For this weird week you basically have two options: Go with double-game players for your full squad even if they are subpar options OR pick a few high-value DGW players and pick up general good players who are playing September 13th. My suspicion is the Dream Team will have 4-5 players who are on a single game, but it will be difficult to identify exactly which ones.
Just beware the International call ups, which will affect the DGW teams directly and others indirectly. The biggest player to miss the first DGW game is Jack McGlynn, off with the USMNT, but keep in mind Leo Campana and Joseph Paintsil are out as well.
Week 27 quick rankings
Defenses
No individual defenders this week as I am on painkillers post-surgery and need to wrap this article up. Plus, if you are reading at this point of the season, I trust you to figure it out, you must be a sicko like me.
DGW – Chicago, St. Louis, Houston
Single – Seattle, Portland, San Diego
Midfielders
DGW – Philip Zinckernagel (15.2m), Carles Gil (14.8m), Eduard Loewen (10.2m), Myrto Uzuni (9.0m), Ignacio Ganago (7.9m)
Single – Hany Mukhtar (16.5m), Martin Ojeda (16.4m), Evander (15.6m), Anders Dreyer (16.3m)
Forwards
Double – Dejan Joveljic (12.6m) , Petar Musa (11.8m (check injury*)), Hugo Cuypers (11.1m),
Single – Leo Messi (15.8m), Son Heung-Min (12.5m), Rafael Navarro (11.9m), Danny Musovski (9.7m)
Week 27 schedule
Double-Game Week Teams:
Houston - vs LAG, at Colorado
Galaxy - at HOU, at SEA
St. Louis - vs DAL, at MTL
Dallas - at STL, vs ATX
Chicago - vs NER, vs NYC
New England - at CHI, vs TOR
Kansas City - vs ATX, at RSL
Austin - at SKC, at DAL
Chicago has the best schedule here, Galaxy the worst. The rest is a mixed bag – Austin has two good matchups but both are road games and Houston gets a good home game but a potentially tough road game. None of the other teams are in playoff position and are often to be avoided for fantasy purposes.
Other matchups of note: Orlando at DC will be a good time for Orlando to put the disappointing Leagues Cup finish behind them. SJE hosting LAFC will be spicy. Charlotte vs. Miami and Cincy vs. Nashville are two huge games for spots 2-4 in the East, though very tough to gauge from a fantasy perspective. Seattle hosts the Galaxy in what could be another total drubbing, and I expect something like 80+% possession for SDFC against Minnesota. Philadelphia at Vancouver will be a huge test for both teams to see where they measure going into the playoffs, but maybe not the best for fantasy pickings.
Thoughts and Players
Defenses
St. Louis – Gotta pick a couple of teams from the early games and St. Louis is facing one of the worse offenses in Dallas.
Houston – The Galaxy made some waves in Leagues Cup, but really are not good and have nothing to play for in the league (except what little pride they have left). Even without McGlynn, Houston should be able to handle them. Then the second game is a bit of a toss up.
Chicago – Just by virtue of two home games they are here, though their defense is not great and their visitors have been better lately.
Seattle – They just blanked Messi at full strength and have blanked the Galaxy twice in a row. Because MLS this won't be a shutout but all logic suggests it will be.
Portland – The Red Bulls are awful on the road and Portland is okay at home. They would be my last resort choice but I can definitely see a potential CS here.
San Diego – I expect them to hold 80+% possession and severely limit the damage Minnesota can do on counters and set pieces. At the very least, their CBs should have a very high passing bonus floor. I could end up very wrong here but I don't think I will be.
Midfielders
DGW:
Philip Zinckernagel (15.2m) – Double home matches, and he's got probably the best schedule and a high floor. Popular captain choice for good reason.
Carles Gil (14.8m) – Schedule could be better, but Gil has had some incredible games this year. His 5-week average of 6.6 points would serve very nicely for a 13-point score over the DGW.
Eduard Loewen (10.2m) – He's had some struggles the past couple of years, both on and off the field, but he's been finding form recently. He's averaging over 6 points in the past five games, with three goals and an assist in that span, now that is he back in a starter's role playing 90 minutes. He's likely a 13-16 point player this week.
Myrto Uzuni (9.0m) – Though Wolff has scored some good goals recently, Uzuni is playing as the central forward in Austin's 4-3-3 with Vasquez gone. His underlying numbers of 0.39 npxG/90 dwarf Wolff's 0.12/90 and suggest Wolff has been getting lucky recently. Uzuni is the high-caliber option and likely the PK taker with Vazquez gone.
Ignacio Ganago (7.9m) – After a long injury layoff, Ganago went 90 minutes last weekend against Charlotte, scoring New England's only goal. He also had their only good a week prior against Columbus. Of course, he only had one goal in many, many minutes earlier in the year, but his underlying numbers of 0.44 npxG + xAG/90 is basically tied with Gil at 0.45 and suggest he is likely to earn more goals and assists going forward given time on the field.
Single:
Hany Mukhtar (16.5m) – At Cincinnati is not the toughest assignment these days, and though Nashville were embarrassed by Atlanta at home Mukhtar still had 9 pts.
Martin Ojeda (16.4m) – Potential MVP candidate, he gets to play at DC.
Evander (15.6m) – A weekly consideration with a ceiling higher than most of the DGW players.
Anders Dreyer (16.3m) – Massive against LAFC and their best option against Minnesota to run the attack.
Forwards
DGW:
Dejan Joveljic (12.6m) – He's been everything for SKC lately and should probably be on everyone's squad.
Petar Musa (11.8m*) – I don't know his health – if he's healthy he's a great choice. If not, then maybe bet against Dallas. Maybe pick Farrington in his absence, but he's not the same player.
Hugo Cuypers (11.1m) – He's scored a lot of goals this year. His fantasy points depend on them, but they do keep coming. Zero bonus points in any of his last five games, his only points have been from minutes played or goals. Decent option all things considered, but low ceiling.
There are others you could consider, like Langoni, Toye or Klauss, but I am not enthusiastic or excited about any of them.
Single:
Leo Messi (15.8m) – He may be on his way back to Miami already as he has been playing through some injuries, but I expect him to be back and ready to roll.
Son Heung-Min (12.5m) – Just bonus points for Son against San Diego, but that's a nice floor in a losing game with no goal contribution. He should have an easier time against San Jose.
Rafael Navarro (11.9m) – Great bounce-back game against SKC, though it could have been much better if (a) Colorado won and (b) he actually scored his PK.
Danny Musovski (9.7m) – One of the hottest strikers in the league gets to play the Galaxy at home, and we have seen what Seattle can do to weak teams and the Galaxy especially.
Captain considerations
Philip Zinckernagel – Highest quality DGW option with stable scores and a high ceiling.
Carles Gil – Popular captain option. I think he has been less reliable lately but has the capability of putting up huge performances.
Dejan Joveljic – Similarly high ceiling as the others, he really puts SKC on his back even though they really have no playoff hopes.
Leo Messi – If you want to gamble on the goat, I wouldn't blame you.
Danny Musovski – His underlying numbers support what you are seeing: a shooter who is consistently in place to take tons of high-quality chances. Seattle has ripped up the Galaxy and seem likely to do so again. The only question is whether Schmetzer starts De Rosario as a reward for his good Leagues Cup play and a nod towards Musovski needing to get out of the doghouse after his extremely stupid Leagues Cup red card. But if you want a fun backup to Messi, I like Musovski.
