MLS Fantasy 2018: Gameweek 30 - Captaincy Picks

Picking a Captain to double down on in MLS Fantasy is the most important choice ahead of each of the 34 regular season Gameweek's in MLS's season. There's a lot of self-help out there for MLS enthusiasts, with our Hype Team providing three major considerations for the armband for each and every Gameweek. We'll be detailing the top choice for captain in home and away matches, and a Wildcard pick of our choosing to add to the chaos. All aboard.

MLS Fantasy: Gameweek 30 Deadline

For the 2018 MLS Fantasy season there is a 'Rolling Lockout', which means you can make substitutions and transfers until the second a player's game kicks off, which means you can chop and change your lineup as any Gameweek progresses.

You can view the schedule and a real time Gameweek deadline countdown clock (in the London GMT timezone) on our dedicated MLS Fantasy page.

Captaincy in MLS Fantasy

There are a few differences with picking a captain in MLS compared to playing other games such as FPL. The major element to note with our Captaincy article is that we'll be picking a captain who is playing home and away, as well as a Wildcard player of our own choosing.

We've listed the differences below that make captaincy in MLS Fantasy unique:

- With the Rolling Lockout, you can change your captain until the selected captaincy pick plays

- Once the team your captaincy pick takes to the field, you can no longer change your captain

- If your captaincy pick doesn't play, then you'll end up with nothing

- There is no option to select a vice captain

CAPTAINCY HYPE: 2018 SEASON PERFORMANCE

In each Captaincy article we track our progress throughout the 2018 MLS Fantasy season. Below you can check how our captaincy selections have performed by week to week in Major League Soccer.

GW1

Home: Sebastian Giovinco (Toronto 0-2 Columbus Crew) - 3pts

Away: Josef Martinez (Houston Dynamo 4-0 Atlanta United) - 5pts

Wildcard: Nicolas Lodeiro (Seattle Sounders 0-1 LAFC) - 9pts

GW2

Home: David Villa (NYCFC 2-1 LA Galaxy) - 10pts

Away: Yamil Asad (Atlanta United 3-1 D.C. United) - 2pts

Wildcard: Alberth Elis (Houston Dynamo 1-2 Vancouver Whitecaps) - 9pts

GW3

Home: David Villa (NYCFC 2-0 Orlando City) - 0pts

Away: Nemanja Nikolic (Minnesota United 2-1 Chicago Fire) - 2pts

Wildcard: Miguel Almiron (Atlanta United 4-1 Vancouver Whitecaps) - 10pts

GW4

Home: Gyasi Zardes (Columbus Crew 3-1 D.C. United) - 2pts

Away: Maxi Moralez (New England Revolution 2-2 NYCFC) - 4pts

Wildcard: Bradley Wright-Phillips (New York Red Bulls 3-0 Minnesota United) - 13pts

GW5

Home: Felipe Gutierrez (Sporting Kansas City 1-0 D.C. United) - 6pts

Away: Carlos Vela (LA Galaxy 4-3 LAFC) - 15pts

Wildcard: Alberth Elis (Houston Dynamo 0-2 New England Revolution) - 3pts

GW6

Home: Miguel Almiron (Atlanta United 5-0 LAFC) - 20pts

Away: Carlos Vela (Atlanta United 5-0 LAFC) - 3pts

Wildcard: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (LA Galaxy 0-2 Sporting Kansas City) - 2pts

