We are down to the final few games, with many teams facing their final chances for a playoff push. The atmosphere will be heightened for those teams, while Nashville can take a bow, having secured the Supporter's Shield in dominant fashion. While they may take a bit of rest this evening, I do expect them to make a push for the points record which is well within their grasp (and would keep them in rhythm going into the playoffs).
I believe the only teams that are technically eliminated are Kansas City and Montreal, though I would say Atlanta is effectively eliminated, sitting 9 points back of RBNY in ninth with three games to go and four additional teams they would need to jump to make it in.
We once again have a Sofascore/Kickbase split, with Sofascore giving us two separate matchdays and Kickbase running a big DGW; make sure adjust your approach accordingly. There are some teams with very advantageous matchups on Wednesday but much tougher assignments on the weekend, and balancing the two may be key to your final push in the standings.
Matchdays 32 & 33 Quick Rankings
Goalkeepers
Kahlina, Gunn, Burki, Takaoka, Thomas, Daniel, Gavran
Defenders
Kessler, Ricketts, Baumgartl, Johnson, Ragen, Urhoghide, Laryea
Midfielders
Evander, Gil, Nico Fernandez (M/F), Guilherme (M/F) (*), C. Roldan, Biel, De Paul, Mukhtar(*), M. Ojeda (M/F), Kaick, Corbeanu (M/F)
Forwards
Messi, Griezmann, Toklomati, Musa, Turgeman, Yeboah, Navarro
Matchdays 32 & 33 schedule
Bye: LAG, LAFC on Wednesday
Two home games
Charlotte: v MTL, v ORL
Nashville: v PHI, v RBNY
New England: v RBNY, v MIA
NYCFC: v ATL, v MTL
San Jose: v COL, v RSL
St. Louis: v POR, v SD
Vancouver: v SD, v SEA
Some of the best teams in the league have a huge opportunity to stake their spots in the playoffs this week. Nashville has their spot locked up but I expect they won't slow down much, if at all. Charlotte has been on a rough run of form with just one win in the past five, including letting a point slip away late against Portland last weekend. Vancouver is in a similar situation, but still have the inside track to the top spot in the West. I have very little confidence or faith in NYCFC given their fall-off after Maxi Morales's injury, but their games are easy. New England, San Jose, and St. Louis should each be good for 4-6 points if their forms hold.
Home then away
Austin: v RSL, @ LAG
Chicago: v ORL, @ COL
Dallas: v CLB, @ SKC
Miami: v CIN, @ NE
Minnesota: v SKC, @ LAFC
Seattle: v HOU, @ VAN
Toronto: v DC, @ ATL
These teams all have very winnable games on Wednesday, then a range of tests on the weekend. Seattle has a true six-pointer against Houston as they attempt to move into the top 4-6 spots, with five points currently separating the two sides, then a big test against Vancouver (who Seattle cannot catch). Austin has a long way to go in their effort to reach the playoffs, but these are not the toughest of tests. Toronto has proven able to compete with other poor teams but to fail against good teams, so this might be a good week for them. The Miami vs New England game on the weekend will likely decide which of them is 2nd in the East, and New England currently holds the tiebreaker. Minnesota, like Austin, has a long way to go but some winnable games ahead. Dallas, meanwhile, could very easily be top of the West at the end of the weekend.
Away then home
Atlanta: @ NYCFC, v TOR
Cincinnati: @ MIA, v PHI
Columbus: @ DAL, v DC
Colorado: @ SJ, v CHI
Portland: @ STL, v HOU
Kansas City: @ MIN, v DAL
I'm a little worried about these teams. Cincy had a great week last week, beating up on DC, and Columbus is on a bit of a streak, but I don't know that there's very many points between these squads on Wednesday, but I could see (most of) them having a great weekend.
Double away
DC: @ TOR, @ CLB
Houston: @ SEA, @ POR
Montreal: @ CLT, @ NYC
Orlando: @ CHI, @ CLT
Philadelphia: @ NSH, @ CIN
RBNY: @ NE, @ NSH
Salt Lake: @ ATX, @ SJ
San Diego: @ VAN, @ STL
I think these teams that really need points to survive are going to find it tough this week. I am doubtful that DC, RSL, or SD can make a run at this point and will likely stay outside the playoffs. Montreal is probably going to challenge SKC for the Wooden Spoon. Philadelphia is solidly in the playoffs but will likely find it difficult to make a push to the top 4, especially with Cavan injured. Orlando and RBNY are in at the moment but could easily fall out if Columbus and/or Toronto have great weeks. Houston is potentially a top 3 team in the West, but a loss to Seattle would mean they could fall down to 7th or 8th very quickly with a bad road trip.
