FMLS Gameweek 7
Weather & Miami?
With thirty tornadoes touching down last week across the country, how much will weather and the Miami squad rotation be a factor for lineups this week?
Goalkeepers
Two of the most lopsided matches of the week are Columbus at home against Montreal and Miami hosting Toronto.
Schulte (Columbus) - the weather will be sloppy in Columbus at kickoff time and there’s a high chance of shenanigans that Montreal will look to take advantage of. Here’s hoping that luck and chance will see Columbus through to a shutout. Schulte will start on my bench and I’d like to not need a second goalkeeper.
Ustari (Miami) - when will his time run out at the starting position and will Callender ever return? Hosting Toronto is a great scenario for a shutout and a fresh sheet, I’m just concerned that if lineups drop and Ustari is not in the starting eleven, I won’t be able to afford Callender or another .
Scenario(s) - not really a scenario, however I want to point out that, it would be great to throw Houston’s starting goalkeeper into my lineup for fun as both of their goalkeepers are out injured, however the gatekeepers of fantasy MLS have not added the third choice goalkeeper to the game.
Defenders
The most affordable Columbus defender - there’s really not a cheap option that allows managers into the backline, especially if managers are playing Schulte in goal this weekend. They’re all stars - just a question of who will be starting and where.
Johnson (Vancouver) - strangely, Vancouver remain one of the best clubs in MLS and are missing two defenders tonight against Colorado at home. Johnson is the most affordable option with a guaranteed price rise and attacking potential. No Ryan Gauld though.
Whatever Miami defender I can afford - I’m prioritizing my midfield and forwards this week and if there is some rotation then there should be some affordable options on the backline at kickoff time.
Scenarios - two matches that have potential for shutouts - Cincinnati at home against New England and Kansas City at home against St. Louis. New England scored their first two goals of the season last week, one from the penalty spot and one from a free kick. When it comes to Kansas City and St. Louis, neither team has been able to consistently score and are ranked 25th and 28th respectively when it comes to goals scored per 90. I might be inspired to look at these matches for defenders if there are affordable options. Miami might be too focused on their match next week against LAFC.
Midfielders
Another awkward week of starting midfielders who are facing each other. Maybe that’s a bad thing, maybe that’s a good thing. Didn’t work last week, but the best are the best. When Orlando and Philadelphia played earlier in the season both Gazdag and Ojeda had major point hauls. I have three midfielders starting at home and the most prolific midfielders in the game on the bench.
Evander (Cincinnati) - he’s listed as questionable for Cincinnati’s home match against New England in a very soggy scenario, which won’t help an ailing knee. He’s owned by thirty-five percent of managers and given the matchup, he should be the captain favorite for the week. Will he start or come off injured in the rain?
Dreyer (San Diego) - he’s playing at home, second in bonus point generation for all players and is one of the best players in the league. Don’t think they should be scared by hosting Seattle later tonight.
Gazdag (Philadelphia) - Gazdag grabbed nine points the last time he faced Orlando and I would not be surprised if this match ended nil nil. This IS Major League Soccer. Gazdag is hit or miss, however the Orlando defense has missed so far this season.
Ojeda (Orlando) - second in total points for all players and didn’t have a problem posting 11 points against Philadelphia the first time this season. Might be some revenge later tonight or just a draw. He’s on my bench as it’s difficult to know how the match against Philadelphia will go.
Rusnak (Seattle) - he’s hit double digits in three of his six matches and is the driving force behind everything Seattle do and want to do. Not having him in my lineup was bad news last week and even if he’s blankman against San Diego tonight, still should see a price rise no matter what performance he has.
Scenario(s) - Evander often seems to have his best matches when he’s doubtful and or angry. If he’s not starting, then I’ll look at Forsberg (NJ Red Bulls) as his replacement. If there’s another midfield scratch then Espinoza (San Jose) will be second backup option.
Forwards
Here’s the fun part - what to do about Messi?
Messi (Miami) - at the moment, he’s in my lineup unless there is some official news between now and the match that he won’t be playing or is going to be named to the bench. He’s almost thirty-eight years old and LAFC are calling in a must win Champions League match next week. However, Miami are hosting Toronto and Messi could get the highest score of the week in forty-five to sixty minutes of play.
Baribo (Philadelphia) - maybe he’s cooling off or was just focused on international play. No goal contributions in his last two matches, however he did score twice against Orlando in their first meeting. Maybe he’ll get back to scoring ways tonight or maybe he won’t. Orlando have proven they’re very easy to score against. They’re currently second from the bottom in terms of clubs who have conceded the most goals per ninety minutes.
Yeboah (Minnesota) - this one comes straight from the cavewall prediction model. No doubt there are better matchups for forwards this week but what the model says, is what I do. NYCFC have played two matches at home and held both opponents to one goal. I’m thinking Minnesota adds a different data point to that trend. The only shutout NYCFC have recorded this season was against Columbus. They’re playing Minnesota on a tight, short field - good luck.
Scenario(s) - there’s a possibility that Messi and Suarez don’t start and Allende is allowed to rest and recover, then that would leave only Picault or Bright as the starting forward options. I’d start one of them over a Toronto forward at the moment. Hopefully either Messi or Suarez will go forty-five to sixty minutes or I’ll need to throw in a scrub forward so that I can get all the double digit scores from the three players on my bench.
El Capitan
Messi is the only forward worth giving the armband to but I don’t like the scenario. If Miami isn’t prioritizing being the best club team in CONCACAF, then what the hell ARE they doing? And that goal is in jeopardy, so why not rest the best against Toronto? Get a point or three at home without starting Messi and friends. I’m giving the armband to Evander (Cincinnati), if he starts, if no Evander then the armband will fall to Dreyer (San Diego).
Mantra
Mantra - may this be the week that I frame my MLS fantasy lineup after it finishes number one overall and may FlavorTownSC tear into that 80 point deficit and move closer to first place. I’ve communed with the data and cave wall prediction model and mostly did as directed. Praise be.