MLS Fantasy 2019: Week 10 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 10 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 10: 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: LAFC vs. Chicago Fire
Player: Carlos Vela (LAFC)
Position: Forward
Player Price: $14.8 million
A big Double Gameweek in Week 9 really dulled the captaincy hype over MLS's most in-form player right now, with Carlos Vela toppled in interest by Minnesota's Darwin Quintero and LA Galaxy's Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Both Zlatan and Darwin, with a brace of favourable games, of course, were still unable to top the 8 points garnered by Carlos Vela, who found the net within 5 minutes in a 1-1 away draw at Seattle Sounders.
Vela's goal, and continued form to start the season, has dominated our captaincy poll, with Zlatan, Rooney and Pozuelo left in Vela's giant shadow in terms of recognition this week - and at this stage, is anyone surprised?
The Mexican international has scored 11 goals in the opening 10 games of the season, and has peppered his attacking returns with 5 assists and an un-matched 24 bonus points.
LA teams are dominating the overall MLS table, with LAFC top with 23 points after 10 games, with LA Galaxy chasing Bob Bradley's side with 22 points from 9 games played.
Form for club and player has made the essential captaincy debate a redundant topic, almost. Vela, who is on virtually all set-pieces for LAFC, welcome A Chicago Fire side who have managed just 9 points from their opening 9 matches of the season. Chicago were involved twice during Week 9, losing 1-0 away at both NYCFC and Montreal Impact.
When asking the question who to captain this week, the stats speak for themselves and in this latest instalment of 'Carlos Vela Weekly', we're just here to relay that the wheels of this hype train have no signs of veering off track, so you're better safe than sorry in case the 111 point Fantasy maverick continues an unstoppable start to the season.
Week 10: 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 Philadelphia and Cincinnati playing twice this week, we're currently sitting on the side of the argument that suggests that besides Haris Medunjanin ($8.8m), Marco Fabian ($8.1m) who boasts penalty kick duty, and David Accam ($6.7m), who is previewed below, the options for doubling down on a player playing twice just aren't there.
The reliable faces this season look set for an important week. Orlando's form has improved, though that looks unlikely to stop the points-magnet that is Alejandro Pozuelo ($12.5m), the attacking midfielder who has registered 4 goals and 5 assists in just 4 games, with his last game, a 2-1 home loss to Portland Timbers, amassing 6 points without even scoring or assisting. 19 bonus points in that time means that points are almost a guarantee for the Spaniard against an Orlando side that still aren't defensively solid.
Facing Pozuelo and Toronto this week is of course Orlando, with Nani ($10.8m) scoring in 4 consecutive matches. The premise we live by in MLS Fantasy, which is largely true, is that quality players will perform, regardless of the fixture. Nani's form, which has yielded 5 goals and 2 assists in 5 matches - form is on Nani's side, so the fixture doesn't matter. Points could very well be on their way.
Heading West, Houston have had a good start to the season with 16 points (and just 1 defeat) from 7 matches. Whenever we see Houston at home, this time tussling against Texas neighbours FC Dallas, we are reeled in by the allure of Alberth Elis ($11.2m). Elis is in a great patch of form in in his own, scoring 4 goals and assisting 4 times in just 5 fixtures. Elis is on penalties and edges the second Forward spot in our personal teams ahead of Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
With D.C. United top of the Eastern Conference (just), Wayne Rooney ($10.4m) is always on the radar for the armband, especially at home. Rooney, who has scored 5 goals this season, faces the team he last scored against, netting against Columbus Crew in a 1-0 away win during Week 9's first Double Gameweek fixture. If he's done it before, he can do it again, and with Columbus losing back-to-back games 1-0, confidence is low and they'll be there for the taking at Audi Field.
Lastly, we have been overlooking Sporting KC this week, as have MLS Fantasy players, during periods of Double Gameweek's and a Champions League semi-final run for SKC. With the air clearing, Sporting reminded us of their attacking threat, netting 4 times in a thrilling 4-4 home draw against New England Revolution. Krisztián Németh ($8.4m), has scored a brace of more the last 2 times the Forward has netted, and with an Atlanta United who refuse to get out of first gear, any combination of Russell, Gutierrez or Nemeth could be in for a big haul. We'll take Nemeth and his affordable price as the top option to consider, freeing up your midfield and defence with Philadelphia options.
Week 10: 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.
Fixtures: Philadelphia vs. Cincinnati & Philadelphia vs. New England (H)
Player: David Accam (PHI)
Position: Forward
Player Price: $6.7 million
Coming in at left-field this week ahead of Week 10, we take a closer look at Philadelphia Union, the standout team of the 2 Double Gameweek sides, which also includes FC Cincinnati.
Philadelphia have the delight of facing the 2 teams have sit rock bottom of the Eastern Conference - Cincinnati are second bottom with 8 points from 9 games, whilst New England have 8 points also, but with 10 games being played.
We would implore MLS Fantasy players to have a range of Philly coverage this week due to the nature of their opposition. New England have conceded 19 goals, the most of any team in the Eastern Conference, and the joint second worst record in the league overall, with Colorado topping the charts with 24 conceded.
In defence, Scottish defender, Jack Elliott ($7.2m) will be the most likely candidate, whilst Kai Wagner ($6.6m) and Raymon Gaddis ($6.3m) are cheaper and just-as-reliable
Further up the field in midfield, Haris Medunjanin ($8.8m) looks the best bet to Fantasy success, with more points (48) than any other Philly player heading in to Week 10.
The explosive nature in attack will likely come in the form of David Accam, who has been somewhat of an enigma this season. The Ghanaian has hot flashes of form, picking up all of his 5 attacking returns - 3 goals and 2 assists - in just 2 games this season.
Accam scored twice and assisted once in a 3-0 Week 5's home route of Columbus, with Accam following up in Week 6 with a goal and an assist at Cincinnati, a potentially good sign with the return fixture this coming Thursday morning (GMT time).
Accam recently returned to action in Philly's 1-1 away draw at Vancouver, without scoring or assisting, but nonetheless put himself in pole position for a Forward spot this week. Accam has a lot of internal competition for team, but this punt may pay off if Accam is a standout option.
With price on his side, Accam is finding his 4.9% ownership slowly increase as players set on their sides, and if you can overlook Vela, Accam's explosive nature in front of goal could make or break your Gameweek.
You can read more of our latest news from the world of MLS and MLS Fantasy by clicking here.
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.
You can follow us on Twitter, Like us on Facebook, or visit our website here at www.thehypetrain.co.uk
All aboard.
