FC KÖLN NEWS

Jan Thielmann - Starts once more Thielmann had one shot (zero on goal), three crosses (zero accurate), and one chance created in Sunday's 1-1 draw to VfL Bochum.

Impact Thielmann created only one chance but was back in the starting XI for Sunday's clash. The winger has been rotated in and out of the first team but already seems set for his biggest role in the starting XI yet. Thielmann has plenty of upside as he continues to grow into his role, though he still has yet to have a true breakout campaign.

SEPTEMBER 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Jonas Hector - Returns to left-back Hector had two shots (zero on goal), 10 crosses (five accurate), and three corners in Sunday's 1-1 draw against VfL Bochum.

Impact Hector was given a start in attacking midfield against Union Berlin but returned to left-back against Bochum. It was an odd experiment for the left-back who generally sits among the best in Germany at his position. Hector has plenty of upside wherever he plays on the pitch after tallying six assists in 2021/22.

SEPTEMBER 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Florian Kainz - Brilliant volume once more Kainz had three shots (zero on goal), 12 crosses (four accurate), and five corners in Sunday's 1-1 draw to VfL Bochum.

Impact Kainz continued his excellent volume with 12 crosses and two more chances created. The attacking midfielder heads into the international break with five goal contributions in his opening seven matches, only three behind his tally for the entirety of 2021/22. Kainz will remain a top option on the other side of the international break.

SEPTEMBER 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Benno Erik Schmitz - Scores own goal Schmitz scored an own goal and had eight crosses (two accurate) and zero chances created in Sunday's 1-1 tie to VfL Bochum.

Impact Schmitz actually had a solid day but his early on goal proved to be decisive as Koln dropped two points. The right-back has made the starting job his own over the past two seasons and is growing into the role offensively as he goes. Schmitz has six chances created heading into the international break, with 31 crosses in that time.

SEPTEMBER 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Linton Maina - Nets off bench Maina scored one goal to go with three shots (two on goal), two crosses (two accurate), and one chance created in Sunday's 1-1 draw to VfL Bochum.

Impact Maina came off the bench for the final 27 minutes of Sunday's draw and scored the equalizer. The midfielder has been a bench option throughout the 2022 campaign with just one start. Maina has some upside in a dangerous Koln attack, but only when in the starting XI.

SEPTEMBER 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Mark Uth - Out three-four more weeks Uth is expected to miss another three-four weeks after undergoing an operation on his pubic bone, according to Director Christian Keller via Marlon Irlbacher of Sky Sport Germany.

Impact Uth has been the biggest absence for a team that's opened the season in good shape. Recently, it's been Sargis Adamyan and Stefan Tigges who have started at forward while Uth is out.

AUGUST 23, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Marvin Schwabe - Two saves against Frankfurt Schwabe made two saves in Sunday's 1-1 draw versus Eintracht Frankfurt.

Impact Schwabe faced three shots and stopped two of them on the way to his second consecutive draw. Schwabe has some upside, but Koln have struggled defensively to open the season and managed only three clean sheets for Schwabe last time out. Schwabe will need to convert these single-goal matches if he wants to flash some true top end fantasy value.

AUGUST 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Ellyes Skhiri - Busy defensively Skhiri had four tackles (three won) and three interceptions in Sunday's 1-1 draw against Eintracht Frankfurt.

Impact Skhiri didn't have the offensive role he flashed to open the season, but did fill the stat sheet defensively once more. With the departure of Salih Ozcan to Dortmund it's fallen on Skhiri to pick up the slack in midfield and he has done so with aplomb. Skhiri has 14 tackles and seven interceptions as well as five chances created in the opening three matches of the campaign.

AUGUST 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Jonas Hector - Busy in draw Hector had two shots (zero on goal) and three crosses (zero accurate) in Sunday's 1-1 draw to Eintracht Frankfurt.

Impact Hector filled both sides of the stat sheet during Sunday's draw. While he only has the single assist so far on the season it's been an encouraging start, especially behind the ball. Hector has 11 tackles and 7 interceptions in the first three matches, a pace that would blow past his return in 2021/22, and put him much closer to career-highs from 2015/16 and 2016/17.

AUGUST 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Florian Kainz - Takes eight corners Kainz had one shot (zero on goal), 10 crosses (two accurate), and eight corners in Sunday's 1-1 draw to Eintracht Frankfurt.

Impact Kainz maintained a massive duty on corners, something he has had complete control of so far in 2022/23. The forward has been filling the stat sheet and created nine chances in the first three matches. The Koln attack should only get better with the return of Mark Uth and Kainz should be one of the main benefactors of that.

AUGUST 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Jan Thielmann - Nets off bench Thielmann scored one goal to go with one shot (one on goal) in Sunday's 1-1 draw against Eintracht Frankfurt.

Impact Thielmann scored his first goal of the season during a 30 minute cameo off the bench. The winger is coming into the 2022/23 campaign looking to build off a solid season last time out, and is on pace to blow his previous career-bests away. There's plenty of upside to like with Thielmann, who will be looking to continue his good form and return to the starting XI.

AUGUST 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Eric Martel - Dealing with back problems Martel is considered a game time decision for Sunday's match against Eintracht Frankfurt, according to manager Steffen Baumgart.

