Gameweek 3: Injury and suspension report

Gameweek 3 Injury and Suspension Report

Injuries can have a big impact on a fantasy lineup. Not only can they impact your score by providing under the radar options, but replacements often come in at a lower price point and can make it easier to field a full roster. Each week I’ll review key injuries and help you find replacements that can give you an edge over your fantasy opponents.

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Atlanta United FC

Gameweek 3 fixture: Philadelphia Union (H)

Franco Escobar (6.0M) continues on his path to recovery and has started training with the first team for the first time since January but he looks set to spend some time with the second team before returning to the first team. Another positive new for Atlanta fans is that Julian Gressel (8.5M) is back and started in the game against Cincinnati and grabbed and assist as well despite being ruled out for the fixture. Also, homegrown player George Bello (4.5M) is available for selection. Larentowicz, Robinson and Ambrose started for Atlanta in the 2nd leg against Monterrey so that just improves his chances to start in the next game Vs Philadelphia.

Player	Position	Status	Potential return
Franco Escobar	Defender	Questionable: Fractured right clavicle	Gameweek 5 Vs Columbus Crew
Patrick Okonkwo	Forward	Loaned to Atlanta United II	2020 season
Jose Hernandez	Defender	Loaned to Atlanta United II	2020 season

Chicago Fire

Gameweek 3 fixture: Seattle Sounders (H)

Chicago fire left back Jorge Luis Corrales (4.6M) has been suspended for the fixture against Seattle Sounders after receiving a direct red card in the game against Orlando City. Nicolas Hasler (4.9M) is expected to fill in for him. Also note that Nicolas Hasler is listed as a midfielder in FMLS and not a defender.

Player	Position	Status	Potential return
Jorge Luis Corrales	Defender	Suspended: Direct red card Vs Orlando City	Gameweek 4 Vs New York Red Bulls
Andre Reynolds II	Defender	Questionable: Thigh injury	N/A
Aleksandar Katai	Midfielder	Questionable: Groin injury	N/A

FC Cincinnati

Gameweek 3 fixture: Portland Timbers (H)

 

Player	Position	Status	Potential return
Przemysław Tytoń	Goalkeeper	Questionable: Hamstring tendinitis	Gameweek 4 Vs New England Revolution
Jimmy McLaughlin	Midfielder	Out: Right ACL injury	N/A
Kekutah Manneh	Forward	Out: Foot injury	N/A
Emery Welshman	Midfielder	Loaned to Canadian Premier League side Forge FC	2020 season
Ben Lundt	Goalkeeper	Loaned to USL side Louisville City	2020 season
Rashawn Dally	Forward	Loaned to USL side Memphis 901 FC for remainder of 2019 season	2020 season

Colorado Rapids

Gameweek 3 fixture: Sporting Kansas City (H)

 

Player	Position	Status	Potential return
Kofi Opare	Defender	Loaned to USL side Colorado Springs	2020 season
Tommy Smith	Defender	Questionable: Knee injury	Day to day
Sam Nicholson	Midfielder	Questionable: Back injury	Day to day
Kortne Ford	Defender	Out: Knee injury	N/A
Clint Irwin	Goalkeeper	Loaned to USL side Colorado Springs	2020 season

Columbus Crew SC

Gameweek 3 fixture: FC Dallas (H)

 

Player	Position	Status	Potential return
Milton Valenzuela	Defender	Out: Torn ACL	9-12 months and is expected to miss the entire 2019 season.
Niko Hansen	Midfielder	Out: Right thigh injury	N/A

FC Dallas

Gameweek 3 fixture: Columbus Crew (A)

Reggie Cannon (5.5M) suffered an ankle injury Vs New England and is expected to be replaced by Marquinhos Pedroso (4.8M) at the right back spot. This is really saddening for Cannon as he was expected to be called up to the USMNT for the upcoming friendlies against Ecuador and Chile this month. An in-form Zardes (9.7M) and Pedro Santos (7.1M) might be good plays against this Dallas defense, but you would rather start them on the bench if you do get them because Columbus play early.

