empty minutes. St. Louis supplies creators like Marcel Hartel, so Holse should see service into the box at Energizer Park on Saturday, making him a solid mid-range start: play him for upside, but expect variance if City fails to sustain possession or unlock RSL’s compact moments.

Wagner's return and instant spot in the Starting XI is the real edge here; he looks nailed for 90 minutes and already has an assist and a 0.40 expected assists figure since rejoining Philadelphia, which gives him a high floor through minutes and set-piece/crossing involvement. This matchup at Subaru Park against an Atlanta side that concedes roughly 1.76 goals per game bumps his ceiling. Atlanta's defense has been porous enough to make a fullback's crosses and second assists meaningful. And his five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 10 appearances in the last 15 game weeks argue fitness and selection stability. Sorare Edge pegs him at 78.2 with medium confidence, so treat Wagner as a start when you need a dependable minutes floor and an upside for an assist, but price in the probability that clean-sheet returns are less likely on any given night.

Harriel's clearest fantasy edge is availability and attacking involvement from right back; he's been a regular starter and is logging full matches for the Union, which matters against an Atlanta United defense that concedes at a high rate and ranks poorly on expected goals conceded. He has chipped in a goal and at least one assist this season while averaging the kind of key-pass and expected-assist numbers that make him a ceiling play in formats that reward chance creation from defenders. Sorare Edge pegs him highly at 77.5 with medium model confidence, and that tracks with his nailed-on place in the Starting XI at home on August 1, 2026, so treat him as a dependable-floor start with upside if Philadelphia get on the front foot; he is less attractive when you need a home-run defensive punt.

The most important fact is the minutes: Hansen has cemented

Bond's recent shot-stopping is the headline: he made five saves and kept a clean sheet in Houston's 3-0 win over Austin, and he has cemented the Starting XI role as the club's primary goalkeeper. This is an appealing matchup on paper, with the fixture at Children's Mercy Park on August 1, 2026 and Sporting Kansas City averaging just 1.06 goals per game this season, which boosts Bond's clean-sheet ceiling even though Sporting still carries some individual threats up front. five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 15 appearances in the last 15 game weeks. Sorare Edge pegs him at 71.4 points with medium model confidence, so treat Bond as a safe-floor start thanks to locked-in minutes and a hot performance trend, with upside for a shutout plus multiple saves rather than as a boom-or-bust play.

Cleveland's most useful trait this week is availability and workload; he occupies Sporting Kansas City's Starting XI spot and is logging 90 minutes per game, with five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and eight appearances in the last 15 game weeks, which gives you a reliable floor for counting stats. (espn.com

Gavran is coming in hot on the basis of actual results, not hype, with clean sheets in back to back matches including a 0-0 at New England on July 22 and a 0-0 at Montreal on July 16, so he has recent form against the Revolution and the league's attackers. He is Toronto's clear starter, logging 90 minutes and 15 appearances in the last 15 game weeks, and his season has produced a steady volume of saves (about 46 on the campaign, roughly 2.7 per 90), which gives him a real upside for fantasy when the opposition peppers the box. That upside comes with a capped floor because Toronto's overall form is low, so treat Gavran as a reliable minutes play with a medium-confidence ceiling reflected in the Sorare Edge 68.2 projection, rather than a lock for a clean sheet.

San Jose's new No. 1 is an attractive, minutes-driven start this week because Angus Gunn is the club's Starter for the trip to FC Cincinnati on August 1, and you get five appearances in the last 5 game weeks plus a guaranteed 90 minutes baseline. He arrives sharp after starting for Scotland in June, and with Cincinnati having conceded 42 goals in 17 matches this season, Gunn carries upside from saves even if San Jose's form is mixed; Sorare Edge projects 67.4 points with medium confidence, so view him as a steady floor play who can pay off if the match turns into a busy night for the goalkeeper.

Wagner's return and instant spot in the Starting XI is the real edge here; he looks nailed for 90 minutes and already has an assist and a 0.40 expected assists figure since rejoining Philadelphia, which gives him a high floor through minutes and set-piece/crossing involvement. This matchup at Subaru Park against an Atlanta side that concedes roughly 1.76 goals per game bumps his ceiling. Atlanta's defense has been porous enough to make a fullback's crosses and second assists meaningful. And his five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 10 appearances in the last 15 game weeks argue fitness and selection stability. Sorare Edge pegs him at 78.2 with medium confidence, so treat Wagner as a start when you need a dependable minutes floor and an upside for an assist, but price in the probability that clean-sheet returns are less likely on any given night.