California
Galaxy are home vs Austin and LAFC is home vs Minnesota on the weekend. You don't want them on Kickbase, but some of their guys are potentially well worth taking on the weekend on Sofascore.
Thoughts and Players
Defenses
Double home teams: Charlotte (Kessler), San Jose (Ricketts), St. Louis (Baumgartl), Vancouver (Johnson). These teams are all top playoff squads with a lot to play for and a very winnable schedule this week. These guys are just the ones that jump out to me as reliable options with decent ceilings. You could go with Nashville defenders, and some people with them will probably get lucky with rotation, but Callaghan has mixed it up enough this year that it will be a risk.
Seattle (Ragen) - Good choice for Wednesday, especially if Guilherme isn't healthy enough to play, but both games are winnable and Ragen has been solid even without clean sheets.
Dallas (Urhoghide) - Winnable but potentially tough game against Columbus, then away to SKC. They're 2nd in the West because they've had a great second half of the season and Urhoghide can mix it up on set pieces.
Toronto (Laryea) - They have not had the greatest defense this year, but Laryea is a weapon and their schedule is fairly friendly this week. If you're desperate or want an offbeat pick, I don't think you'd be crazy to pick a Toronto guy.
Midfielders
Evander - Hard to doubt or fade him much while he's healthy.
Gil - Continues to put up best XI numbers and he's at home for both games this weekend, where the Revs are 10-2-3.
Nico Fernandez (M/F) - Even though NYCFC has been very disappointing, Fernandez has bounced back lately with some strong matches. Atlanta and Montreal are coming up next, two of the worst teams in the league.
Guilherme (M/F) - He's questionable for Wednesday so take him with caution and a backup plan, but his fantasy scores are almost always worth the risk.
C. Roldan - He was healthy enough to go 90 minutes against Colorado eight matches ago and has played every minute since. In those eight games, he's averaged 140 points on Kickbase (slightly ahead of Biel's season pace) and 6.4 points on Sofascore. He is much more of a Kickbase option where mid choices are slightly thinner and he scores better relatively, but a 6.4 season average still would put him in the top 15 midfielders on Sofascore. There are higher upside choices (like Rusnak) but few that are more reliable.
Biel - Great matchups. He's been extremely inconsistent recently but has one of the highest ceilings around.
De Paul - He never seems to have his best weeks when I take him but he does have some very strong games. With Miami charging into the playoffs I think he'll be a strong option this week.
Mukhtar - Really depends on whether Nashville take it easy this week or unleash the beasts to secure the point record. I could see it going either way, and if Mukhtar does start either match I'd really want to take him.
M. Ojeda (M/F) - G+A in both of Orlando's last matches, he has a G or A in each of their last six matches. Two road games this week but that hasn't slowed his form. This team's attack with him and Griezmann clicking is crazy.
Kaick - He's been really good in Dallas's ascendancy, especially since Week 20. I'm not sure what changed, but he's got some goals and underlying stats to back up his recent form.
Corbeanu (M/F) - Not entirely sure what's going on with him, but he's got at least a G or A in basically every other match going back to Week 15. That's 9 G+A in 15 games. Strong budget choice this week with Toronto having a weak schedule. If the pattern holds, he'll get on the score sheet in Atlanta on the weekend.
Forwards
Messi - An actual bad week last week playing just a handful of minutes, having traveled like right before the game. Disappointing, but the man isn't perfect. I think it's fair to expect him to go right back to his usual.
Griezmann - This league has basically been easy mode for him.
Toklomati - He was up and down earlier this season, but with Allan Saint-Maximin ("Maxi" on Kickbase) in the attack instead of Zaha, Toklomati has been unlocked to the tune of five goals in the past four games and nine in the past 11.
Musa - Back to business against San Jose, he still has an opportunity to catch Messi in the Golden Boot race, needing to make up a three goal gap. Playing Columbus then SKC seems a good chance to do so.
Turgeman - He's the goalscorer right now supporting Gil in New England, and their schedule this week lends itself to goalscoring.
Yeboah - Home against SKC, what more can you want?
Navarro - Two attractive home games for him to try and deliver a run to the top of the West if Vancouver and Dallas stumble.
Captain considerations
Messi - We don't let one down week deter us, especially when he didn't play the full match.
Griezmann - Could very easily be challenging Messi for the Golden Boot if he'd been here from the start of the season.
Nico Fernandez - Very good schedule for a player on a hot streak.
Evander - When healthy he is one of the top 3-5 most exciting attacking players in the league and fantasy loves him.