GW7

Home: Miguel Almiron (Atlanta United 2-2 NYCFC) - 10pts

Away: Sacha Kljestan (Philadelphia Union 0-2 Orlando City) - 8pts

Wildcard: Maxi Moralez (NYCFC 4-0 RSL // Atlanta 2-2 NYCFC) - 23pts

GW8

Home: Bradley Wright-Phillips (New York Red Bulls 1-2 Chicago Fire) - 10pts

Away: Miguel Almiron (LA Galaxy 0-2 Atlanta United) - 14pts

Wildcard: Alberth Elis (Houston Dynamo 5-1 Toronto) - 8pts

GW9

Home: Miguel Almiron (Atlanta United 4-1 Montreal Impact) - 15pts

Away: Dom Dwyer (Colorado Rapids 1-2 Orlando City) - 2pts

Wildcard: Carlos Vela (LAFC 1-0 Seattle Sounders) - 5pts

GW10

Home: Sebastian Giovinco (Toronto 3-0 Philadelphia Union) - 12pts

Away: Miguel Almiron (Chicago Fire 1-2 Atlanta United) - 10pts

Wildcard: Darwin Quintero (Minnesota United 1-0 Vancouver Whitecaps) - 3pts

GW11

Home: Carlos Vela (LAFC 2-0 Minnesota United & LAFC 2-2 NYCFC) - 18pts

Away: Miguel Almiron (Atlanta 0-2 Sporting KC & Orlando City 1-2 Atlanta) - 12pts

Wildcard: Darwin Quintero (Toronto 1-2 Seattle & New England 3-2 Toronto) - 16pts

GW12

Home: David Villa (NYCFC 4-0 Colorado Rapids) - 17pts

Away: Magnus Eriksson (Vancouver 2-2 San Jose & San Jose 1-3 D.C. United) - 7pts

Wildcard: Kei Kamara (Vancouver 2-2 San Jose & Dallas 2-2 Vancouver) - 9pts

GW13

Home: Carlos Vela (LAFC 1-1 D.C. United) - 5pts

Away: Diego Valeri (Colorado Rapids 2-3 Portland Timbers) - 7pts

Wildcard: Ola Kamara (LA Galaxy 1-0 San Jose Earthquakes) - 2pts

GW14

Home: Miguel Almiron (New England 1-1 Atlanta & Atlanta 3-1 Philadelphia) - 18pts

Away: Alberth Elis (RSL 2-1 Houston & Montreal 1-0 Houston Dynamo) - 8pts

Wildcard: Maxi Urruti (LA Galaxy 2-3 FC Dallas & FC Dallas 2-1 LAFC) - 3pts

GW15

Home: Alberth Elis (Houston Dynamo 2-0 Colorado Rapids) - 2pts

Away: Sebastian Giovinco (Philadelphia Union 0-2 Toronto) - 6pts

Wildcard: Mauro Diaz (FC Dallas 2-0 Montreal Impact) - 13pts

GW16

Home: Sebastian Giovinco (Toronto 4-4 D.C. United) - 9pts

Away: Josef Martinez (Columbus Crew 0-2 Atlanta United) - 6pts

Wildcard: Teal Bunbury (San Jose Earthquakes 2-2 New England Revolution) - 2pts

GW17

Home: Josef Martinez (Atlanta United 1-1 Portland Timbers) - 3pts

Away: Sebastian Giovinco (NYCFC 2-1 Toronto) - 3pts

Wildcard: Dom Dwyer (Orlando City 0-2 Montreal Impact) - 3pts

GW18

Home: Miguel Almiron (Atlanta United 4-0 Portland Timbers) - 14pts

Away: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (San Jose Earthquakes 3-3 LA Galaxy) - 13pts

Wildcard: Adama Diomande (LAFC 4-1 Philadelphia Union) - 17pts

GW19

Home: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (LA Galaxy 2-2 D.C. & LA Galaxy 4-0 Columbus) - 18pts

Away: Miguel Almiron (FC Dallas 3-2 Atlanta & Philadelphia 0-2 Atlanta) - 21pts

Wildcard: Alberth Elis (Houston 2-2 LAFC & Houston 3-0 Minnesota) - 19pts

GW20

Home: Maxi Moralez (NYCFC 3-0 Montreal & NYCFC 2-0 Columbus) - 18pts

Away: Ignacio Piatti (NYCFC 3-0 Montreal & Montreal 2-0 San Jose) - 17pts

Wildcard: Nemanja Nikolic (Chicago 3-4 Philadelphia & Dallas 3-1 Chicago) - 8pts

GW21

Home: Darwin Quintero (Minnesota 2-1 New England & Minnesota 5-1 LAFC) - 23pts

Away: Diego Fagundez (Minnesota 2-1 New England & New York Red Bulls 2-0 New England) - 13pts

