MLS Fantasy Round 19 Team Reveals

Don’t know who to pick in your teams this week? Well our experts are here to help. Here, they share their MLS Fantasy Round 19 team reveals. As well as sharing their general thoughts, they also discuss strategy and captaincy.

Without further wait, let’s jump straight in, and check out who our managers have selected.

@dmpwright

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Notes

• With team value potentially an issue again this week, the kindly priced Tomás Romero is an easy inclusion on the front end of a ‘keeperoo. NYCFC have the best clean sheet odds this week vs Toronto and may be further buoyed by the recent departures of Federico Bernardeschi and Lorenzo Insigne.
• LAFC looked hungover from their CWC travails against Vancouver. I’m not expecting a trip to Austin to help with that. That is why I’ve currently gone with Brad Stuver as my fallback ‘keeper. However, I am also weighing up a couple of other options.
• In defence, I’ve paired Romero and Stuver with Thiago Martins and Guilherme Biro, respectively. I’d prefer Justin Haak over Martins but am $0.05 million short with my current setup.
• My remaining defensive picks are a mix of clean sheet hunting and offensive upside. Andy Najar may be capable of both with Philadelphia still missing Quinn Sullivan and potentially Tai Baribo. Whereas I’m mainly hoping for attacking returns from Bongi Hlongwane and Luca Orellano (providing he’s available).
• In midfield, Anders Dreyer, Evander and Hany Mukhtar were among the first names in my team. Chucky Lozano is back for San Diego though, which dents Dreyer’s appeal (and ceiling) slightly.
• The other two midfield spots are up for grabs. Albert Rusnák has a favourable enough fixture and works in terms of team structure should I need to scrub his position. Hannes Wolf went off the last time NYCFC played in the early fixture and has the matchup to succeed once again. However, I am also considering a resurgent Pep Biel in that slot.
• Upfront, it’s back to Always Captain Lionel Messi now that Inter Miami are out of the CWC.
• Current Golden Boot frontrunner Sam Surridge is also a shoo-in based on current form. Although Philadelphia’s defensive stats are strong away from home.
• The final forward spot is a toss up between Cristian Arango and Alonso Martínez depending on the Costa Rican’s availability post Gold Cup. Wolf would likely make way to accommodate Martínez should he start against Toronto.

@_FutboIOscar

Notes

• In goal, I’m currently looking at NYCFC stand-in Tomas Romero on the front end of my keeperoo with a home matchup against Toronto FC who’ve just parted ways with Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi. Rafael Cabral of Real Salt Lake is currently my fallback at home to a struggling St Louis City side. In defence, I’ve doubled up on NYCFC with Justin Haak who’ve shown some attacking potential with three assists to his name.
• Paddy McNair, Bongi Hlongwane and Guilherme Biro also make my team as I like their team’s matchups this week and they have some solid attacking potential.
• In midfield, Hany Mukhtar, Evander and Albert Rusnak will be ’chalk’ picks this week due to their performances this season and the latter can be used as a scrub of my bench hits. I’m also looking at Hannes Wolf who returned two goals and an assist in his last home game.
• My final midfielder is Anders Dreyer, the Dane has been on fire lately with 10 returns in his last six games.
• Up front, Lionel Messi was a lock for me this week despite an away game to CF Montreal and he’ll likely be my captain as well. Sam Surridge also makes my team as he’s been on a tear lately with 10 goals in his last six games.
• My final forward is currently Christian Benteke with a good home matchup against Atlanta United.