Harriel's clearest fantasy edge is availability and attacking involvement from right back; he's been a regular starter and is logging full matches for the Union, which matters against an Atlanta United defense that concedes at a high rate and ranks poorly on expected goals conceded. He has chipped in a goal and at least one assist this season while averaging the kind of key-pass and expected-assist numbers that make him a ceiling play in formats that reward chance creation from defenders. Sorare Edge pegs him highly at 77.5 with medium model confidence, and that tracks with his nailed-on place in the Starting XI at home on August 1, 2026, so treat him as a dependable-floor start with upside if Philadelphia get on the front foot; he is less attractive when you need a home-run defensive punt.

If you prize dependable minutes, Baumgartl is your guy. He has started every one of St. Louis City’s MLS matches this season and has been playing the full 90 regularly, which gives him a high floor for defensive fantasy points. He has five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 15 appearances in the last 15 game weeks, and his one goal this season gives him a modest ceiling on set pieces. St. Louis host Real Salt Lake at Energizer Park, and while RSL concede roughly 1.5 goals per game this campaign, St. Louis’s strong recent form makes a clean sheet a plausible outcome, so Baumgartl profiles as a safe start with upside if the hosts control the game. The Sorare Edge projection of 75.4 points and medium model confidence match that profile, but treat the ceiling as conditional on a team clean sheet or set-piece chance rather than a must-have attacking explosion.

What makes Will Sands an easy start is his secure role in New England's Starting XI and the club's clear vote of confidence this summer; he has started every game to open the season and earned a multi year contract extension, so his minutes are reliable. He also brings attacking upside for a defender, with goal and assist contributions and several team clean sheets, so he has a ceiling whenever Revolution fullbacks are asked to push forward; that matters because CF Montréal have been porous at the back this year, conceding roughly 1.9 goals per game, which should create chances for overlapping defenders. Treat him as a medium confidence play rather than a lock: Sorare Edge pegs him at 75.4 with model confidence listed as MEDIUM, and his workload is heavy and consistent with five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 15 appearances in the last 15 game weeks, so the floor is set by steady minutes while the ceiling comes from the attacking returns he can deliver at Stade Saputo on Aug 1, 2026.

If you want a dependable floor from New England's back line he is your man; Fofana is a Starter who has logged 90 minutes per game and is a fixture in the Starting XI, which gives him a reliable baseline of defensive counting stats and clean-sheet opportunities, and he has made five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 15 appearances in the last 15 game weeks. He piles up clearances and blocks and has helped his side to multiple shutouts this season, so away to CF Montreal. A team that has struggled for form and concedes at a higher clip than the league average. Fofana carries a real ceiling for fantasy on shutout plus defensive-action days. The Sorare Edge projection gives him 74.6 points with model confidence medium, which matches the profile here: high floor from locked minutes and strong defensive volume, but a capped upside if New England's overall form (team form index 46.67) slips or Montreal finds finishing form.

Paxten Aaronson is riding the role rather than the hype, creating chances at a high rate and showing up consistently for a Rapids team that leans on him to make things happen. He is a STARTER in the Rapids Starting XI and averaging 90 minutes per game, with four goals and four assists so far this season, and his chance-creation (26 chances, five big chances) makes him a clear play against an Austin side that concedes more than two goals per match. His last five form (0.20 goals and 0.60 assists per match) points to a hot streak as Colorado hosts Austin at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on August 1, and his season xG profile underlines that the shots are of decent quality. Expect a high floor because he is nailed into the lineup, but the ceiling is tied to service from teammates like Rafael Navarro and how Colorado exploits Austin’s porous defense, so treat him as a strong start with a solid probability of returning attacking returns rather than a slam-dunk for big upside.

Gil is New England's creative hub and primary set-piece operator, averaging about 89 minutes a game as a Starter while producing six goals and three assists so far in 2026, so he offers real upside from corners, free kicks and open-play chance creation. He's been reliably available too, with five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and fifteen appearances in the last 15 game weeks, and he enters an away date with CF Montréal after a hot short run that includes 0.40 goals per match over the last five; Montréal have conceded roughly 1.9 goals per game this season, which makes Gil a good bet for both shots and assists. Treat him as a high-floor

Jean Jacques is a near-automatic Starter for the Union and brings a high floor because he plays heavy minutes and has started every recent match, so you can expect him to be on the field to influence transitions. He also offers a real ceiling from late runs and shots, registering two goals and about 14 attempts this season, which makes him a threat to cash in when Philadelphia turns turnover into a quick attack. That upside matters this weekend because Atlanta have been vulnerable at the back, conceding roughly 1.7 to 1.8 goals per game and generating one of the league’s higher xG-against totals, so Jean Jacques profiles as a safe minutes play with upside for a goal or a chance-creating moment.

