MLS Fantasy 2019: Week 15 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 15 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 15: 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. Sporting KC
Player: Alejandro Pozuelo (TOR)
Position: Midfielder
Player Price: $12.4 million
The final week of the Spring Season in MLS Fantasy is upon us, with the final round of games bringing a reduced Gameweek due to international call-ups around the world, leaving just 12 MLS teams willing to play.
With our captaincy article this week, a smaller number of fixtures has obviously reduced the number of viable contenders, though with Toronto, San Jose and both New York sides playing, we're not short of options.
In-form Chris Wondolowski, at home to a depleted Dallas side, was pitted against Toronto's expectant Alejandro Pozuelo and NYCFC's midfield maverick, Maxi Moralez. Despite 7 goals in 3 matches, the allure of Pozuelo's high-ceiling was too much to ignore with the Spanish midfielder ahead of a home tie against Sporting KC.
Delving in to the reduced fixture list ahead of Week 12, we're a little surprised that the masses have potentially flocked to Pozuelo given that Toronto have tail-spinned after a positive start to the season. The Canadian outfit haven't won any of their last 6 matches, and had it not been for their opposition this week, Chris Wondolowski or Maxi Moralez could have tipped the attacking midfielder.
Surely, something has to give between Toronto and Sporting when their joint-form is considered. Sporting KC, travelling to BMO field on Friday evening, have only won 1 of their last 9 matches. SKC and Toronto might be able to provide a sense of relief as play-off hopes begin to take shape.
What makes Pozuelo such an unavoidable pick in the eyes of MLS Fantasy players is primarily the Spaniard's bonus points accumulation this season. Poz has an unmatched 42 bonus in the league, a figure that is propping up a 9.55 points-per-game average.
The attacking midfielder's only return in his last 5 matches was a lone goal in 2-1 home defeat to Philadelphia Union during Week 11's Double Gameweek. In those 5 games Pozuelo managed 32 points, which include a red card away at Real Salt Lake during Double Gameweek 12, and 20 of those points as bonus points. We'll say that again - 20 of Pozuelo's last 32 points have been bonus points.
With Toronto expected to field a strong side, Pozuelo might just be the option to bank on if your policy to end the Spring Season is better to be safe than sorry. If luck goes Toronto's way, Pozuelo is the first in line for set-pieces, so at the very least an unexpected evening between a couple of out of form teams might provide the Fantasy relief we need this week.
Week 15: 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.
The alternatives to Pozuelo this week are in short supply, but the ceiling is high for a few faces that have stuck around for the action this weekend.
Beginning with the upturn in form for San Jose Earthquakes, bargain forward Chris Wondolowski ($5.0m) is at the top of our own personal contention this week. Chasing Landon Donovan's MLS goal record, Wondo was stuck at 143 goals until Gameweek 12's 4-1 rout of Chicago Fire, with the veterna Forward scoring all 4 goals.
Wondo has 7 goals in 3 matches and a huge 44 points (of his 57 this season) in that time and with Dallas depleted, many Fantasy players are smelling blood in the water for Wondolowski to continue his hot-streak of form this season.
We've opted not to consider any options from Montreal and Seattle Sounders, as both sides have so many omissions and injuries, it's definitely not worth the gamble for the armband this weekend.
NYCFC's home game against Cincinnati is our next point of call, with a duo of attacking options likely to be widely selected. The first is a familiar face in Maxi Moralez ($11.6m). The Spanish midfielder has been a poisoned chalice for many Fantasy players this season, though form has picked up the last few weeks for the little magician.
Moralez has 2 goals and 4 assists in his last 4 matches (with 6 assists in his last 9 appearances), and like Pozuelo has the added benefit of set-pieces to aid his cause against a Cincinnati side that sit rock bottom of the Eastern Conference, and with 28 goals conceded so far, the latest addition to MLS has the second worst defensive record in MLS at this stage of the season.
The second NYCFC consideration is a probably star player this week in Heber ($9.0m). In his maiden 9 MLS appearances, Heber has scored 4 goals and assisted 2 time this season and goes in to the home affair against Cincinnati with a goal every other game, including NYC's recent 2-2 draw at Columbus.
One player that has risen out of the blue is Metz midfielder, Jamiro Monteiro ($9.0m), who is currently on loan at Eastern table-toppers, Philadelphia. The central midfielder was a big performer during Gameweek 14's Double Gameweek, earning an impressive 23 points over a pair of games against Colorado and Minnesota. 3 goals and 3 assists are propped up by 33 bonus points, a sum like Pozuelo that might be enticing a New York Red Bulls side that don't know if they're coming or going on a weekly basis.
Lastly, Colorado Rapids welcome a Minnesota United side who have seen Darwin Quintero's form greatly deteriorate in terms of attacking returns. Whilst Quintero figures out his shooting boots, Kei Kamara ($8.4m) might find himself as the 'third' Forward in Fantasy teams this week. Kamara hasn't scored in his last 4 appearances, though has 7 goals heading into this weekend and faces a Minnesota United side that recently just lost at home for the first time.
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All aboard.
