MLS Fantasy 2019: Week 16 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 16 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 16: 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: FC Cincinnati vs. LA Galaxy
Player: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (LA)
Position: Forward
Player Price: $11.0 million
The Spring Season is over and we've come to the end of a two week break with a price reset for all players in MLS Fantasy and the start of the Fall Season. With the Gold Cup in progress for teams in the CONCACAF region, there are only 12 teams in action this weekend, with 6 games and a lot of rotation on the cards.
Our captaincy poll focused on some key players, though with dos Santos on international duty with Mexico, a trio of popular Fantasy options took the attention of consideration, with Alejandro Pozuelo and Diego Valeri losing out to former Sweden international, Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
LA Galaxy's trip to FC Cincinnati is the first match up of the week, with Zlatan thrown in to the spotlight immediately. The Galaxy are without some key players in Alessandrini (injury) and dos Santos (international duty), a duo of creative assets that might just dull the threat of Ibra against the new MLS franchise.
Cincinnati are in desperate need of an uplift having just won 3 games this season, with FCC losing 9 of their last 10 matches. Their only win was a 2-1 triumph over Montreal at home during Week 12's action.
Zlatan, who has 14 attacking returns this season (11 goals, 3 assists) has scored in back-to-back matches, scoring against New England and Sporting KC during Week 14's Double Gameweek, so there's enough form on Zlatan's side in case you want to press the execute button.
The case for Zlatan in your squad is a no-brainer. He's a top draw pick in a week of depleted options and quality always finds way to shine through, regardless of opposition or quality, so there's every chance The Lion is the man to bank on this weekend.
Week 16: 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.
Who are the best Zlatan captaincy alternatives?
The premium options outside of the legendary Swede takes us up to Oregon and with The Timbers. Portland look set to benefit from international commitments faced with Houston Dynamo this week. Alberth Elis is in Gold Cup action with Honduras, whilst Figueroa, Quioto, and Ceren are also first-team internationals. Memo Rodriguez is also injured, leaving Houston with Mauro Manotas and Tomas Martinez as Dynamo's capable attacking outlets.
With Portland getting used to life back at Providence Park, Diego Valeri ($10.5m) is a must-have this week. The benefit of set-pieces might be takes Valeri on a second-half upturn in form this season as Portland look to solidify a play-off birth at the end of the season. Valeri is on 3 goals and 7 assists and it wouldn't surprise us to to see the former MLS MVP ramp up his tally in the second-half of the season, and Houston this weekend is the perfect opportunity to gain a big haul.
Next up from The Timbers is record-signing Brian Fernandez ($10.5m). The attacker, who can play on the right-wing or in a central attacking role, has scored 6 goals in 4 appearances for Portland across all competitions, with 4 of Fernandez's goals coming in his only 3 MLS appearances. The former Necaxa Forward is in form, and like Valeri could be benefited from Houston's rotation this weekend.
FC Dallas, who have been inconsistent this season to say the least, host Toronto, with weekly expectation over Alejandro Pozuelo ($11.5m) likely to soar in an unpredictable round of games. Pozuelo is Toronto's Valeri, a set-piece specialist with a high Fantasy ceiling. Pozuelo has only managed 2 assists in his last 4 games and you have to go back to Week 11 to his last goal, though temptation alone is enough for some.
Away day whipping boys, Real Salt, travel to Chicago Fire this week, with Nico Gaitan ($10.0m) and Alexsander Katai ($9.0m) alternative midfield selections to Valeri and Pozuelo. Gaitan's form is patchy, much like the form of most MLS teams, but with RSL visiting, this could be a must-own fixture for the former Atletico Madrid midfielder.
Lastly, Fredy Montero ($9.0m) has scored 4 goals in 7 matches for Vancouver Whitecaps,with the attacker welcoming Colorado Rapids, second-bottom in the West Conference. You never know what Whitecaps side will show up at times, but Montero is the likely source of points if Colorado capitulate this weekend.
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All aboard.
