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MLS Fantasy 2018: Gameweek 3 - Fantasy Forecast


Ahead of each Gameweek in MLS Fantasy the Hype Train provides its informative Fantasy Forecast, where the three members of the Hype Team will duel for MLS supremacy in predicting scores, as well as going head to head in picking a Scout Picks squad for the relevant Gameweek. In addition, we give our insight into who are the players to watch and those to drop, as well as providing insight into captaincy picks, differential players for the week, and more. Welcome to the Forecast. All aboard.

MLS Fantasy: Gameweek Deadline

For the 2018 MLS Fantasy season there is a 'Rolling Lockout', which means you can make substitutions and transfers until the second a player's game kicks off, which means you can chop and change your lineup as any Gameweek progresses.

You can view the schedule and a real time Gameweek deadline countdown clock (in the London GMT timezone) on our dedicated MLS Fantasy page.

How does our Forecasting work?

The Hype Team will compete in a weekly head to head dual of wits. The 3 members of the team will provide weekly insight for the Gameweek ahead, providing score predictions, a Scout Picks squad that follows MLS Fantasy rules, and will provide what insight they can for the fixtures at hand.

  • MLS Fixture Prediction: As pundits, we are testing our football acumen with MLS predictions and will be providing regular updated tables and stats in each edition of the MLS Forecast. A perfect score is worth 3 points whilst a correct result is worth 1 point. An incorrect score is worth nothing.

  • Blank Box: We've left an open space for the team to write that helps with the Gameweek hustle; identifying captaincy picks, transfers, attacking options, clean sheet potential, teams to look our for and avoid, differential players, as well as general analysis and comments.

  • Scout Picks: Picking a squad of 15 for a single Gameweek, without any budget, using the rules of MLS Fantasy - formations, captains and vice captains, and the player limits of 3 per club, and each team must pick a Captain.

MLS Fantasy - Fixture Prediction: 2018 Points Table

In our predictions a perfect score is 3 points, and predicting the right outcome is worth 1 point (aka if a team wins but, you predict it, but don't get the perfect score). Below is the Gameweek and overall rundown of our MLS predictions for the season.

Sam Austin (@HypeTrainSam): 6 (1), 3 (2) = 9pts

Phil Jones (@HypeTrainPhil): 6 (1), 3 (2) = 9pts

Robert Austin (@HypeTrainRob): 5 (1), 3 (2) = 8pts

Individual Gameweek Predictions

GW1: Sam (6), Phil (6), Rob (5)

GW2: Sam (3), Phil (3), Rob (3)

MLS Fantasy - Scout Picks: 2018 Points Table

Picking a squad of 15 for a single Gameweek, using the rules of the MLS Fantasy - formations, and a captaincy. Below is the Gameweek and overall rundown of our Scout Picks scores for the season (which are based off our actual teams).

Sam Austin (@HypeTrainSam): 61 (1), 73 (2) = 133pts

Phil Jones (@HypeTrainPhil): 70 (1), 75 (2) = 145pts

Robert Austin (@HypeTrainRob): 75 (1), 77 (2) = 152pts

Gameweek Scout Picks Scores

GW1: Sam (61), Phil (70), Rob (75)

GW2: Sam (73), Phil (75), Rob (77)

Fixture Prediction: Gameweek 3

D.C. United 2-2 Houston Dynamo

Philadelphia Union 0-2 Columbus Crew

Minnesota United 1-3 Chicago Fire

Montreal Impact 2-1 Toronto FC

New York City FC 3-0 Orlando City

Atlanta United 2-0 Vancouver Whitecaps

Sporting Kansas City 3-1 San Jose Earthquakes

Real Salt Lake 1-1 New York Red Bulls

FC Dallas 2-1 Seattle Sounders

MLS Fantasy Scout Picks: Gameweek 3

Overall Squad Value: $103.2m

Formation: 3-4-3

Starting 11

GK: Bendik (ORL)

DEF: Zusi (SKC)

DEF: Abubakar (CLB)

DEF: Sweat (NYC)

MID: Almiron (ATL)

MID: Vako (SJ)

MID: Davies (VAN)

MID: Taider (MTL)

FOR: Mancosu (MTL)

FOR: Nikolic (CHI) - (C)

FOR: Villa (NYC)

Substitutes

GK: Caldwell (NYC)

MID: Norman (VAN)

DEF: Maloney (CLB)

DEF: Lewis (SKC)

Fixture Prediction: Gameweek 3

D.C. United 1-3 Houston Dynamo Philadelphia Union 0-2 Columbus Crew Minnesota United 2-1 Chicago Fire Montreal Impact 1-3 Toronto FC New York City FC 2-1 Orlando City Atlanta United 2-0 Vancouver Whitecaps Sporting Kansas City 1-3 San Jose Earthquakes Real Salt Lake 1-2 New York Red Bulls FC Dallas 0-3 Seattle Sounders