Impact Martel started in the last match against RB Leipzig but only played for 62 minutes of the contest. If he can't start, Ondrej Duda could take his place in the lineup.

AUGUST 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Mark Uth - Out Sunday Uth (undisclosed) will miss Sunday's trip to Eintracht Frankfurt, according to manager Steffen Baumgart.

Impact Uth has yet to play this season while recovering from injury and it's unclear when he'll get his chance. As a result, Florian Dietz will continue to play after scoring one goal in two games so far.

AUGUST 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Mark Uth - Absent for UECL contest Uth (undisclosed) will miss Thursday's UECL match against MOL Fehervar, according to manager Steffen Baumgart.

Impact Uth's status for Saturday's match against Eintracht Frankfurt is still unclear so one can only hope he's back soon. While he's out, Florian Dietz has stepped up, scoring one goal in two games off nine shots taken.

AUGUST 17, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Steffen Tigges - Able to play Tigges (ankle) has featured for the U21 side and is set to return to the senior squad for Sunday's trip to Eintracht Frankfurt, according to manager Steffen Baumgart.

Impact Tigges spent parts of last season on loan at Borussia Dortmund and though he doesn't have much of a scoring pedigree yet, the departure of Anthony Modeste opens up room for more rotation among the forward spots.

AUGUST 17, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Marvin Schwabe - Concedes poor goal Schwabe made three saves and had one interception in Saturday's 2-2 tie against RB Leipzig.

Impact Schwabe was beaten from 30-yards by Timo Werner in a goal he really should have saved, but was otherwise solid during Saturday's draw. The keeper remains the clear top option over Timo Horn and barring a massive downturn in form should have the starting job. That said Schwabe managed only three clean sheets in 21 starts during the 2021/22 campaign, with a shaky Koln defense limiting his upside.

AUGUST 13, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Florian Kainz - Assists in draw Kainz assisted once to go with two shots (zero on goal), 10 crosses (two accurate), and seven corners in Saturday's 2-2 tie against RB Leipzig.

Impact Kainz found his first assist of the 2022/23 Bundesliga campaign during Saturday's draw. The midfielder is coming off an eight-goal contribution year and has kicked 2022/23 off with two in his first two matches. Kainz is linking up well with substitute striker Florian Dietz and the return of the first choice attackers should serve to improve his offensive upside.

AUGUST 13, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Florian Dietz - First Koln goal Dietz scored one goal to go with four shots (two on goal) in Saturday's 2-2 tie to RB Leipzig.

Impact Dietz as scored his first goal for Koln in just his second start for the senior team. The forward is youth academy product with Koln who was promoted to the first team due to injuries to Mark Uth (undisclosed), Sebastian Andersson (fitness), and Steffen Tigges (ankle). It's more likely than not that Dietz falls out of the starting XI when any of those three are healthy but he has been surprisingly good in his first action for the senior team.

AUGUST 13, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Timo Hubers - Makes Starting XI Hubers is fit and in the starting XI for Saturday's match with Leipzig.

Impact Hubers returns after missing out on Koln's opener due to an undisclosed injury. The defender takes up a role in the center of the Koln back line for Saturday's clash with Leipzig.

AUGUST 13, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Mark Uth - Out Saturday Uth (undisclosed) will miss Saturday's match at RB Leipzig, according to manager Steffen Baumgart. "When it comes to Mark Uth, we'll go from day to day and see how he is. He won't...

Impact Uth has good odds to return by the Aug. 21 trip to EIntracht Frankfurt given that he's already day to day in his recovery. With Anthony Modeste now at Borussia Dortmund, Uth figures to be the top striker for his club once fit.

AUGUST 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Mark Uth - Still training separately Uth (undisclosed) continues to train on his own ahead of Saturday's match against RB Leipzig.

Impact Uth missed the opener against Schalke and if he continues to miss team training sessions, he's unlikely to play in any game. Jan Thielmann and Florian Dietz started at forward in the opener and should continue to hold those positions until Uth is available.

AUGUST 10, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Timo Hubers - Back in training Hubers (undisclosed) returned to training during Tuesday's session.

Impact Hubers missed the opener against Schalke and now has another two days to train before he can make his season debut. Once fit, Hubers should be able to take back a starting place from Luca Killian.

AUGUST 10, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Marvin Schwabe - Concedes once in win Schwabe allowed a goal while making a save during Sunday's 3-1 win over Schalke.

Impact Schwabe allowed a goal in the 76th minute but was backed with three goals in the win. The keeper added a save as he will look to keep the strong start of the season going next week in Leipzig.

AUGUST 7, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Jonas Hector - Sets up one of three goals Hector had an assist while taking an off target shot, crossing four times inaccurately and creating four chances during Sunday's 3-1 win over Schalke.

Impact Hector set up Luca Kilian in the 49th minute assisting the opening goal of the match. The fullback finished with the second highest amount of chances created, interceptions and clearances on the team in the victory.

AUGUST 7, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Florian Kainz - Opens season with goal Kainz scored a goal while taking three shots (two on goal), crossing 12 times (four accurate) and creating three chances during Sunday's 3-1 win over Schalke.

Impact Kainz found the back of the net in the 62nd minute scoring Koln's second goal. The attacker finished with the third highest amount of shots and chances created on the team while leading Koln with 12 crosses in the win.

AUGUST 7, 2022 • ROTOWIRE