 

Player	Position	Status	Potential return
Reggie Cannon	Defender	Out: Right ankle injury	N/A
Jacori Hayes	Midfielder	Out: Hamstring injury	N/A
Cristian Colman	Forward	Out: Left ACL tear	N/A
Ema Twumasi	Forward	Questionable: Back problem	N/A
Francis Atuahene	Forward	Out: Left ruptured pectoral muscle	Mid August 2019

D.C. United

Gameweek 3 fixture: Real Salt Lake (H)

 

Player	Position	Status	Potential return
Oniel Fisher	Defender	Out: Knee surgery	N/A
Chris Odoi-Atsem	Defender	Out: Hodgkin’s Lymphoma	N/A
Earl Edwards Jr.	Goalkeeper	Out: Groin injury	N/A

Houston Dynamo

Gameweek 3 fixture: Vancouver Whitecaps (H)

 

Player	Position	Status	Potential return
Juan Cabezas	Midfielder	Out: Right thigh injury	N/A
Eric Bird	Midfielder	Out: Left ankle injury	N/A
Erik McCue	Defender	Out: Left foot injury	N/A
Micheal Nelson	Goalkeeper	Out: Right thigh injury	N/A
DaMarcus Beasley	Defender	Questionable: Left knee injury	N/A
Maynor Figueroa	Defender	Questionable: Right ankle injury	N/A

Los Angeles FC

Gameweek 3 fixture: New York City FC (A)

Steven Beitashour (5.9M) suffered an head injury against Portland timbers, hasn’t participated in training so far and could be replaced by Latif Blessing (6.4M) again. Andre Horta (7.5M) has been moved to questionable in LAFC’s injury report and could return in time for the game Vs NYCFC if fit. Adama Diomande (9.6M) told reports after the match against SKC that he didn’t expect to be in contention for the first several matches as he continues to recover from his off-season surgery. Christian Ramirez (7.1M) could start for LAFC whereas Diomande will stay on the bench.

Update: Steven Beitashour displayed concussion symptoms and it seems unlikely that he will participate in the game against NCYFC

Player	Position	Status	Potential return
Adama Diomande	Forward	Probable: Recovering from surgery to repair a hernia	Won’t start but might come off the bench as he continues to recover
Andre Horta	Midfielder	Questionable: Right quad strain	Could return to the team for gameweek 3
Steven Beitashour	Defender	Out: Head injury	N/A
Alejandro Guido	Midfielder	Out: Right quad strain	N/A
Josh Perez	Midfielder	Questionable: Right hamstring strain	N/A

LA Galaxy

Gameweek 3 fixture: Minnesota United (H)

Zlatan hasn’t returned to training for LAG for over a week and is running out of time to make it to the game Vs Minnesota United at home. LAG are reportedly looking for another striker after the injury to Zlatan and trading Ola Kamara to China. LAG have no reliable strikers remaining and Chris Pontius (5.0M) could suit up as a striker again. There has even been talk of Uriel Antuna (5.7M) replacing Zlatan this week.

Update: Zlatan and Alessandrini have been ruled out for the game Vs Minnesota United

Player	Position	Status	Potential return
Zlatan Ibrahimovic	Forward	Out: Sore Achilles tendon	Gameweek 5 Vs Portland Timbers
Romain Alessandrini	Midfielder	Out: Right hamstring injury	Week to week
Perry Kitchen	Midfielder	Out: Undisclosed injury	N/A
Juninho	Midfielder	Questionable: Knee injury	N/A
Bradford Jamieson IV	Forward	Loaned to USL side San Antonio	2020 season

Minnesota United

Gameweek 3 fixture: LA Galaxy (A)

 

Player	Position	Status	Potential return
Kevin Molino	Midfielder	Out: Left knee injury	Week to week. Molino has returned to training

Montreal Impact

Gameweek 3 fixture: Orlando City (A)

 

