Reminder No. 1: The cut off time to make roster changes is 15 minutes prior to the scheduled kickoff of the first match of the week. This week, that deadline is 6:45 pm ET on Wednesday, May 23.
Reminder No. 2: There are no teams on bye this week. Be sure to sit/drop all the recent USMNT call-ups.
Top Player in Week 11: Dwayne De Rosario – 21 points
Key Injuries: OUT – Danny Cruz, Chris Schuler, Omar Cummings, Arne Friedrich, Robbie Russell
US Call-ups: Juan Agudelo, Kyle Beckerman, Geoff Cameron, Landon Donovan, Nick Rimando, Chris Wondolowski, Graham Zusi
Other Call-ups: Dwayne De Rosario, Andre Hainault, Will Johnson, Robbie Keane, Oswaldo Minda
There are 13 games this week, and with several notable key players out due to national team call-ups, so you might have to use an extra transfer or two to fill up your squad. Most players have already left for camp, but some will stay for this week’s games before departing. Also to note, Chicago are the only team with multiple games both this week and next week. With that said, here are my picks for Week 12.
Rafael Baca, $6.1m, San Jose Earthquakes (44 points, T-9th among midfielders)
(Replaces Kyle Beckerman)– Although averaging just 65 minutes per game over the last two weeks, Baca has been on a tear – connecting on 10 crosses and 10 key passes. The Quakes will be without their top attacking threat in Chris Wondolowski for both games, but Baca will still have two clinical finishers in Alan Gordon and Steven Lenhart at his disposal. San Jose will play two away games, first in LA and then onto Kansas City. Baca is reasonably priced and a player who can remain on your team as the season continues.
Fredy Montero, $11.4m, Seattle Sounders (44 points, T-11th among forwards)
(Replaces Chris Wondolowski)– A few weeks ago, I suggested picking up Fredy to replace any void caused by the loss of Thierry Henry. If you took that advice, surely it paid off. Now, with Wondo out for the entire week due to his recent call-up to the US national team, Montero is the perfect fill-in. The price is right and there’s no other striker in better form at the moment. With four goals, one assist and 32 total points in his last five outings, Montero is a top fantasy option at forward.
Marco Pappa, $9.4m, Chicago Fire (47 points, 7th among midfielders)
(Replaces Landon Donovan)– Pappa is one of the best in MLS at creating his own shot, and unlike most national team call-ups, he’ll play in both of Chicago’s games this week before departing. Last year he was tied for fourth in total shots (92) and this year he’s tied for sixth (35). Pappa has played 90 minutes in each of his last four matches, averaging just under six points per game in that stretch. The Fire host a depleted FC Dallas side on Wednesday before traveling to Columbus to face the Crew on Saturday. They should be the more rested side, so look for Pappa to come out firing.
Steven Beitashour, $6.7m, San Jose Earthquakes (53 points, T-8th among defenders)
(Replaces Geoff Cameron)– The Earthquakes haven’t kept a clean since Week 4 and managing one this week won’t be an easy task either. However, Beitashour doesn’t need clean sheets to accumulate points. The Quakes are fantastic in the air, so as long as he can get down the flank to send the ball in, he should be fairly successful. He’s second among defenders in crosses (12) and fourth in key passes (13). His 53 total points puts him in a tie for eighth among defenders, and even though he didn’t receive a USMNT call-up this time, there are still some people out there that think he deserves a shot.
Kyle Reynish, $4.4m, Real Salt Lake (1 start, 1 clean sheet; 7 points)
(Replaces Nick Rimando)– Reynish is unbeaten with 15 saves and a 0.40 GAA in his five total starts since joining Salt Lake in 2007. RSL will benefit by playing at home and preparing for just one opponent, while FC Dallas on the other hand, have to face Chicago in the Brimstone Cup on Wednesday night before traveling to Utah for Saturday’s match. FCD will be also without Brek Shea (suspension), Ricardo Villar and Ugo Ihemelu (injury) – who account for six of FCD’s 12 goals this season. If Fabián Castillo isn’t healthy and Blas Pérez gets called up by Panama, the only goal scorer left will be Zach Loyd. Chris Schuler and Chris Wingert are likely out with injuries, and the loss of Beckerman and Rimando to USMNT camp will hurt a lot, but in retrospect RSL couldn’t ask for a much better situation.
The Most
Most added transfer this week: Rafael Baca Most dropped transfer this week: Maicon Santos
