Rising’s attendance prediction league is coming to an end, so it’s time for a new game to get us through to the offseason.
Here it is: the game you never realized you wanted. Fantasy USL Playoffs will launch on Sunday evening once the play-in bracket is confirmed. For each round, you’ll pick your perfect XI out of the players competing. Because of the nature of the playoffs, you won’t carry players forward – instead, you’ll be sent an entry form each week asking you to pick a brand new team.
Unlike the attendance league, this one is focused on the whole USL Championship, and is open to fans of all clubs!
Here are the roster rules:
- You must pick 11 players (duh), costing no more than the $100k budget assigned
- You must have one goalkeeper, three to five defenders, three to five midfielders and one to three forwards
- No more than three players per XI may come from the same team (except for the final, when you’ll pick six from one team, and five from the other)
- One of the XI must be selected as captain – they will score double points, so pick carefully!
You’ll then gain (or lose) points for each player selected, based on the following criteria:
- Playing Time:
- Players who feature for 1-59 minutes score one point
- Players who feature for 60+ minutes score two points
- Goals:
- Forwards score four points per goal
- Midfielders score five points per goal
- Defenders and goalkeepers score six points per goal
- Assists score three points, regardless of player position
- Any player that wins a penalty, regardless of whether it’s scored or not, scores three points.
- Any player who misses a penalty loses one point
- Defending:
- Goalkeepers score one point for every two saves that they make
- Defenders and goalkeepers lose one point for every two goals that are conceded while they’re on the pitch
- A player who scores an own goal loses two points
- Defenders and goalkeepers score six points for a clean sheet. A clean sheet occurs when no goals are scored when the player is on the pitch, as long as they play a minimum of 60 minutes
- Goalkeepers score three points for every penalty they save.
- Discipline:
- A player who concedes a penalty loses one point
- A player who receives a yellow card loses one point
- A player who receives a red card loses three points
- Players who receive a second yellow card will only lose points for the red card, and not the initial yellow. However, a player who receives a straight red card after previously receiveing a yellow card will lose four points
As an added twist, if any player you select is sent off, their value will be “suspended” (deducted) from your budget for the following week.
The stats used will be taken from USL website, and the players’ positions will be determined by those listed on the website too, regardless of where they play during the match. Any events that occur during extra time will count towards scoring, but penalty shootouts don’t count.
Each player eligible to be selected will be valued for each round, with those values listed on the entry form sent out. All you will have to do is select you lineup on the entry form, and return it to FantasyUSL2019@gmail.com prior to kick-off in the first game each round.
SATURDAY OCTOBER 26 UPDATE:
If you want to take part, you can still do so.
Download the Fantasy USL – Conference Quarter Finals entry form and return it completed to FantasyUSL2019@gmail.com by 3pm ET/Noon Pacific & AZ on Saturday 26 October. You can find instructions in cells K1-S6, pick your XI in column F, your captain in column G and check the status of your selections in cell B7.
Good Luck!
Your email addresses will be used only for the purposes of contacting you with updates on the competition, and will not be published. If provided, your Twitter handle and favorite USL team may be used in publishing results.