Player	Position	Status	Potential return
Ken Krolicki	Midfielder	Out: Dislocated right elbow	5-6 weeks (Mid April – May)
Jason Beaulieu	Goalkeeper	Out: Cyst on left knee	Late July 2019
Jeisson Vargas	Forward	Loaned to Chilean side Universidad Catolica	2020 season
Thomas Meilleur-Giguère	Defender	Loaned to USL side Ottawa Fury FC	2020 season
James Pantemis	Goalkeeper	Loaned to USL side Ottawa Fury FC	2020 season

New England Revolution

Gameweek 3 fixture: Toronto FC (A)

Good news for the New England Revolution is that Brandon Bye’s red card Vs Columbus crew has been rescinded by video review and he should participate in the game Vs Toronto unless Brad Friedel has other plans. Luis Caicedo (6.2M) should also return to the fold for New England.

Player	Position	Status	Potential return
Andrew Farrell	Defender	Out: Eye injury	April 2019
Juan Fernando Caicedo	Forward	Probable: Muscle injury	Gameweek 3 Vs Toronto FC

New York City FC

Gameweek 3 fixture: LAFC (H)

Ronald Matarrita (5.0M) has returned from his calf injury and we will have to wait and watch if he directly makes his way to the team. Ben Sweat (5.5M) could continue to replace him if he fails to make the team.

Player	Position	Status	Potential return
Ronald Matarrita	Defender	Probable: Calf injury	Gameweek 4 Vs LAFC
Ismael Tajouri-Shradi	Forward	Questionable: Ankle injury	N/A
Jeff Caldwell	Goalkeeper	Loaned to USL side Memphis 901 FC	2020 season

 

New York Red Bulls

Gameweek 3 fixture: San Jose Earthquakes (H)

Kemar Lawrence (6.5M) played 45 minutes against Atletico Pantoja in the first leg of the first round game in the CCL but hasn’t featured on the team sheet since the past 4 games. Lade (4.5M), Murillo (7.2M) and Duncan (4.8M) are all in contention to start for the red bulls.

Player	Position	Status	Potential return
Ryan Meara	Goalkeeper	Out: Knee injury	March 2019
Kemar Lawrence	Defender	Probable: Meniscus injury	Day to day. Expected to return for gameweek 4
Brian White	Forward	Probable: Hamstring injury	Gameweek 4 Vs San Jose Earthquakes

Orlando City SC

Gameweek 3 fixture: Montreal Impact (H)

Tesho Akindele (6.3M) suffered an Hamstring injury in the game Vs Chicago and is ruled out for the game Vs Montreal. He was replaced by Dow Dwyer (9.1M) and expect him to start again. Just like it should’ve been.

Player	Position	Status	Potential return
Lamine Sane	Defender	Doubtful: Calf injury	Day to day
Tesho Akindele	Forward	Out: Hamstring injury	Ruled out for game on saturday Vs Montreal
Adam Grinwis	Goalkeeper	Doubtful: Concussion protocol	Day to day

Philadelphia Union

Gameweek 3 fixture: Atlanta United (A)

Philadelphia Union have suffered a double blow before their away game against defending champions Atlanta united. Both new signings, Star playmaker Marco Fabian and striker Sergio Santos have been ruled out for the game at Atlanta. Philadelphia have also decided appealing against Fabian’s red card. There has been talk about homegrown player Brenden Aaronson (5.0M) making his debut for Philadelphia and replacing Fabian at the #10 role in the process. There is a possibility that new signing Jamiro Monteiro (6.5M) will be in the team for the game on Sunday but head coach Jim Curtin said that Monteiro is unavailable right now but should make his debut in gameweek 4 Vs Columbus. It’s a toothless Philadelphia attack against a under performing Atlanta United who only have 2 wins in their last 6 games but a good idea might be getting Josef Martinez (10.5M) in case he goes off and a Atlanta defender just to play it safe.

