MLS Fantasy Round 21 Top Picks
With the new set of Major League Soccer fixtures approaching we take a look at the MLS Fantasy Round 21 top picks. X is full of some of the best fantasy managers in the world. Because of that we bring in expert @dmpwright to reel off some of the best options for the big round ahead.
Looking at the MLS Fantasy Round 21 top picks can be extremely useful to managers. Focusing on some of the best assets for the new week could help with some of the most important decisions in the game like transfers and captaincy.
Round 21
We’re back to a single gameweek for Round 21 of MLS Fantasy – the last one before the Leagues Cup break. Inter Miami are the team on a bye this round, which is perhaps well timed following their bad-tempered Round 20 drubbing at the hands of FC Cincinnati.
Top targets – Micael, Houston Dynamo – Defender, $7.2m
Houston defenders often enter my thinking when they have plum home fixtures – and this is one such week. Houston have one of the best home defences in MLS (0.94 xGA per game – good enough for fifth best in the league) and come up against a Minnesota side that have struggled of late, particularly away from home.
In Micael, Houston have one of the best passing bonus point-generating defenders in the league, which, coupled with Houston’s clean sheet chances, should put him in a good position to put up 8–10 points this round, tropical storm fallout permitting.
Luciano Acosta, FC Cincinnati – Midfielder, $16.9m
Lucho Acosta should be one of the first players in your team this week. Granted, he has dodged a few hauls in recent gameweeks (remember Cincinnati’s rocambolesque 4–3 win over Toronto in Round 14 in which Lucho only scored three points?), but Cincinnati are purring right now and Lucho continues to lead all midfielders for both xG+xA (0.84 per game) and key passes (3.49 per game), making him a prime captaincy candidate heading into Round 21.
Denis Bouanga, LAFC – Forward, $16.9m
Don’t doubt Denis Bouanga for a second, especially on home turf. For all the talk of regression in the early part of this season, Bouanga has so far gone on to record 14 goals and nine assists, and continues to top the league for xG+xA (1.00 per game). Even against a staunch Columbus defence that kept two clean sheets in Round 20, I’m still expecting Bouanga and LAFC to go off at BMO Stadium.
Differential – Alonso Martínez, NYCFC – Forward, $8.2m
This is very much a boom or bust pick. Alonso Martínez doesn’t have much of a points ‘floor’, so you’re largely relying on goals and assists for Fantasy returns. Fortunately for those considering the Costa Rican forward, Martínez has recorded six goals and two assists since working his way into the NYCFC starting XI, including a 30-minute hat-trick against San Jose and a brace at home to Montreal.
Granted, NYCFC’s away form has been sketchy of late; however, they’ve only been shut out twice in their last six road games and Chicago should allow them – and Martínez – plenty of opportunities to get on the scoresheet.
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