MLS Fantasy 2019: Week 20 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 20 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 20: 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.
Fixtures: New York Red Bulls (H) & Houston Dynamo (H)
Player: Alejandro Pozuelo (TOR)
Position: Midfielder (CAM)
Player Price: $10.9 million
One week of weekend normality and we're back to the midweek Double Gameweek grind in MLS Fantasy, and it's a big one. 12 teams play twice, with New England, Toronto, D.C. United and Atlanta the likely Fantasy targets this weekend.
Our captain poll reflects this potential dominance this week, with attacking midfielder, Alejandro Pozuelo, winning our poll, ahead of a double header at home. There was only ever going to be one winner.
Despite blowing hot and cold in his last 7 fixtures, blanking in 4 fixtures (without a goal or assist), Pozuelo was on the radar again last week as the Spanish midfielder scored in Toronto's 2-0 away win at Canadian rivals, Montreal Impact.
New York Red Bulls were split open by a good team goal against NYCFC, whilst Houston's results have picked up since Alberth Elis is back, but the combo is worth a punt again given that Pozuelo's points returns are erratic, with a high ceiling for Fantasy points. The midfielder is on 8 goals and 8 assists and looks set to hit double-digits in both attacking brackets.
Realistically, Poz is the first name in most teams this week alongside in-form Atlanta United attacker, Josef Martinez, so it is probably worth building your team and captaincy around Pozuelo's ability to snap up bonus points.
Week 20: 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.
Double Gameweek Captaincy Options...
One play in great form heading in to this weekend, and our probable pick for captaincy is Atlanta's Josef Martinez ($12.0m). Last year's Golden Boot winner has scored in his last 5 MLS appearances and is in the midst of a green patch that is reminiscent of his exploits in 2018. Josef hasn't gone more than 2 games without a goal since Week 8, scoring 9 goals in those 10 matches. Form is strong and ever-present with Martinez, and with back-to-back home games against Houston and D.C. United incoming, why back against the Venezuelan?
Sticking up top with Forward's, if you can squeeze Wayne Rooney ($10.8m) in to your team, a pair of away days in the midst of a crunch period for DCU, might provide the attacking relief for Wazza and his set-piece potential. Rooney has scored in 2 of his last 6 matches, earning 1 assist too, and even though the record doesn't suggest it, you never quite know with Rooney - and more importantly, MLS players don't really know about Cincinnati and Atlanta defensively. It's a big gamble, but one where your darkest hunch might pay off.
Lastly, New England are a glass half-full now under Bruce Arena's stewardship and are interesting Fantasy options to consider. The Revolution haven't lost in 8 games and attacking midfielder Carles Gil ($11.3m) is rapidly closing down Alejandro Pozuelo in the midfield charts. Gil has an impressive 63 bonus points, 9 more than bonus magnet, Pozuelo, and boasts favourable fixtures against the worst team in each Conference - Vancouver and Cincinnati. Head caution with Gil though, he's only scored 1 goals in 7 matches, but hasn't finished below 5 points in any of those 7 MLS games.
if you can forgive Portland for not performing up to a good standard in their recent 2-2 home draw with Colorado Rapids, perhaps Diego Valeri ($11.5m) or Brian Fernandez ($10.5m) are worth a redemption angle this week. Portland might rotate in midweek, as they did in their last double, but if if it a strong lineup against Orlando, attacking potential is there for both men, though Valeri's set-piece potential edges any potential dilemma between him and Fernandez.
Lastly, we end where we started with Toronto and think that Jozy Altidore ($10.3m) returning to action might not only boost Pozuelo's Fantasy potential. Altidore missed the last 5 fixtures due to his Gold Cup participation with the United States, but scored in his league return in the win at Montreal Impact. A double-down with Pozuelo might be the way to go in case you feel cold about Rooney or Fernandez.
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All aboard.