Player	Position	Status	Potential return
Marco Fabian	Midfielder	Suspended: Red card Vs SKC	Gameweek 4 Vs Columbus
Sergio Santos	Forward	Out: Hip injury	3-4 weeks
Jamiro Monteiro	Midfielder	Doubtful: Unavailable for selection	Gameweek 4 Vs Columbus
Mark McKenzie	Defender	Out: Concussion	N/A
Kacper Przybylko	Forward	Out: Fractured toe	N/A
Fabinho	Defender	Out: Left ankle sprain	N/A

Portland Timbers

Gameweek 3 fixture: FC Cincinnati (A)

Portland will be without their defensive stalwart Diego Chara (6.9M) in the game against Cincinnati after he received a red card in the game against LAFC. What this does is not help Portland in any way (obviously) but makes Cincinnati attackers better prospects this week. Not like their attackers have done anything special so far but we saw glimpses of what Kenneth Saief (7.6M) is capable of and I would say that he is a good bench play if he starts and plays early but he doesn’t.  

Player	Position	Status	Potential return
Diego Chara	Midfielder	Suspended: Red card (2nd yellow) Vs LAFC	Gameweek 4
Aljaz Ivacic	Goalkeeper	Out: Left Tibial stress fracture	Mid April 2019
Kendall McIntosh	Goalkeeper	Out: Left thigh strain	N/A
Bill Tuiloma	Defender	Questionable: Right lower leg strain	Day to day

Real Salt Lake

Gameweek 3 fixture: D.C. United (A)

 

Player	Position	Status	Potential return
Joao Plata	Midfielder	Probable: Foot injury	Gameweek 3 Vs D.C. United
Justen Glad	Defender	Out: Broken toe	3-6 weeks
Jordan Allen	Midfielder	Out: Knee injury	Out for 2019 season.

San Jose Earthquakes

Gameweek 3 fixture: New York Red Bulls (A)

 

Player	Position	Status	Potential return
Kevin Partida	Defender	Out: Torn ACL	Mid April 2019

Seattle Sounders

Gameweek 3 fixture: Chicago Fire (A)

 

Player	Position	Status	Potential return
Henry Wingo	Midfielder	Questionable: Left groin pain	N/A

 

Sporting Kansas City

Gameweek 3 fixture: Colorado Rapids (A)

Roger Espinoza (7.1M) is set to return to the starting XI this week after his suspension for receiving a red card in gameweek 1 Vs LAFC. A lot of questions about whether Fontas (5.5M) will start for SKC or not. Barath (4.8M) started in the right center back position for SKC Vs Philadelphia and in the CCL game Vs Independiente. So it’s all down to whether Peter Vermes decides to rotate or not, he has had Ilie and Besler start 5 games in the past 2 weeks.

Player	Position	Status	Potential return
Jimmy Medranda	Midfielder	Out: Knee injury	N/A
Andreu Fontas	Defender	Questionable: Hip pointer	N/A

Toronto FC

Gameweek 3 fixture: New England Revolution (H)

Toronto FC coach Greg Vanney is positive that star forward Jozy Altidore (9.5M) will be available for selection in the game against New England. It will be another 2 weeks before Pozuelo makes his debut for Toronto FC as he joins the Canadian club in mid-March after the current season with Belgian club K.R.C. Genk ends.

Player	Position	Status	Potential return
Jozy Altidore	Forward	Probable: Knee injury	Expected to return to the team for gameweek 3 Vs New England Revolution
Alejandro Pozuelo	Midfielder	Will join team after season with current team ends.	Gameweek 5 Vs NYCFC
Eriq Zavaleta	Defender	Questionable: Shin injury	N/A
Ryan Telfer	Defender	Loaned to Canadian Premier league side York 9 FC	2020 season

Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Gameweek 3 fixture: Houston Dynamo (A)

 

Player	Position	Status	Potential return
Jasser Khmiri	Defender	Out: Left knee injury	N/A
Brett Levis	Defender	Out: Right hamstring strain	N/A
PC	Defender	Questionable: Undisclosed injury	N/A
Michael Baldisimo	Midfielder	Out: Left ankle contusion	N/A