MLS Fantasy 2019: Week 6 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 6 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 6: 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: Toronto vs. Chicago Fire
Player: Alekandro Pozuelo (TOR)
Position: Midfielder
Player Price: $10.5 million
As far as debuts in MLS goes, no one that follows the league will forget Alejandro Pozuelo's first match for Toronto during Week 5's 4-0 demolition of New York City FC.
The former Swansea and Genk player came out of the gates at 700 miles-per-hour, scoring two ridiculously good chips past USA international, Sean Johnson, as Toronto continued their winning start to the 2019 season.
This all led to Pozuelo being elected to join our captaincy hopefuls this week, with the Spaniard beating MLS Fantasy heavyweights - Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Nicolas Lodeiro and Carlos Vela - to the summit of captaincy contention this week?
Pozuelo's immediate impact for Toronto, and his Fantasy potential ahead of a home encounter with a Chicago Fire side struggling to get out of second gear so far this season, has seen the attacking midfielder walk into the shoes of Sebastian Giovinco quite comfortably, with their former Number 10 regularly in the conversation as a must-have option.
With 20 points on the board after just 1 game with 2 goals and 1 assist against NYCFC, Pozuelo managed 4 bonus points on his debut too and took set-piece responsibilities, with his first goal coming from a panenka penalty.
Such hype surrounding a new star in MLS means that the midfielder just won't be ignore this week. Rising in price last week, Pozuelo is guaranteed another rise this week, and in putting the armband on the second best Fantasy from last week you'll be most likely competing with most of the top 500 players in the game right now.
Week 6: 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.
With the first deadline of Vancouver and LA Galaxy coming up in the early hours of Saturday morning, Zlatan Ibrahimovic (LA), who recently was declared fit, will be on the radar, with 17.04% banking on the Swede's power and set-piece potential to continue Vancouver's slow start of the season.
Seattle's return to home soil has raised the profile of their key attacking players, with Nicolas Lodeiro and Raul Ruidiaz (SEA) the key captaincy contenders against a Real Salt Lake side who have been whipping boys on the road. Ruidiaz, who is a slight doubt with a knock, has scored in Seattle's first 3 games of the season, and should he play, will be the bookies favourites to score from 4 games in 5.
A high profile encounter between the tops teams in the East and West, with LAFC travelling to D.C. United, hasn't detracted Carlos Vela (LAFC) and Wayne Rooney (DC) from being in contention this week. Vela (62 points) is the top MLS Fantasy player by quite a margin, with Rooney (41) and Quintero (41) the nearest competition this week. Both have set-pieces and form on their side, so depending on how you want to go, either or both will play essential roles during Week 6.
Columbus Crew have started the season as you'd expect, solid and functional, and look the clear home favourites in a home tie against New England Revolution. Gyasi Zardes (CLB) can't be counted out of fixtures like this, and having scored in a 2-0 home win against Atlanta last time out, Zardes could be another player you might overlook for the armband.
Week 6: Wildcard Captaincy Pick
We pull focus on a left-field choice for captaincy, with these selections typically coming away from home due to the home field advantage that MLS clubs tends to enjoy throughout the season.
Fixture: Orlando City vs. Colorado Rapids
Player: Dom Dwyer
Position: Forward
Player Price: $9.9 milion
TThe start of the 2019 season hasn't been a bust for Orlando, the bottom side in the Eastern Conference last season, with City picking up 3 positive results from 5 matches, including a memorable Week 4 victory at New York Red Bulls.
Ahead of Week 6, with many 50-50 calls with matches, Orlando feature in a very promising home match when they entertain Colorado Rapids this weekend.
One star turn this season for purple and gold this season has been Forward, Dom Dwyer, who after 5 appearances this season has failed to gain less than 4 points in a single game. In fact, Dwyer has scored or assisted in all 5 MLS fixtures this season and is averaging a healthy 6.6 points-per-game.
Priced just beneath the $10.0 million mark, Dwyer, who has 3 goals and 2 assists so far this season, is the ideal man to bank on to continue a fine start to the season in front of an en easily excitable Orlando crowd.
Opponents Colorado enter this week inviting Dwyer's potential MLS Fantasy players this week, having conceded 12 goals from 5 matches this season. Colorado could spring a surprise for sure, but our search for assured Fantasy potential starts and ends with Dwyer in this fixture that could really kick-start their 2019 campaigns.
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All aboard.