Wildcard: Nicolas Lodeiro (Seattle Sounders 2-0 Vancouver Whitecaps) - 17pts

GW22

Home: Wayne Rooney (D.C. 0-1 NY Red Bulls & D.C. 2-1 Colorado Rapids) - 8pts

Away: Maxi Moralez (Orlando City 0-2 NYCFC & Seattle Sounders 3-1 NYCFC) - 17pts

Wildcard: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (LAFC 2-2 LA Galaxy & LA Galaxy 4-3 Orlando) - 29pts

GW23

Home: Josef Martinez (Atlanta United 2-2 Toronto) - 15pts

Away: Raul Ruidiaz (Minnesota United 1-2 Seattle Sounders) - 7pts

Wildcard: Ignacio Piatti (Montreal Impact 1-1 D.C. United) - 3pts

GW24

Home: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (LA Galaxy 2-2 Minnesota United) - 8pts

Away: Bradley Wright-Phillips (Chicago Fire 0-1 New York Red Bulls) - 8pts

Wildcard: Diego Valeri (Portland Timbers 1-2 Vancouver Whitecaps) - 13pts

GW25

Home: Carlos Vela (LAFC 2-0 Real Salt Lake & LAFC 2-0 Colorado Rapids) - 11pts

Away: Diego Valeri (D.C. United 4-1 Portland & Sporting KC 3-0 Portland) - 4pts

Wildcard: Luciano Acosta (D.C. 4-1 Portland & D.C. 2-0 New England) - 17pts

GW26

Home: Bradley Wright-Phillips (NYCFC 1-1 NY Red Bulls & NY Red Bulls 1-0 D.C. United) - 8pts

Away: Josef Martinez (Orlando City 1-2 Atlanta United) - 7pts

Wildcard: Nicolas Lodeiro (Portland Timbers 0-1 Seattle Sounders) - 4pts

GW27

Home: Bradley Wright-Phillips (NY Red Bulls 1-0 Houston Dynamo & Montreal Impact 3-0 NY Red Bulls) - 4pts

Away: Sebastian Giovinco (Portland Timbers 2-0 Toronto & Toronto 2-4 LAFC) - 13pts

Wildcard: Luciano Acosta (D.C. United 0-2 Philadelphia Union & D.C. United 3-1 Atlanta United) - 16pts

GW28

Home: Maxi Moralez (NYCFC 0-1 New England & NYCFC 1-1 D.C. United) - 12pts

Away: Wayne Rooney (NYCFC 1-1 D.C. United) - 6pts

Wildcard: Graham Zusi (Sporting KC 1-0 Orlando City) - 9pts

GW29

Home: Wayne Rooney (D.C. United 2-1 Minnesota & D.C. United 3-3 New York Red Bulls) - 14pts

Away: Darwin Quintero (D.C. United 2-1 Minnesota United & Real Salt Lake 1-1 Minnesota United) - 11pts

Wildcard: Sebastian Giovinco (Toronto 5-3 LA Galaxy) - 9pts

Totals

Home Total: 3 (1), 10 (2), 0 (3), 2 (4), 6 (5), 20 (6), 10 (7), 10 (8), 15 (9), 12 (10), 18 (11), 17 (12), 5 (13), 18 (14), 2 (15), 9 (16), 3 (17), 14 (18), 18 (19), 18 (20), 23 (21), 8 (22), 15 (23), 8 (24), 11 (25), 8 (26), 4 (27), 12 (28) = 299 points

Away Total: 5 (1), 2 (2), 2 (3), 4 (4), 15 (5), 3 (6), 8 (7), 14 (8), 2 (9), 10 (10), 12 (11), 7 (12), 7 (13), 8 (14), 6 (15), 6 (16), 3 (17), 13 (18), 21 (19), 17 (20), 13 (21), 17 (22), 7 (23), 8 (24), 4 (25), 7 (26), 13 (27), 6 (28) = 244 points

Wildcard Total: 9 (1), 9 (2), 10 (3), 13 (4), 3 (5), 2 (6), 23 (7), 8 (8), 5 (9), 3 (10), 16 (11), 9 (12), 2 (13), 3 (14), 13 (15), 2 (16), 3 (17), 17 (18), 19 (19), 8 (20), 17 (21), 29 (22), 3 (23), 13 (24), 17 (25), 4 (26), 16 (27), 9 (28) = 285 points

