MLS Fantasy 2018: Gameweek 21 - Captaincy Picks
Picking a Captain to double down on in MLS Fantasy is the most important choice ahead of each of the 34 regular season Gameweek's in MLS's season. There's a lot of self-help out there for MLS enthusiasts, with our Hype Team providing three major considerations for the armband for each and every Gameweek. We'll be detailing the top choice for captain in home and away matches, and a Wildcard pick of our choosing to add to the chaos. 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.
Captaincy in MLS Fantasy
There are a few differences with picking a captain in MLS compared to playing other games such as FPL. The major element to note with our Captaincy article is that we'll be picking a captain who is playing home and away, as well as a Wildcard player of our own choosing.
We've listed the differences below that make captaincy in MLS Fantasy unique:
- With the Rolling Lockout, you can change your captain until the selected captaincy pick plays
- Once the team your captaincy pick takes to the field, you can no longer change your captain
- If your captaincy pick doesn't play, then you'll end up with nothing
- There is no option to select a vice captain
CAPTAINCY HYPE: 2018 SEASON PERFORMANCE
In each Captaincy article we track our progress throughout the 2018 MLS Fantasy season. Below you can check how our captaincy selections have performed by week to week in Major League Soccer.
GW1
Home: Sebastian Giovinco (Toronto 0-2 Columbus Crew) - 3pts
Away: Josef Martinez (Houston Dynamo 4-0 Atlanta United) - 5pts
Wildcard: Nicolas Lodeiro (Seattle Sounders 0-1 LAFC) - 9pts
GW2
Home: David Villa (NYCFC 2-1 LA Galaxy) - 10pts
Away: Yamil Asad (Atlanta United 3-1 D.C. United) - 2pts
Wildcard: Alberth Elis (Houston Dynamo 1-2 Vancouver Whitecaps) - 9pts
GW3
Home: David Villa (NYCFC 2-0 Orlando City) - 0pts
Away: Nemanja Nikolic (Minnesota United 2-1 Chicago Fire) - 2pts
Wildcard: Miguel Almiron (Atlanta United 4-1 Vancouver Whitecaps) - 10pts
GW4
Home: Gyasi Zardes (Columbus Crew 3-1 D.C. United) - 2pts
Away: Maxi Moralez (New England Revolution 2-2 NYCFC) - 4pts
Wildcard: Bradley Wright-Phillips (New York Red Bulls 3-0 Minnesota United) - 13pts
GW5
Home: Felipe Gutierrez (Sporting Kansas City 1-0 D.C. United) - 6pts
Away: Carlos Vela (LA Galaxy 4-3 LAFC) - 15pts
Wildcard: Alberth Elis (Houston Dynamo 0-2 New England Revolution) - 3pts
GW6
Home: Miguel Almiron (Atlanta United 5-0 LAFC) - 20pts
Away: Carlos Vela (Atlanta United 5-0 LAFC) - 3pts
Wildcard: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (LA Galaxy 0-2 Sporting Kansas City) - 2pts
GW7
Home: Miguel Almiron (Atlanta United 2-2 NYCFC) - 10pts
Away: Sacha Kljestan (Philadelphia Union 0-2 Orlando City) - 8pts
Wildcard: Maxi Moralez (NYCFC 4-0 RSL // Atlanta 2-2 NYCFC) - 23pts
GW8
Home: Bradley Wright-Phillips (New York Red Bulls 1-2 Chicago Fire) - 10pts
Away: Miguel Almiron (LA Galaxy 0-2 Atlanta United) - 14pts
Wildcard: Alberth Elis (Houston Dynamo 5-1 Toronto) - 8pts
GW9
Home: Miguel Almiron (Atlanta United 4-1 Montreal Impact) - 15pts
Away: Dom Dwyer (Colorado Rapids 1-2 Orlando City) - 2pts
Wildcard: Carlos Vela (LAFC 1-0 Seattle Sounders) - 5pts
GW10
Home: Sebastian Giovinco (Toronto 3-0 Philadelphia Union) - 12pts
Away: Miguel Almiron (Chicago Fire 1-2 Atlanta United) - 10pts
