MLS Fantasy 2019: Week 2 Captaincy Picks
Picking a Captain to double down on in MLS Fantasy is the most important choice ahead of each round of games for players around the world. There's a lot of self-help out there for MLS enthusiasts, with our Hype Team providing three major consideration for the armband for each and every week. We'll be detailing the popular choice for captain, a few alternative picks in case Plan A doesn't go to plan, and a Wildcard pick of our choosing to add to the chaos. All aboard.
MLS Fantasy: Week 2 Deadline
For the 2019 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 Week progresses.
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 for the 2019 we will have one major essential pick, decided by a poll, as well as a series of alternatives in case your original pick doesn't go to plan, and a wildcard selection who might prove to be a worthwhile differential
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
Week 2: Essential Captaincy Pick
Our essential captaincy picks is voted on by members of our community on Twitter over at @HypeTrainMLS. We pit four popular choices against each other to see who wins the popular vote.
Fixture: Seattle Sounders vs. Colorado Rapids
Player: Nicolas Lodeiro (SEA)
Position: Midfielder (CAM)
Player Price: $11.5 million
Another week, another captain that speaks for itself…and we’re only two weeks into the season. Midfielders are always the go-to captaincy options for most MLS fantasy managers because they offer a great diversity of points in their portfolio. Nicolás Lodeiro secured fourteen points in his first week, picking up two assists, played a key pass, was fouled a lot, and had plenty of shots on goal. Lodeiro was everywhere during MW1 against newbies FC Cincinnati, and up next for the Uruguayan is another home game against Colorado Rapids.
The Sounders dominated FC Cincinnati in a comfortable 4-1 win, and Lodeiro was key to this victory. He was either making the goals, or was the man making the plays happen which is rewarded in his points. MLS players should look at players who attract bonus points, and attacking midfielders tend to be the most versed to pick them up by having a half decent game. Lodeiro does a little bit of everything, and this fixture cannot be ignored as the Sounders look to start this season strongly.
The likelihood is that Zlatan won’t play, and with the four MLS teams all chasing their second leg results in the CONCACAF Champions League it looks like Houston, NY Red Bulls, Atlanta, and Sporting Kansas will all rotate their teams heavily. Seattle Sounders don’t have that problem, and Lodeiro is primed for another ninety minutes against a team that struggled last season. Sometimes captaincy options need to be this straight forward, and Nicolás Lodeiro ticks every single box to be the standout option for captaincy this week. Now that Miguel Almirón has left the MLS it may not be a shock that Lodeiro steps up to become the leagues most influential midfielder.
Week 2: Alternative Captaincy Picks
We don't have one specific alternative captain, but a few choices for consideration. This method bodes well with the flexible approach of MLS Fantasy of being able to chop and change your decision until the minute before a game.
If you thought Week 1 was a mind-field of potential, welcome to Week 2's selections. We've been tinkering a lot with our teams this week to find the right blend of options ahead of the weekend's games.
The best suited captaincy options might actually sit within Seattle, even without Lodeiro in consideration. Jordan Morris managed a brace upon his return to MLS against Cincinnati, whilst Victor Rodriguez chipped in with a pair of assists, whilst Raul Ruidiaz proved he is a consistent force with Seattle's 4th last weekend. Lodeiro takes the take, but there is life outside the Uruguay international.
Travelling for the second consecutive this week, Minnesota kick-started life with a win at the unknown variables that are Vancouver Whitecaps. One variable that we did know about was the potential of Darwin Quintero, the top MLS Fantasy player from last season. Darwin managed a goal and 2 assists, with 5 additional bonus, and travel to a San Jose side who might struggled again this season.
Form isn't in their favour, but Atlanta are also earmarked for a big win this weekend, even though they have to face Champions League opposition in midweek. Josef Martinez and Pity Martinez are they key names to pay attention too, though all relies on their selection, with De Boer more than capable of shuffling the deck. If both start, the 2018 Golden Boot winner, Josef, will be a must-have, whilst Pity will take up the set-piece potential of Miguel Almiron.
Houston will almost certainly shuffle the deck this weekend, which could open the door for Ignacio Piatti to add to his goal last weekend for Montreal Impact. If the Canadian side do anything in matches, Piatti tends to be involved and could be another standout performer on the road this season.
Further down the deck, Albert Rusnak's RSL side welcome a Vancouver side that nobody can quite pin just yet, which might provide promise to add to Rusnak's 10 points from opening weekend. Rusnak is on the outside of contention for the attacking midfielders at times, but might find himself a popular pick this weekend given a few shaky and difficult fixtures to judge.
Lastly, depending on selection, Sporting KC should have Johnny Russell and Kristian Nemeth to rely on for the goals as they welcome Philadelphia Union, a side that lost to a Toronto side without much star power. Nemeth scored at LAFC to solidify his credentials as the best-value Forward this season, so should he start, could stand to be the key for Fantasy players in Week 2.
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All aboard.
