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 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

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 29: Home Captain

Fixtures: D.C. United vs. Minnesota United & D.C. United vs. New York Red Bulls

Player: Wayne Rooney (DC)

Position: Forward (CF)

Player Price: $11.6 million

The stakes for DC are crystal clear if they're to make the play-offs this season. They need to win their 2 games in hand to go 1 point clear of Montreal Impact, putting destiny in their own hands. Victories against Minnesota is essential, whilst a win against the Red Bulls might just gift Atlanta the Supporters' Shield crown at the end o the season. Back-to-back defeats this week will virtually rule D.C. United out of the post-season barring a miracle, so we're expecting the big guns on show in both matches matches this upcoming Gameweek.

Wayne Rooney's arrival to MLS has seen him quickly develop into an essential pick amongst Fantasy players, especially given the opening of Audi Field has gifted Rooney the perfect opportunity to open his MLS account in style.

The former England captain has scored 4 goals and assisted 6 times in 12 appearances, with the Forward averaging 6.08 points-per-game. Rooney has only scored once in his last 5 appearances, scoring against Atlanta of all teams, so there might be a few detractors of Rooney's this week, but in reality there are very few and far captaincy options.

Rooney's biggest competition for the armband is most likely going to come from within DCU, with Luciano Acosta's scoring habits a likely source of points for this week, though given the magnitude of the week ahead for D.C. United we believe that Rooney's set-piece capability might just be the key to hold this week.

Gameweek 29: Away Captain

Fixtures: D.C. United vs. Minnesota United & Real Salt Lake vs. Minnesota United

Player: Darwin Quintero (MIN)

Position: Forward (CF / RW)

Player Price: $12.5 million

There's no level of praise that we aren't willing to dish out when talking about Darwin Quintero's arrival to MLS. Minnesota, a side who were goal-shy in their maiden MLS season, suddenly signed an energetic, pacey difference maker who could find the net on a regular basis. Gone were the days of Minnesota presenting themselves as the MLS whipping boys.

Quintero's 10 goals and 9 assists from 19 appearances translates to a hugely impressive 8.16 points-per-games, has been received well by MLS Fantasy players. Often creating something out of nothing, Minnesota are in desperate need of a spark in front of goal and Quintero might be the man to make it happen.

The caveat heading into Week 29?

The Colombian has been injured since Week 24 and this midweek clash at D.C. United is Quintero's expected return from injury. Quintero's last MLS goal came against Seattle Sounders during Week 23 whilst the Forward has missed the last 2 matches.

Additionally, The Loons will be without Michael Boxall, Rasmus Schuller, Francisco Calvo, and Romario Ibarra in the Capital due to suspension and international duty, so hopes pretty much rely on Quintero, which isn't a bad omen given the unpredictable nature of MLS.

Quintero is worth a punt in your teams this week, and if you're desperate to make up ground in case Rooney or Acosta flop, Quintero is your guy.

Gameweek 29: Wildcard Captain

Fixture: Toronto vs. LA Galaxy

Player: Sebastian Giovinco

Position: Forward (CF)

Player Price: $13.0 million

Our last selection does not feature in the upcoming Double Gameweek so our focus is on the best player option who features in a single games, and there's no better place to start than Toronto.

The current MLS Cup holders are 9 points shy of play-off contention this season and will need some sort of a miracle to seal their places in the post-season. One such unlikely route begins with the arrival of another team that is proving to be combustable this season - LA Galaxy.

The Californian side have let Head Coach, Sigi Schmidt, stand aside from his role, which will have MLS Fantasy players foaming at the mouth regarding Sebastian Giovinco's Fantasy potential this week.

Despite only featuring in 1 of Toronto's 2 games during Week 27, the Italian still managed 13 points after assisting twice in a 4-2 home defeat to LAFC. Unlucky 13 is also the figure Gio reached in his previous fixtures against Montreal Impact during Week 26, making this an enticing and compelling time to perhaps entrust the armband with a Forward who goes up against the Western Conference's worst defence. LA Galaxy's 54 goals conceded is only beaten by Orlando's 62 goals shipped.

This week, Rooney is the safe pick, Quintero is risky business whilst Giovinco is like going all in on red with just one chance at glory.

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All aboard.