Gameweek 30: Home Captain

Fixtures: San Jose Earthquakes vs. Atlanta & Atlanta vs. Real Salt Lake

Player: Miguel Almiron (ATL)

Position: Midfielder (CAM)

Player Price: $11.5 million

MLS Week 29 proved to be the return of the Fantasy King this season, with a stellar points performance from Atlanta's Miguel Almiron reclaiming top spot in the player points charts. A first-half brace against Colorado Rapids in a 3-0 away victory not only put Atlanta top of the Eastern Conference after New York Red Bulls only managed a 3-3 draw at D.C. United, the 17 points managed by Almiron took him to the summit of MLS Fantasy with just 6 rounds of games left this season.

With Almiron back on form the Paraguay international has taken the spotlight from Josef Martinez, who after scoring in 9 consecutive MLS matches has failed to find the net in back-to-back matches, will be playing second fiddle to his teammate ahead of a crunch Double Gameweek.

Fixtures starting away at lowly San Jose Earthquakes should wet the appetite ahead of a home encounter against a Real Salt Lake side looking to cling a hold of a play-off spot in the West.

Almiron's bonus points potential should mean a 10+ points performance regarding if he scores or assists, so there's no better week to play it safe when 3,045 other Fantasy players will be deploying a similar tactic this week.

Gameweek 30: Away Captain

Fixtures: Portland vs. Columbus Crew & Minnesota United vs. Portland

Player: Diego Valeri (POR)

Position: Midfielder (CAM)

Player Price: $11.5 million

Whilst Miguel Almiron proved to be a dead easy pick ahead of Week 30, we tossed and turned on our decision for our second pick of the week. The toss up was between two players from two teams who have been inconsistent this week. Gyasi Zardes, who also features twice, was eventually beaten to the post by Diego Valeri, despite Portland turning on both the hot and cold taps in recent weeks.

Portland drew 1-1 away at an out of form New England Revolution before securing a comfortable 2-0 home victory against Colorado Rapids a fortnight ago, before a 4-1 mauling away at Houston for Week 29.

Diego Valeri poses the safer of the picks due to his set-piece potential, something that our other captaincy contenders don't offer a lot of this week, so we chose to back on Portland getting the job done in a pair of winnable fixtures against Columbus and Minnesota.

Valeri will be highly selected this week and is currently selected by 2,122 players, with the Argentine the best realistic alternative to the potential of Atlanta players this week. Valeri offers a big risk given that he has only scored once, and has not assisted, in his last 6 MLS appearances, to add uncertainty with the dice roll.

Portland will be going out all in their Double Gameweek due to being placed in 6th in the West, 4 points clear of 7th placed Vancouver. A pair of victories will almost ensure of a post-season birth, so expect key players to take the stage, and there's none better than last season's MVP, Valeri.

Gameweek 30: Wildcard Captain

Fixtures: Seattle vs. Philadelphia Union & LA Galaxy vs. Seattle

Player: Raul Ruidiaz (SEA)

Position: Forward (CF)

Player Price: $9.5 million

Rounding off our picks is a Forward in red-hot form playing for a Seattle Sounders side that have won 9 consecutive MLS matches. Raul Ruidaz's arrival has helped spark a Sounders revival, with the MLS Cup finalists from last season once again finding the resolve near the end of the season to lock down a play in the West's top 6 places.

Ruidiaz has scored in 3 of his last 4 league appearances, scoring a brace in Week 29's victory over Vancouver Whitecaps at home. With Nicolas Lodeiro failing to find big numbers for Fantasy players in recent weeks, emphasis switches to an attacker that is currently selected by 928 players, offering a very attractive left-field choice for captaincy.

Priced at $9.5 million, Ruidiaz offers a cheap route into your Fantasy team this week, and if you fancy Seattle to make it 11 consecutive wins against Philadelphia and Seattle, which is a very likely possibility, then Ruidiaz could be the differential you'll need for Week 30.

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All aboard.