Wildcard: Darwin Quintero (Minnesota United 1-0 Vancouver Whitecaps) - 3pts
GW11
Home: Carlos Vela (LAFC 2-0 Minnesota United & LAFC 2-2 NYCFC) - 18pts
Away: Miguel Almiron (Atlanta 0-2 Sporting KC & Orlando City 1-2 Atlanta) - 12pts
Wildcard: Darwin Quintero (Toronto 1-2 Seattle & New England 3-2 Toronto) - 16pts
GW12
Home: David Villa (NYCFC 4-0 Colorado Rapids) - 17pts
Away: Magnus Eriksson (Vancouver 2-2 San Jose & San Jose 1-3 D.C. United) - 7pts
Wildcard: Kei Kamara (Vancouver 2-2 San Jose & Dallas 2-2 Vancouver) - 9pts
GW13
Home: Carlos Vela (LAFC 1-1 D.C. United) - 5pts
Away: Diego Valeri (Colorado Rapids 2-3 Portland Timbers) - 7pts
Wildcard: Ola Kamara (LA Galaxy 1-0 San Jose Earthquakes) - 2pts
GW14
Home: Miguel Almiron (New England 1-1 Atlanta & Atlanta 3-1 Philadelphia) - 18pts
Away: Alberth Elis (RSL 2-1 Houston & Montreal 1-0 Houston Dynamo) - 8pts
Wildcard: Maxi Urruti (LA Galaxy 2-3 FC Dallas & FC Dallas 2-1 LAFC) - 3pts
GW15
Home: Alberth Elis (Houston Dynamo 2-0 Colorado Rapids) - 2pts
Away: Sebastian Giovinco (Philadelphia Union 0-2 Toronto) - 6pts
Wildcard: Mauro Diaz (FC Dallas 2-0 Montreal Impact) - 13pts
GW16
Home: Sebastian Giovinco (Toronto 4-4 D.C. United) - 9pts
Away: Josef Martinez (Columbus Crew 0-2 Atlanta United) - 6pts
Wildcard: Teal Bunbury (San Jose Earthquakes 2-2 New England Revolution) - 2pts
GW17
Home: Josef Martinez (Atlanta United 1-1 Portland Timbers) - 3pts
Away: Sebastian Giovinco (NYCFC 2-1 Toronto) - 3pts
Wildcard: Dom Dwyer (Orlando City 0-2 Montreal Impact) - 3pts
GW18
Home: Miguel Almiron (Atlanta United 4-0 Portland Timbers) - 14pts
Away: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (San Jose Earthquakes 3-3 LA Galaxy) - 13pts
Wildcard: Adama Diomande (LAFC 4-1 Philadelphia Union) - 17pts
GW19
Home: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (LA Galaxy 2-2 D.C. & LA Galaxy 4-0 Columbus) - 18pts
Away: Miguel Almiron (FC Dallas 3-2 Atlanta & Philadelphia 0-2 Atlanta) - 21pts
Wildcard: Alberth Elis (Houston 2-2 LAFC & Houston 3-0 Minnesota) - 19pts
GW20
Home: Maxi Moralez (NYCFC 3-0 Montreal & NYCFC 2-0 Columbus) - 18pts
Away: Ignacio Piatti (NYCFC 3-0 Montreal & Montreal 2-0 San Jose) - 17pts
Wildcard: Nemanja Nikolic (Chicago 3-4 Philadelphia & Dallas 3-1 Chicago) - 8pts
Totals
Home Total: 3 (1), 10 (2), 0 (3), 2 (4), 6 (5), 20 (6), 10 (7), 10 (8), 15 (9), 12 (10), 18 (11), 17 (12), 5 (13), 18 (14), 2 (15), 9 (16), 3 (17), 14 (18), 18 (19), 18 (20) = 210 points
Away Total: 5 (1), 2 (2), 2 (3), 4 (4), 15 (5), 3 (6), 8 (7), 14 (8), 2 (9), 10 (10), 12 (11), 7 (12), 7 (13), 8 (14), 6 (15), 6 (16), 3 (17), 13 (18), 21 (19), 17 (20) = 165 points
Wildcard Total: 9 (1), 9 (2), 10 (3), 13 (4), 3 (5), 2 (6), 23 (7), 8 (8), 5 (9), 3 (10), 16 (11), 9 (12), 2 (13), 3 (14), 13 (15), 2 (16), 3 (17), 17 (18), 19 (19), 8 (20) = 177 points
Gameweek 21: Home Captain
Fixtures: Minnesota United vs. New England Revolution & Minnesota United vs. LAFC
Player: Darwin Quintero (MIN)
Position: Forward (CAM / CF)
Player Price: $9.2 million
Another week, another midweek round of MLS Fantasy, and yet another Double Gameweek. With early deadlines for the past few weeks, with two teams facing two matches this week; the often unfancied Minnesota United, and a side with a growing reputation in Brad Friedel's New England Revolution.