MLS Fantasy Scout Picks: Gameweek 3

Overall Squad Value: $102.8m

Formation: 3-4-3

Starting 11

GK: Z. Steffen (CLB)

DEF: L. Abubakar (CLB) DEF: B. Sweat (NYC) DEF: P. Senderos (HOU)

MID: J. Plata (RSL) MID: Y. Yotun (ORL) MID: A. Davies (PHI) MID: D. Hoesen (SJ)

FOR: M. Manotas (HOU) FOR: D. Villa (NYC) FOR: G. Zardes (CLB) - (C)

Substitutes

GK: J. Bendik MID: F. Higuain DEF: G. Zusi DEF: G. Garza

Fixture Prediction: Gameweek 3

D.C. United 1-1 Houston Dynamo

Philadelphia Union 0-2 Columbus Crew

Minnesota United 1-2 Chicago Fire

Montreal Impact 0-1 Toronto FC

New York City FC 3-0 Orlando City

Atlanta United 3-1 Vancouver Whitecaps

Sporting Kansas City 2-1 San Jose Earthquakes

Real Salt Lake 0-2 New York Red Bulls

FC Dallas 1-1 Seattle Sounders

Blank Box: Gameweek 3

Teams on the rise:

New York Red Bulls - Very strong opener at home, and they should continue their form on the road at Real Salt Lake

Columbus Crew - Going from strength to strength so far this season, and they play a Philly side who had it really easy on opening day

Sporting Kansas - Provided inconsistency over their last 2 fixtures, but look a mean unit going forward in attack.

Atlanta United - At home they look the real deal, and will probably end Vancouver's good start to the season.

Teams to think twice about:

Orlando - Looks really unconvincing at home against D.C. and Minnesota, and face an away day at Patrick Vieira's NYCFC. It will be another long afternoon.

Seattle Sounders - I've no idea if they're coming or going in matches right now, and have Will Bruin and Nicolas Lodeiro injured for their game at Dallas, so it could be a second loss on the cards.

Captaincy:

I've covered this topic, and believe Atlanta, New York, and Chicago Fire assets provides the most likely returns this Gameweek.

General comments:

- I'm finding the 4-3-3 formation is a lot more giving in terms of packing your squad with a wide variety of options. 3-4-3 isn't providing flexibility with the 4th midfield slot unless you banked on Davies (VAN) or Fontana (PHI), but both face unfavourable fixtures.

- A 4-3-3 is proving to have positive returns with doubling-down from players in the same team. This week, NYCFC's full-backs (Sweat and Tinnerholm) get the seal of approval.

- I'd love to have kept in my Houston assets, but after a loss at home, I'm not sure what to expect on the road against D.C. United.

- I'm probably overlooking D.C.'s Yamil Asad this week.

- There's a Canadian derby match between Montreal and Toronto, so am expecting a tight affair between the two clubs. Mavinga is the points-magnet in their system so might be worth a punt.

- Even though the layout of the game is clunky in places, I am really enjoying the points scoring of the game. It is much more rewarding than in FPL as influential players are rewarded, rather than forgotten about.

MLS Fantasy Scout Picks: Gameweek 3

Overall Squad Value: $103.6m

Formation: 4-3-3

Starting 11

GK: Robles (NY)

DEF: Tinnerholm (NYC)

DEF: Abubakar (CLB)

DEF: Sweat (NYC)

DEF: Mavinga (TOR)

MID: Almiron (ATL)

MID: Vako (SJ)

MID: Katai (CHI)

FOR: Villalba (ATL)

FOR: Zardes (COL)

FOR: Villa (NYC) - (C)

Substitutes

GK: Caldwell (NYC)

MID: Norman (VAN)

DEF: Maloney (CLB)

DEF: Lewis (SKC)

You can read more of our latest news from in the FPL, Premier League, and around the footballing world on our Football page by clicking here, or by clicking the image below.

For more MLS, follow @RealHypeTrain and @HypeTrainMLS on Twitter for the latest social media insight from The Hype Train.

Want to know more about The Hype Train?

The Hype Train is an entertainment website founded in 2015, specialising in the Fantasy Premier League (#FPL), providing beautiful graphics and weekly insight for hopeful players attempting to climb ranking tables. We are also occasional media reviewers, with a keen interest to review movies, live sport, and professional wrestling.

As well as providing FPL articles on our website, we are a founding Contributor to the new Fantasy Football Hub, where you can find more unique articles, including weekly Power Rankings, from The Hype Team. You can support us and read exclusive members only content for just £2 per-month by clicking here.

The Hype Train were nominated and shortlisted for the 'Best Football Blog 2016' by the Football Bloggers Association at their annual Football Blogging Awards (The FBA's), with the final presentation held at Old Trafford in Manchester.

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All aboard.

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