Yusuf is essentially baked into New England's Starting XI and the minutes puzzle, logging five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 15 appearances in the last 15 game weeks, which gives him a high floor as a minutes-heavy midfielder. He also brings real attacking upside this season. Two goals, two assists, 12 chances created and two big chances. And he benefits from chance-creating teammates like Carles Gil, so an away date with a CF Montréal defense that has looked vulnerable makes a direct-return ceiling plausible. With about 83 minutes per game, an assists-per-match, last 5 of 0.40 and a Sorare Edge projection of 74 (model confidence: MEDIUM), treat him as a high-floor starter with a reasonable probability of a goal or assist rather than a boom-or-bust gamble.

Hartel is hot right now, averaging 0.40 goals and 0.40 assists per match across his last five appearances, and he gets a favorable home date with Real Salt Lake at CITYPARK where his volume can matter. Across 15 starts this season he has 5 goals and 4 assists for St. Louis, and he leads the team in chances created and expected assists, so his fantasy floor is driven by steady involvement and shot creation. Real Salt Lake concede roughly 1.5 goals per game, which makes Hartel a real ceiling play at home if he keeps getting the minutes and service he’s seen, and the Sorare Edge projection of 71.0 with medium confidence matches that profile. Start him as a strong, high-floor midfield option with genuine upside rather than a guaranteed match-winner.

Iloski is red hot right now, ripping off seven goals in his five appearances in the last 5 game weeks (1.40 goals per match), and that scoring burst makes him a clear high-upside start at Subaru Park against an Atlanta backline that has been porous this season. He is a Starter and regular in the Starting XI, with five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 15 appearances in the last 15 game weeks, averaging about 86 minutes a match while totaling nine goals and roughly 10.2 expected goals on the campaign, so his ceiling is backed by quality chances rather than pure variance. That combination gives managers a strong upside play for a home fixture, though model confidence is medium and Atlanta can threat in transition, so treat him as a boom-or-bust asset with a

Holse arrives with real finishing and chance-creation chops from Europe, having delivered eight goals and three assists in last season's Süper Lig while ranking among his Samsunspor teammates for chances created, which makes him a sensible scoring threat against a Real Salt Lake defense that concedes about two goals per away match this year. You have him as a starter and averaging 90 minutes with five appearances in the last five game weeks, and that steady availability plus a Sorare Edge projection of 77.7 (model confidence medium) gives him a comfortably high floor for minutes and a ceiling centered on shots and expected-goals rather than purely empty minutes. St. Louis supplies creators like Marcel Hartel, so Holse should see service into the box at Energizer Park on Saturday, making him a solid mid-range start: play him for upside, but expect variance if City fails to sustain possession or unlock RSL’s compact moments.

Navarro's biggest selling point is volume and minutes, he is a nailed starter who is playing 90 minutes on average and has turned that availability into real finishing chances this season, recording 8 goals and 3 assists while producing roughly 8.8 expected goals. You can also lean on form continuity: five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 15 appearances in the last 15 game weeks mean his role is secure, and the Rapids host Austin FC at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, a matchup that raises his ceiling because Austin concede just over two goals per match on the season. If you like upside, the Sorare Edge projection (75.6 with medium model confidence) and Navarro's consistent minutes make him more ceiling than floor this week; expect a decent probability of shots and a realistic path to a multi-point outing, while the only real risk is Colorado's uneven team form limiting his assist upside.

Becher's biggest selling point is his availability and role in the Starting XI, he has started 16 of 17 MLS matches this season and logged 1,321 minutes, so he brings a high floor from consistent, heavy minutes. He pairs that workload with tangible attacking involvement. Two goals and four assists while sitting on roughly 4.2 expected goals and a team-high chance-creation profile. So the ceiling is real when he gets service. This week at home versus Real Salt Lake is matchup friendly because RSL have conceded 1.50 goals per game and been vulnerable away, so Becher's minutes and volume make him a solid starting option with a reasonable probability of a return, even if his finishing has been only modest so far.

Atlanta's defense has been porous this season, conceding roughly 1.76 goals per game, which gives Damiani a clear matchup edge at home and raises his upside if he gets the service. He is in the Starting XI and has been trusted for heavy minutes, averaging 76 per appearance with five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 15 appearances in the last 15 game weeks, so his floor is sturdier than a pure rotation pick. The counting stats hide a bigger story: he has one goal and one assist on the season while accumulating 2.38 expected goals, so the underlying chances say a multi-point outing is plausible, especially with Milan Iloski driving a lot of Philly’s chances; pair that with a Sorare Edge projection of 71.8 and medium model confidence and you have a player with a reasonable floor and a shoot-for-the-ceiling profile tonight.