FMLS Gameweek 8
To Road Dog or Not Road Dog?
It’s a big week for FlavorTownSC. Bounce back and keep bouncing - stop bouncing and die. It’s dire. Fix it now and get lucky or just fade away and run out the fantasy MLS clock. There’s a lot of time left in the season and to coast, just having fun, doesn’t really sound like fun at all.
The best matchups this week favor the road dogs but home teams are queen kings so far this season and even the best teams are struggling to win and score on the road. After seven rounds of throw downs home teams hold the crowns as away clubs are winning 28% of the time and scoring 2 or more goals 36% of the time. Dismal numbers and risky to take the majority of attackers that are playing on the road. After typing all this, it would be perfect MLS poetry for the majority of wins to come from road teams this week. What do you want MLS? WHAT DO YOU WANT?
FlavorTownSC Lineup & Scenarios
Are you tired of spending large portions of your budget on goalkeepers and defenders due to terrible pricing set by the fantasy game lords, then you’ll love the defensive lineup below.
Goalkeepers
Realize that after seven weeks of soccer balls kicked in anger, only 4 goalkeepers have recorded a bonus point. FOUR.
Brad Guzan (Atlanta) - In the words of Alfred Lord %*&$^@* Tennyson, he’s been made weak by time and fate, but he’s strong in will - he’s starting at home against New England who can’t shoot straight or at all. I’m sure that Carlos Gil will score in the first five minutes, but if he doesn’t, Guzan might be able to direct the backline to a fresh sheet and get some saves in the process. He’ll be on FlavorTowns bench to see how the match pans out. He’s the highest owned starting goalkeeper so far, going into Saturday.
Lundt (St. Louis) - my favorite thing about the player availability report that MLS shares with the public is that under some teams, it reads “report will be available Saturday”. There must be a secret Saturday or second Saturday that I don’t know about because today IS Saturday. Not sure when Burki will be back in goal for St. Louis, but until he does - Lundt is an affordable option. Columbus are ranked 14th in goals per ninety minutes and no reason that this match shouldn’t end 0-0.
Defenders
I want Najar this week, however he doesn’t fit into the budget as FlavorTownSC is top heavy with expensive midfielders and forwards and I’m suspicious of a Nashville triple stack.
Davis (Kansas City) - he’s a defender currently playing in the traditional ten spot for his club and ranks fourth in bonus points generated by defenders. If he’s nowhere to be found or goes back to the defensive wing, then it might be time to pick up another defender.
Freeman (Orlando) - is Orlando defensively trustworthy at home? Probably not. And will Freeman continue to start? Shoulder shrug. He’s second in bonus points and should have a nice day at home against the New Jersey Red Bulls. Orlando enjoyed the first meeting.
Johnson (Vancouver) - an affordable defensive option in one of the best defenses in the league. Vancouver defenders and their goalkeeper will be highly owned this week as they face off against Austin, who are averaging less than a goal per ninety minutes.
Scenario - If Davis is not playing out of position for Kansas City, then the only affordable options left are other Kansas City defenders, Miami, Portland or Chicago defenders. More than likely, there won’t be an affordable option for St. Louis and Columbus. The two clubs I would favor for a fresh sheet. Next best option would be Miami.
Midfielders
The make or break picks part of the lineup for the week. My top four choices for midfielders are on the road and going with four or even five midfielders that are away from home, is insanity given the results last week. So which two away midfielders can I not go without this week? Or will the narrative swing as if supernaturally possessed and only away midfielders will have the top scores after all the matches are played?
Mukhtar (Nashville) - he’s missed the majority, if not all of his penalties so far this season and if he figures that out, he’ll be flying. At home against Salt Lake, should be a favorable setting for Mukhtar to get seven points or more.
Ojeda (Orlando) - at home, with New Jersey Red Bulls visiting - should be a bounce back match after the 0-0 draw with Philadelphia last week. Ojeda is tied with Rusnak for the best overall fantasy player - both have 59 points.
Almiron (Atlanta) - he’s in the lineup right now as the third home midfielder but that might change if Miranchuk starts alongside him. Miranchuk leads Almiron in most offensive categories and will potentially cut into his points. Almiron is owned by 20% of fantasy managers and that number might rise closer to kickoff time.
Dreyer (San Diego) - he’s third overall in bonus point generation among midfielders behind Rusnak and Espinoza and even on the road and at altitude, I like his chances to do well. Colorado will be tough to break down but he’s one of the most consistent players in the game.
Evander (Cincinnati) - will D.C. United button up their defensive play or will they continue to give up goals? And will Evander be fit enough and recovered from his knee injury to play? No one knows, of course. He’s the highest owned midfielder at the moment and is a must have, if starting.
Scenario(s) - the first choice of the day, if Miranchuk starts for Atlanta, the pivot will be made to Acosta (Dallas) at home against Seattle. Miranchuk needs to prove that he can lead the Atlanta attack before trusting him but he’ll take away bonus point potential from Almiron. If Evander doesn’t start, then my second away midfielder will be McGlynn (Houston), however, if Houston start their new designated player attacking midfielder, I want to see how that affects McGlynn’s production and I’ll take Espinoza (San Jose). It’s Passover, so taking a player named Espinoza, who generates a lot of bonus points and loves playing against LAFC, is a good backup option.
Forwards
It’s always Messi, Benteke, and some other forward. But which other Forward? Heavily favored away clubs have burned me lately and I’m skeptical as how Minnesota will perform on the road against Toronto. So who does that leave?
Messi (Miami) - he has to be in the lineup as Miami get a full week of rest, so no need to rotate or save players for a midweek fixture. He’s playing…right?
Benteke (D.C. United) - even in a 1-6 defeat, Benteke scored and grabbed another bonus point. Time to bounce back against Cincinnati at home but it won’t be easy if Cincinnati bring their starting centerbacks to town. He’s the highest scoring forward and playing at home, so bring whoever you want Cincinnati.
Surridge (Nashville) - well, it’s not a great choice and it’s a potentially sneaky choice or just a silly choice. But I’m going with Surridge as one of the best home forwards this weekend. Taking two attacking players from the same team hasn’t really paid off yet this season and given that Surridge is 1% owned, a hat trick or a brace against Salt Lake would be lovely. Have at it, sir.
Captain - it’s Messi and if he’s not starting then It’ll be about the best forward left on Sunday and captaining that player. It is, what it is.
Mantra - this will be the week that my team will finish 1st overall and I’ll frame my starting lineup, due to the great home play of Nashville led by Surridge and Mukhtar. I’ve studied the cave wall model and predictive data and I’m confident that this team will make FlavorTownSC rise to the top 250. Praise be.