Welcome to Round 15 of Fantasy NWSL!
Before we get started, one quick moment so we can all commiserate together on Sophia Smith’s last minute scratch last week. It doesn’t appear that there are any long-term injury issues, but keep an eye on her availability leading up to the deadline next week.
As usual, we are here to answer all of your team selection questions through the magic of statistics. This week, we are taking a look at set pieces – one of the best ways to maximize point-scoring opportunities in FNWSL.
Round 15 Match Overview:
Gotham and Houston both play twice this week, including the first game of the week against each other on Wednesday night. However, some major FNWSL stars are off this week with Louisville, Portland, and OL Reign in cup action while Washington has the week off. You may have to pay for an extra transfer or two this week, and set piece statistics can help you identify a few potential options.
Individual Stats and Set Piece Takers:
Because the same players generally take corner kicks and free kicks for their teams, set pieces are one of the few predictable aspects of FNSWL. They can immensely increase a player’s opportunity for goals, assists, and key passes, meaning that set piece takers generally have high point floors from week to week.
Unfortunately, NWSL free kick data seems to be hard to find, but we do have corner kick and penalty kick data available. While some teams’ set pieces are taken by FNWSL superstars, we can use this data to identify some other set piece takers that can get your fantasy team big points for the stretch run.
(Also, if you know of any source for NWSL free kick statistics, please tweet at @MansersAnswers!)
Corner Kicks:
Unfortunately, she’s not playing this week, but no discussion of corner kick data can start without Washington’s Sam Staab. She has taken a higher percentage of her team’s corner kicks (67.5%) than any NWSL player not named Savannah DeMelo. Additionally, she is one of only two players in the league (along with Emily van Egmond) that has played every minute of every league game this year. Together, these two stats give Staab one of the highest FNWSL point floors of any player. Lots of minutes + lots of corner kicks = guaranteed points virtually each week.
In terms of corner kick percentage, KC’s Alex Loera is close on Staab’s heels at 64.79%. The Current center back is also at the minimum price of $75k and is one of the highest value defenders in FNWSL this season.
Among those players that have two games this week, Gotham’s Caprice Dydasco is definitely worth a look. She’s taken 51.85% of Gotham’s corners this year, and has played the second-most minutes for NJ/NY. Kristie Mewis also participates in set pieces for Gotham, but Dydasco has taken the majority so far this season.
UPDATE: Dydasco has been declared unavailable by Gotham for tonight’s game in Houston.
Another player that has two games this week is Houston midfielder Maria Sȧnchez. She’s taken the fourth most corner kicks in the league this season (36), which comes to 54.55% of the Dash total. With the departure of Rachel Daly for Aston Villa, there’s a good chance that this percentage will go up over the last few weeks of the season (Daly was also taking about 20% of Houston corners). Sȧnchez is also tied for the league lead in assists with 4, and should provide great value in a double gameweek.
North Carolina left back Carson Pickett has taken 50% of the Courage corner kicks (a total of 26) and has also notched 3 assists and a goal this season. With Carolina holding 4 games in hand, now is a perfect time to invest in Courage players for the stretch run. Take a look at Pickett!
Penalty Kicks:
On the penalty kick side, many are taken by NWSL/FNWSL superstars like Alex Morgan, Mallory Pugh, and Sophia Smith. However, there are some lesser well-known (and lower cost) players that are also taking PKs for their teams.
Current central midfielder Lo’eau LaBonta has 4 goals this season, and 3 have come from penalties. She’s taken all of KC’s kicks from the spot so far and has added 4 assists. A #10 who creates chances, takes penalties and costs only $300k? Sign me up!
North Carolina has only taken 1 PK so far this year, but make sure you haven’t overlooked the player who took it (and converted it): rookie striker Diana Ordoñez. She’s logged 80+ minutes in each of her last seven games, scored in six of those, and has the inside track for NWSL Rookie of the Year. Like teammate Pickett, Ordoñez should benefit from the extra games that the Courage have scheduled before the end of the season (for fantasy NWSL purposes anyway).
Good luck in a challenging Round 15, and don’t be afraid to make some extra transfers this week!