The simplicity of this week is there for all to see. Back the likely contenders from the Double Gameweek sides, and then stack the decks with Atlanta and Portland assets to fill the rest of your squad.
Making matters even more simple is the selection of Darwin Quintero as captain. He's the hipster pick of the week, essentially - everybody will be entrusting him, scared of the fallout if you pick an in-form horse playing twice at home.
Quintero's form backs up the idea of him as a nailed on captaincy pick. During Week 19's round of games, which was also a double helping of fixtures for Minnesota, Quintero bagged a hat-trick against free-falling MLS Cup holders, Toronto. Then just last week during Week 20, Quintero was the driving force for Minnesota in a captivating 3-2 home victory against Western Conference rivals Real Lake, with Quintero scoring and assisting twice.
Writing is on the wall for another impressive Fantasy haul, so keep it simple this week. A set-piece taker in form at home for two fixtures is an absolute no-brainer.
Gameweek 21: Away Captain
Fixtures: Minnesota vs. New England & New York Red Bulls vs. New England
Player: Diego Fagundez (NE)
Position: Midfielder (CAM)
Player Price: $11.5 million
Talking of captaincy consideration, selections from New England Revolution have been fleeting this season. Teal Bunbury offered a differential route to points during a 6-game spell of goals, though it is Diego Fagundez who is the Fantasy threat for Brad Friedel's high-pressing side.
Fagundez, like Quintero, is the designated penalty kick taker for his club, though he faces two difficult matches on the road against a Minnesota side who are increasingly hard to break down on home soil, and a New York Red Bulls side who have turned Red Bull Arena into a league fortress.
New England are rooted in 5th place in the Eastern Conference, 4 points ahead of a Philadelphia Union side who will be crossing their fingers that The Revolution are misfiring this week. Playoffs are a reality for New England this season, so the motivation and expectation for unlikely results are on the table.
If you're willing to roll the dice with the armband this week for a Double Gameweek player, Fagundez's bonus points potential is where to back. Teal Bunbury is too heavily reliant on scoring, and Cristian Penilla is unavailable for selection.
Gameweek 21: Wildcard Captain
Fixture: Seattle Sounders vs. Vancouver Whitecaps
Player: Nicoals Lodeiro (SEA)
Position: Midfielder (CAM / LW)
Player Price: $12.3 million
Our wildcard captaincy selection to round the week off comes down to picking who we believe is the best single Gameweek player ahead of Week 21, and topping our list is a likely source of Fantasy potential from Seattle by way of Uruguay.
Nicolas Lodeiro has been finding his feet since being omitted from Uruguay's World Cup squad, partly aided by niggling injuries and a slow start to the season, though with Vancouver visiting this weekend there is another potential uplift in form.
Lodeiro has scored twice season and assisted five times, with his last goal coming in the 1-1 away draw at Atlanta during Week 20. Lodeiro's penalty was first since a strike against D.C. United during Week 15. The attacking midfielder is averaging 8.08 points-per-game despite managing just 7 attacking returns this season, which is tremendous given Seattle's lowly rank of 10th in the Western Conference.
The pick of Lodeiro is also a signal of intent that we're willing to overlook Diego Valeri this week in favour of a team that should be aided by the arrival of Peruvian international Forward, Raúl Ruidíaz, who could make his debut against the Whitecaps.
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All aboard.
